4,602 Miles

Or 7,404.62 kilometers. This is the distance between Cebu and Dubai, the amount of space in lateral format that separates two people. After being together almost everyday for the past three years, this distance came into being. It's not because the distance was desired. The distance is simply part of the package.

There are numerous points against long distance relationships. Spending time physically together is impossible. Problematic communication and consequently misunderstanding is hard to get away with it. Temptations are never absent. Eventually, all these downsides become the strongest points in consideration, and they lead to the slow demise of the promises and pacts made to each other.

After dropping the bomb about the negative possibilities of an LDR, it is notable to mention that not all LDR actually fails. While most people are not very hopeful and confident in being physically separated from their beloved halves, it is actually possible for a long distance relationship to work. Here are some helpful and proven ways to facilitate the continuous growth of a relationship between two people despite being not together all the time.

1. Share and strive towards a common goal - There are many reasons why couples have to get into an LDR. In most cases, it is a practical move, which involves a healthier career and stronger source of income for one party or both. The couple can make this the end goal of the sacrifices and challenges that come with a long distance relationship. It can serve as the motivation to get going and the ultimate reward at the end of all the hardships.

2. Communicate frequently - Because of work, traffic, busy schedules and many other similar reasons, it is easy for the communication pattern between couples on LDR to go erratic. Many end up in absolute zero communication in just a month or two. Others slowly go through the process in months before finally letting go. There are those who make it through though. One thing about communication between partners in LDR is that it should not be all about the serious and major concerns alone. When together, couples spend seemingly useless hours talking about nonsense, bantering, joking or sometimes even without talking to each other. This is essential in relationships, not hearing each other's voices nor seeing each others faces but knowing that they are there. Hence, couples should not lessen communication even the non-verbal ones even when they are far away from each other on the physical sense.

3. Understand more - The physical distance brings about a lot of hindrances. Shortcomings are bound to occur from either or both parties. From these, conflicts may arise, and the negative consequences are limitless. It is, therefore, very useful for couples to be more understanding of each other.

As they say, long distance relationships are not for the weak. It requires a lot of hard work, persistence and the desire to be together eventually in order for an LDR to successfully make it through. Long distance relationship is for the BOLD ones only, and there is no greater force that can make anyone BOLD but LOVE.

Again And Again And Again - Persistence At Its Best

It's 5 o'clock in the morning. 
But not really.

Time check says 3:55AM. Hair still wet so dreamland is still minutes more away. 

I've been meaning to update this blog regularly. Sad to say, I have failed. Persistent as ever though, I will give it another shot. Hence, starting tomorrow, 1 August 2013, I aim to have 1 posting on this blog everyday. 

It can be about love, career, family, feelings, food, experiences, thoughts. It can be just about anything. One thing is for sure though. It is going to be from me.

So, let's get it on. August, here I come!

THE FIRST TIME: A Movie Review

"I don't know much about relationships. And I don't know anything about love. All I want, like in the world, is to just keep talking to you. I wanna know how your day was, where you wanna eat and I wanna argue with you. And I wanna hear all your theories even the ones that are just completely, you know, wrong. I know it is not that simple. I just think, no I really believe that if you just be willing to continue having this conversation with me, then we can figure the rest out."

Now, who wouldn't fall in love with that? I almost did. Why I did not is another story :))

When I first saw the title, I thought it was just another teen romantic flick. Honestly, I was hesitant to watch, thinking it would be a waste of time. Boy, was I wrong!

The storyline of The First Time revolves around two high school students who accidentally met at a teenage party, which they both did not enjoy. They ended up talking to each other and eventually, the growing attraction between them started to get beyond their control. As teenagers, there is always the great interest in things that are supposedly not meant for them to do yet. After a lot of awkward moments, they actually did the deed. Unlike other romantic stories though, it was not as good as they both thought it should be. They ended up disappointed with themselves and with each other, resulting to an apparent separation. After being away from each other for some time, they realize that they were just scared about the things that come with a relationship and how much they wanted to be together. And that's when those utterly simple yet annoyingly sweet lines started pouring out.

The greatest thought this movie has to offer is something every individual should learn about love and relationships, and that is the fact that it is not just about the sex. There are people who are too blinded with the satisfaction that they get out of the sexual activity that they fail to see the other (and more important) aspects of a relationship. I am amazed with the level of maturity that the characters displayed at the end in how they are going to tackle their responsibility to become better as lovers as a part of their desire to be together. Being able understand and be willing to compromise for what is not initially perfect in the relationship are essentials to making the whole endeavor work out both in the short term and in the long run. Personally, I think this is the perfect reawakening film for adolescents simply because it brings the sex part of a relationship down from the pedestal where most people, especially teenagers put it.

Back On Track

First of March. Not February. Not April, which would have been April Fool's Day. Nothing special. Except for one thing. It's my comeback! Nothing special for the world or even just for the rest of blogosphere. Special for me though.

So, for updates, I am now in located (working) in the United Arab Emirates, approximately 4,500 miles from the Philippines and four hours late. Not much time difference at a glance, but still technically from away from home, family and friends. Like any OFWs, I get hit with the "missing you" bug every now and then. Specific location is a less-developed emirate with no malls and not many places to hang out at. It makes a homebody out of me. So, blogging really helps.

After leaving Cebu and my EatCebu website, I have not been able to do a lot of blogging. There are a lot of new things I am experiencing that I have been focused more on enjoying them than sharing about them with those who might want to know about them. Maybe it was because I wanted to be more specific with what I want to share. Maybe because everything was new, and I was scared not to know enough about them to actually talk about them. MAYBEs. Today, I am putting to a stop to them and will be sharing these new experiences with the reading part of the world, specifically those who might drop by.

This blogsite will now serve as my diary. There will be no specific personal information though. I will be sharing facts and pinch or two of my own thoughts. There will be no limits as to what I will be writing about, so I will not be setting a specific area of life that I will feature here.

In short, prepare to be surprised! 

Crazy Thing Called Love

Yes, love is crazy. Sure it is the most beautiful thing the world and everything in and on it has ever known. It inspires a being yet may also serve as the ultimate reason of one's demise. It can make one soar the wide sky but it can also weaken one's senses to the point of complete distress.

Yes, love is crazy. It makes people crazy, too. Yet, we all still want to love. We all still crave for that excruciating pain that seems so physically in existence that we can almost feel the blood dripping down our bodies and uniting with our very own tears. 

Yes, love is crazy. But I would not exchange it for anything in this world. Crazy love. Crazy me.

Weird Stuff

I heard on the radio this morning that the hotel room where Whitney Houston's dead body was found is currently fully booked for the rest of the year. This is the weirdest thing I've heard of today. It's funny how people can be twisted to actually want to stay in a place where someone just died. Unless it is my relative or a friend, I am definitely not going to do so. Even if someone would pay me (unless it's a really huge sum, say a million or two), I am not staying in that room. I know I would not be able to stand it even for a mere 30 minutes. 

Some people are just weird.

Mistakes Are To Learn From

It's a random day, and this is a random thought. Well, not really. I've been bothered by this after learning about two other girlfriends who are in the same situation as another friend. They are making mistakes, hurting themselves and not working their way out of it. The reason is just beyond my logical existence.

I can just imagine their hearts looking exactly like this. It has been broken over and over again. They take it up, put a bandage here and there then continue being with and loving the same person. Oh how masochist people can be!

I am not a hypocrite. I have experienced being completely in-love with someone to the point that I was willing to give up everything and everyone in my life for him. However, I was able to give myself a pinch and woke up to the reality of life. That he was not worth it all.

This is the very same thing I wish my friends would do. It hurts me to no end to see them in such pain. The fact that they let it be makes me hate them though. I love them. I care for them and do not want to see them in pain. But, how can I continue doing so when they themselves have no love, care nor respect for their own being?

*Someone who really loves you will never ever hurt you. He would rather hurt himself than you.

The Visayas Blogging Summit 2011: A November Highlight

To the different people in my life, I am a different thing. There is one thing I aspire to be though, but I cannot attest to be that yet. Not yet.

I have always wanted to write. It is the ideal form of communication for me. Writing gives me the power that nothing else can. At the present time, it is definitely a blessing that I am doing what I like to do.

The Internet has played a very significant role in this part of my existence. It has given me the tools to let my heart out through the written word. When I discovered the art of blogging, a whole new world opened up before me.

Currently, I am not the best nor the worst blogger in the entire cyberworld. I am placing my own name under the Learning Category as I know I have yet to surpass mountains of information before I can become an effective and true blue blogger.

I have seen a lot of advertisements for enhancement programs for bloggers and wannabes, but the Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 has piqued my interest mainly because it is for FREE. For someone like me whose budget revolves around the basic necessities in life (which includes making sure my Internet is up and running especially at home), seminars and the likes with monetary requirements are definitely unappealing.

From my personal point of view, this makes the said summit different. Organized by the Cebu Bloggers, the VBS Summit is the largest one of its kind in the country today. It will take place on November 26, 2011 (Saturday) from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. Around 300 bloggers from around the archipelago is expected to join the said event. Sponsored by  SolidHosting.PH, Cebu Directories, BlueWater, VirtualStaffFinder, Watsons and GeiserMaclang, various topics involving Personal and Professional Blogging, Social Media Marketing for Business as well as Social Media Responsibility are going to be presented for everyone to to learn more about. 

With all that in store, I am really finding it hard to contain my excitement. I'm definitely looking forward to the 26th of November. Hope to see you all there!

New Connection, Hopeful Me

I'm on a new provider now and am loving every minute of the first few hours I am on it.

At the present, there are three major providers of Internet service in the Philippines; namely Globe, Smart and PLDT. Based on a research I have done to satisfy my own need to be connected online, there is no satisfied customer from Globe. When it comes to the company's quality of service for telecommunications (specifically mobile phone signal), it is truly reliable, and I can attest to that myself. I have been with Globe for the past 10 years, more or less. Their Internet service is another thing though. I do not know of anyone who is satisfied with their service (here in Cebu at the very least), and I am a very sociable person (I think), which means I know a lot of people.

As for Smart, I have tried both of their wired and wireless connections. While the latter is better, both are still lacking when it comes to providing for my needs. This is despite the fact that I do not really download or stream a lot of stuff. Simply put, it cannot load fast even the simplest applications.

All that I am looking for is now available with PLDT MyDSL. It's only a couple of hours, but I feel like this is really what I have been looking for. Loading sites take place flawlessly. I am even watching stuff on YouTube and listening to music online while writing this entry. This is something I was never able to do with Smart. 

That being said, I hope for better things with this new connection. Aja! To me and to my siblings (who are Internet addicts) Thank you in advance, PLDT :)

To My Only One

One of our first photos together as a couple. Not our best looks, but definitely memorable. Taken in the monastery in Simala (Sibonga). The very same place where I fervently prayed for someone like you to become a part of my life.

A number of people have asked why you and me. We are not really opposites, but our personality (as they see us) tend to clash. What most people do not realize is how we have uncovered the real entity behind each other. We are not similar in a lot of things, but we both know that we are who need us to be.

Your presence in my life is one of the most beautiful things my existence has offered me. I sometimes share Tim McGraw's thoughts about doing something really good sometime in the past to be blessed with a guy like you.

To others, you are soft-spoken and shy. To me, you are the person who is willing to do everything for the people he loves. In you, I see the male version of me and how I am with my family. With that, you have earned my admiration and respect.

Today, you are a year older. It might not show much on your looks, but I am confident you are as responsible and mature as you need to be. I look forward to spending years with you and make you happy, not only on your birthdays but on every single day of those years together.

Happy Birthday, my love! I wish for all your wishes to come true. I love you ♥

The Colored One

Triggered by the presence of my stash of Kopiko brown sugar and its loyalty to me during the unholy hours of the day (which is right after lunchtime), I am motivated to learn more about brown sugar and everything that comes with it. Growing up in the rural area, my family and I have been using brown sugar ever since I can remember. When it comes to the kid's choco drink in the morning and at night (Yes, we drink hot choco at night) or the elder's coffee for pre-breakfast and merienda in the afternoon, it has always been brown sugar.

When I grew big enough to land in other households' kitchen, I notice the presence of white, crystalline substance as a counterpart for our brown, dull speckles that is sugar. Two things were pointed out by my ever-practical mother when I asked her about the differences. Brown sugar is cheaper (at least in our town), and it is less harmful to the human body. When I went to college and stayed in various places all throughout the four years, I was exposed and started to use white sugar (simply because it was what my aunts used). I do not see much difference except for how smaller the white version is.

Lately though, a great amount of attention has been set on the colored variation. Three-in-one coffee packs now boast about using brown sugar instead of white. In fact, my favorite brown Kopiko has its own offer that definitely puts competition to shame. I love how it is so creamy yet has that distinct Kopiko taste to it.

Anyway, back to brown sugar. Technically, brown sugar is the unrefined output, so it contains molasses still. The presence of which is responsible for the highly different color and flavor of brown sugar. More so, brown sugar is less fine, soft and moist compared to its lighter counterpart. Since it is not refined or just partially processed so, many people tend to think that brown sugar is more healthy for human use. What most people do not know is how commercial brown sugar is actually refined brown sugar added with molasses. The best kind of sugar is the natural brown sugar, which is completely unrefined and has undergone minimal processing only. It results from the very first crystallization of sugar cane juice. It comes with a darker color and stronger taste. This type of sugar comes with a larger amount of minerals, which are good for the human body.

All that being said, I would now have to work on determining whether my favorite brown coffee brand uses commercially-produced brown sugar or the real deal, natural brown sugar. I hope it is the latter.

4th Year Of You&Me

Four years of a steady relationship. There were ups and downs, sweet moments and misunderstandings, hots and colds, smiles and tears. Made it through though, and that brings happiness to my soul.

I wish for a hundred years or more of those tears, misunderstandings and down moments as long as they are all with you. For in you I feel most that I am loved like no other.

Yesterday - Not So Good

I had been bothered by a speckle of dust (or some other smaller particle) getting stucked in my iris (eye) since Saturday. It was not washed away by tears, water or even eye drops and was making me cry after working in front of the computer for less than 30 minutes. Considering how most (if not all) of my work is done on the Internet, this is something I cannot live with. So, I decided to proceed with the seemingly-inevitable yesterday and did what I do not really like doing. I went to the doctor.

Unlike other people who do not like vising the doctor for fear of bad things, I am a proud part of the stingy group. I hate going to the doctor simply because such an act costs a lot of money here in our country (which is due to what a failure our system is as was again pointed out by my idealistic brother at dinner yesterday). The whole visit was stupid. I waited for almost an hour for a procedure that took less than a minute. The doctor simply took out the speckle (of whatever) using a needle from my eyes, gave me a prescription for an eye drop that I have to use every three hours to avoid getting any infections. At the cashier, I had to pay P500 for the procedure and P350 for the medication. This is the reason why I hate going to the doctor. I was told to go back two days after for checkup, but I definitely doubt I would do that.

Photo taken from solanoeye.blogspot.com

After I decided not to buy the eye drops (since a colleague gave me one already), my sister and I had late lunch at the mall. We saw an advertisement at De Los Reyes Optical about their 2 complete eyeglasses for P999. Since I work almost 24/7 in front of the computer, we decided to avail of this promo. When we asked one of the girls in the shop, she clearly said (which I should have recorded) that the price of P999 is for two complete glasses, which includes frames and lenses for both. If I choose to go for multi-layered glasses for protection from the glare and radiation of computer monitors, she said I would have to pay another P500. It was not a bad deal at all, so we agreed. Unfortunately, the whole amount charged to us after the entire check-up and choosing of frames was P2200. When we asked how come it reached that amount, the girl told us that the P999 was for frames only. I was going to flare up, but my sister asked that I do not create any scene. So, we proceeded to pay but would definitely not go back to that shop again.


Yesterday was not so good. Today was just so-so. So-so is better though than not good. However, there is still tomorrow. And the day after tomorrow. So, I guess, it is not so bad to be alive :))

Wandering Thoughts' Welcome Me Mini Giveaway

This is my first time to join a contest like this online, and I am really excited. I hope I am lucky enough. :)

I read about Wandering Thoughts' contest through Lucky Zoan
who is on the list of blogs I follow quite religiously.

I have been wanting to try joining something like this, but it is only for this specific contest that I finally took the courage to do so. This is largely because of how simple it is to join the contest. It takes only a couple of minutes really.

With this blog post, I am done with the first step. Onto the next one I go!

The Chef Of South Polar: Of Ramen & Lobsters

As announced and detailed in a previous post in this blog, a week-long Japanese filmfest is currently taking place in Ayala Center Cebu as of the time this post is written and posted. Today is Thursday, August 4, and the festival was opened on Tuesday, August 2.

Despite the large crowd and uber long line of people piling for the show, we still managed to get a seat for my friend, boyfriend and myself. It was not in our most preferred spots though. Well, better than nothing.

After a short program to formally open the celebration highlighted by the free film showing of award-winning Japanese flicks, the first show was set to roll.

Entitled The Chef of South Polar, it was actually about a group of 8 men from different walks in life who had to spend a year or so together somewhere in the Antarctica. It was a team sent and sponsored by the Japanese government to do some research. Making up the team were eight different personalities with different background in different fields. Although most part of the film was told by the chef, it actually tackles each individual’s issues, problems and way of thinking as the film progresses.

The chef was a father of two who previously worked as a cook for the Japanese army. When his superior was unable to take on the mission to go to Antarctic to be the team’s chef, the responsibility fell on him, despite his lack of desire for the position. Although it was shown in the film that his wife and kids do not think much of him, he missed them a lot as shown in how he kept his daughter’s tooth which fell out before he left for the mission. This is in a small container that served as a locket of some sort.

Moto-San is the head of the main research program being done during the mission. He loves what he does and is serious about it. He celebrated his 45th birthday on the camp, and everyone had a good time with food, drinks and a lot of merrymaking. In a phone call he made home that day, his little girl sang a birthday song on the line, but his wife refused to talk with him. He shared with the chef later that day that his wife does not like his job and had been constantly threatening to fire a divorce every time he is set to go away for work.

Another member of the team is the doctor. Not a lot was tackled about his past. However, he constantly exercises out in the snow even during the part of the year when the sun does not shine. This, he said, kept him strong enough to win a triathlon, which he planned to, and did, join after getting back to Japan.

Another interesting characteris Hiro-San, a ramen-addict who could not sleep after not being fed with ramen, which the team ran out of after late-night attacks on the said noodle by two other team members. This became an inspiration for the rest of the gang to come up with an idea to make ramen, and the chef was able to successfully do so. Happy was an understatement for Hiro-San’s feelings when served with ramen soup later on.

There was the Chief, a mechanic who was in-charge with all the motor-operated vehicles needed by the team. Not happy about the assignment, he spends his day reading manga inside a vehicle in the middle of the snow. There was a time when he pretended to be sick, which made another team member really angry.

When he went to find the Chief, he chanced upon him taking a long and luxurious bath, which involved putting a lot of water to waste. Mad at the guy, he run after him with a desire to beat everything out of him.

At that time, the chef just caught another member of the team munching on butter. he was taking it away from him and trying to find a place to hide when he caught up with the Chief in his wet briefs and hair with unrinsed shampoo.

Lastly, there is the youngest member of the team. Deeply in-love with a girlfriend left in Japan, he is seen always on the phone talking with her during the first parts of the film. When the girl started to get cold and eventually owned up to seeing someone new, he proceeded to talk with the phone operator, with whom he met when he got back to Japan.

These eight people made an impact on each other’s existence. They were able to develop flexibility as well as they try to accommodate each other’s presence and different personalities. The film shows how good food can mend anything from a frosted hand to a broken heart. It shows the human nature of people, which is kind and encompassing especially when confronted with something from nature. The entire film is a fun thing to watch. It was mouth-watering as well since the chef ended up preparing a lot of gastric delights at different parts of the film. I was a hungry girl when the film ended.

Probably the best thing about the movie is how it emphasizes the many essentials in life. Food. Family. Friends. People. Because we are social animals after all.

Creamy Carbonara

I am a pasta fanatic. It started out with the very classic tomato-based spaghetti and has incorporated a large selection of pasta dishes over time. My true love when it comes to pasta is carbonara.

Ingredients:
30 grams spaghetti
- Ronzoni (with 100 calories) is highly recommended for those who are on a diet
56 grams smoked ham
- Farmer John's fat free version comes with 50 calories only
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
Salt and Pepper (To taste)

Procedure
1. Cook the pasta as directed in the package.
2. The ham can be cooked as desired. For those who wish to go oil-free, the ham can be poured into the cooking pasta around three minutes before it is completely cooked.
3. Drain both pasta and ham. Place them in separate containers.
4. Mix the egg and milk in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Beat them until the entire mixture becomes one.
5. Set a pan on high heat, and pour the mixture. Stir it vigorously using a wooden spoon until the egg starts to get cooked. The process takes around 20 seconds.
6. Pour the sauce over the pasta. Serve hot.

Of Weddings And Love

Inspiration: Message In A Bottle


The Message Inside The Bottle (Invite)


(One of) The Giveaways


Nice & Banz' Invite

Dong Juan - Another Appetizing Option

Since my overall partner in crime and I are without a private ride (yet *winks*), the original place has been a constant future destination. It is a bit out of the way, and so the only taste of Dong Juan that we had was when my sister brought a DJ burger home. It was so different from the usual burgers in town that I have constantly been yearning to visit the place.

In April, my boss took me to the place for a quick lunch meeting. The visit was short, and it was very much all about business that I was not able to take in everything about the place and the food.

Good thing DJ's management has decided to put up another location for its burgers and other appetizing treats to be available for everyone. Luck must have been with me these days because the said new location is right at the Persimmon in Mabolo, which is highly accessible and a favorite place of me and the gang. We love Mr. Coffee at Persimmon.

I was planning to bring my friends there and introduce them to the wonders of Dong Juan. Various things have kept us from visiting the place though. In the end, it was me and my friend who ended up having our first taste of DJ.

His burger and Her salad


Their menu

(Additional photos from dine-out with friends, sister at a latter date)

Cousin's burger steak and the aftermath


Pasta plus Fish & Fries


The place was quaint and nice. Although there was a group of around 6 girls seated behind us who were laughing aloud like tambays, it did not completely ruin our mood for the sumptuous delight DJ has to offer. I would love to go back and get a taste of the other stuff on their menu. In fact, I am looking forward to Saturday friendship night dinner this weekend at Dong Juan at the Persimmon in Mabolo.


Dong Juan Guadalupe
Emilio Osmeña Street
Barangay Guadalupe,Cebu City
Contact Number:(63-32) 256-1796

Dong Juan Persimmon Mabolo
The Persimmon Plus
M.J. Cuenco Avenue
Contact Number:To follow

Eiga Sai 2011 — The Japanese Film Festival

A fan of foreign film festivals, I am always on the look-out for their presence here in Cebu. After the French Film Festival in June, August presents the 2011 Eiga Sai - Japanese Film Festival. Taking place on August 2-7, 2011 in Ayala Center Cebu (Cinema 4), here are the following reels to look forward to. Feel free to join me in the excitement :)

August 2 (Tuesday) 7pm

The Chef of South Polar (125 mins)
Synopsis: A heart-warming comedy based on the famous essay written by a chef who went to the South Pole in 1997. The film depicts with humor the hilarious and touching story about a meal and the South Pole experienced by an 8 men research team dispatched at Dome Fuji Station in Antarctica. The station is 1,000km away from the Antarctic coast, wherein neither animals nor viruses to survive. Mr. Nishimura is a chef of the team. He misses his family in Japan, but he always tries to make a delicious meal everyday to make the research team members happy. But, without being able to procure fresh supplies, maintaining variety in the daily menu is a Herculean task. The team is comprised of a Captain who is addicted much to ramen, the Doctor, Moto-san who he himself tries to train to participate in a triathlon event when he returns back to Japan, and the other young support members wherein Nishimura had to push himself to a great length to keep the table filled with delectable meals. Several unique characters have to live together for one and a half years. How would life be in the South Pole?

August 3 (Wednesday) 7pm

Climber’s High (145 mins)
Synopsis: The film was based on the Japanese bestseller novel by Hideo Yokoyama who was inspired by actual events and took him 17 years to complete. It is a story of a press reporter who finds the meaning of life through his experiences of news reporting and mountain climbing. On August 12, 1985, a jumbo jet crashed; out of the 524 passengers, there were only 4 survivors, making the incident the biggest single-plane tragedy in the world. The local press reporters are tossed about by the waves of facts and rumors. While overwhelmed by the magnitude of the accident, Yuuki, in charge of this crash report at a local newspaper, faces a string of decisionmaking moments. How should a man do his work and survive in a corporate hierarchy? What do family and friends mean to him? An intriguing story, which keeps the audience on the edge of tension and reality.

August 4 (Thursday) 7pm

Yunagi City, Sakura Country (118 mins)
Hiroshima and Tokyo, 1958-2007
Synopsis: The film was based on a manga comic by Fumiyo Kono, portraying the tragedy that the atomic bomb carries beyond generations depicting the viewpoint of two women in two-frame stories, one from the past and the other from the present day. Thirteen years after the bombing
incident in Hiroshima. Hirano Minami feels happiness when her colleague, Uchikoshi expresses his love for her. However, the incident has brought her sickness resulting from her exposure to atomic bomb and the pain of that emotional scar also returns. Nanami (Rena Tanaka), the leading female character in the contemporary part of the film, is the daughter of Minami’s brother, Asahi (Masaaki Sakai), who had evacuated to Ibaraki Prefecture when Hiroshima was bombed. Nanami, an ordinary 28-year-old, follows her father who travels to Hiroshima secretly had no idea about her dad’s past or the existence of her late aunts. Through her father’s conduct, she finds out what the family has been carrying as well as her aunt Minami’s haunting experience. This prompts Nanami to reflect on the ensuing devastation experienced by the Hiroshima people and their descendants in contemporary time and the value of peace.

August 5 (Friday) 7pm

Villon’s Wife (114 mins)
Synopsis: An all-star cast enacts a story distilled from seven of Dazai Osamu’s works, in a literary drama released on the 100th anniversary of the birth of the novelist. The relationship between a hard-drinking, promiscuous writer and his beautiful, upstanding, and devoted wife brings the various forms of love between men and women into relief. While raising a young son, Sachi(Matsu Takako), the wife of the popular writer Otani (Asano Tadanobu), struggles to contain the damage wrought by her profligate husband. To pay off his debts, she starts working at a pub, where she wins the favor of Okada (Tsumabuki Satoshi), a young fan of Otani’s, and the lawyer Tsuji (Tsutsumi Shinichi), who she had a crush on in the past. But Otani surges with jealousy at the sight of the newly confident and popular Sachi. Struggling with his writing as well, he attempts a love-suicide with his lover Akiko (Hirosue Ryoko).

August 6 (Saturday) 1:30pm

The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (139 mins) 1:30 PM
Synopsis: “If no one tries, there will never be a path.”
In 1907, a band of men challenged Japan’s last unconquered mountain, in order to complete a map of their nation. Mt. Tsurugidake, located in Tateyama mountain range in the Northern Alps in Toyama Prefecture, stands 2999m above sea level, and is renowned as a difficult mountain. Since the beginning of historical records, it has been designated as the “God” for those engaged in mountain Asceticism-Shamanism and sometimes referred as “Needle Mountain” or “Mountain of Death” for its inaccessibility. Shibasaki, renowned for his skills as a surveyor, is suddenly called to General Headquarters of the army, where he receives orders to conquer Mt. Tsurugidake, the last uncharted region of Japan. At the time, the survey unit, attached to General Headquarters, was in the process of charting Japan and had already created maps after triangulation of numerous mountain peaks. The unit has climbed almost all the mountains in the country with the exception of Tsurugidake, climbing of which was prohibited for religious reasons. Moreover, shortly after its inauguration, the Japan Alpine Club was already planning to tackle Tsurugidake and the survey unit could not be seen to lose out to a civilian organization. After receiving his orders, Shibasaki tackles the challenge of reaching the peak of Tsurugidake together with Chojiro, a local guide of good character familiar with the Tsurugidake area. Can they achieve the daunting task of crossing the precipitous mountain range and planting the survey records?

August 6 (Saturday) 4:30pm

Summer Days with Coo (1:38 mins) 
Setting: Edo-period and present-day suburban Tokyo; Tono and Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture, Okinawa
Synopsis: Coo is a kappa, a tiny amphibious creature with a dish-shaped skull. He lives in a swamp near Edo, the former name of Tokyo. There are rumors that the humans plan to drain the swamp for their own purposes, and Coo’s father confronts a human samurai on the road one night to beg him to reconsider the plan. He brings the samurai a fish as a present, but the samurai is afraid of him and cuts him to pieces. Coo runs away, but just then an earthquake strikes and Coo falls into a crevice, where he is buried alive. Hundreds of years later, Uehara Koichi finds Coo’s dried body which looks like an unusual looking stone in a riverbed, and brings it home. When he washes the stone, a kappa (legendary water-based creature) comes out of the stone. Coo regains his strength and starts living with the Uehara family. Coo and the family dog Ossan (“old man”) are able to communicate telepathically, and Ossan tells Coo about his own life; word about Coo has spread like wildfire. Finally, when there is no other option but to satisfy the masses, Yasuo agrees to bring Coo onto a daytime talk show. A scholar named Shimizu Sumio appears with them. Shimizu has long theorized that kappa really exists, and he has an extraordinary reason for doing so; the severed arm of a kappa has been passed down in his family from generation to generation. Coo recognizes it as his own father’s arm; Shimizu’s samurai ancestor killed Coo’s father. Traumatized, Coo shatters the looming television cameras. He runs through the studio until he is picked up by Ossan, who carries him outside and down the street. They are hit by a passing car, sending Coo flying and fatally injuring Ossan. Coo uses his telekinetic power to explode a vulture hovering over Ossan’s body, and begins to climb Tokyo Tower with his father’s arm in his mouth. Coo considers suicide, but the sudden appearance of a dark dragonshaped cloud convinces him that it is not his time yet. After he returns to the Ueharas’ home, Coo receives a letter from one of his own kind inviting him to come and live with him. Coo decides to accept the offer. Although Coo and Koichi are separated physically, the strong bond between the two remains.

August 6 (Saturday) 7:30pm

One Million Yen Girl (121 mins)
Synopsis: The film story focuses on 21 year old Suzuko who gets into trouble with her coworkers from part time job and ends up in jail. Coming out of the jail, living with her parents seems like no longer an option. She takes on a various job: cleaning office, delivering newspapers, and saves up a million yen to embark on a journey. She finds herself in a seaside resort and starts working as a part-time staff at a guest house. A local boy falls for her, but she has promised herself to leave for another town once she saves up a million yen. To this aim, Suzuko works as hard as possible and saves the money. As she moves from town to town, she touches upon people’s kindness, and gradually matures. At a regional town, Suzuko meets Nakajima, her coworker at a gardening shop and a college student who is gentle and sweet. They fall in love. But when Nakajima hears of Suzuko’s rule to skip town once she saves up a million yen, a chasm begins to grow deeper.

August 7 (Sunday) 1:30pm

Your Friend (125 mins)
Synopsis: Nakahara, a writer visits a free school in a small city for his research on children who have problem such as school refusal. At the school, he meets Emi, a volunteering college student who has lame leg. Emi is called “Ms. Puffy” by the children because she always takes pictures of clouds. Interested in this girl, Nakahara asks her to be interviewed, but in vain. However, Emi has gradually changed her mind towards Nakahara when he comes to the school many times and evokes sympathetic responses from the children. Then she answers his questions and tells him about her own childhood. When she was a 5th grade pupil, Emi suffered a car accident. Since then, she made barrier from her surroundings. On the other hand, Yuka was in delicate health and set someone off from her peers too. Emi became friends with Yuka and they nurtured a precious friendship. The two girls were left out in the cold but they spent peaceful and happy days together away from bullying classmates. At the present day, having made an intense relationship with Yuka, Emi encourages gently the children who are suffering from their own weakness. Gradually the story of loss she experienced and which brought her such gentleness is revealed.

August 7 (Sunday) 4:30pm
Summer Days with Coo (1:38 mins) 

August 7 (Sunday) 7:30pm

Feel the Wind (133 mins)
Synopsis: Based on the work of the same title by Naoki Prize winning novelist Miura Shion, this film portrays a makeshift group of ten athletes from a fledgling track club as they aim for the Hakone Ekiden (relay marathon)—a dream event for long distance student runners. Kakeru (Hayashi Kento), a super talented runner in high school who nevertheless quit the sports world to attend the up-and-coming Kansei University, finds himself being manipulated by the school running captain, fourth year student Haiji (Koide Keisuke), to move into the dormitory for the members of the running team. Already living there are such characters as manga freak Prince(Nakamura Yuichi), Musa (Dante Carver) who is an African exchange student with no experience in track and field, and chainsmoker Nico-chan (Kawamura Yosuke), who failed a year of school. Although they are all amateur runners who are only living there due to affordable housing, Haiji plans to enroll them in the Hakone Ekiden.

Repost: Piscean In And Out

Pisces typically have a rather "fluid" way of regarding the world, and this temperament can make them rather hard to hold onto.

Revenge: There is no way to get revenge on a Pisces. Nothing works.

Body part: Feet

Relationships: They make the best of friends.

* Pisces is symbolized by two fishes swimming in opposite directions. Pisceans often feel like they are being pulled in different directions, making it difficult to make concrete decisions.
* As the twelfth and last sign of the zodiac, Pisces contains within itself a little experience of all the signs. This gives Pisces the ability to identify with people from all walks of life—from all backgrounds—in some way. These individuals are not only changeable and adaptive, they also have open minds and tremendous understanding.

* Sun in Pisces people are frequently pegged as wishy-washy, but this is all a matter of opinion. Behind a vaguely directionless, spacey manner is a deep person with real dreams. Their dreams are more than getting that picket fence or making it up the corporate ladder. Pisces are tuned in to a higher purpose, and their dreams transcend themselves. A deep love for humanity and compassion that knows no bounds is found with this placement of the Sun.

* Pisces is a sensitive sign—both to criticism and to others' feelings. Easily touched by human suffering, Pisces wouldn't hurt a fly. They believe in people, are deeply hurt by compassionless human behavior, and have a hard time saying no. Harsh realities are avoided either through an escapist behavior or self-delusion; but every now and again, reality raises its ugly head and hits Pisces over the head. This is a sad time indeed. Pisces retreats into their own world, self-pitying and giving pep talks to themselves ("I will never trust again!"). Rest assured, though, that these periods are rather short-lived and even useful.
* Pisces seems to derive energy from their (generally short) bouts of self-pity. They come back stronger, with a spring in their step, ready to face the world again, and just as, if not more, compassionate and trusting as they were before. Some might even wonder if Pisces finds pleasure in suffering. Sometimes this is the case, but most of the time, Pisces pulls a lot of creative energy from sadness. Pisces is the poet or artist with angst.

* Although often quiet and shy, another day may find them talkative and passionate. They are hugely impressionable, have a dreamy disposition, and project a soft-hearted personality. Pisces rising sees the world the way they want to see it at any given time, so objectivity is not necessarily a strong point. Neither is decision-making!

I am just amazed at how some things can be soooo true..Not all of us believes in astrology, and it is not that I completely believe or do not believe (in a typical Piscean way) in horoscopes, but it sure is interesting to read about oneself and find so many interesting details which may or may not be facts at all..