A Review of Year 2012

          The past year has been a wonderful journey for me. And now that 2012 is coming to an end, let me just enumerate and acknowledge the blessings my family and I received over the year. 

 

1.) Charms’ Graduation

Graduation held at the UP Film Theater, March 28, 2012

Just last March, my cousin Charmaine finally graduated from College with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

2.)  Lolo’s First Death Anniversary

September 17, exactly a year after my grandfather’s death due to cancer, we remembered his memory and prayed for his soul. And though we will never forget everything about lolo, I still find it a blessing to find our family, especially lola, moving on from losing a loved one.

3.) Mom’s discharge from the Hospital

It was last December 15, when my mom started to have difficulty in swallowing food. It went on until December 18 and that was the time she finally decided to have herself checked up. She was diagnosed to have epiglottittis (is an inflammation of the epiglottis — the flap at the base of the tongue that keeps food from going into the trachea (windpipe) –Wikipedia) which is considered to be an emergency medical condition if not treated immediately as it may block the airway. So, with the doctor’s advice, she sought consult and had herself confined at Capitol Medical Center. After four (4) days of medical intervention (with antibiotics), she was already able to ingest food and feel better. On December 22, my mom got discharged from the hospital. It was a blessing indeed that she was diagnosed and treated even before any complication has occurred.

4.) Celebrations with friends

To meet and have friends is fun; but to make a friendship work and last long is a blessing. So for this year, I thought it is a blessing to find time to be with my friends and share celebrations no matter how busy we were with work. 

5.) Celebrations with family

Adding another year in our lives is definitely a blessing and surely has to be celebrated.

6.) Visit to Manaoag in Tagaytay

It was our first to visit Our Lady of Manaoag in Tagaytay last January 8, 2012. Since it was our first, we made sure to make a wish and pray for our intentions. There I prayed that hopefully, in 2012, I would already land a job. I never thought my prayer will be heard that fast which led me to, probably, the biggest blessing I received in 2012.

7.) Employed as University Nurse

January 9, 2012, a day after visiting Our Lady of Manaoag, I applied for the University Nurse position in AMA. With high hopes although not expecting much, I got hired. I was like, finally, goodbye bum life! I already so thankful to be employed; but to gain all the experiences I had, to learn more and meet new friends is more than a blessing for me. There is actually a lot to talk about being the University Nurse of AMA but I guess I have to reserve it on my next post. 

          It seemed so fast but 2012 has been quite a year. I remember last year I hoped to find a special someone in 2012, but I think, saka na yon. J There’s just a lot to be thankful for. And now that we are about to welcome 2013, I can only hope for another blessed year not only for me and my family, but also to everyone who gets to read this… 

  Happy Happy New Year! Godbless! 

One More Try: A Review

          Family drama has been a favorite genre by Filipino moviegoers. That probably is the reason why every year, a movie theme like this has been included as an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival along with fantasy filled movies of Vic Sotto. I remember in previous years, movies like Tanging Yaman and the Mano Po Saga were Box Office hits during the period of the festival. And for this year, Star Cinema brought us this kind of film with their movie entry, One More Try.

 

          On its third day, I was finally able to catch One More Try in cinemas. It stars four of the brightest stars in our generation; Angelica Panganiban, Dingdong Dantes, Zanjoe Marudo and Angel Locsin. 

          It is a family drama filled with romance as it focuses on a sick child that brought up complications from the past among his parents, Grace (Angel) who is already in a relationship with Tristan (Zanjoe) and Edward (Dingdong) who is already married with Jacq (Angelica). Grace and Edward had to reconnect in order to save their son.

          Angelica Panganiban’s portrayal as the loving wife who has everything except from bearing a child suits her well. The balance of being a kontrabida and a wife who had to sacrifice just to see her husband happy was perfectly executed. Although I really find her scene with Agot Isidro talking in a straight English awkward.

          Zanjoe Marudo, who I’m used to see in a comedy film, showed he can also do drama. With the interpretation of his character, I felt how full of insecurities Tristan is. 

           Dingdong Dantes, who is already known as a good actor, was just okay. I thought he was able to perform exactly what was being asked from him for his character. I also love how he and Angelica dresses pretty good throughout the movie.

          And for Angel Locsin, with a very ideal role from the script, I believe she stood out from the rest. Coming from movies like In The Name of Love and UnOfficially Yours, Angel showed another side of her versatility as an actress. With this, her latest film, I can say Angel just keeps on getting better and better. As a mother of a dying child, she flawlessly delivered her character. I love how she pulls off the right emotion to every situation in her scenes, Nakakadala. That scene where she has get on her knees and beg without saying any word, was rightfully made.

          What I also love about the film is its cinematography. I like how every scene and even their location was perfectly shot. It showed a western-like part of Baguio which we rarely see in Filipino movies. 

         Although I didn’t cry even a single tear (Ako na may problema doon), the movie was really good. It offers moviegoers something new. I just hope, they didn’t include some of those MTV-like-scenes, where the lead stars have to shed tears while the music was playing. I thought it wasn’t essential or needed anymore.

  Feminist, that's how the story has had me oriented with Angelica and Angel's characters; one who is willing to give everything for her husband's happiness and one who's going to do anything for her sick child. Both being firm with their decisions, they dominated the male characters in the story. And with their portrayal, I can say Angel and Angelica deserve to be recognized with an acting award.