Benjamin Alves Poetry Reading and Birthday Celebration

      On March 18, 2016, the APC celebrated Benjamin Alves birthday. Benjamin was also invited to become a judge for the Slam Poetry Competition. Benjamin Benjamin said that whenever he celebrate his birthday, he wants to celebrate it with other people. In 2012, Alves graduated Summa cum laude at the University of Guam with a degree in English Literature. From a press interview, he revealed that he wanted to in pursue a master's degree but decided to stay on with his showbiz career. We were really shocked when we found this.

     

  In the first place, "Who would have ever thought that a person like him was good in writing poems?"  Yes, we are all mesmerized by the fact that he was Major in Literature. I know a lot of girls is captivated by his looks and charms but the fact that he was smart too is so heart-melting. The way he talks to us like a friend really surprised me. I must say that I thought celebrities is somehow snob but I guess it's not. He was just casually talking to us about our course. As the competition started, he was really focused on each contestant. When they are about to announce the winners, he said that everyone deserves to be a winner so he decided that all of them won the competition. He was really kind. He also delivered some of his speech and most of it was about love. He really captured our hearts when he started speaking because his poem was really good. Also, he even allowed us to take a selfie with him and he even agreed that we can ask questions to him.

       One of my best friend Grace Anne Murillo even managed to sit right next to him and to take a selfie with him.

        All in all, it was really a great experience. He didn't make us feel like a nuisance or something because he was really kind and sweet to us. He changed my mind set that a celebrity was really just an ordinary people like us.

Speech Choir and Ignite Speech Competition

        On April 21, Speech Choir and Ignite Competition was held at APC Auditorium. Everyone including our block was really busy preparing for the event -the props, the costume and many more. I can also see the other sections preparing as well in the competition. Meanwhile, my blockmate Geraldine Bravo was also preparing for her Ignite Speech which I can see that the pressure is really on.

         As we watched the other sections perform their interpretation of the poem Caged Bird by Maya Angelou, I can really feel the pressure as I watch them. There are some sections who really did a great job. When our it is our turn, my heart cant stop beating so fast. I feel like Iw as about to choke or something. In the stage, all I could think of is that I should do my part well. We gave everything we've got and I hope it was enough for us to win. The next event was the Ignite Speech Competition and Geraldine was about to deliver her speech. She talked about signs that a guy likes you back. Geraldine did a great job in delivering her speech. When all of us already performed, the next things was the awarding ceremony.

         The announcing of the winners was really intense for me. Every time our block is called, we always shout and cheer because our block won a lot of awards. Our block won 4 awards: 2nd runner up for the speech choir competition, best in logo design, and champion for both Public Speaking and Ignite Speech Competition. I'm so proud of our block because all the stress and hard work really paid off.

Movie Review: Sana Dati

      I’m always an avid fan of any romance genre. It is impossible for me to justify how much time I’ve spent watching a lot. I always have high standards when it comes to this kind of genre because I already watched tons of this and I always want something new and interesting.  When I watch a movie many things occur inside of my head.  I become a part of the viewing experience and allow myself to be subject to the unfolding drama. Now I’m going to make a movie review about the movie we watched “Sana Dati.”

       I have to say that the camera work is breathtakingly beautiful. The lighting, the aesthetic appeal of colours, the different camera angles, all in all it was crafted flawlessly.
Sana Dati started with a girl named Andrea (Lovi Poe) who is about to get married to a former politician  Robert (TJ Trinidad). Along with friends and relatives at the hotel, the arrival of a novice cameraman Dennis (Paulo Avelino) complicates the matter about Andrea’s unresolved past to his brother Andrew (Benjamin Alves). This begins to resurface and risking the very special event meant to happen that day. Dennis arrives in Andrea’s room and proceeds at interview asking questions about her love for Robert. Andrea answers the questions straight-forward although her eyes always avoid the camera. Dennis did the same thing for Robert. He answers the questions with his eyes looking straight at the camera.  The movie shows Andrea’s struggle between moving on from her feelings for Andrew and her thoughts of what her life could be with a man whom she is not sure with if she really loves.

     I have to say that the camera work is extremely beautiful and well incorporated. The lighting, the aesthetic appeal of colours, the different camera angles, all in all it was crafted flawless

Movie Review: Paddington

         The movie started with a cute huggable bears who is a big fan of marmalade. Well, who would have not fell in love for that? From the jungles of Darkest Peru, Paddington went on a journey to the big city of London. He will go on a quest to find the explorer who visited their native land. A new family also awaits to Paddington. At least, that's the plan; and the plan isn't really working out for him until he meets the Brown family. Mrs. Brown was the one who insisted for Paddington to come to their home. She was actually the one who named Paddington and she got this name because they found the young bear in the Paddington Station. She was the one who always help the young bear but on the other side, Mr. Brown is against it. They have 2 children which is Mr. Brown doesn't like them being near with Paddington. Until Paddington can find a home, the Browns will have to watch him closely, as he's in as much danger by himself as he is when he's being chased by an evil taxidermist.

       Well, Paddington has no super powers, though he does fly over London and he manage to caught the bad guy, but he does work his way into our hearts and minds. It's all very droll and quietly, memorably dazzling. "Please Look After This Bear" are the words written on a tag around Paddington's neck. Smart audiences will do as instructed.

        One of the lines that really caught my heart was "Mrs. Brown says that in London everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in. I think she must be right - because although I don't look like anyone else, I really do feel at home. I'll never be like other people, but that's alright, because I'm a bear. A bear called Paddington. -Paddington" This part really made me cry because throughout the story, I really saw that the Brown family really loves Paddington and they will do whatever it takes to protect him.

        All in all, Paddington is a feel-good movie that the whole family can really enjoy. It will leave you with a warm feelings inside. The lesson you will get from this movie is that you should not judge someone from what they look like on the outside but what they have on the inside. This movie proves that great children’s films doesn't need to be childish. You will want to cuddle ‘Paddington’ and take him all the way to your home.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

       Let me ask, "Who doesn't want to be a millionaire?" Well, everyone does. We went there not to become a millionaire but we came there to become a "winionaire." Who wants to be a Millionaire was prepared by the English Resource Center and it was held at the APC Auditorium. We went there to compete for other sections and there was also other courses who participated to.

      The contestants was chosen by their own Technical Writing professors. In our block, Kristopher Coquia, Jerica Valerio and Marlou Macalalad was chosen to represent our block and to compete for this event. As an audience, we did our best to cheer for our block. Every time they call "ABMA151" we always shout and clap as hard as we can to show our support for them. The questions were given at the contestants and somehow we are answering and guessing some of the questions silently. The first round was consist of 10 points. At the first round, they didn't correctly answered number 1 and 2 so I got a little nervous. Although they manage to get their head back in the game and they answered number 3 up to number 10 correctly. Our block managed to pass the first level but as the competition started to heat up, we didn't make it on the next level. Yes, we didn't make in the finals but I'm still happy and proud of them because representing your block to the other sections was really hard thing to do -the pressure was never been a joke.

      At the end, I realized that even though I didn't compete, I am still happy because I really had run and I really learned a lot of new things in this event.

SOMA Float Parade Competition

Preparing for a single event is challenging enough, but what should you do if you have to prepare other things other than that? We all have different schedule as a student and it is really a challenge for us to manage our time. Even so planning and preparing is the key to success. Planning and preparation will give you a 10-times greater chance to achieve your goals. It will reduce wasted time and effort, while improving and maximizing results. Like Henry Ford once said, "Before everything else, getting ready is the secret to success."

Preparing for the SOMA week is both stressful and fun at the same time. Based on what I can remember, we started preparing for the SOMA Week even when the College Week started. Our float for our subject ABPROJ is our main focus for the upcoming SOMA Week. Some of us including me spent most of their free time creating and preparing our float for the upcoming SOMA Float Parade Competition.

We were divided in two groups. In our group, we have sixteen members. We started to decide who is going to be the leader, the secretary, the auditor, the performance head, and the design head; other members will be divided according on what they can help with the leaders. We started our meeting through planning the designs, the materials needed, the schedule and the performance. At first somehow we are a little bit chill because we all know that the deadline is still far. The theme of the float was Philippine Mythology. We had a brainstorm about what would be the design for our float. As we talked about the design, somehow our ideas are clashing with a lot of concepts because some of us wants to put a lot of things in our float. I am a little bit irritated because they want a lot of things to put on the float and I know that we have a limited time to finish our float. I decided to keep my mouth shut for that time because I was really overwhelmed about the ideas and concepts that they suggest to the point that it was ambiguous. I just told them that I am the type of person they could count on with when we are about to start the float itself.

   As we started creating the float, everyone is present and ready to work but as the time passes by, I feel like we are just 7 people who are really working. I hate to admit this but the lack of leadership and camaraderie was really the main problem of our group. Our leader was always missing when we are doing our float so because of this, sometimes we act on our own based on our judgement. The camaraderie was really poor. Although I like some of our member because I can see the effort they are putting in our float. I am not saying that some of our member did not even move a single thing but somehow their effort was not enough. I know effort cannot be measured but based on what I can see and analyze, there are some of us who cannot put as much effort as much as I can. I am not bragging or anything but I know I have contributed so much effort in doing our parade. I remember that there are times when we were only 6 people working on our float and when we needed some extra hands to help us, some of our members is not around when we needed them the most. These 7 people including me really knows all the trials and hardships that we have been through in creating our float. Our sacrifices, our health, and extra-time that we gave can never be replaced. A simple self-fulfillment in each and everyone of us is enough for me to say that we won. I know there are a lot conflicts and misunderstandings that happened between our group but I can say that it was all worth it. It was part of the process and the journey for stronger bond between us.

        The float competition was really intense because as we started to parade our float, there are also some other sections who really did a great job. Although at the end, ABMA151 B made in the top 5 best floats. We didn't actually won the competition but at least we tried our best.

         Preparing for a competition involves planning everything. It just like a roller coaster ride with ups and downs. I still believe that planning and preparation will give you a 10-times greater chance to achieve your goals. It will reduce wasted time and effort, while improving and maximizing results. This was a new experience for me and I will cherish all memories and lessons that I have gained in this event.

Bienvenido Lumbera: A True Artist

       A National Artist of the Philippines is a honor and title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts. Such Filipinos are declared, the President's proclamation should be bestowed upon them. Furthermore, according to a website, they are then conferred membership in the Order of National Artists, the regalia of which is an ornate, gilden collar of honor. In addition to the collar, each newly proclaimed member of the Order is given a citation that is presented during the awardees' conferment ceremonies. One of the Filipinos who were given this title is Bienvenido Lumbera as National Artist for Literature.

      According to the website Good Reads, Bienvenido L. Lumbera was born on April 11, 1932. He spent most of his youth in Batangas until he entered the University of Santo Tomas in 1950 to pursue a degree in journalism. He completed his M.A. and then his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Indiana University in 1967. Lumbera writes in English and Filipino, and has produced works in both languages.

      He has a poetry collection entitled Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (1993), and Balaybay: Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, a collection of new poems in Filipino and those from Likhang Dila. He has several critical works, including Abot-Tanaw: Sulyap at Suri sa Nagbabagong Kultura at Lipunan (1987) and Writing the Nation/Pag-akda ng Bansa (2000). He has also done several librettos, among them Tales of the Manuvu (1977) and Rama Hari (1980). Sa Sariling Bayan: Apat na Dulang May Musika (DLSU, 2003) collects the four historical musicals Nasa Puso ang Amerika, Bayani, Noli Me Tangere: The Musical, and Hibik at Himagsik Nina Victoria Laktaw.

       Dr. Lumbera has been a recipient of numerous awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts in 1993, the Gawad CCP, Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, Manila Critics' Circle and the Palanca. He has also gained Professor Emeritus status in the University of the Philippines. He also serves in the Board of Advisers of the UP Institute of Creative Writing. This 2006, for his creative and critical work directed towards a literature rooted in the search for nationhood, Dr. Lumbera received the much-coveted title of National Artist for Literature. 

        After reading all of these, I can say that he really deserves the title as the National Artist in literature because as we can see in his works, he's really passionate about on what he is doing. Everything that he has done is a masterpiece. I admit that this generation today can't really appreciate these kinds of work but if you look closely, you can see the beauty and the hard work that the artist did in making it.