About Time

The good thing about spending the weekend in this sleepy town without my own transportation is that it lets me catch up on some of the shows I missed. I usually don't watch any tv at home and I usually catch movies at the theater so if I miss it, I would end up not watching it until I've forgotten all about it or unless I find myself sitting still when the family happens to watch anything interesting which is rare.

The last weekend I was here, I finally got the chance to watch Silver Linings which was by the way so good. The big plus would be that Bradley Cooper was a joy to watch in that movie. He was good in character but still good-looking and just damn gorgeous!

This weekend, after much and several convincing from the sister, I finally watched About Time. I had no idea about this movie nor have I heard of it. All I remember was this was the name of the short stay cottage I got back in Anna Maria Island in Florida last 2009.

Apparently, the British movie was about time travel but the approach was less like "The Time Traveler's Wife" although Rachel McAdams was again the leading lady here but probably more like "Love Actually". I'm quite impatient and have a short attention span so I ended up googling the synopsis at the start. The synopsis was just ok but it didn't prepare me for the emotions that you'd get out of watching it. Good thing I still watched it anyway after reading (it eventually got a little interesting...).  It would probably have helped if I knew who the actor was or if he was distractingly handsome as say Bradley Cooper or Joseph Gordon Levitt.

image from IMDB

At the some point in the movie, the tears started and it wouldn't stop flowing way after the movie has already ended. My eyes still hurt a bit as I write this. It was crying of the good kind of way because it was in no way the pessimistic view of things but the optimistic one. 

I love the message of the movie in that it is a reminder really, for us to not let the stress and worries of our daily lives get the better of us and stop us from enjoying. I agree with the writers in that there would probably be a huge difference in our lives and other people's lives that constantly intersect with ours if we just take it easy and everything in stride. Of course, there are really bad days but if we start thinking that there won't be another day and a future way ahead, it probably won't be as bad. It doesn't mean we should be reckless as well. I guess it's trying to live our lives without regret.

Not to be a spoiler but according to the movie the secret Formula for Happines:
"Part 1 of the two-part formula: get on with ordinary life, living it day by day just like everyone else.
Part 2 live everyday again, almost exactly the same. the first one with all the tensions and worries that stop us from noticing how sweet the world can be but the second time, noticing."
Of course, this was possible because the protagonist could time travel. Instead of travelling back in time to remove inconveniences or make corrections in his life, this was the advice he was given in order to make better use of their gift. But the final lesson is something we all can relate to:

"I just try to live everyday as if I've deliberately come back to this one day to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary ordinary life."

In the end, I don't really mind who the actors were. I just love the reminders from this movie. I'm so glad my sister bugged me to watch it. I also love the version of "How Long Will I Love You?" by Jon Boden, Sam Sweeney and Ben Coleman in the movie.
  

let's go to the beach: Cagbalate

For some reason, I am not too keen on basking on the sun, playing in the sand and wading in the water this year. It's already mid-May and I don't think I've been to the beach yet or even to a resort with just a pool. Call me pathetic or anti-social fine by me. too skin-white conscious I don't think so. (thank God for rash guards!) flab-conscious maybe yes. Nevertheless, whether or not I get to go this year either's fine by me. This country's got a lot of picturesque, wonderful and breathtaking nooks, crannies and beaches. Maybe in due time I'd get to experience the wonder of the must-sees but so far this is one of those that has taken my breath away.

Cagbalate 2010. An island about an hour away from Mauban, Quezon.
What was supposed to be Cagbalete 2009 became Cagbalete 2010 due to the bad weather we had to content with. Not exactly a virgin beach but it gives you the feel of just the right mix of seclusion, serentiy and simple 'resort life'. There are resorts in the area but camping is an option as well (yes, a shower and toilet's available!). We camped out in Pansacola if I'm not mistaken as they were already fully booked.

Mauban port

this is not how you eat habhab

our "campsite"

sand ripples

long stretch of sand..

redefining low tide...

the water recedes way too far for a swim...

that far from the island and people are still standing.

don't know how to swim? not a problem!

If I can I want to go back here and just laze around... no night life here just "chillax" life...

pure bliss...

i fell in love with this:




and this

then again, who wouldn't?

paradise with friends - priceless! =)

*photos courtesy of atan

preview of highlands "pictorial"

because i love the pics ((not from my cam-yet to upload/share them) so much! hehehehe fun fun fun!

scorching summer heat--Taal style

when: MARCH 26, 2007
where: TAAL
who: GI, JI, JOYCE, MIKE, JC, BOWDY, PAOLO
coming soon: pinatubo, EK, MOA (skating), Corregidor, Taal take 2????
(side note: lakwatsa galore! mapapagalitan na ako nito pag nagkataon! hahaha may sorsogon/bicol, laguna, bangkok pa with college friends! hahaha :p pro sana matuloy and makajoin ako hehehe....)

we conquered Taal! well at least they did! hahaha :p

"Other people's opinion of you doesn't have to become your reality. Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. I don't know the key to success, but one key to failure is to please everyone. So why waste time thinking about what others will tell you. Instead, do what makes you happy." >>> wow, that makes sense especially to me... one i should keep in mind... toink!

thank God for friends...

Panagbenga 2007 with College Friends
(sa uulitin!)
pics from Atan's site(and camera too!) =)

View Show Create Your Own Playlist

savoring the stress-free weekend...

weekends should really be like this... though not easy on the purse

first stop: MOA day with Jake, JP, Cy, Cha and Katre... think: dinner, Night at the museum, impromptu ice skating and coffee afterwards in Greenbelt... priceless!!!! major laugh trip with bits of serious convo here and there... BUT being the Cinderella/KJ aka 'kill joyce' that I am, i had to excuse myself from subjecting myself to humiliation when it was red box time which lasted until the following day... too bad I couldn't join (when will I ever? that's why I gotta seriously think about moving out or relocating perhaps?)... There were quite a number missing in attendance but it sure feels great to be with the 'gang' again, (got the term from Jake). Hopefully on the next "gimik" I'll be able to join again!


ice skating was one unplanned activity but a 'cool' one at that! 'twas actually my second time only since like 1st or 2nd year of college! that LONG already!!! wasn't able to bring the camera on the ice so I'm just going to borrow pics taken by Cy in his phone when he uploads them. Somehow, the three pics that I have don't even come close to illustrating what happened on the ice!!! haha


sidenote: guys, if you haven't you should watch Night at the Museum... major laugh trip! but it could also be that we were just so stressed out with "work" that found even the tiniest of things in the movie as very funny. :p


second stop: Lunch at Leslie's Tagaytay. I have promised the family that I'll treat them for Lunch or dinner at Leslie's since like December of last year! Due to our hectic schedules which somehow do not seem to match it has been postponed indefinitely. I've been wanting to get the family to go to Tagaytay again since it's been so long that we've been to Tagaytay as a family. I was actually motivated during Erik's visit last year when I saw that so much has changed since I've been there last. Leslie's a start, maybe when dad goes to Sonia's this weekend he can then treat us there too next time. we were supposed to go there with my cousin but unfortunately, she was in the province... maybe next time :) Lunch was good but again not on the budget... but it's enough that they appreciated the fact that we went to Tagaytay to eat Lunch! ahaha :D kidding aside, my mom couldn't agree more on the positive changes. She could still remember the 'kubo-kubo' by the road before in order to get a good view of the Taal Lake/volcano... ooopppssssss.... all of a sudden I remember someone with the mere mention of Taal!
some pics:


weekends should be like this... at least once in a while... refreshing...