The Selection Series

I was looking for a light read and The Selection series did not disappoint. Though I despise heroines who are caught in a love triangle, America is an intriguing character. The history of the country of Ilea is quite interesting and I am most excited about the developments the upcoming final book will bring.

Book #1 - The Selection.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Book #2 - The Elite

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea. 

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide. 

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Tuhog

This Eugene Domingo movie is a black comedy. Black comedy means that it takes a serious topic and presents it with a comedic tone.

IT IS LIGHT.
IT IS HEAVY.
MOST OF ALL, IT IS HEARTWARMING.

1. tam·pon·ade 
   /ˌtampəˈnād/

   Noun Compression of the heart by an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac. The surgical use of a plug of absorbent material.

The Ultimate Selfie

Tuhog

Imagine a hunky Jake Cuenca falling in love with the more mature Eugene Domingo, whose name in this movie is Fiesta. Imagine Empress and Enchong who came from mainstream television tackling sexy innuendos and risque scenes. Imagine Leo Martinez and his buddies (who are great dramatic supporting actors in television soap operas) baking pandesal while playing cards.

It is a movie of many facets. All the main cast are perfect for their characters. Not one of them is forgettable. The story is fast-paced and close to reality. Everything that happened in that happy can happen to anyone.

Even this one.

Will Fiesta be happy at last? The movie is worth it. Watch it in cinemas. That way we can encourage producers to make more movies as entertaining and thought-provoking as Tuhog.

Is she Chito's Lirah?

SOURCE: Em Rejano Smith's website

Is she the girl mentioned by the supposed son of Chito Miranda in his explosive revelations? Apparently, the son is admitting to leaking the sex scandal of his father.

Source: Fashion Pulis posted this and specified that it is from an unverified Facebook account.

Are they the sons of Chito?

Source: Lirah Seyersoled's Facebook Cover Photo

Did she bear Chito's children?

Read that caption.

But! Chito said that he has no children!

Source: Parokya ni Edgar's Facebook account

This is kind of messed up! I hope everything will be cleared up among all these people. 

The Recorded History of A Girl

Source: www.amazon.com
Publication Date: July 31, 2013

Imagine a life unraveled through a series of letters.

That is exactly how one can live vicariously through R’s fabulous but mostly dramatic life. The heroine of the novel The Recorded History of a Girl is both mysterious and open as she shares her thoughts to the many people she meets along the way. Set against the backdrop of some of the world’s most glamorous cities and islands, R finds herself exploring the nuanced meanings of love, friendship, motherhood, bourgeois guilt and everything else that happens in between

There is a letter for everyone in this book. It is both hilarious, sarcastic, but most of all it is at once touching and genial. Enter R’s world and see how a pen and paper can do to create a lifetime.

Author:
Celine R. Lopez is a columnist for The Philippine Star. A former fashion editor and creative director of the paper’s Ystyle design section, she has now moved on to producing movies for European production houses. Her first film Metro Manila won the Sundance award for World Cinema Audience Award for Dramatic Film. She is currently working on her second film. She is also the head designer for the jewelry line Fah/Lux.

She splits her time between Manila, London and California. She lives with her two dogs, Milo and Caligula. Her first book From Coffee to Cocktails was nominated for the National Book Awards for essays.

My Take:

First of all, I downloaded this book for free. Yes, it's legally free on Amazon. I got it for my iPad by simply downloading the Kindle app and syncing it with my Amazon account. 

The very reason that I'm interested in this book is the author. Celine R. Lopez wrote the column From Coffee to Cocktails for the Philippine Star years ago. I am not quite sure if it is still being published today. I read that column everyday and proceeded to wait for Friday because I'd get my fill of her anecdotes then. I was only a teenager and had no idea that she was an IT girl. I just like her easygoing writing style and sophisticated life. I was fangirling over her. I even cut up some of my most loved articles and hid it away in a shoebox.

Though I am only 75% through reading the book, I genuinely adore it. I love that it showcases the various letters written by R to the numerous people in her life. It is full of remarkable quotations which I shall share with you soon. It is a voyeuristic view into the life of a society girl. Everybody thinks that they're all made of gold and glitter but really they are just ordinary people who got lucky early on in life. R, the main character, faced crises and tribulations, too. It is well-written and I believe that Celine, the author, has outdone herself!

Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?

Read the book that inspired the movie of the same title. Read the book which made Kim Chiu decide to star in a less than glamorous role.

“Simply put, the best revenge is to live an awesome life.” 

“Sadyang mailap ang humanap ng tunay na pag-ibig. Madaling sabihing mahal kita, madaling isiping mahal ka niya, pero paano mo malalamang... ito na, eto na talaga?” 

“The only stupid question is the question that is never asked.” 

       ― Ramon Bautista, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?: At Iba Pang Technique Kung Paano Makaka-Move On sa Wasak na Puso 

 

Download the book and find out why your crush is not crushing on you.

Happy Reading!

ADOPT PINAY THE CAT!

When this was reported on TV Patrol, I really took the time to glance from my Clash of Clans battle. This is one of the most endearing stories I've heard in a long while.

This orange-and-white cat traveled from the Philippines to Los Angeles via a shipping container. She traveled 6,400 nautical miles or three weeks without food or water. No wonder she looked so thin on the news!

Photos from NBC Los Angeles

A stowaway has never been more welcome in American shores. Pinay has been photographed by NBC News and is being taken cared of at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. Previously, the news said that they will be shipping her back to the Philippines. But now, they are letting her stay in America and are looking for the perfect home for her.

So, if ever anyone out there is interested, please send an email to daccevents@animalcare.lacounty.gov for further inquiries.

P.S.
Ni Hao,a kitten from China, also arrived in Los Angeles from Shanghai via shipping container last year. If another similar incident should happen, is it safe to believe that something in Los Angeles is enticing these kittens? Hahhaha. Let's wait and see.

Beauty vs. Money: A JP Morgan CEO's analysis

A reply from CEO of J.P. Morgan to a pretty girl seeking a rich husband

A young and pretty lady posted this on a popular forum:

Title: What should I do to marry a rich guy?

I’m going to be honest of what I’m going to say here.

I’m 25 this year. I’m very pretty, have style and good taste. I wish to marry a guy with $500k annual salary or above.

You might say that I’m greedy, but an annual salary of $1M is considered only as middle class in New York.

My requirement is not high. Is there anyone in this forum who has an income of $500k annual salary? Are you all married?

I wanted to ask: what should I do to marry rich persons like you?

Among those I’ve dated, the richest is $250k annual income, and it seems that this is my upper limit.

If someone is going to move into high cost residential area on the west of New York City Garden(?), $250k annual income is not enough.

I’m here humbly to ask a few questions:

1) Where do most rich bachelors hang out? (Please list down the names and addresses of bars, restaurant, gym)

2) Which age group should I target?

3) Why most wives of the riches are only average-looking? I’ve met a few girls who don’t have looks and are not interesting, but they are able to marry rich guys.

4) How do you decide who can be your wife, and who can only be your girlfriend? (my target now is to get married)

Ms. Pretty

A philosophical reply from CEO of J.P. Morgan:

Dear Ms. Pretty,

I have read your post with great interest. Guess there are lots of girls out there who have similar questions like yours. Please allow me to analyse your situation as a professional investor.

My annual income is more than $500k, which meets your requirement, so I hope everyone believes that I’m not wasting time here.

From the standpoint of a business person, it is a bad decision to marry you. The answer is very simple, so let me explain.

Put the details aside, what you’re trying to do is an exchange of “beauty" and “money" : Person A provides beauty, and Person B pays for it, fair and square.

However, there’s a deadly problem here, your beauty will fade, but my money will not be gone without any good reason. The fact is, my income might increase from year to year, but you can’t be prettier year after year.

Hence from the viewpoint of economics, I am an appreciation asset, and you are a depreciation asset. It’s not just normal depreciation, but exponential depreciation. If that is your only asset, your value will be much worse 10 years later.

By the terms we use in Wall Street, every trading has a position, dating with you is also a “trading position".

If the trade value dropped we will sell it and it is not a good idea to keep it for long term - same goes with the marriage that you wanted. It might be cruel to say this, but in order to make a wiser decision any assets with great depreciation value will be sold or “leased".

Anyone with over $500k annual income is not a fool; we would only date you, but will not marry you. I would advice that you forget looking for any clues to marry a rich guy. And by the way, you could make yourself to become a rich person with $500k annual income.This has better chance than finding a rich fool.

Hope this reply helps.

signed,

J.P. Morgan CEO