Songs of Rice (How rice in Thailand taste like that of the Philippines)

I love diverse cultures and international relations. This topic and field is very delighting for me because I am a dreamer, supposed to be a traveller but because of sickness, got grounded inside my home--literally.

What I like most about this movie is its relation and similarity with Filipino culture. It seems their rice is of the same taste as ours. Thailand is one of the countries I dream to visit, and I think this nation has good and brilliant minds too in the field of mass communications and international documentaries. On the other hand, I messaged the director of this film, The Songs of Rice:

ครั้งแรกที่ผม ดู รถพ่วงและ อ่าน บทสรุป ของ " เพลงของ ข้าว "ผม สนใจจริงๆ ฉันคิดว่ามัน เป็น ความรู้สึก เห็นคุณค่า ที่จะได้สัมผัส เกินกว่าสิ่งที่ โลกรู้ เกี่ยวกับประเทศไทย ลึกลับในการ พูด แต่ จะซื่อสัตย์ หลังจากที่ ฟิลิปปินส์ไทย เป็นประเทศที่ ชื่นชอบ มากที่สุดของฉัน และไม่มีอะไรที่ ดังต่อไปนี้ ฉัน ได้รับการฝัน ในการเยี่ยมชม ของคุณ ( ผู้เขียน / ผู้อำนวยการ ) ประเทศ ในอนาคต ขอให้โชคดี และผลงาน ของคุณมีความ สวยงาม และเป็นความจริง

Thank you google for translating my message.

Synopsis:

This is a visual record of rice culture and its influences on the people in different parts of Thailand. The lyrical structure of this documentary film reflects the melodies in the songs of rice, crafted and composed by the diverse harmonies of the people who may sing in different voices but who share the same heart.This is the final movie in the rice trilogy that began with STORIES FROM THE NORTH and AGRARIAN UTOPIA.

Taken from: https://www.behance.net/gallery/19576471/The-Songs-of-Rice-()-Documentary-Film?

About the author:

Trailer:

This is the link to view his works: https://www.behance.net/harin_p

Random Wednesday trivia.

Today is quite different--I walked my dogs earlier than the usual because the sun has not shined ferociously the entire day. On the other hand: Random thoughts, trivia from the net:

There's this one friend....

1. People who are inconsistent in the way they treat you.
2. People who treat you differently from how they treat their other friends.
3. People who do not know how to be thankful.
4. People who do not give back.
5. People who make you feel like you need to impress them.
6. People who only text/call you when they need something from you.
7. People who don’t invite you to their weekend activities.

I love this post. It is beyond being subtle in describing some friends out there. But I almost fell off my chair when I saw a comment from a reader: 

Okay, so I realize he has a point too. Maybe the author of the blog was just missing a platonic relationship with the rest of mankind. Or maybe he was just aloof or depressed.
Got this from: http://thoughtcatalog.com/lenna-son/2014/02/7-types-of-friends-you-need-to-reject-from-your-life/

So it’s originally a Japanese comic strip, adapted by the Taiwanese, and later by Koreans and translated by Filipinos. LOL

A bit of history first: It Started with a Kiss (Chinese: 惡作劇之吻; pinyin: Èzuòjù zhī wěn) is a Taiwanese drama starring Joe Cheng,Ariel Lin and Jiro Wang of Fahrenheit. It was based on the first 10 volumes of the Japanese manga series Itazura na Kiss (イタズラなKiss, Mischievous Kiss) written by Kaoru Tada. It was produced by Comic Productions and directed by Chu Yu-ning .

It was broadcast on free-to-air China Television (CTV) (中視) in Taiwan from 25 September 2005 to 12 February 2006, every Sunday at 22:00 and cable TV Gala Television (GTV) Variety Show/CH 28 (八大綜合台) 31 September 2005 to 18 February 2006, every Saturday from 21:30 to 23:00.

It is the second live-action television adaptation following the Japanese adaptation also titled Itazura na Kiss and followed by its sequel They Kiss Again in 2007 and South Korean adaptation Playful Kiss in 2010. It Started With a Kiss also aired on Hawaii's KIKU Television weekly on Saturdays at 6:00.

Seriously, I really enjoyed watching this asian comic drama. Its very funny, quite of a nonsense but you'll end up laughing. Also, it was dubbed by filipinos in its Philippine airing so a lot of pinoys can already relate and understand. I watched the series one boring night and still, it made me laugh. Here’s my facebook post:

By the way, these are their fanpages:

• (Chinese) CTV It Started With A Kiss official homepage
• (Chinese) GTV It Started With A Kiss official homepage
• It Started With a Kiss Reviews, Comments, and Videos

Book review: Charlie Sparks, 2015

My review of Cy Tan ’s Charlie Sparks: A Sorcerer’s Tale

Finished reading this book around first week of June 2015. I ordered it right from the author, sent via LBC and paid via PNB. So much of the info, let's get into what this book has to brag! Foremost, it’s well written by a Filipino author, @cyrilltan when he was 11, he is even younger than me to date, a Linguistics Major from UP and a daydreamer too. This book will leave you on hook with its plot, a combination of love, friendship and betrayal. I could have finished reading this entire novel on one weekend or overnight but it took me 3-4 days because I was prolonging the excitement, thus giving myself enough time to guess what will happen the next chapter. The different emotions stirred within each character makes it more appealing and sometimes, frustrating. Each character was given an equal opportunity to become stars of their own. The names of the characters were surely been well researched, but what I like is that it includes some Filipino names as well.

As I advance chapter by chapter, probable ideas on what will happen next are forming. However, it is still so clever for the author to go beyond what I have imagined. I know for some the adventures about mythological characters, fallen angels, vampires and magic are common, but in this book, it becomes no less than being unique. After all, it’s 100% Filipino-made, it made me proud that books of such caliber are written and illustrated by a ‘kababayan’.

The illustration inserted in every vital parts of the story were put into life by the hands of amazing Oliver Barcelon. It pictured the essential parts of the story and had given the readers more thrill. I was once questioned about the originality of this book. I answered, both Yes and No. In my opinion, it is not original in the sense that (of course) the characters and events of this story are about angels, dragons, magicians, and all other folklore similar to filipino literature. A wide reader might give an instant version of his ending, or somehow predict the end of the story. But I assure you guys, it won’t disappoint you. Yes, it is original because of the twist and turns embedded in each chapter, added by exact amount of humor, disgust, romance and dedication. You’ll end up both petrified and amused.

I am definitely recommending this book to everyone, especially to the filipino youth and children, or even adults with hearts and imagination that of a child. Lastly, the ending was quite expected as a hint was given during the middle chapters, but the events that preceded the ending will make you want to read more, and more. I wish a Book 2 will be written by Cyrill. A movie will even be more rewarding. I say, this good read is 9/10 simply because 10/10 is just so mainstream. Kudos and congratulations Cy. I am proud to be a friend and a fan of yours.