Hey! I'd like to water down things a bit with a New Yolk Times post, where I express some food for thought. A special anime review will be coming your way very soon, but for now let's talk about something serious. So today marks the start of Holy Week (sort of), and that also means the start of summer vacation for the rest of us (unless you go to my University). And whenever vacation hits, a majority of the human population struggles with one thing: and that is productivity.
Never date Edward Cullen. He may have the sparkles and a fancy car, but he's way too controlling and possessive. Don't get me started with Jacob Black and his werewolf pack. They have the symptoms of a domestic abuser.
Never date Zuko. Or basically, never play with fire. You will get hurt, one way or another.
Never date Draco Malfoy. Not because he's a cowardice, but his personality is just unflattering. How is a tortured bully ever an attractive trait?
Never date Augustus Waters. His flirting game may swoon in you in the pages of book, but you won't be able to recognize it in real life because the guys who tried his strategy are the ones you most probably rejected and regarded as "creepy" and "weird".
Never date any shadowhunter. Their occupation has made them elitists, so at the end of the day, they will still think they're better than you no matter what they say. And they can be potential rapists.
Never date Katniss Everdeen. Just don't. Not because she's too busy with the revolution, but she can sometimes be very insensitive.
Never date Korra. The job of an Avatar is way too demanding and if you're the type who wants to spend a lot of quality time, then save your breath.
Never date Dick Grayson. His job can put you in great danger, even if you say it's worth the risk (because there's a high probability you do not know what you are saying). And if you're looking for loyalty in your date, then he's most definitely not for you.
Never date Nagisa Furukawa, because she still has a lot to learn for herself.
Never date Wonder Woman. Her pride may be a bit too much for you.
Never date Hercules, because he's not really a wonder boy in real life.
Never date any Disney Prince, since their basis of love and attraction is quite superficial and happily ever after will forever remain a mystery.
Never date Elsa. No matter how many times you sing her song, she has a hard time of letting go.
Never date Ariel, because stubborn is not necessarily hot.
Never date a fictional character. They're not perfect. They're not any different from real life people. Control over your will is not a sweet gesture. A badass attitude may not be something you're looking for. When they say that they're too dangerous to be with, maybe what they say is true. Then who should you date? Who's the right one? My advice is to look up and never depend on fiction for how your love story will be written. Write your own and it will be guaranteed to be the best.
I am not going to lie. I actually love taking selfies. It just so happens that I don't post them all because I do not want to appear like a self-obsessed freak on the internet, which I am not. And this leads me to the whole idea of the Selfie Culture. A long time ago, we would all use our cameras sparingly--we bring it out only during times of special occasions like birthdays or graduation. But with the advancement of technology and the newly-enhanced front cameras we get each year, every moment we receive suddenly counts as a special occasion. Whenever we buy a new pair of shoes, we have to study for a hardcore exam, or even when we're just sick in bed, we document the visuals in our smartphones. That's the Selfie culture. If you still think it does not exist, here are seven instances that prove that it truly exists.
1.) The existence of Photography Mobile apps It's not a question that smartphones are now a thing among us. And if you are one of those people downloading Vscocam just to make your Instagram pictures look hipster or Tumblr-esque, then welcome to the world of Selfies.
2.) When you take more than one selfie and only pick that one special shot to post to your Instagram I'm not saying this is a bad thing. There's nothing wrong with expanding your options in terms of camera roll shots. But the idea of just picking the right selfie is not enough for us to realize that we are idolizing this brand new way of life.
3.) When likes suddenly matter Upon entering the world of Selfies, we tend to wonder why our other friends get at least a hundred likes per selfie. For me, I am still trying to calculate the factors contributing to this surprising phenomenon. Is it because of the quality of camera? Is it because my friend can actually pose? Is it the popularity? The effects of the filter maybe? That moment when that person suddenly looked photogenic? Seriously, what did they do to get celebrity-accumulated likes?
5.) There are songs and published works talking about the selfie But first...let me take a selfie!
6.) When you take your picture-taking to the next level You get extra lenses for your phone's camera, you actually ask someone to seriously take photos of you, you add more photography apps, you find a cute pet to pose next to you when you're really posing for yourself and not the innocent creature...you basically become an amateur photographer when it comes to your phone.
7.) When selfies plays a major part in building your self-esteem
Again, this is not a bad thing. If you feel confident just because you think you look aesthetically good in your pictures, then knock yourself out. It is time for this generation to stop putting themselves down and start embracing every part of their bodies. Selfies actually play a really big part in character building, unless you let it do its magic the right way. Seeing those great comments about your dress is great. And knowing that there are people who find you really pretty or hot, is good. We are actually exercising common courtesy here. Nonetheless, selfies help in confidence boosts at the time.
As of now, I am convinced that the world's population consist of people who are fandomized. Fandomized meaning, we spend at least half of our time talking about Adventure Time, Sherlock Holmes, or even the upcoming sequel film of the Avengers. We all have our own interests, and the people I know would always go into their fandom phase. Whether they need an outlet or they're bored to death, they will still talk about what's going on with their favorite Kpop group or what just happened in the last episode of Reign. Now if you think you're a very normal person who treats TV and books with average respect and you are trying to talk to someone who will not stop going on about his or her fandoms like its their own limited supply of oxygen, never fear. I am here to help you.
Here are five simple steps on how to interact with a fandomized person. (Note: I decided to come up with the term, 'fandomized' because I am sick of saying fangirls and fanboys at the same time. It's time for equality, yo)
1.) Tolerance. Just like the immortal Gretchen Wieners always says, "You have to be considerate to the rest of the group." When your friend decides that its time for him or her to talk about a John Green book he or she just read, then do what every other normal person would do. Listen. You may not exactly know what Shingeki No Kyojin means in English, but just listen. Surely, a fandomized person would know better and not pick you to be the listener. However, sometimes when the urge to spazz is too strong, they feel like that they have no choice but to let it out on someone. Irregardless of how fandomized a person is, they just have to scream about why this OTP should get together. And if you're the chosen one, might as well deal with it. You want to socialize with fandom? Then socialize. Learn how to listen.
2.) Ask many questions. When you are especially clueless about the story of Game of Thrones, might as well keep the conversation alive by asking about it. One of the many basic ways of socializing is to keep asking questions. Initially treating your talks like an interview gradually becomes productive and the next thing you know, you two are exchanging numbers and are official friends. I consider myself a fandomized person, but there a lot of fandoms I haven't came across yet. That's when I ask the questions. Who is this character? What is this show about? Why is this fandom awesome for you? Where can I read this? Who wrote this story? How is this romantic? And yes, those questions eventually branch out to many answers and many words exchanged between who I eventually call friend.
3.) Never question. There is a difference between asking what the fandom is all about and asking what can the fandom offer. Never question the taste of a fandomized person. For one thing, it is quite rude. Asking why Arrow is great is like asking why you prefer having this particular calorie-heavy snack every day. And if this person is heavily fandomized, insulting him or her is probably the last thing you want to do. Many say its just all talk, but I'm telling you. The backfire is real.
4.) Be open. For your future conversations to nurture, I suggest you try out this book or movie especially when your friend highly encourages you to do so. That way, you can understand him or her more. Withhold judgment and learn why this person is so fascinated with the world of the Hobbits. It's not exactly a way of wasting time because you are in the midst of discovery. Who knows, maybe you can get a fandom on your list. Beware of the addiction, though. It can get pretty nasty.
5.) Accept. If you can never understand why your friend finds 50 Shades of Grey romantic, then just let it be. Express your opinion about it, but don't try to impose. Humans usually consider this an abomination. This can also ruin friendships because you are basically forcing someone to drop something he or she has been used to. You're simply asking your friend to just move out with no preparation or even a warning. And when it comes to moments like these, there are no warnings or go signals. Telling your friend to stop watching Anime is a major blow or an act of betrayal in your friendship code...unless the fandom life is beginning to engulf her soul. So if she or he she likes this, don't bother to tell her otherwise. It will only cause more complications. And if you can't really deal with him or her talk about the incest sex between the Lannister, might as well back off yourself. Other than that, accept your fandomized friends for who they are because their fandoms actually contributed in constructing his or her well-being.
I have done 60 blog posts (including this one) now and I think it's time...for you to know me.
And no. Nobody really tagged me. The questions came from this blog I found (click here to check out her blog, it looks pretty interesting). I thought it would be a good idea to this kind of thing. So let's do this!
1.) Are you named after anyone? According to my dad, I was named after some notable female figure in Russia. I'm not sure if she was a princess, a queen or a mere legend, though.
2.) When was the last time you cried? Fifteen minutes ago. I'm pretty good at fake crying.
3.) Do you have kids? No. :)
4.) If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself? How interesting. But I think I will, because knowing me...I do not have much close and permanent friends. Hehe. *heart breaks*
5.) Do you use sarcasm a lot? ...*grins* Yes.
6.) Will you ever bungee-jump? I'm torn, actually. I'm scared of heights, so a part of me really wants to say no and never do it. But the curious and adventurous side is urging me to conquer my fears and do it for the sake of experience, anyway. So I'm not really sure at this point.
7.) What's your favorite cereal? I do not have one exact favorite but I have three; Honey Stars, Frosties, and Milo. Damn, I am craving for cereals right now.
8.) What's the first thing you notice about people? I don't really look at their appearances (and I am able to say that because I suck at remembering names and faces), unless they have one trait on their face or body that really stands out from the rest. But if there's one thing that I will bound to notice, that would be their charisma. I tend to remember the people who are very approachable and confident in the social skills, and I also never forget the ones who are extremely shy or distant, as well.
9.) What is your eye color? Coffee Brown.
10.) Scary movie or happy endings? Scary movie. ;)
11.) Favorite Smells? Freshly mowed grass, the ocean, Jasmine flower, and my current sweet Victoria's secret perfume.
12.) Summer or Winter? Winter because I have not seen that with my naked eye yet.
13.) Computer or Television? Oh. Definitely my computer.
14.) What's the farthest you've been from home? Going to the States when I was less than 5 years old.
15.) Do you have any special talents? I'm good at amateur photography and creating multimedia graphic nonsense. I can draw, sketch, and paint (particularly watercolor), curl my tongue, multitask on my computer, sing terribly, make weird voices, and I am a brutally honest person.
16.) Where were you born? The Philippines!
17.) What are your hobbies? I lurk in social media, I obviously blog, I binge watch series and movies, I read, I fangirl about what I read and watch (hence the blog), I study (believe it), I doodle (I don't have time for drawing serious art now, unfortunately), and I take selfies.
18.) Do you have any pets? Yes! I have a dog and cats. Lots and lots of cats.
19.) Favorite movie? Don't pull that question on me.
20.) Do you have any siblings? Yes. Happy National Siblings Day.
21.) What do you want to be when you grow up? ..... Someone awesome. *nods*
Do you know that feeling when you finish this book or TV series that you love and then you learn that the next installment comes in a year or two? I hate it when that happens.
As people with fandoms, dealing with hiatus is something that we have to see through in the end. Writers and creators do this for fun so they can build up the suspense and this will make us want more of what they're producing. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate the idea of holding on to the edge of my seat; I just don't like experiencing it because it can kill me. For years and years, I spend every year anticipating for the next book, the next season, or even a brand new release. Wow, Tama. What the heck are you doing with your life?
Surprisingly, we can deal with hiatus. The itching impatience is still there, but fangirls and fanboys can definitely hold out for a year (unless you're part of the Game of Thrones fandom). Assuming we need at least a year to wait for the next big thing, there are stages in a fan's year as to how they keep themselves busy. Luckily, we can measure that in months. Yes my fellow fandom-crazed freaks. We wait in months. Not in decades. Months.
If the art of fangirling needs math (oh no, not this again), we only need to remember five numbers: 2, 3,4,2,1.
Obviously, it takes a lot of time for us to take in a series of unfortunate events. People working on our fandoms nowadays know how to tug on our feels, to the point it becomes unacceptable. So yes, it takes time for one to let things sink in. But that is far from over. We need to keep talking about it until we run out of saliva. In these five months, we do headcanons, probably fanfiction, lurk in Tumblr, and devise theories. We do this...just to feel something.
But we are human too and we get tired. So we take a break, and being the inner lazy people we all are....a week is not enough. We need four months. Hopefully during this time, we try to keep up with our boring lives. Then at a certain point in time, our fandoms will randomly announce that they're going to arrive really soon and this is means that the hiatus is almost drawing to a close. We wake up from our realities and become reckless once again. We lurk in the internet, talk about it some more, come up with wild theories that can pierce our hearts--we do all of this... just to feel something. It also takes a lot of time for us to emotionally prepare ourselves for the worst, of course.
This kind of hiatus does not really feel like you're living the hobo life. You still communicate, you do not just twiddle your thumbs, sometimes you eat out your feelings, and you learn how to prepare especially when it comes to purchasing issues! It doesn't really sound that bad, at all. And during our 4-month break, we explore other things due to our boredom. And again, that's not bad. Discovery is part of life, after all. See what hiatuses can do to us?
Now if you think you cannot survive a hiatus, never fear. I repeat, discovery is part of life. So here's what you can do during your year of hiatus:
1.) Don't just stick to the internet. Join a group. Or at least, find friends you can talk to about it. It's like therapy only better. 2.) Look for other fandoms to annoy. Trying a new fandom may sound like a forbidden temptation, but it never hurts to expand your interests.
and finally...
3.) Evaluate your life. Usually, when we succumb ourselves to something that is totally addicting, we forget what is really going on. I know it sucks but...wake up. Life can be beautiful if you change up your perspective, which is something that fandoms teach us.
It is normal to fangirl urges when you become a student. I mean, as young (foolish) folks, students need some inspiration or entertainment while subjects and deadlines try to mess up their minds. Trust me, I've been there. I know the feeling when a book I read is much more exciting than the book report (but don't get me wrong, I enjoyed many reading assignments back in my day). Even if the "Fangirl Ego" (which I would like to call) seems like a very powerful entity that somehow controls every inch of your body and free will, that doesn't mean there are no limitations. Of course there are, and as humans we need to put extra effort into stopping our fandoms from completely ruining our lives. Yes, it is not the intention of the Doctor to ruin your life. The only person who gets in our way is us; our Fangirl Ego. The question is, how do we stop it?
Now these steps do not guarantee success. Consider them as suggestions that you may attempt to do. Always remember that fighting the Fangirl Ego is never easy.
1.) Never personalize your school stuff! It may seem like the most fun part to look forward to when you prepare for school, but believe me...it will ruin your life. If all your stuff has the face of Tom Hiddleston, then kiss your concentration goodbye! Also, school materials don't last forever. You end up throwing them away or they deteriorate on their own and at their own time. So it is pretty much a waste of cut-out magazines and effort, as well as money. No offense. If you must personalize your school things, I suggest to stick to minimal fandom references (such as a logo) and make all the color schemes and design show your personality. But if you must have something to stare at while you need some motivation in studying, then a a few photos inside your binder won't hurt. Actually, make that one.
2.) Never touch anything fandom-related during busy periods! When you have an exam or a pile of major projects to finish...then put away those series and books. I'm sorry, but the only way to get rid of Fangirl Ego (even if it is just for a very short while) is to keep that girl in the closet alongside all your guilty pleasures. I know a lot of people who nearly did not graduate because of fandoms. Yes, those situations exist, especially if you're the type who lacks self-control. If you do need a substance of some self-control pill, then I suggest to consider keeping them away for a short period. Then once all your responsibilities are dealt with, then you can binge watch or read to your heart's content.
3.) Never expect everyone to understand you! Each fandom contains a whole new set of extensive vocabulary. Eventually you will adapt it and only 1 out of 10 people will be able to comprehend what you are trying to say. You can't expect the muggles to keep up with your thang.
4.) Never assume that conversion is easy! Everyone has their own different tastes, and chances of you having similar interests (or fandoms, in our case) with the classmate next to you is one in a million. However, it is not bad to share to them what you like. But you cannot expect them to have an interest, right away. Converting a fellow person into a certain fandom is a hit or miss; either they like it or they don't. It would seem exciting when someone develops a liking to your all-time favorite shows, but you can't expect something like this to happen all the time. Unless, you are really persuasive.
5.) Never hide your fandoms from anyone! Come as you are. The third tip may imply that you should not reveal your fandoms to class, but that is not the case. In fact, let anyone know what you like. Do not shame your fandoms, because it looks weird to other mundanes. Let them judge! It will not kill you! Back in high school, I would initially hide my obsession for anime from basically, everyone. I did that because I wanted to look pleasing and hopefully, appealing. However, that gave me a hard time to look for friends I can totally relate to. When I brought out my interests, then bam! I got new friends just like that. So don't keep them in the dark. Never keep your fandoms to yourself. It's more fun and exciting with a good friend who can understand all your feels.
Most of us would develop our love for certain fandoms at an early age, and we end up blaming books, TV series, video games, and many other medium for this kind of feeling. But at the same time, we end up loving them. Having your very own fandom is like being in a love-hate relationship, only we experience it a tenfold (and if not, probably more. May God forbid). Loving your fandoms, that's not a problem. But making it a top priority? Now that's an issue that we cannot easily avoid, especially when the story of the Supernatural Brothers seems a hundred times more interesting than yours.
I'm sure you know where I am going with this; just like screwed-up relationships we see on drama series, fandoms have the tendency to ruin our lives. And we can turn everything backwards all we want, but we know that we give those fandoms the power to rule our lives. We just tend to deny it, most of the time. We give so much love and attention to this Television series and the next thing you know, you end up watching four seasons in less than three days. Not only that, you get slapped by the realization that you got other "important" things to do like schoolwork or actual work, or saving your relationship from drowning (but then it becomes too late, because your girlfriend/boyfriend sees what a total bum you are). I guess that fundamental question is, can we really focus on our fandoms and reality at the same time?
The answer is yes. Believe it or not, you can have your Hogwarts Life and your Career Life at the same time. It's just a matter of balancing your time. I know that is easier said than done, but there are plenty of healthy ways to do so without trying to put too much focus into one thing. And this is based on my experience. My life story may not be exactly the same as yours, but I guess it is something you can learn from.
Distribute your priorities, equallyNow this is the first and most difficult step, and don't say you don't know why. Dividing your time for life and your fandoms...? That's not easy! If you're one of those people who keep saying, "One More Episode" then I wish you luck as you take on this step. Give each of your priorities the same weight. Don't give this thing more importance than the other, or else you will go mad. I'm sure I am not the only who has experienced such turmoil. There is nothing wrong in planning out how many hours or days you want to dedicate yourself to something. It does not automatically make you a control freak, I'm sure. Besides, it is a whole lot better to plan ahead rather than pressuring yourself to do something last minute. As much as it is difficult to do, don't give all your attention to your fandoms. Do not give all your attention to certain aspects of your life, either. Get a planner of your own and pan out all the things you have to do and want to do. At least, that's what I did. Call me a nerd for saying this, but having a planner is a total life saver.
Fandom as an inspiration I'll admit. There were many times I would prefer to bury my head into an nonexistent, fictitious, fantastic world rather than burying it into my textbooks. I just get really annoyed by the fact that reading about Shadowhunters and Demigods are much more interesting than figuring out the puzzling (and unnerving) sorcery called Trigonometry. Admit it, you underwent this, too. But what really would fascinate me aside from the stories, are the characters themselves. People like Hermione Granger, Annabeth Chase, and Tessa Gray....they impressed me. From that, that feeling turned into admiration. Then I aspired to become a very diverse, independent, and headstrong individual. So in a way, my fandoms became apart of my life in such a way that they served as inspiration for the way I live my life and how I deliver myself. And it turned out really good. You could say I have books to thank for my very own character development.
Go beyond Fandoms and explore Life Afterwards, I decided to step out my comfort zone and become acquainted with the real world. Now how did I incorporate my fandoms, you ask? Well, let's face one fact here; we can learn a lot of things from our fandoms and if you dig a little deeper, we realize how much of these discoveries can still be applied in real life. So the first thing to do is close that book or turn off that television or computer (but certainly not now, You gotta read till the end before you can do so), and look at real life in such a way you see your fandoms. Real life can be an adventure and all you have to do is look. The next thing you know, you met the Edward Cullen of your life or you're in the place where they shot the scenes of Lord of the Rings, living your own Hobbit-like journey. Basically, life is just as interesting as your fandoms. So try to look at your school, work, or family in a completely different angle. Along the way, you will learn and try new things, and sometimes they end up twice as exciting as the book you are currently reading because you are actually doing it.
And there you have it. This is how I dealt with my fandom addiction before it could get any worse. Like I said, this is just how I dealt with it, so you don't necessarily have to do everything I did. In the end, it is your choice on how you want to live your life. But if you had a different way of dealing fandom addiction, then feel free to share your story on the comments below! Till the next post~
If you're a Potterhead, then surely you're one of the many readers who would do anything to attend Hogwarts and be part of something that is obviously more than just a "Potter" experience. And believe it or not, you did live like Harry Potter (so far). It may not involve cloaks and wands, but in some instances of your life, things became magical. In a way, this is a pretty blog post discussing ten life lessons we can get from the brilliant series. Your egotistical minds may say that you already know this, but it does not hurt to be reminded.
1.) We had a "Snape" in our life I'm sure anyone who has had at least 7 years of education can realize this. As much as it is hard to admit, we had tough teachers and professors who would push us around and we would think that they're doing this just so we wouldn't pass the subject and hence, ruin our lives. Because of this, we can't help but loathe them at some extent. But then we learn that they push us for a surprisingly good reason. They may not have died a heartfelt death like *spoilers* Severus did, but they would suddenly give us this feeling of gratitude and what's funny is that we notice it in the latter part of our lives. I'm not surprise if you are reading this right now and you are remembering a particular educator who may have been so mean to you, but really wanted to prepare you for the harsh realities of life. And once we do remember, we don't remember the tears or the humiliation; all there is left was the lesson, we smile and we eventually name our kids after that professor (it could happen).
But if you guys had to go through classes with the likes of her:
2.) You've been called a mudblood...sort of
If Harry was not your favorite character in the series, then fine. Let's take a quick look at Hermione Granger, the brightest witch her age. Everyone has a gift, but in reality you can never please anyone. Certainly, not everyone was able to appreciate how intelligent Hermione was except for the ones who truly mattered in her life. In other words, there will always be that one person who refuses to see the best in you and shall call you a "mudblood" for reasons that you may never know. And that's the thing; you may or may not know why you're being called that and what Hermione taught us is that it doesn't matter why. It may hurt (and it will), but name-calling didn't stop Hermione from studying her butt off.
3.) We use the Polyjuice Potion all the time As we all know, this famous potion can give us the ability to transform into whoever we want. And what's best about the real world is that we don't need to make a potion in order to become someone else. We're the masters of copying others. Heck, a lot of people have been doing it even before Rowling ever thought of writing about Polyjuice. The idea of it is cool at the same time, scary. Sadly, not everyone is truly original. And I guess it is up to you if you want to take this in a good way or a bad way.
4.) Most of us live in a cupboard under the staircase, already
Harry Potter is not the only one who thinks he has the worst family members. Most of us do, until we learn how to be truly grateful for the things that are already there for us. And I am speaking for a lot of children and teenagers when I say this. We would think that our family is just ruining our lives until...*remember the first point*. I'm not saying you should just stop whatever you're doing and randomly hug all your brothers and sisters, but you should know that you're not the only one who actually thinks they have it worse. And sometimes, thinking about how worse other people's lives are can be therapeutic. So remember, if you think you have the worst and mortifying parents ever, just be kindly reminded that your parents love you enough to give you an actual room...and they're alive.
5.) You have a wand The way I see it, wizards and witches use the wand to direct whatever spell they wish. And what's interesting is that all wands are unique and very different. What's even more interesting is that a wand must be compatible with the owner. That's a really cool concept, Rowling! And yes, you already have your wand. You just need to find it you do not chose the wand...the wand chooses you.
6.) Amortentia is right under your nose One of the many things I love about the Harry Potter series is how they value love. For me, it is the most romantic and heartwarming YA series next to maybe Percy Jackson and the Olympians (eh, maybe not even close). If there is one way I can describe how love was written in these books, then it would be this: love comes naturally. It came naturally when Lily Potter protected Harry from the Dark Lord, and it came naturally when Hermione and Ron agreed to help Harry with his problems no matter how dangerous they were. Basically the act of love came in naturally throughout the series. It was natural as Amortentia. I know it's a potion, but the good thing about the real world is that we don't need any of that to feel that. When we know that we love someone, it will just come naturally. Now how many times did I say "naturally"?
7.) Exams exist Whether you are in Hogwarts or not, there will always be freakin' exams.And yes, Harry Potter went through exams just like you.
8.) Harry also had no time for fun because of schoolwork Honestly, I enjoyed Harry's short montages when he would always describe how stressful his schoolwork was getting. I'm sure he enjoyed those times too, because the boy who lived would certainly want a taste of an ordinary life. Surprisingly, there would be times when we would feel the same way. After wanting so much interesting shiz to happen in your life, you eventually want to keep things simple and ordinary.
9.) You are a chosen one, and there are times you won't like it Reading Harry Potter makes you feel that having an extraordinary life is impossible. Harry and a lot of YA protagonists are trying to tell us that leading that extraordinary life is not easy, and it is more than just being not easy. It involves a lot of work and sacrifice. This gave most readers tugs in their hearts, thinking whether or not they still wanted a life of wizardry and adventure. But that's just how it is, even in real life. Having an adventure is not as easy as walking down the yellow brick road (now I'm straying to another book). So instead of reminding yourself how much your life sucks, then "Carpe Diem". You can wait until something unusual is thrust upon you or you can easily look for adventure (or sometimes trouble). And if you end up fearing for your life just like Harry, all you can do is have a little faith on what will happen next because the most exciting thing about life is that you don't know what the next page is because you're already inside a story.
It's a given fact that our world has brainwashed us with love stories that will probably never happen in real life, but let us not take this the hard way. Thanks to Twilight and to all those sappy fandoms we all love anyway, we already have in mind what kind of relationship we want. We formulate expectations that eventually lead to standards. If this guy is nothing like the Remus Lupin of your dreams, then he is off the list. In other words, most (if not all) of the standards we create are based on the books we read and the stuff we watch. Don't deny that, ever since you saw this super hot fictional person, you suddenly envisioned yourself with a partner who can match those qualities. Admit it.
Since I "love" math, let's look at it in the point of view of mathematics. I will try to create a formula, that may (or may not) help you find your dream partner for the rest of your life (hopefully). I'm no mathematician, but I am going to give it a shot.
Okay, now a majority of our standards are based on the following criteria:
Looks- If this man has the incredibly deep blue eyes you are looking for
Personality- If he's an intelligent prodigy, a douche who is secretly a sensitive romantic, or something else
The Romantic Gimmicks- If he is willing to close the entire mall for you so you can have your very own shopping spree without anyone interrupting, or if he surprises you with a thousand roses when he proposes to you. You know, the sappy stuff.
Skills- If he can do everything, or if he can't do everything.
Theorem 1 If we managed to get all of these in a guy, then congratulations...he's the one (hopefully). So it is safe to say that if we add all of them, then that means your perfect match exists. Hence, this formula
Looks (60%) + Personality (15%) + The Romantic Gimmicks (10%) + Skills (15%) = The Perfect Boyfriend
Now how do we know if this guy's looks, personality, gimmicks, and skills can sum up to what we look for in a boyfriend? I'll tell you what to do. The first step is to grab a calculator. Or at least, open the calculator app in your phone. Just like almost every criteria we had to look at, each element we look for a man comes with a percentage. And in order to make sure this guy is the one, we have to compute for each trait.
Looks (60%)
If you say looks do not matter to you much, then you are a liar. Looks are--unfortunately--everything. It's what we first notice from any person. We are drawn to the fictional characters in our fandoms simply because of the way they appear. It's true. We love only five physical characteristics from a guy and those are the eyes, hair, skin, face, and the abs. In order to get the 60% percent we are looking for, we head to our next theorem
Theorem 2 The looks of a guy in every fandom go beyond the scale of 1 to 10, and every characteristic has a weight, depending on what you prefer the most.
Corollary 1 We always prefer one thing more than the other. So rank the top five characteristics according to your choice. The first characteristic automatically gets a total score of 50, the second gets a total score of 40, and so on.
Corollary 2 It's all or nothing. So if the guy does not have the eyes of the Herondales, then that n automatically becomes 0. As long as the guy has the trait you are looking for, the score automatic becomes perfects. Afterwards you must multiply each by 11 (refer to Theorem 2) and add the total.
1.) Eyes (50/50) x 11 = 11 2.) Abs (0/40) x 11 = 0
3.) Face (30/30) x 11 = 11
4.) Hair (0/20) x 11 = 0
5.) Skin (10/10) x 11 = 11
Total: 33
Now that you got a score, divide the total by 1.61803398875 (because that's the golden ratio) and then you multiply it to 0.60. You may round off to the nearest decimal place.
Looks: 12/60
Personality (15%)
When you take in the personality, it is not just about asking what do you look for in a guy. There will always be something you will not like about someone. With that said, how will you measure a guy's personality and how do you know if it matches what you are looking for?
Theorem 3 Most of the male characters in fandoms are sexy for two things; their sensitivity and complications. We squeal whenever this male character has a cute moment with this female character, you name it. It happens in almost every Young Adult Fiction. Basically we appreciate the sweet, vulnerable, and soft side of every male regardless of the kind of complicated masks they wear.
In books, movies, and shows, we are attracted to either the good boy or the bad boy.
Corollary 1 For the good boy, multiply 2 (because two is better than one) to 0.777.
2 x 0.777 = 1.554
Corollary 2 For the bad boy, multiply 2 to 0.666.
2 x 0.666 = 1.332
Once you got the computation, multiply it to 0.15. But if you chose the bad boy corollary, then you have to multiply your previous answer to -0.15, square it, and then you multiply it again to a 100 because those kinds of guys take a lot of work.
1.332 x -0.15= -0.1998 ^ 2 = 0.03992004 x 100 = 3.992004
Personality: 4/15
Romantic Gimmicks (10%) Nothing makes a girl swoon when a guy would wake you up from your beauty sleep with the most sweetest texts, ever. But if you are into extremes, you would love a guy who would purchase an entire island for you. Calculating a man's romantic gimmicks is probably the most discriminating part of this entire process. Why? Let's take a look at the next theorem.
Theorem 4 A guy's romantic etiquette will be based on his or her income. If you are swooned by the Edward Cullen-rich kind of man, then you have to divide his monthly income/allowance over your monthly income/allowance. Interchange the two when you prefer the opposite.
If you want a rich man (signs: you want him to buy you very materialistic gifts, you want him to close down an entire store/mall/airport/restaurant/ship for you so you guys can spend some alone time together, you're into candle-lit dinners, you want to be proposed in the best way ever, you want him to hire a photographer on your proposal, you remind your friends that they should remind your future man to do these things for you, you basically want to be romanced with the grand and fabulous stuff in life):
The guy's monthly income or allowance / Your monthly income or allowance
If you want an average or poor man (signs: you don't want him to buy you that much gifts, being surprised by a flash mob is enough, handmade gifts are enough, to surprise you with breakfast in bed made by him, you want him to hold up signs for you saying how much loves and shiz, you prefer being romanced through songs, it's either you don't want gimmicks or you want gimmicks that do not involve that much money):
Your monthly income or allowance / The guy's monthly income or allowance
Corollary 1 You can't have both, even if you want two gimmicks of two different types to happen to you. You can't always get what you want and that's the sad fact of life.
The way he plays pianos, the way he does flower arrangements, the way he dances with you under the moonlight....oh! And when he cooks for you??? Sighs.....Fandoms have the ability to create these kinds of guys. However, in this case, we would need a scorecard.
Theorem 5 There is a difference between having a skill and being good at it. The first thing you have to do is to create a list of the skills you look for. For each skill, you have an automatic weight of 100%. In this scorecard computation, it is up to you if this guy has the skills you are looking for. Define the score on your own (because you have the best judgment for this) and divide it by the automatic weight. Once you are done, add the total and multiply it 0.15
Pianist skills - 20/100 Intelligence - 50/100 Sewing - 100/100 Cooking - 80/100 Singing - 56/100 Dancing - 43/100 Has a way with children - 100/100 Athletic skills - 3/100 Poetry - 57/100 Art skills - 97/100 Mechanic Skills - 69/100 Gardening - 24/100 Flower arranging - 12/100
Total: 7.11
Corollary 1 If the skills you are looking reach more than 10, then multiply it by -0.15 and square it.
7.11 x -0.15 = -1.0665 ^ 2 = 1.13742225
Skills: 1/15
And we are almost at the end! Now that you've got the score of each, add them all up and if it reaches a perfect 100, then that means you certainly found the one!
12 + 4 + 0.10 + 1 = 17.1
Perfect boyfriend score = 17/100 Conclusion: He's not the one
If you do not get the perfect 100, then do not feel bad. There is one reason for that and it is seen in the very first theorem.
I noticed that I've been into List-related posts lately. However, this is something that I wanted to share for a very long time. If being an obsessed fan of *insert an incredibly long list of fandoms here* is hard, then being a Filipino fan is harder. Believe it or not, Doctor Who and Star Trek fans are also common around the Philippines. Although I haven't met much "Fandom" (I have an explanation as to why I came up with such a label) fans, the struggles we share are similar and very real. And I can assure you that having the "feels" trip is not the only problem we have.
1.) The Long-Distance Relationship Problem- I'm sure the Filipino Comic book (particularly Marvel and DC) fans can definitely relate to this post, especially since a great number of us were not able to attend the Comic Con at San Diego this year. To us, attending a Comic Con, witnessing a Q&A Panel, getting an autograph from an awesome author or graphic artist.... that's a dream for us. If not a dream, it is a rare opportunity. Most of the fandoms we love are admittedly from other countries and traveling is a luxury for most of us. I'm sure Filipinos who love One Direction or any band or singer can feel this too. But hey, at least concert tours never forget to pass my country. Yes, we do have conventions, but according to my friend a few months back, the experience is not the same. And its understandable if this is the best we can get since the Philippines is really far from most countries, particularly the countries that have the Harry Potter Universal Studios, the cast of Game of Thrones, J.K. Rowling, and DC/Marvel Stars in them.
2.) The Accessibility Problem- This is somehow similar to the first problem, but this time I want to talk about the merchandise. Have you ever had this desire to buy something that is related to your fandoms? Like, you wanted your very own Lootcrate or your very own wand (and I am not just talking about any wand, I am talking about a Harry Potter wand)? I don't know how many times I have encountered this feeling and in spite of my parents' advice of being less materialistic, you can't easily shake the feeling of wanting even some Batman Merchandise. I got the same feeling when I realized that Zoella's book might not be sold here in the Philippines (which I would like to read, thank you very much). People buy these stuff to express how much support and love they give to their fandoms. As long as you have the money then you have the right to buy whatever you want. However, getting the right geek stuff is not that easy for us. Based on my experience of buying fandom merch, there are three ways. The first option is for Anime fans. You can buy your cosplay or Anime stuff in Comic Alley, which is a store mainly for Anime or the "kawaii" Stuff. Another way is to go to the conventions where they sell a whole lot of stuff that you can't easily find in stores. The final alternative is to search every inch of every mall in the metropolitan area. But chances of getting something very authentic is--and I quote Tony Stark on this one-- twelve percent. That's kind of reasonable, simply because Geek things are not that popular in the Filipino Market. And even if they were, they won't come in cheap. Believe me, there are not much nearby Geek stores within my vicinity. The place where they sell actual comic books are miles and miles away from my place and you have to be a dedicated fan with a lot of cash to be able to get through such obstacles. Trust me, I got my Camp Half-Blood Shirt (which is something related to the Percy Jackson fandom) from someplace very far and I was extremely lucky to get my hands on it.
3.) The Colonial Mentality Problem- I think this is a deep and touchy problem. We Filipinos are highly encouraged to be nationalistic, at least that's one of the many important lessons I had to learn during my elementary days. In other words, having the "Pinoy Pride" is a big deal for us. There are many abstract reasons why and I am sure that this is also the same case for other countries. We always had this issue that if you like something that is not of Filipino origin, then you are officially westernized. The Philippines is doomed in a sense that there are people who do not even notice what our country has to offer because we are so focused on many foreign things, tangible or intangible. As a Filipino, I actually feel bad that I am more knowledgeable about The Mortal Instruments series than Noli Me Tangere (don't get me wrong, though. I actually enjoyed reading the novels of Jose Rizal). And I am sure that I am not the only one who is feeling this way. Although the idea of Colonial Mentality sounds embarrassing and depressing, loving something foreign does not automatically mean that I love my country less. When I read Harry Potter, it does not mean that I abhor anything that is local. When I fangirl about the cast of Arrow, it does not mean that I completely forgot about where I come from. I love the Philippines very much and that is that. I admit, our country has gotten a truckload of foreign influences, but it's not entirely a bad thing.
4.) The Anti-"Masa" Problem- Growing up, I encountered two kinds of people in my nation; the first group would be the geeks and fandom peeps that I grew up with, and the second group are people who are not so familiar with the geek interests and are more into the local pop culture, or commonly known as, "pang-masa". In the Philippines, the most common terms for these two respective groups are "Conyo" and "Jologs", however I honestly think these words are sort of vague for me, since I do not really consider myself as a Conyo. Back in high school, my circle of friends and I are not that familiar with the pang-masa culture. We were very content with our interests. Now that I am in college, I slowly became exposed to it, and my friends are very alienated by my interests. My high school friends, on the other hand, find anything in Filipino mass media extremely odd. I know some people who do not really want to dwell in that void because it is filled with romance, Wattpad love stories, and movies of infidelity that are sometimes sickening and honestly overrated. A close friend of mine claimed that she didn't really trust Filipino Media as much, simply because it's cheesy and not so interesting to her. Perhaps this is the reason why I am not so open to our pop culture. I am not really into the whole, "kilig" factor, dramas, and young love teams that they always come up with. Chemical Zeon, a very dear friend of mine and an all-around Geek blogger, shares his testimony about this matter:
"Whenever you talk to your friends, there is nothing you can hear other than the sound of sweet romantic coupley cutesy stuff that just makes you want to barf. Seriously, in all of my years as a student, nothing is more infuriating than having a poster outside a theater relate to you more than your friends ever could. It’s hard to live a geek’s life here in the Philippine’s when the only Batman these people know is Daniel Padilla, that DJ who everyone seems to like because of aesthetic. You can argue that Batman is a universally well known character, and I can argue that the only thing people know about him is he talks like he swallowed a 7-inch vibrator."
You can say that there is slight discrimination between the people who are into and not into the local pop culture. I have a friend who thought that Tumblr was a site for only rich and luxurious lot. Yes, I am serious. The Filipino Geeks are usually perceived as "intellectual aliens" who refuse to open up to something that is of the masses. While these so-called intellectual aliens would sometimes see the people who are into Anne Curtis or Kris Aquino as Jejemons (you may google the terms, if you are not familiar) with lowly tastes. Although it is not a major problem, the blurred lines are still there.
5.) The Isolated Geek Problem- Again, this is somehow related to the previous problems mentioned. Geeks are also considered freaks or weirdos. Yes, such a problem is quite evident in the Philippines. Aside from appearing ignorant to mass media, Chemical Zeon once again shares:
"You tell your friends you’re a geek. You talk about the things you like. They try to change who you are, because the things you like aren’t normal. I don’t know if I’m the only one who experiences it, but I’ve been panned in-school a lot for opening books and reading them for fun. This is the Filipino Attitude that I would never understand, it’s as if social climbing is ingrained in our social system, that if we don’t climb it their way then we’re losers. What happened to liking something because you find it beautiful? Whatever happened to wearing something comfortable like my Superman Tee or Iron Man Backpack as opposed to wearing stuff that makes you look good according to the people around you?"
I am not so sure a majority of Filipino geeks are experiencing the same issue, but in high school, good friends of mine were bullied for just liking anime. Apparently in our little community, Anime was deemed as something weird (which is true, but who cares right?). But yes, it happens and I am sure anyone can relate to this.
And those are the five struggles we Pinoy Geeks have to face. Just so you know, these struggles are based on my experiences and observations. So I understand if you did not fully agree on this post. I would like to thank Chemical Zeon for sharing his thoughts. You may pay a visit to his website, where he talks about his fandoms and writes reviews for very interesting films. Hopefully this is enlightening and see you till the next post!
As you all know...Naruto has officially ended! And you know what that means? It's time to fangirl...and possibly cry. Up till now, I am still trying to process the fact the manga is over and that the very last movie of Naruto is coming up real soon. I don't know where to begin, since I've been a Narutard since high school. Moreover, I don't know what I should say because one of the characteristics of a basic fangirl is that you can't help but feel speechless all the time when it comes to your fandoms. Like, despite the flaws, everything seems perfect for you no matter what. Anyway, let's get to the manga first.
Basically the very last chapter of Naruto tells all of us what happens to them in the future. They get married, have kids, get important jobs, yadda yadda. If you think about it, that's a pretty simple and boring way to end a manga that has been running for more than a decade. But hey, this is just an extra chapter and the conclusion to every conflict in this manga has already been resolved in the previous chapters. Kishimoto is kind enough to spare us the feels and filled us in with the future of our beloved characters.
What I like about this chapter is simple: all my expectations have been met. My OTPs became canon (which is a personal achievement for the Naurhina and Sasusaku fans out there. Rejoice!), Gaara is presumed single, and Naruto becomes hokage. I know, most of you think that making the protagonist get his ultimate dream, makes the whole Naruto series far too predictable. But give him a break. He's been through a lot for the past seven hundred chapters. Personally, I think he deserves to get what he wants after losing an arm and for many times, his life (and certain loved ones that should not be mentioned). Another thing I like about this chapter are the children/next generation of shinobi. Everyone is just so adorable! It bothers me how the resemblance of some of the characters are so strong, but the perks of this is that I am able to know who married who (gosh, this is like Harry Potter all over again). It even pains me to see some of our elite (Kakashi, the other kages, GAI), getting pretty old. We all knew Kakashi as some sort of Time Lord, who never seemed to age, but wow.... in this chapter, I can finally see it. And I am not so sure how I should feel about that. But at least Kishimoto was being realistic about this chapter. Seeing Anko-sensei gained weight was pretty amusing, to be honest.
I have two favorite scenes, actually. Both of them involve Naruto. First is when Naruto confronts his son, Bolt. Of course, Bolt had to be exactly like his father. Causing trouble in the village, just so he could grab Naruto's attention. But in this very scene, we get to see how Naruto has completely matured as a person and that makes me feel like a proud momma. My next favorite was not really scene but more a panel in the manga. And that's witnessing Naruto using a freakin' laptop. I understand this is Kishimoto's way of saying that the Shinobi villages have been becoming slowly gaining some technological advancement, but I found this panel pretty hilarious. The laptop even resembled a Macbook. Yes, you heard me. A Macbook. They're way more ahead in technology than Korra (Legend of Korra).
The only thing I did not like about it is that it was far too simple. I understand that the story should be until there, but I wish there was more detail in between. The entire chapter felt like a quick run-through on what's going on with everyone and that was just it. In other words, I wish there was more to the chapter aside from catching up with everyone's lives. Like maybe what happened before Naruto became hokage, and what sort of advancement the villages had to go through. they could have explained how they got laptops, for crying out loud.
Speaking of the last chapter, Naruto: The Last is somehow going to be related to that. Everyone's appearances has changed and even though I don't understand the main conflict of this film, I understand that there will be a hint of Naruhina. Heck, they already have designs for their children, so that means they're gonna be in the movie! And that's one thing I am looking forward to! What makes me even more eager and ecstatic for this, are the other character designs that has been going around the net, lately. Unfortunately, I am questioning the character design of Sasuke and Gaara. They look like two shrimps that need to combine so they can have the built of Naruto. But I think Hinata is my favorite character design, so far. Although her gentle nature is still in tact, I can already sense maturity and some impressive character development from this Hyuga girl. Yes, I know, Ino looks hot but for some odd reason, Hinata has caught my full, undivided attention. She looks beautiful. Hopefully, this will reflect in the movie.
I still can't believe that this series has been running for fifteen years. I was sort of expecting this to end, by the time I started working. but wow...this feels like Harry Potter, Heroes of Olympus, The Infernal Devices, and *lists down the rest of my fandoms that have ended* all over again. I'm actually going to miss Naruto, because it came to me during a time that I was very depressed. And just watching ninjas fighting for more than four episodes somehow lifted up my spirits. So here are things that I'm going to miss. Since Naruto has 700 chapters all in all...I'm just going to list a couple of things.
1.) Naruto's sexy jutsu
2.) Gaara
3.) Naruto's "never-gonna-give-up speeches"
4..) Kakashi's random lies
5.) Their hand signs
6.) Team Gai's fountain of youth routine
7.) Rock Lee's determination
8.) The long episodes of fighting
9.) Kakashi's mask
10.) Pakkun
11.) Tsunade's pet pig, whose name skips me unfortunately
12.) The random characters in the filler arcs
13.) Temari's fan
14.) Kankuro's cat ear hoodie
15.) Gaara's Gourd
16.) Gaara.
17.) Sakura's inner demon
18.) Tsunade's breasts
19.) Ramen
20.) Sai's drawings
21.) Kabuto...when he pretended to be good
22.) Orochimaru. I actually miss him.
23.) The Third hokage
24.) The Nine-tailed fox's whining
25.) Killer Bee's messed up raps
26.) His brotherly love with the Raikage
27.) The Raikage because he's awesome
28.) Mizukage's Christmas tree hair
29.) Kisame's sword
30.) Zetsu
31.) just kidding I don't miss him
32.) Itachi's eyebags
33.) Sasuke's duck-butt hair
34.) Neji's girl-like features
35.) Gaara.
36.) The villages even though I have not seen everyone
37.) Choji's fats
38.) Akamaru
39.) Hinata's adorable fainting spells
40.) Shino's emo-ness
41.) Ino's mouth
42.) Shikamaru's hair
43.) People who try to copy Naruto by saying they won't give up ever.
44.) The random dramatic music when something emotional is happening.
45.) Gai and Rock Lee's relationship
46.) Tobi.
47.) Obito
48.) I ain't missing Madara
49.) Jiraiya's pervert-self
50.) Bacchikoi
51.) The random skits at the end of each episode
52.) Yamato's scary eyes that are not really that scary
53.) Sai's random unintentional gay tendencies
54.) Sai's bluntness
55.) Gaara
56.) Sakura's temper
57.) The healing jutsu
58.) Sharingans
59.) Byakugans
60.) Rinnegans
61.) Konan...wait. What happened to her?
62.) Nagato
63.) The Frog Food that they made Naruto ate
64.) Naruto's clones
65.) Sasuke's ridiculous kimono
66.) the characters that stayed officially dead
67.) Gaara's insomnia
68.) Gaara
69.) Sasori's puppets
70.) Deidara's hands
71.) Deidara and Sasori's arguments about art
72.) Deidara's arms
73.) Chunin exams
74.) The sound four
75.) The poor souls who had to resurrected for the freakin' war
76.) The guy who always acts as the proctor for the Chunin exams
77.) Naruto's complains about him just being a genin.
78.) Rasengan
79.) The word Chakra
80.) Dattebayo!
81.) Minato and Kushina cuz they're perfect
82.) The word Jinchuriki
83.) Gaara's Matrix-like, turtleneck outfit
84.) Gaara's hairstyle in chapter 700
85.) Gaara's fangirls
86.) Gaara's dark eye rims
87.) Gaara
88.) The Akatsuki uniform. or the Akatsuki themselves
89.) Sakura's long hair
90.) The filler arcs
91.) Nope I do not miss them
92.) They always get in the way
93.) Like seriously
94.) wait, the anime has not yet ended
95.) oh well
96.) what else do i miss
97.) Konohamaru's scarf
98.) Kakashi's bells
99.) The random piercing on Nagato and his army
100.) GAARA
At the end of the day, I would like to give a salute to Kishimoto, the awesome creator of Naruto. This person has been writing and sketching the story of this unlikely hero for fifteen years, and that's very impressive. Thank you for making my high school life awesome, somehow. And thank you for somehow helping the Narutards find their own ninja way.
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