Dreams: Premonition, the Subconscious and other Theories

Exactly four (4) years ago, September 17, I had a dream that I can not forget. I was standing in a very bright, all white place. Then I saw my grandfather. He held me close to him then he smiled at me. Suddenly, he turned around and walked away without saying anything. He slowly faded away and my vision was just all white and became even brighter. Then I woke up with tears in my eyes.

At that time, my grandfather was in a vegetative state due to complications because he was already suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer. Later that day, we went to the hospital to visit lolo. It was just like a regular, ordinary visiting day. We came there to see him, said "Hi", "kamusta", and even if he was unable to respond, we know he heard us. We had no idea that it was the last day that we are going to see him breathing. We went on doing our usual stuff, had dinner beside him and when we were about to go home, he had cardiac arrest. He was revived, vital signs became normal again and then we left. While we were still on the road, we were called up from the hospital because my grandfather had another arrest. So we went back. The moment we, the family, were already complete to see him, he breathed his last. My lolo left us to be with our God in heaven. Just like what happened in my dream earlier that day.

 I don't know whether that incident, my grandfather's death, is related to my dream or it was just a coincidence. Did lolo bid me goodbye in that dream? Did it suggest anything that is going to happen later that day? Was it a premonition? There are psychic studies that tells us that we can acquire information of an upcoming or future event through our dreams even before that event happens. If this is right, then maybe I had a premonition of my grandfather's death? Maybe.

Sometimes, no matter how good or bad our dream is, it would leave us wondering what that dream means. I remember during our psychology class, we were taught that our dreams is the product of what lies in our subconscious mind. According to Sigmund Freud, "dreams are the manifestations of urges and desires that we keep suppressed in the realm of our subconscious... our subconscious desires include those that we don't want to admit..." If this theory is correct, therefore, we dream of the things or events we deny in our conscious mind.

Oftentimes, there would be someone who keep appearing in our dreams. Does seeing someone in our

dreams mean he/she is someone we deny in our conscious mind? Is he or she the desire we keep in our subconscious mind? Hmm. I recall someone told me that the person we see in our dreams is the person who misses us. She said, it was according to the Reader's Digest. I went over the internet searching about this. I read somewhere that it must be true if they are soulmates. The minds of the dreamer and person in his/her dream had a connection through that dream. Wow. Could it be possible that the one we dreamed of is missing us? I hope so.

I believe that there are a lot of theories regarding dreams. And if I study dreams further, it would really be mind boggling for me.

Again, today, September 17, marks the 4th Death Anniversary of our Lolo Tony. And we, we all miss him.

Review: Ex With Benefits

Pain. It is the unpleasant feeling caused by an injury or disease. We would often use drugs, medicines, 

pain killers particularly, just to be free from pain even just for a while. That is for physical pain. How about

for the emotional pain, which is usually caused by sadness, loss or frustration? Is there any pain reliever

that can actually suppress that emotional pain we sometimes feel? Is there any drug that can at least

alleviate the pain in our hearts which we can take every four (4) hours or round the clock or as needed?

If there’s any, I’m quite sure a lot of people would flock the drugstores to avail this medicine. Well,

whether it is physical or emotional pain, we all go through it, we would all feel it. According to the movie

Ex With Benefits, pain is what makes us human. And the best way to recover from pain, is to endure it, because then and only then, can we heal.

Endure it because... Pain demands to be felt. And so I heard that line again. But this time in another film,as it

was just quoted in the latest movie offering by Star Cinema, Ex With Benefits. Starring Derek Ramsay as the most successful and renowned Dr. Adam Castrences, and Coleen Garcia as Arkishia Aragon, a Medical Representative who happens to be on top of her field. The story is about the ex lovers, Adam and

Arki, whose paths crossed after the break up that took place ten (10) years ago.

What I liked about the film

1.  The Story. It has a good take on a modern day love story which includes sex and everything. I also liked how what was supposed to be a light sexy movie turned to have a deep background story especially on Arki's life after the break up.

2. Derek Ramsay. We've seen countless Derek Ramsay movies where he would surely strip and show off his body then do love scenes. Here, I've noticed how careful he was to Coleen but still, his hotness didn't make any less. And for his acting, he is effective but still the same Derek in his previous films. 

3. Coleen Garcia. She was really pretty and sexy. I did not expect much from her since this is just her first lead role in a movie, but, she nailed it. And I guess she was a good choice. She's fresh and seems like, has more to offer in her coming films.

4. The Characters. Adam Castrences as the best doctor who has a broken heart. It just goes to show that even the people in the health and medical field are having problems with healing their own heart. Arki Aragon as the person who would do anything to get on top and anything for the ones she loves.

5. Music. There were no slow, nostalgic, mushy love songs played as background music in the movie. New.

6. Health and Medical terms. As a health care provider, I find it amusing to hear medical terms in a sexy film such as, placebo, fungi, congenital disease, tetralogy of fallot, duty, drug names, and etc.

There were flaws, i think it was the editing problems and rushed scene but definitely, the story wasn't affected at all. In addition, I loved how attraction levels were discussed during the first part of the movie. Informative. However, what I really loved the most was how the movie taught us about pain... on how pain can make or break a person and all the struggles one would through because of pain. Cry, Get drunk, be sober, endure the pain, until such time, we get healed... eventually. Ex With Benefits, a film on love, relationship, lost love, pain and healing gets, 4 out of 5 stars from me! :)

The Breakup Playlist

  

Paano ba ang magmahal?
Kailangan bang nasasaktan?

Lagi na lang di maaari

Ngunit ayaw lumisan

Super Mega Major LSS. That’s what I got after watching the latest movie offering by Star Cinema, The   Breakup Playlist. Directed by Dan Villegas (English Only, Please), written by Antoinette Jadaone (That   Thing Called Tadhana), starring Piolo Pascual as Gino and Sarah Geronimo as Trixie.

The story revolves around Gino, a musician who is about to take a risk in his career and Trixie, a law   student who later joined Gino’s band, Pencil Grip. The Breakup Playlist, although another movie that talks about falling in and out of love, reunion and second chances, is not your typical romantic-comedy film.

What I love about the movie? 

1. That scene in a record store where Gino and Trixie used cd covers to talk about their lives. I find it really cute especially when Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears were mentioned.

2. I enjoyed seeing a lot of our music icons in the film. Appearances of Jamie Rivera, Yael Yuzon, Cris     Villonco, Jet Pangan, Basti Artadi, Ebe Dancel, Teddy Corpuz and lot more, was like a musical treat for   every music lover.

3. The songs. The movie has less musical scoring probably because it has songs (performed by the lead  characters) that perfectly connects the story and the character’s situation. 

4. The Hugot lines like;

“Sana ganon kadaling makalimot, pero ang hirap pala. Lalo na pag siya yung pangarap mo..... Yung magpapasaya sayo, yung hindi ka sasaktan..... Paano mo makakalimutan yung ganoon?”

5. A matured Sarah Geronimo. Well, compared to her other previous films. Here, a less laughing and a   more serious Sarah is being presented. Something that her fans should love and appreciate.

6. Piolo Pascual. Definitely. I love how he exactly portrayed the life of a musician and how his character’s  ego developed to make the conflict of the couple’s relationship. His irresistible charm, the way he makes  pakilig, his masculinity and his very natural acting will surely blew any girl or anyone away. 

I just find or thought that that getting-back-to-each-other scene a little “corny” and rushed. However, we can never really expect a movie to really be perfectly crafted, but I enjoyed how this film depicted the reality of a couple who went through a devastating breakup and the awkwardness of having to see each other again. 

In conclusion, The Breakup Playlist, gets 4 out of 5 rating from me. :]

Starting Over Again : My Thoughts

                 Why do couples, after separating, has to meet again? Could there be another chance for them to get back together? What if wala? But what if meron?  Why? All these questions were answered after I watched Star Cinema’s Valentine movie offering, Starting Over Again.

                Starring Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga, directed by Olivia Lamasan. Piolo Pascual delivered very well the character of Marco, a History professor turned Chef. Syempre, Piolo Pascual is Piolo Pascual. He exactly showed how a man who fell so deeply in love then got hurt and became devasted after being left alone by the one he loves so much. Even if there were heavy confrontation scenes, I like seeing Piolo in this kind of light romantic-comedy film. And I also like how looking at him during the movie can make one glued to him, because he is really “gwapo”. Toni Gonzaga on the other hand, played the character of Ginny, a student who was head over heels to her History professor, who eventually became an Architect. Just like in her previous films, Toni G., never fails to showcase her humor with the characters she plays. Here, I appreciate her maturity and bravery to do those kissing scenes and love scene, something I don’t usually see in most of her films. I am also impressed with her fashion in the movie. Overall, I love how good they were in making people relate to the characters they played.

                In the movie, the girl fell for the boy then the boy catches the girl. They eventually bacame a couple, then got separated. The girl left the boy. Years after, they met and saw each other again. The girl, Ginny, was hoping they could have another chance but the boy, Marco, was already with somebody else, Patty (Iza Calzado). The ex couple could have had a part 2 of their relationship but it was now complicated having a new person in the scene. If there’s already someone new, why do they have to meet again??

                The movie’s ending wasn’t the ending that I have (or maybe “we”) expected. I’ve watched several Star Cinema romantic-comedy films with that happily-ever-after ending, but this time, it didn’t end the same way. And I think it was the best thing about the movie. I love how perfectly the story was made... because in reality, some relationships doesn’t always last and have a happy ending. It ended just right.

                So again, why do ex couples have to meet again? Second chance? To rekindle the old flame? Maybe. But what if the other has already moved on with another life? What if it is already complicated and impossible to have a part 2? Why still meet? The movie answered it with “closure”. Maybe two people with an unresolved past has to meet again not because they have a one more chance, but because they simply have to put an end to what they used to have... to have a closure to all the why’s, what if’s, to all the questions and issues that are haunting ex lovers.

                Starting Over Again is not your usual romantic-comedy film. I might not have expected the ending of Marco and Ginny’s love story but I felt glad on how the movie ended with that feel-good feeling. I love how the movie has its effect on me. I mean, I felt the sadness but it definitely placed a smile on my face later on. Above all, I love how it taught me (or maybe, “us”) that not all relationships has its happy ending;  that one, after all the heartbreak, has to move on and get back up on track again... that eventually one has to start all over again... to start making his/herself whole again... :)

Reasons of Being Single on Valentine’s Day

                ‘Tis the season of Roses, Chocolates, Love letters, Stuff toys, Restaurants and other places filled with couples. Indeed, love is in the air!

                On this day, February 14, we would expect to see couples celebrating this day really happy and full of love. People will surely find and do things just to make their partners feel loved during the Valentine’s Day. But how about those people who are not in a relationship on this day? How would the singles be able to enjoy the Heart’s Day?

                Of course there are a lot of ways. Celebrate and go out with friends, have a date with your family and other loved ones, stay busy, and a lot of other things. One may also sleep the whole day and act as if today is just a normal day or make it your ME time since for some singles, Valentine’s day is their Single Awareness Day. 

                But really, why do some people stay single when they can actually enjoy being with somebody else? While there are a lot of reason for staying in a relationship, we could also enumerate numerous reasons why people choose to be single.

                For some, being single is means staying out from headache and stress... something we all knew is just an excuse to a something deeper reason. Some would say being single keeps them away from hassle, remembering important dates, ensuring to attend to our partner and etc. Maybe they have a point. Maybe that is somehow true. And all we can give to these people is the benefit of the doubt ... the thought that may be they are telling the truth.

                Another reason for staying single is being too picky in finding or choosing the right partner for us. We would encounter people listing who they wanted to be with, what kind of a man or woman they want, they wanted this, they wanted that... even parents and family members makikilista ng standards nila.

                Third is, that person with a single status had his or her heart broken. That person could be mending his or her broken heart after a failed relationship. There are several scenario on why couples have fallen apart but these people or one of them, who used to be together might choose to just be alone... until such time he or she has finally moved on. Until the time that he or she is whole again and has the capacity to love again and enter into a commitment.

                The last reason i have in mind is that, may be that the single person is waiting for someone. Someone who promised to give love at the right moment. Someone who we wish to come back and choose us to be with them. Someone who we define as our true love. Someone who our heart has never forgotten.

I’m sureAll of us, i think, dreamed of meeting someone at the right time, right moment, who can make our heart melt and sweep us off our feet. We tend to wait for that person that is why we choose to be alone until that time arrives.

Being single on Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean we have to weep and envy those couples celebrating this special day ... for we, the singles, have our own reason why we choose to be dateless this Valentine’s Day. Furthermore, Valentine’s Day is not only meant to be celebrated by couples but also be shared to our loved ones. 

Happy Valentine's Day! :)

One Sided Love Affair

                One falls in love and other catches the other. This is the typical and most ideal kind of love story for anyone.     

         

                But what if ... no was there to catch the one who was falling? What if isa lang yung na-in love? What if IKAW lang yung nagmamahal? What if..?

                One sided love affair – the kind of love relationship or situation where one has fallen in love and other isn’t. Where in one has been giving, and the other only receives. The love affair where one is in love to someone who doesn’t love them back.

                How does it feel to love someone who bacame the apple of your eyes but hasn’t even laid their eyes on you? How does it feel when after you have given all the efforts and everything that you can give just to show how much you love him or her, all you receive is nothing? Worst is, wala manlang ni-thank you. No appreciation at all. Yes, I guess it hurts. It hurts to tell someone “i love you” and then walks away from you. As they say, it is like you are hugging a cactus... it won’t hug you back, it would even hurt you and leave you wounded. It’s like you jump off onto a something hoping someone was there to catch you, but no one was there and you broke into pieces. Ouch. Painful.

                Sometimes, we tend fall for someone who is just out of our reach. Or, possibly within reach but, someone who is just not really into you. It’s hard because we can not simply choose who to fall for and ask that person to love us back. When we fall in love, we can never expect that the love we have given will be reciprocated. We can only hope for that small amount of chance that maybe, one day, they would also feel the way we feel for them... that maybe, in time, he or she will look at you at sa iyo naman umikot ang mundo niya, dahil para sa iyo, siya na ang mundo mo.

                Hurt. Pain. Sadness. That is how you would feel to be in this situation. Friends would even tell you how stupid you are, laugh at you and sila pa mababadtrip sayo. And you just wouldn’t listen ... You would still choose to be in it. As the saying goes, ”It’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all”. Kumbaga, at least you were able to show someone how you feel and what love is. Time will come that all the love that you have for that certain person, will be consumed and nothing will be left. All the experience will become your lesson ... And maybe, one day, someone will find you, walk into your life, pick up all the broken pieces of you and give you the love that you truly deserve...

               

What is Love?

            February. The Love Month. As they say, Love is in the air. With that, I feel like writing anything and everything about Love for this whole month … J

            Love. We all just have a lot of question about love. When and how do we know if we are already in love? Who are we going to love? Or can we even choose who to fall in love with? Where can we find love? Is love really accompanied by pain? Do we really have to make a sacrifice for love? And a ton of other questions about love. But then, probably the first question we would ask is, What is love? Hmm …

            According to Mr. Webster (Webster Dictionary), love is a feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preeminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness. And then on Wikipedia, it says that, love can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection —"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals. So, it seems that love is a feeling or emotion that make anyone be good person as it may push us to be kind, compassionate and be gentle to a person and/or to everyone.

What is love? A question which I believe had been asked since the ages. That probably is the reason why love has been described in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8;

“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

 8 Love never fails”

            But then if we get to ask a person, what is love, we can surely hear just a lot of definition for love. One may say that love is what we give to a person who could mean so much to him/her. The other would say that love is something felt by the heart and can make us kilig. Another may answer that love is a gift and a blessing we receive for showing goodness and care to a certain person. People might say that love is a wonderful feeling that can turn our world upside down and make us do crazy things.

            What is love? One question, too many possible answers. If I were to be asked about the definition of love, I simply do not have a definite answer … I (or we) would just feel it. For me, love changes its meaning depending on the person’s state of mind… depending on his/her situation. It could be mother/brotherly love or simple affection to a friend and special someone. Love is what we feel to a particular person, we sometimes didn't notice…we are already in love.

            Maybe… I am sure each and every one of us has his or her own definition of love. It may be similar to Mr. Webster… It could be described the same and with accordance to the Bible… It may give us such pain and sacrifice in the end or along the way, but still worth to have experienced to feel what love is. Surely, Love is for everyone to feel and to be given and shared … especially this season of love. J