Manila International Bookfair: screwing illiteracy for 29 years

I went to the book expo yesterday. FINALLY.

Happy as I was to be going, I wasn’t sure if I’d actually buy something. My book preferences have been in limbo as of late, as with all the other aspects of my personality. My dusty book pile is comprised of two issues of Seventeen magazine and a book Alvin lent me called, New Ideas from Dead Economists. It takes me a moment to pick between the two—eventually I reach out for the, er, latter one. Whew. Fortunately, it’s not as deadly as my economics book (it has me asleep five words into the paragraph—and to think I’ve never slept on any book except this one).

But anyway, I did buy something. Albeit it took me nearly forever (translation: roughly four hours). My strategy was to work my way through one end of the hall to the other end—which, if I think about it, was rather sad and laughable, given the sheer enormity of the place and the pace at which I peruse books. Thank God not all of the booths carried books I’m into, or else it would’ve taken me a good two more days to finish. I was able to reach half though (I know because the last place I visited was National Bookstore, and it sits smugly in the very center nearest to the entrance); didn’t bother to go to the other half, as my friend told me it was all med books and law books.

In spite of wearing my shopping version of combat boots, my gams were still tired by the end of it. This was a different sort of power walking, one that had your head constantly swiveling from left to right with the intention of getting to look at all sights (ie. Pink-haired cosplayers in frilly skirts) with one sweep. There was a pounding in my head that coincided with the throbbing in my legs and the creaking in my shoulder, but it was all worth it.

And so this is the part where I actually say what I bought (it just occurred to me that I’ve been mentioning it all throughout the post but never getting around to it).

Life in Progress (by Julius Villanueva)

Basically it’s a comic book of a guy who does comic strips for Manila Bulletin. I used to read him, until we switched to PDI. I like the humor, which makes up for the art. I’m not saying the art is bad, it’s just needs cleaning up at times; people who are used to, say Pugad Baboy, may be confounded by the cramped look it has (but Kiko Machine by Manix Abrera looks more cramped, I say).

I bought both of his releases. You should too. Go, buy, and feed a hungry artist today!

A Nymph of MTV (by Angelo V. Suarez)

He’s Spanish. JOKE. Ang ganda kasi ng pangalan e. He’s a Filipino poet. I only like poetry when I’m the one reading it (and not making it).

Shadowboxing in Headphones (by Lourd de Veyra)

Oh my Lourd. HAHAHA. Grabbed it from the UST Publishing House booth so I can “study” his style for CW 10. My teacher says that poetry is not meant to hide things; it is for expression. If I can’t make sense out of what he wrote, then I’ll eventually have to conclude that vomiting poetry is a perfectly sensible way of brandishing your poetic license. :|

Hmmm… what else did I buy? Oh right, this slim recipe book on cakes. I might make one this Saturday, on the off chance that I don’t have to do anything.

I would’ve bought Arnold Arre’s After Eden as well, except that I couldn’t find it and the people I did ask weren’t helpful.

So there. Interestingly enough, everything I bought is local (maybe except for the recipe book). A shift in taste? Maybe. As I said before, my book preferences are in limbo. But I’m quite satisfied, enough to forgive Henry Sy for constructing the unnecessarily gargantuan behemoth that is MOA.

Definitely looking forward to next year’s. Please, please let the venue be nearer.

Pictures to follow.

The happy post

Griping doesn't solve anything, it makes you feel worse and it is pretty much a pointless thing to do. So this is an exercise in listing down all the good things, just so I won't forget. There is no such thing as a bad day in college without good moments, and I've had plenty of them, more than my fair share of things. Life isn't too bad when there's no way to go but up; sometimes, I just need to remember.

Got inducted into the UP Debate Society last week

Last Saturday was a day of unbloggable euphoria, after a long and grueling final interview. They will make you cry, yes (I thankfully didn't-- crying is such a messy business afterall), but in retrospect, the interview was englightening. There are some things I learned there that resound louder than messages from month-long retreats. That doesn't make it any easier though; if anybody's planning to apply for DebSoc, you have steel yourself for the moment of truth. I wonder what they thought of me as I stood there, dry-eyed and stoic. I took all their comments unflinchingly, even conceding to most of it. I thought afterwards that the emerging self-deprecation strategy would ultimately cut off my chances to pass. But strange things happen, you know? I ended up hugging a lot of people last Saturday. :))

Finally watched Wall-e

With my sister! Yay!

On the movie: it was neither good, nor bad; it was... bland. The movie had an interesting concept-- it's set in the far future, where one transnational company actually rules the world to the point where cultural identities have dissolved; everyone is simply a Consumer. The robotic love affair seems quite insignificant compared to that more intriguing theme, but since it was made for a younger audience, it had to compromise its ideas in order to keep its appeal. The fact that they practically had no dialogue was also unfortunate; a good script usually makes up for what the movie lacks. In this case, it was mostly a variation between "Waaaaall-eeee," or "Eve", or in those rare times, a line or two by those doughy beachballs called humans. :)) It leaves nothing to sink our teeth into.

Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 97% though. Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter declared that WALL-E surpassed the achievements of Pixar's previous eight features, saying that the film had the "heart, soul, spirit and romance" of the best silent films. I love the movie for its originality and its animation, as well as Wall-e's endearing character, but if you're gunning for silent films, you might as well watch Jessica Simpson with the volume off. Makes life so much easier. (Or you could catch Untalkative Bunny at Disney, or simply go see Wallace and Gromit. Gromit absolutely is the funniest non-speaking character I've watched so far.)

Math test

Er, because I watched Wall-e, my brain collapsed into limp overcooked noodles, and basically I crapped out on my math exam the next day. There are no good moments in Math. :|

Miscellaneous

I can't remember the rest of the week, but it was pretty much all about getting up, getting dressed, eating breakfast when time permits, and then running off to school. I've been relatively better at crossing the street, and I get home earlier than usual. And I've gotten to this particular minute, on this particular day, without any major accidents. Hindi pa ko nahold-up. =)) And I hope that will never happen.

Taco dance, whoo! :))

Karma deflector

Hindi ako nakapag karma deflector. And it has come back to bite me savagely in the arse.

There are a million things I want to say, a lot of it leftovers from the past weeks. This is one of the rare times I can actually sit down and type my feelings. My messy, difficult feelings of being in college, which I can't put down because my finger hits the backspace button every time I try.

To the Harbormaster (by Frank O'Hara)

I wanted to be sure to reach you;
though my ship was on the way it got caught
in some moorings. I am always tying up
and then deciding to depart. In storms and
at sunset, with the metallic coils of the tide
around my fathomless arms, I am unable
to understand the forms of my vanity
or I am hard alee with my Polish rudder
in my hand and the sun sinking. To
you I offer my hull and the tattered cordage
of my will. The terrible channels where
the wind drives me against the brown lips
of the reeds are not all behind me. Yet
I trust the sanity of my vessel; and
if it sinks it may well be in answer
to the reasoning of the eternal voices,
the waves which have kept me from reaching you.

Well at least CW 10 is good for something.

This is exactly it. I've been making excuses for too long, and it's time I owned up, despite the bitter truth: I have been found lacking. I hate it.

So this is frustration. Pleasure to meet you.

Isn't anyone else feeling the same? T_T Slap me please, I'm on the verge of losing my focus, and I simply can't afford it right now.