Last Journal Entry - Reading Experience

Journal Entry # 5
Topic: Last Journal Entry - Reading Experince
Date & Time: Fri, March 289, 2013 at 9:28 PM
Place:  McDonalds West Ave. Q.C.


"Lumbay ng Dila" and "Please Look After Mother" were both great novels. "Lumbay ng Dila" was the very first Filipino novel that I have ever read in my entire life, moreover; I consider it the longest and really the first ever that I have ever read. At first when I bought the book, I though it was just gonna be another waste, like what I use to do in high school. Back in high school I buy books because it was required to read, but I never get to finish the book, and some I never even get to the 4th page of the story. It gets laid aside. I end up reading the summaries in the internet for the book report. But this time it was different. Maybe it was because I have changed now that's why. I was lazy back then in high school, but now in college I was more responsible than ever, and I realized the value of money. I didn't want to waste my parents money, especially now that my dad doesn't have a job anymore because he resigned. In addition to that, I was desperate in wanting to have a 4.0 grade in this subject and also in my other subjects. I wanted to be a first honors deans lister again, for the last time, since this term is my last opportunity to be a deans lister.

My reading experience was really cool. I never understood the joy of reading until I was able to try it myself. Normally when I read, I was more concerned of the pages, rather than the story. At first, I thought I would end up doing that, counting pages for every chapter while reading, but then as I read I start to get into the book. I was still counting pages, but not as usual as I do, and there was now a craving for me to read the next page, without noticing how many pages more were left to finish the chapter I was particularly in. There was really a lingering between the pages. Based on my experience from the two novels, I was able to come up to the conclusion that every book has a boring part, similar to movies. All the while, I thought that maybe there are books that aren't boring. I've also realized you really can't judge a book by its cover. This reading experience has taught me a lot of lessons, most importantly, it taught me the value and importance of novels, the impact it can give to people.

Like I said, both novels were great. If I were to rate them I'd both give them a 10, however I would refuse to compare them. Every novel has their own story and lesson. I was really glad that I was able to read the books, and realize a lot of things. Both books touched me in a different way. It taught me different lessons and made me realize a lot of things, things I couldn't even imagine. Definitely, I would recommend them. I actually recommended it already to my other friends and to my mom.

After reading the novel, I still feel the lingering. Now, there's a part of me that wants to read another novel after reading another. During this time, to finish the novel I would usually read on my way to school or on the way home. I actually liked reading while travelling. I also read when I have nothing to do, and it was fun. I remember one time reading the book during a seminar, because I got bored of the talk. Now, when I find myself in those circumstances again, I would wish that I have a book with me. It's like at first, reading was a requirement, then in the end it becomes a habit. Habits are hard to break! So now I'm planning to buy and read a new novel. This lingering or craving is bothering me. Maybe you could suggest one? :))

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.

Araby

Journal Entry # 2
Topic: "Araby" by James Joyce
Date & Time: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 2:05 AM
Place:  Bedroom

I originally planned on making this journal entry earlier, but I don't really know what to write. I keep on asking myself what my Araby moment could be, but until now I can't think of a decent one, something that I can narrate or bring to life. I guess I can't remember because for the past 4 or 5 years of my life, I have been living in such a way that in whatever I will do, or whatever choice I will make or decide, I will not regret it. I don't want to end up feeling bad, angry or frustrated just like the boy in Araby. I always try to turn things around so that I would always feel good. I also thought of the possible Araby moments that I had when I was younger, a child, but I really can't remember anything. Going back to the past, and trying to remember things, I really find it hard. Its like I forgot some of my memories, but surely I know, I have an Araby moment. I just can't remember. But there are times in my life that I know I felt something similar to that boy, like how I must have liked someone, and do something for him, which only made me feel frustrated or bad afterwards, and more importantly which made me realize something or made me wake up to my senses.

-additional---
Tues, Jan 29, 2013 at 7:56 PM
Classroom

I'm not sure if this can be considered an Araby moment since I think this is somehow similar. I just thought of it now. My story is similar in terms of the boy really trying to do something fro the girl, but in the end he was able to achieve nothing. It's like being in a situation where in you can't do anything anymore no matter how hard you try. So here's my story. For the past 2 years, I have been trying hard in school to graduate on time. I also had failures and struggles, but still I managed to follow my flowchart. This term, I should already be taking thesis, but sadly I'm not. Now, I'm delayed by 1 term. Last term, my thesis mates and I were battling over whether to take thesis this term or not. I tried everything just to take thesis this 3rd term, but in the end I couldn't do anything because our thesis adviser had to go on leave for 3rd term, so we couldn't take thesis. I was left with no choice but to follow. I felt depressed and sad, because all of my efforts for the past 2 years, just to graduate on time was put in to waste -- at least that's how I felt at that moment. I couldn't do anything, but feel sad and helpless, just like the little boy in Araby. Now, I'm still somehow not okay with it. But I think that since I'm not doing anything major right now, I have a lot free time to do other things. This gives me the time to enjoy my college life this term, since last year I wasn't able to enjoy my life due to studies. As of now, I'm trying to join the DLSU Pep squad to compete for the National Cheer leading Championship All-girls Division this coming March. I guess that will also be the last cheering competition I will ever experience, since by third term next year, I will have already graduated.

Tungkung Langit and Alunsina

Journal Entry # 1
Topic: Tungkung Langit and Alunsina
Date & Time:  Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 4:17 AM
Place: Living room

The story of Tungkung Langit and Alunsina was nice, however; it was not my first time reading that. I was first year high school then when I first read that, and as far as I remember I think the story was 7 pages long. I 'm not sure though. It was really a long time. But out of all the readings we had during my first year, I think that is the only story I can remember. I guess maybe because the story was good, and moreover it was also a story that conflicts with the Bible's story of the creation. Not really a conflict, but somehow the story makes people compare it with the Bible's story of the creation.

In reading the story, I focused more on what I could learn from it and I believe one of the lessons that we could learn from the story is trust. Trust is a very important thing especially in relationships. Without it, relationships fail. Alunsina should  have trusted Tungkung Langit. Another lesson would be controlling your temper. Tungkung Langit lost his temper and ended up pushing Alunsina away. I know a saying that the best cure for anger is delay. We should learn to control ourselves when we are angry, because anger can push people away, more than that it could hurt them. I remembered learning not to speak when angry, because if you do, you will really regret it. Similar to what happened to Tungkung Langit, I'm sure he really regrets it.