Drowning in Feels

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS NUMEROUS SPOILERS ABOUT THE UTTER PERFECTION THAT IS LES MIZ. COME SHARE YOUR EXCITEMENT WITH ME. 

Yesterday, I was finally able to watch Les Misérables with my sister and brother-in-law. I've been dreaming of this day for ages - since I found out there was going to be a new movie adaptation, actually. I've been hearing amazing reviews about the casting and directing and  overall portrayal of 19th century revolutionary France... Though as much as I appreciated everyone's input, I could've done well without all the spoilers lurking around in Facebook and Twitter. (I mean, I know Fantine dies, but you didn't have to describe Anne Hathaway's sob-inducing hospital scene in excruciatingly SPECIFIC detail.)

So here are my thoughts, in no particular order of importance:

• Les Misérables is not a film without its flaws, but these were tied together in such a way that you don't really mind the choppy transitions or unfocused shooting. You just see the characters, feel their emotions and get carried away by the music.

• Personally, I loved the casting for this movie. Of course, some are better off as singers than actors and vice versa. Russel Crowe was a great Javert and really captured the ambivalence between pursuing the law of France or honoring the code of God. He may not have the voice of Josh Groban, but what he lacks in vocal range, he sure makes up  in heart-wrenching emotion. 

• Hugh Jackman... I thought I couldn't love anyone more than I did Wolverine, but Jean Valjean just blew him out of the park. His sheer complexity and constant battle with his conscience gets me every time. 

• Eddie Redmayne's voice. Enough said.

• Oh, and his freckles. One mustn't forget the freckles.

What Have I Done With My Life?

This year's EDSOR Peace Camp was held in La Salle Greenhills, and I was beyond fortunate to be chosen as one of my school's delegates for the two-day event. The whole experience is indescribable, and I truly learned a  lot from the all the speakers, lecturers and of course, my fellow participants (shout-out to Balai Masayahin! hehe, love you guys!). Anyway, EDSOR is mainly about bringing together youth leaders from all four schools who compose the consortium and informing them of their role towards social transformation.

The priceless friendships formed are just part of the bonus. :)

Nevertheless, I'm not here to talk about the OVERABUNDANCE of humiliating moments I endured over the weekend (especially those that pertain to me swearing in front of  a group of scarred grade school kids). Nope, today, I'm going to rant about how utterly useless my fifteen-nearly-sixteen years of existence have been. All. This. Freaking. Time. 

One of the guest speakers shared a story about a young boy in the U.S. who started a foundation helping marginalized communities in Africa receive access to clean drinking water. When he was in the first grade, he realized that many kids his age actually died because they didn't have something people in developed countries take for granted every single day. Inspired, he decided to collect change from family and friends and gradually earned enough to build a well in rural Uganda. He personally traveled to the benefited area and witnessed how big of a difference he made with just a collection of pennies, nickels and dimes. 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that he accomplished all this when he was SEVEN. You read that right. When I was seven, I just hid the fact that I still occasionally enjoyed a good episode of Dora the Explorer. 

So... Yeah. What have I done with my life?

I've always admired leaders and trailblazers, heroes who've paved the way for a brighter future filled with hope and promise. I still don't know what kind kind legacy I wish to impart, but the bottom line is explicit: I just want to leave one. 

I really hope I have the strength and commitment to pursue my dreams. Dreams that can help others fulfill theirs.

Sticking to My Resolution

Well... I did it. I can't believe I finally got off my lazy ass and created a blog. This is definitely a huge leap - at least it is for me. Though I've been writing for a long time, I never did it just for the sake of doing it. I've gone through countless essays, speeches, poems and scripts, but they've all simply been a means to an end. Meeting deadlines for assignments, preparing for group projects, submitting entries during auditions... You get the point. I'd like to think that I am - or could be with enough practice - a decent writer. After all, what is blogging but Twitter ranting that exceeds more than 140 characters?

And I am very, very adept at that. :)

Hope this little project goes well. It's finally time to do something for ME without any hidden motivations and goals. Wish me luck.