Ibalong: The Musical

Journal Entry # 4
Topic: Ibalong: The Musical
Date & Time: Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Place:  Bedroom

Last Saturday February 23, 2013 at 3pm, I watched the play Ibalong. Overall, I can say that I enjoyed the show. What made me enjoy it was first and mostly because of the music. Regardless of what the lyrics were or just the music itself without the words or singing voice, it was so beautiful. It was really nice. I'm a big fan of classical music and such. I like how it was blended with other Filipino instruments. I've been listening to a lot of classical music, and rarely do I find music that is our own or Filipino music being published. I hope someday we can be proud of our own music and be able to advertise and sell it to other countries the same way they do. -- Going back to the other factors. The story and the theme of the play is just fine, it's somehow typical, except maybe for the death part, because normally the ending is usually too happy. So that's a good thing that he died. The script and such, I also think it was fine, but there were dull moments, but I know it's normal for plays to have those moments. And I want to praise the actors and their singing voices, together with those people who made the prop and costumes. I love the costumes so much. They were so pretty and cool; However, for the stage setting, I don't like it so much. I thought it would change every after break,  but it didn't. So it kinda frustrated me. The lights were also good. I didn't notice it much, but I think it was good. I have no complaints about it.

I already watched a play in CCP before, so it's not my first time, but I still think the whole experience was nice. I like watching plays in theaters because it makes me feel something different, like a different experience because it's something I don't usually do. And of course it made me happy and proud of our talents, literary and cultural heritage, and etc. A thing that I realized is you can't watch a movie the same way with a play, because when you watch a play onscreen, it's like missing half of the movie or experience. You won't enjoy it. You have to watch it live to feel everything and enjoy it.

Poetry Recital

Journal Entry # 3
Topic: Poetry Recital
Date & Time: Fri, Feb 22, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Place:  Bedroom

Yesterday, February 21, 2013, I delivered a poem in class. The poem that I chose was "You came too" by Nikki Giovanni. I like the poem because I find it very sweet. It's like love coming in to your life when you least expect it, moreover is that it follows you wherever you go. There will be someone who will always be there for you.

Overall, I like the activity of having a recital, however, it takes too much time. I have my other major subjects too, so its really difficult, and somehow a hassle. That's a problem I encountered. It requires a lot of time, to find a poem, to memorize it, to study about it, to practice delivering it and to create a  presentation of it. But somehow I enjoyed it. It reminded me of a Declamation Contest that I participated when I was in second year high school. It was so fun back then. Many people supported me and I won 2nd runner up. I think I like giving oral speeches or poems, but only the scripted ones or memorized ones. But like everyone else, I also felt nervous before my speech and during and even after my speech. I was nervous because I might forget the lines and nervous on how other people will judge my poem recitation. But in the end, whatever might or would've happen, I did my best and for me that is enough.