It's been a while since I did a review of a game! Just like last time, I purchased a game online as a reward for myself for an achievement that I have unlocked (wohoo!). After all the hardwork, we need to treat ourselves, right? Well my original intention of playing the game was for me to get some sort of entertainment... but 'lo and behold, I was in for a "stressful" kind of adventure instead (all because I'm such a scaredy-cat 😅).

The game's promotional poster. (📷: Steam)

I have been seeing this game randomly on Steam. What made me choose this from the thousands of online games available there was a recommendation by a colleague. I have mentioned to him how I really enjoyed playing Inside and Limbo, and he said given that, Little Nightmares would surely be my cup of tea. Well, he was right, I did enjoy playing this game, although to be honest, the game was too spooky for my taste. Although I enjoyed the adrenaline rush of escaping the janitor and the twin cooks, I hated all the parts where there were leeches involved. 😤 And that thing that's moving under the water? I was super disgusted with it! But this just proves how great this game is, because I get emotionally moved by it.

What did I expect, from a game that falls under the survival-horror category? The cute aesthetics made me think it's a cute game. LOL.(📷: allkeyshop)

The sound effects of the game were so effective for me. Like I was not stressed enough with the game's premise, the sounds successfully double the stress! 😫

I have always been behind with the latest games (uh I think the last one I religiously played was Pokemon: Yellow Version, and that was more than a decade ago 😂) so I easily get amazed with the graphics and the depth of details that new games have. For this one, I really enjoyed solving all the puzzles and interacting with the characters of the story. There were parts that I needed to consult walkthroughs online though because I got stuck at that part for a while. I recommend you to do this as a last resort because it really takes away the thrill of the game.

The identity of Six, the game's protagonist, is all shrouded in mystery. There are lots of things about her world and of the Maw (the name of the ship where she's in) that I am very curious about and I hate to admit it but I enjoyed divulging myself in all of the videos in Youtube that discussed such interesting fan theories.

And that ending, it really left my whole body in shivers. I was just staring incredulously at my PC's screen while the ending scenes rolled in. Aside from the over-all gameplay, that ending made this game even more memorable for me.

I somehow couldn't forgive myself that I am just writing about this amazing concert months after it happened. During my first and second time seeing them, I could still remember that I still had that adrenaline rush while writing about my precious memories of experiencing their music.

Yes, this is the third time I've seen them live. And that's a milestone for me. The 1975 is the only band (so far) that I have seen thrice. And I think I will be seeing them more in the future (hopefully!)

I was almost at the same distance as I was during the In The Mix concert. After seeing them live during that time, I vowed to myself that I would be getting the mosh pit ticket next time they have a show here. But I don't know what happened -- I guess I was still not ready for the real The 1975 concert experience, huh? This decision made me feel some regret during this show. I chose the VIP seated ticket because I wanted to be able to rest during down times in the concert. But it was worthless, because I was up on my feet all the time anyway. And I was jumping a lot at my seat. I should have just bought that damn mosh pit ticket (next time, I'm telling myself again now... next time...)!

This concert was really a treat for me because the front act, No Rome, is also an artist that I adore. I was all Filipino-pride mode because he is from my own country. He was originally based here in Manila, but Matty Healy himself made him to fly to UK to work with him because he liked his craft so much. No Rome has already worked on several projects with The 1975. He helped a lot in the creative process of the band's third album and even featured them in one of his own songs.

No Rome rocking it out on stage.

When The 1975 got up on stage that night, it felt like I was welcoming dear old friends into my open arms again. As soon as the stage lit up, I knew that it was the correct decision to not watch any of clips of this tour online. I was at surprised and at awe at how similar and different the stage was at the same time for this tour.

Oh yes, I missed that rectangle neon sign... for dear life. ❤️

Every penny I spent for this concert was so worth it. Their concert will be one of those few wherein I was just waiting which favorite song they would be singing live next. I enjoyed EVERY. SINGLE. TUNE. THEY. PERFORMED. ON. THAT. STAGE. Yes, even People.

That was actually their opening track.

With every song they performed, I was pulled into the memory and emotions that I have implanted in it. There were songs wherein I sang with my eyes closed, while mostly others I was dancing like crazy. No one knew me there anyway, so I was able to embrace that freedom of just being truly one with their music.

Seeing my favorite people on stage just fills my heart with so much joy!

All I can say is -- I was able to enjoy this concert fully. The Universe made sure of that.

It was always a different high seeing this band live. I don't know what's in them, but I think it's safe to say that I will still be following their activities for some time.

I think I'm ready to see them from the mosh pit. 🤘

I really liked this album because it showed how diverse really this band is musically. You will never be able to predict what kind of material they will produce next. They don't stick to one kind of style and I guess this is because they want to keep their fans surprised and always be at the edge of their seats in terms of new material they would release. This album had more than one genre on this, and I am just proud that The 1975 is very well-rounded in producing their music.


I stopped following their activities when they started the tour, and I'll explain that later on this post, which was highly related to me seeing them live (for the third time!). In the meantime, let's look at each of the tracks on The 1975's third studio album A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships.



The 1975

The album starts with the band's trademark track, still the same lyrics but with a different theme that fits to the overall tone of the album. They used some effects (I'm not sure what's it's called, but it's similar to a vocoder) to make Matty's voice sound like a robot. I remember one redditor posting that Matty's voice startled him big time when he first listened to this track. The song starts with a very soft intro and then all of a sudden -- BOOM! Matty's robotized voice loudly comes in.


Give Yourself A Try

I super loved this song. I was at the office when this song was officially released. I remember during my first listen, I was just smiling because I was so glad that The 1975 is still that band I could totally relate to. I am at the same age as Matty and although he is singing about experiences that are totally different from mine, I would say the takeaways are somehow the same. You're getting spiritually enlightened at 29.

This song is also like a wake-up call for me. This song is telling me to give myself a try -- a chance to get involved into things that I really wanted to do but I held back because I was just... afraid. When this song sprang up on my playlist one morning when I was in Tokyo in April, I just got goosebumps and I started to cry. I really connected to this song during that moment because there I was alone at that unfamiliar city, but I was not afraid. I gave myself a chance to experience that unforgettable journey. 😊


TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME

This is an upbeat song that's very fun to dance to. Based on the lyrics, it's about a relationship going under the rocks because of their interactions online.


How to Draw / Petrichor

I'm glad that they are still creating instrumental tracks. I love all of their instrumental tracks -- they're perfect for listening before going to sleep, just like a lullaby. There are actually two songs inside this track, and there's that specific moment in this song that you'll hear when the transition happens. After some research, I found out that apparently, this track has some interesting lyrics, although I couldn't really hear them on the track itself 😅.


Love It If We Made It

This is one of their very opinionated songs, and it didn't surprise me that they have something like this on the album because for months, Matty has been very open with his issues with politics. And you see just that with this song. This track also came with a very "expressive" music video. Anyone who listens to this song would be made aware of all the issues in the world both past and present. Amidst all that's happening, the song gives a hopeful message that humanity would get through all of these. Modernity has failed us, but I'd love it if we made it.


Be My Mistake

This is one of my favorites in this album. This is a stripped-down track -- just Matty's vocals and the acoustic guitar. The song shows how emotionally jam-packed Matty's voice could be. I love all the metaphors expressed on this song describing the different women in his life.


Sincerity is Scary

This is one of those songs that I liked the music video more than the song itself. 😍 It was very visual. And it also features Matty doing some happy dance taps, like a musical.


I Like America & America Likes Me

I think this is one of those songs that I'd want to play on a roadtrip at night wherein I'm just lost in thought.

"I'm scared of dying."

It's fine.

The Man Who Married a Robot / Love Theme

This is one eerie track for me. I love the intro -- this has been the music that The 1975 placed in most of their teaser materials for the album release. So it was a bit of a surprise that the actual track had a narrator, and it's not any other kind of narrator -- it's a robot's voice. The voice also told a strange story -- about a man and his "relationship" with the internet. It was a very unique approach in describing where humanity's place is in this modern world. I was curious. I was entertained. But I think hearing this track once was enough. 😅


Inside Your Mind

This song sounded like a psychopath's confession of love.😑

The back of your head is at the front of my mind
Soon I'll crack it open just to see what's inside your mind

Iit could have been a romantic ballad, save for that lyrics.

It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)

I super love this song! If you'll look at the surface, it might feel and sound like a happy song about a romantic interest. But no, just read the lyrics and you'll know exactly what the band is talking about. Matty has been very open with his struggles with drug addiction, and he tells his story through this song.


Surrounded by Heads and Bodies

Honestly, this song is one of the "fillers" for me. Until now, the song did not stick to me. But looking now at the background of this song, it has a very touching story apparently.

Mine

This is a slow jazz song, very nice track to slow dance to. And can I just highlight how I find Matty's voice to be so gorgeous on this track? I don't know if Matty is speaking his personal opinion on this song, but it seems like he doesn't believe on the idea of marriage that much? This is something new to me. TIL.


I Couldn't Be More in Love

And when I thought this is again a romantic song, I'm wrong no less than how I looked at the other songs in this album. Each track in this album is an expression of all the complicated thoughts Matty has in mind, and he just usually envelopes them in such happy and romantic melodies. I didn't expect a track like this from them, and again I am left at awe on how wide their creative spectrum really is (and that key change on this song is just so precious). ❤️


I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)

I've already mentioned how I'm so in love with this song. It deserved it's own post.

102 (Bonus track on Japan release)

This is the reason I was actually searching for the band's album in Tower Records in Shibuya. I wasn't able to locate their album (unfortunately). This track is a classic (old-time fans would relate!). Entitled "102", this was initially released in a video but was never included as a single in any of their album, thus far. So it was a wonderful surprise to see it here as a bonus track for the album. They also released a video of a new recording of the song in 2018. 





So I mentioned that I stopped following the band's activities when they started their ABIIOR tour. This is because I wanted to come to their concert with a blank slate on what to expect on their set. When they came here during the I like it when you sleep... era, I was already familiar with their stage by heart. Although I still was able to enjoy that concert, the element of surprise was no longer there. I wanted my experience this time to be different, that's why even though it was difficult, I chose to stay away from all the news and updates that were The 1975 related (well I guess except from some photos published on Instagram).


When finally the day of the concert came (which I would write on a post real soon!), I had zero idea on what songs would be included in the set this time. I'm super excited to share with you the details of that concert!

I love this album! Cheers again to my most favorite band in the world -- The 1975! You never fail to disappoint. 😉

I wasn't really starving at that time (which was somewhat alarming in hindsight because I wasn't able to have any breakfast). Carl and I went to the the same table. During our wait for our food, I shared my experiences in Tokyo so far with Carl. Apparently he likes anime, that's why he stayed at the Akihabara area. I didn't want to pry too much on his personal details but I think I'm older than him (but good thing he didn't use 'po' and 'opo' with me ahahaha).

When our lunch came, I was slightly disappointed that the dish didn't have any meat in it, but I sipped the warm soup appreciatively. It was a huge bowl, and I wasn't able to finish all of it.

When we were back outside enroute to our bus, I heard Carl talking to Yoko-san (our tour guide) in Japanese! He apparently speaks fluently! Sugoi!

Strolling Along Lake Kawaguchi
Our next stop on the tour was to check out the Cherry Blossom festival along Lake Kawaguchi. From our bus, we had to walk a few meters to reach the side of the lake.

However since it snowed hard, I wasn't really expecting to view anything on the lake. Just like I thought, there were only a few people at the area, but you could see the amenities (tables, chairs and tents) that they use during the festival.

It was a bit disheartening, but we have to make the most out of this, right? I waved goodbye to Carl for a while and proceeded strolling along the lake. Up until that moment, I was still so amazed of all the cherry blossom trees that were covered in snow.

I might have seen this scenery in a different way from the internet, but this is the version that I saw in real life, which was very unique.

I was still so amazed by all the snow I was looking at. I just couldn't help but snap more photos of the park!

I saw one tourist face-timing with her folks back home. I wished I could do the same -- I wanted my parents to see this magical beautiful scenery before me. But I wanted to savor the moment for myself. I leisurely just walked along the lake sniffing the cold (winter or spring?) air of Japan. 😚

Since we didn't have much to do anymore along the river banks, I returned to the bus and we went on to the next and final stop of the tour --

The Ninja Village
I didn't really know what to expect here but I guess since this is part of the tour, why not check it out. Guests had an option to watch a short play from the ninjas, which of course I availed.

It was still snowing hard at this point, and it was a bit of a challenge walking to the Ninja Village. While the ninja show has not started, I took some time to walk around and check out the scene outside. Welp, everything was just covered in snow!

There was a souvenir shop inside so I killed some more time by looking at the different goodies displayed there. I bought some sweets and sake wine here (of which I still haven't consumed as of this writing)!

There was also a mini museum there with some ninja pharapernalia.

This poster was up inside the museum. Looking closely at it, something clicked. Now I finally know why Kento Yamazaki was all over TV programs during my stay -- he's apparently promoting for this movie!

For the Ninja show, the staff there guided us inside a room with a small stage. Phones and photography were not allowed, and so we enjoyed fully the little skit that the "ninjas" there prepared for us without distractions. There were lots of moments where the room was totally pitchblack (😳) and the ninjas would appear out of nowhere. There were no English translations (unfortunately) but based on context clues, I think the show gave us a glimpse on the different techniques of ninjas in facing and attacking their enemies. The whole show lasted roughly around ~15 minutes but it was very entertaining.

Travel Back to Shinjuku
Second to the Arakura Fuji Sengen Jinja Shrine part, this my favorite part of the tour. It was more than an hour-long journey back to Shinjuku, where the bus would drop us off. I was at the window side looking out at the snowy plains and scenery while listening to the songs that now define my solo Tokyo trip.



I was in my magical place. I felt happy.

At that point, I felt like I was dreaming. I was just so thankful to the Universe that these wonderful things happened... and I am just half-way into my dream sequence. I was 100% sure these are the kinds of memories that will be embedded to me forever, just like a tattoo. 😉


Moving forward for the rest of my life, if ever I experience snow again, I will get reminded of this day and of the people I met along the way. ❤️

The Goals: https://katalinarosario.com/2019/07/02/q3-2019-goals-setting-steps/

🏃‍♀️ Career - use the tools [5/12]
I think this one will always be in progress, until I land on the position that I wanted. I would want to retain this one for next quarter's goals list, but I think I would put this one running on the background offline. :)

🏃‍♀️ Financial - recharge [3/12]
I failed on this one 😅. I think this is the quarter wherein I splurged on a lot of things. Most of my major purchases were unplanned. I have established the habit of tracking my expenses though, and I will have to carry over my deficits from the previous month to the months to come. Here's to more packed lunches in the next quarter!

🏆 Personal Development - create music, write articles, finish posts [10/36]
Well, I tried learning the guitar during this quarter, but I just had to accept that it's not for me. I did write articles for a website. I actually have an upcoming task that I need to attend to, so that's one article to watch out for! For my blog posts... hmm I still have not finished my Tokyo posts. 😭 Some photos are already edited and ready to be published, but I just didn't have the time to continue working on them. Aaah but I need to have them finished soon. So I guess it's crunch time next quarter!

But why did I evaluate these goals as finished? Well for the music, I did have a realization and acceptance stage on where I was at with creating music. I do have some creative ideas, but I guess since I learned where my place with the instrument 🎸, I'm satisfied with that milestone. For the article, I knew I was able to use my power to spread happy news via that site, especially for that one unfortunate event that happened on one fandom. Lastly for the posts, I am proud of what I have created for my Tokyo posts so far. I am already half-way through my day-to-day itinerary and I am satisfied because I have already documented the most important event that happened to me during my stay in Tokyo. 😊

🏃‍♀️ Spiritual - attend a meditation class [1/12]
I wasn't able to attend to this class that I was targeting (because of logistics 🙁), but despite of that, I was able to search for alternatives. I currently use my favorite meditation app, Headspace, whenever I feel overwhelming negative emotions and when I struggle falling to sleep. I have started another spiritual journey which happened unexpectedly but of which I knew is a path that I was looking for all my life. I am still new with all of it, and so I am still in the learning process.

🏆 Educational - write at least one post about technical learnings on current projects [1/12]
I have repeatedly told my colleagues that I am so happy and satisfied with my new role in the company because of the fact that I am learning a lot of new things and I am just pushing and challenging myself to give the best output possible. I am with my current company for six years now, and one of the main reasons I stayed this long is the great people I work with. And up to this day it continues to be the reason I enjoy my work. I am continuing to learn a lot of new things and I plan to document them here (also to serve as future reference for myself).

🛑 Relationship - mend, build, reconnect [4/12]
Things didn't return as it was originally, and I guess it was wrong for me to expect that. During this time, I honestly think that I did what I could to build and reconnect. But I realized that I was already dealing with a stranger. I barely know this person now. We have grown very much apart in the past 3 years and we both have already built a world without the presence of each other. I guess I'll have to accept things for what they are, and just maintain the little connection we currently have. That pivotal moment happened wherein I have finally had the chance to tell my sibling the real truth -- the reason everything happened. When I received a single letter reply from her, that's when I realized that okay, I'm done. I don't want to deal with this sh*t anymore. I want to be at peace, even if it meant not being with my only sister. I don't miss anything anymore, and I guess that's a good sign. *goes to playing a Taylor Swift track*

🏆 Physical and Health - exercise twice a week [6/12]
I might have not strictly followed this routine, but I have obtained the output that I wanted -- I have returned to indoor cycling, have checked my knees with a doctor, and have discovered the wonders of the knee strap! I want to return to playing badminton soon, so I will continue to do steps towards my recovery!

And that's it! I am not particularly head-over-heels with my results this quarter so I want to try harder next time! 화이팅!~ 'Til next quarter!


Legend:
🏆 Finished
🏃‍♀️ Still in Progress
🛑 Aborted

So, I just got back from a one-week business trip from California. I got the opportunity to go visit the company's headquarters in Redwood City which was really really cool. I got to meet the people I usually work with virtually. It is always nice to have a face behind the name and the voice.


I don't want to talk about work here, mainly because that's confidential and second is because what I wanted to remember most are the things that I learned and experienced beyond work. Here's a round down of them:

I am so amazed how comfortable I am now moving solo. I guess my Japan trip really helped me grow as a traveler. Usually airports stress me out, but now it's as comfortable as lining up to ride the shuttle to the office. I was so relaxed the whole time.

It's nice to read a book while in flight. I brought with me one of the books I bought at the last Manila International Book Fair. Initially I thought reading on the plane would make me feel dizzy especially during turbulence, but fortunately it didn't affect me. And so I read the book until I was sleepy. That's when I turned off my seat's reading light and put my eye mask before settling down to sleep.

I am very comfortable during long flights. I realized I like these "limbo" moments in life, like being asleep and being on commute (walking, riding the shuttle / plane). During those moments, you are just in a mode wherein you don't think / talk too much. You are in standby/hibernate mode and you don't worry about anything, just waiting for you to reach your destination. During these times what I like doing the most is just listen to music. The only problem I had about the long flights is my knees. This is the first time I traveled to the US with my knees injured, and boy did they hurt throughout the flight. At one point I thought I'd need wheelchair assistance. Good thing the pain subsided when I elevated my feet (I just stepped on my shoes). I also had to stand and stretch up to subside the pain on my knees. 😣

There are two kinds of friends around you -- those that real, and those that are not. I realized that it is important to know who your true friends are. Friends don't lie. Friends are concerned about your well-being. I've mentioned before in the blog that my receiving love language is time, and I believe it also applies to my language for friends. I will be forever thankful to my friend who really made an effort to spend time and to accompany me every day. I can't put into words how I am really really thankful for that. She definitely made this trip less lonely and "disturbing." Friends will tell you the truth even it hurts you, because in the end, they're all after for training you and letting you be aware that yep, there are harsh realities that you have to face in life. I gradually accepted that this is not my fault. I am not the problem. This is something that is out of my control. I just had to release these negative energies and move on (yup those morning walks and night conversations really helped me cope). 😊

Going wireless is the future! For this trip, I got to purchase some gadgets that completed my no-wire set up. I first experienced it with the bluetooth keyboard that I purchased a few months ago. Now I am extending the wireless setup on my mouse and headphones! Now I don't have to always untangle those stubborn wires! #freedom

Nature really relaxes and resets my soul. I appreciate the greenness now more than ever. My hotel has a lake in front of it, and every morning I would see ducks quacking and serenely swimming in the waters. I feel so relaxed just looking at them. Also, I discovered this jogging track nearby with such beautiful greenery view. I got to walk around these area during the cool peaceful hours of the morning, and I got to say those moments were my favorite parts of the trip -- having some alone time with nature during the crack of dawn.

There will never be enough food. One thing I like about going on trips like this is trying out new food! Darce and I went to Asian restaurants mostly and I loved every one of them. My favorite discoveries are plum wine, yuzu aladdin sake, saba shioyaki, and that curry hotpot in the Taiwanese restaurant. All our eating adventures deserve its own post, so watch out for that!

Pictures, or it didn't happen? Nah I realized that's not the metric to say how much fun I had during a moment. There were lots of unforgettable moments and conversations that happened that would be ingrained in my memories for a while. I connected with influential people, strangers and old friends. The fact that they would recognize me when they see me from now on is the best takeaway that I got from this trip. Also, comfortable silences with another person is a gift from heaven, especially for a socially awkward person like me. :)

Lyft is heaven-sent! Can I just express how easy it is now to travel around SF? All thanks to Lyft. Hehe. I couldn't imagine going around San Fransisco and San Mateo without a car. It's a good thing we have this kind of technology, I can go to different points of the city within minutes riding a posh car!

I felt that the Universe took care of me. There were circumstances that could have gone the wrong route. I just got so lucky. But I guess I won't gamble it next time. This is the last time I would do that. 😅 Also, I define being lucky as being on the right place at the right time. Well, luck is with me during this trip (Felix Felicis in the works again, eh?). I'm just so happy I got to accomplish this one task -- I didn't dare hesitate to do it when I saw the opportunity. Looking back, I realized it was the only opportunity I had. If I held back during that time, I wouldn't have another chance again. So yeah, I was so so happy I was able to accomplish that. 👏 I also learned that most of the time, things are not as worse as I think it is. It is definitely scary to face the unknown, but never seeing it and overcoming the fear is more disturbing. There were some moments wherein I tensed up with fear, but I braved and did it anyway. And guess what, it was not as bad as I thought! Each time I realized that, I gave myself a nice pat on the back. 😀 Good job self! Keep going!

Really, you'd think you already know everything about a person, until you realize you don't. I don't know him enough, but my first impression with him is that he's the kindest person around there. I hope he gets through this. I wish to see him again, because I know he brings happiness to someone I know. 😊


I'm so glad I got to do this trip. More posts (and photos) soon! ^_^

This is a continuation of my fangirling journey for this new era of Taylor Swift's music.

Lover, Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, consists of 18 songs. I'll review them here one by one, just like what I did for her reputation album.

It's just been a week since the album has been out but I think I have already played it a hundred times. I'm getting swallowed by every song of this album, just like how I got hooked listening to her reputation album. The hype leading to the album release was unreal, and I have to commend Taylor and her team for such great PR strategy for keeping the buzz going from the very beginning of the ME! single release up to the launch of the whole album itself.

I super love listening to new songs. The first listen is just a very precious moment. On my first listen to this album, I got goosebumps and fell in love. I also danced and I cried. I really enjoyed listening to this album. I would give anything just to experience listening to it for the first time again. 💗

For this album, my listening process was --

1) I just listen as is, sometimes I close my eyes to feel the music more
2) Then listen again while reading the lyrics, and
3) Go another round of listen while listing down my comments and also browsing Reddit for other fans' opinions.

I Forgot That You Existed
First Impression: Ooh this intro is groovy. Is this Taylor Swift's new sound?
I love this song on first listen! I like the melody and how she plays with the syllables of the words. I immediately related with the song in so many ways. 😉
Favorite Lyrics:

It isn't love, it isn't hate, it's just indifference.

Cruel Summer
First Impression: Goosebumps!!
I super duper enjoyed this song! I could hear Getaway Car within the melodies and the effects used on this track. I am quite sure this is one of her masterpieces with Jack Antonoff (edit: yes! I was right!). This is the perfect jam for a carpool karaoke when you're driving on a highway. 😁🔊🎶
Favorite Lyrics:

I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you.

and also

And I scream, "For whatever it's worth
I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?"

He looks up, grinning like a devil

Lover
First Impression: Aww this is such a nice song for a slow dance.
The chorus just gave me warm fuzzy feelings. This is what's great about music -- you can convey an emotion to your audience, even to those who are unfamiliar to it. So I guess this is what it feels like to be in love ? I'll mark this one -- I'd want to dance to this song with someone I'll call my lover. Hihi.
Favorite Lyrics:

Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?

The Man
First Impression: Yaas, she really wrote about this! I will always be at awe at how great Taylor stands up for herself and how artistic she is, actually using media's feedback for her song ideas (remember Blank Space?). My respect for her just went higher, if that's even possible.
Favorite Lyrics:

They'd say I played the field before I found someone to commit to
And that would be okay for me to do

The Archer
First Impression: This is such a stripped-down production, but I love how expressive Taylor's voice is. This is a song with such an honest and raw feelings, like we are listening to Taylor's inner critic. You'd think because Taylor is so pretty and popular, she'll be very confident about herself. But no, she still has a lot of insecurities and she made herself very vulnerable through this song.
Favorite Lyrics:

I've been the archer, I've been the prey
Who could ever leave me, darling
But who could stay?

I Think He Knows
First Impression: This is such a playful song! It might not that obvious but I think this is such a sexy song.
Favorite Lyrics:

"So where we gonna go?"
I whisper in the dark
"Where we gonna go?"
I think he knows

Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince
First Impression: So, is this one of her political songs? When I learned that Taylor will have songs that are openly political, I was somehow worried because it could draw unnecessary controversy towards her. Well upon hearing this song, she proved yet again how great of a lyricist she is, because she expressed her ideas and opinions in forms of metaphors.
Favorite Lyrics:

My team is losing, battered and bruising
I see the high fives between the bad guys

and

I'm feeling helpless, the damsels are depressed
Boys will be boys then, where are the wise men?

Paper Rings
First Impression: Another very catchy song! It's such a fun song, it reminds me of the mood of her other song Stay Stay Stay. Hearing the drummer's counting always made me laugh. 😂
Favorite Lyrics:

I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings

Cornelia Street
First Impression: One dreamy song, this is a perfect jam when having a road trip and you just want to look out of the window and just be alone with your thoughts. I think she uses that same melancholic chord progression used in some of her heartfelt ballads like All Too Well and Out of the Woods.
Favorite Lyrics:

And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends

Death by a Thousand Cuts
First Impression: Okay, I'm finding that piano very disturbing because of its off-tempo beat. It reminds of The 1975's song Give Yourself A Try with that repetitive guitar riff that made all the fans distracted while listening to the song.
I watched Someone Great on Netflix after learning that it was Taylor's inspiration for writing the song. Now whenever I listen to this track, I would always be reminded of that film and the feeling of heartbreak the main character had to endure in the story.
Favorite Lyrics:

I look through the windows of this love
Even though we boarded them up

and

But if the story’s over, why am I still writing pages?

and

My heart, my hips, my body, my love
Tryna find a part of me that you didn't touch

London Boy
First Impression: Did he say Scooter? Is that a shade for Scooter Braun? I read a spoiler on Twitter that the start of London Boy features Joe Alwyn's voice. But meh, you shouldn't believe everything on the internet, right? Apparently it's Idris Elba and James Corden in an interview.
This is like Gorgeous 2.0, and it just shows how Taylor is crazy with a certain London Boy. 👀
Favorite Lyrics:

But something happened, I heard him laughing
I saw the dimples first and then I heard the accent

Soon You'll Get Better
First Impression: Holy crap, this is so emotional. I was in tears before the first chorus kicked in. Of all the songs in the album, this is the one I was mostly yearning to listen because of all the info I collected, especially from the fans who attended the Lover Secret Sessions. However, I still wanted to stick with the order of the songs in the album. When I saw that this was finally the next song in my queue, I prepared myself. But damn, nothing would prepare me from this song because of how emotional it was.
Usually when I was already preempted about the content of some media, may it be a song or a movie, it's already a spoiler for me and I know it would not affect me compared to if I didn't have any idea of what is coming. But for this song... uh let's just say I was ugly crying after the first play. I still was in tears for the second and third plays. It was so uncomfortable listening to this song. This song has the same effect on me as The 1975's song entitled Nana. I loved this song, but I guess I'll have to skip this next time because the emotions are just so heavy.
Favorite Lyrics:

Desperate people find faith, so now I pray to Jesus too

False God
First Impression: This song is too sensual! And that saxophone! This song reminds me of her other track So It Goes.
Favorite Lyrics: (technically the whole chorus!)

But we might just get away with it
Religion's in your lips
Even if it's a false god
We'd still worship
We might just get away with it
The altar is my hips
Even if it's a false god
We'd still worship this love

You Need To Calm Down
First Impression: With just the intro, I thought that this is so different from Taylor's usual material. It took some time for me to like this song, but I guess I can say that it finally grew on me, especially after seeing the music video (Katy Perry! Huhu.)
Favorite Lyrics:

And snakes and stones never broke my bones

and

Cause shade never made anybody less gay

Afterglow
First Impression: It's one of the forgettable songs during my first listen. Honestly, at this point I was dozing off already (I've been listening to the album for several minutes now) although on the second and third listen, I got to like it, especially after reading the lyrics. I think this is one of those few songs wherein Taylor admits it's her fault the relationship is on the rocks (one other song is Back To December).
Favorite Lyrics:

Hey, it's all me, in my head
I'm the one who burned us down
But it's not what I meant
Sorry that I hurt you

ME!
First Impression: It was okay. I find her collaborating with Brendon Urie is as cool AF, but they don't match vocally. I was hoping for Brendon to flex his vocals in the song. 😅
Favorite Lyrics: (because this part is so fun to sing)

I promise that you'll never find another like
Me-e-e, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

It’s Nice to Have a Friend
First Impression: This is such an eerie-sounding track, like a children song of some sort.
Favorite Lyrics: (coming from her, who got bullied in school, means so much for me)

It's nice to have a friend.

Daylight
First Impression: I super liked this song! It's the perfect closing song for this album. Also, the spoken outro is such a nice touch. I also liked how she playfully references lyrics from her previous tracks, just like what The 1975 was doing with their songs. I just could imagine a wonderful sunrise listening this song.
Favorite Lyrics:

I once believed love would be burning red
But it's golden

I very much enjoyed listening to this album! For sure this will be one Taylor's iconic art for the years to come.

Thank you for the music, Taylor! 💗

Taylor Swift performs at Central Park NY aired on Good Morning America (📷: WALT DISNEY TELEVISION/PAULA LOBO)

The movie house was jampacked with people during our screening. This was my first time to see Alden Richards act opposite a leading lady that is not Maine Mendoza. Their pairing is like a breathe of fresh air. Their acting was so good, it was like seeing them as actors for the first time. I really liked Alden's acting (his character reminds me of a colleague actually). The problems that they were facing were real. It's no fairytale, and their relationship faced problems that you would see with real-life couples.

SPOILER ALERT BELOW!

I actually liked how the story ended, because I would like to do the same thing as what  Kathryn's character did. Of course I still don't know what I would actually do given that situation in real life, but if you look at their situation objectively, she did the right thing. If feelings got in the way, well that's another thing to consider. Now I understand why most of the people wanted a sequel at once. Their love story had an open ending and there are still opportunities for the plot to continue. Will I watch the part two movie? I'll have to admit that I would, because I am curious on what will happen with the two lead characters.

Most of the people I saw online said that this movie is such a tear-jerker. Uhm at which part? Well there was that part where the couple was heavily arguing and they both were in tears. For me, meh. Because I can't relate to their emotions, I felt nothing for that part. But come that less-than-30-seconds scene of Alden's youngest brother arriving and meeting with his dad for the first time... that's a whole different scenario. When his dad bursted into tears, I lost it. There was a fountain of teardrops from my eyes in no time. I guess everyone gets moved in different ways, depending on what things they value the most. Give me anything drama that is family (specifically parents) related, I'll break down easily.

Anyway I'm already looking forward for the sequel. I hope it would keep up with the hype of the first one. Well, congrats to the first movie pairing of Alden and Kathryn. It was a success!

And so here we are at the final installment of the Harry Potter series. You might be wondering why I am writing about a book that had been published more than a decade ago. Well to give you a refresher, I recently did a reread of the first six HP books, of which along the way I discovered the Binge Mode: Harry Potter podcast. I have already finished rereading Deathly Hallows months ago, but uh it just took me just now to really sit down and write my review on it.
HP7 Hype Was Real.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book was officially released on July 21, 2007. I cannot imagine that it's already been 12 years since it happened. I could still recall the feeling of huge anticipation of reading the book, finally knowing what Harry Potter's fate would be and (very reluctantly) arriving at the end of the story.

Obviously all of the Potterheads had their eyes for this book because this is the finale. With the end of Half-blood Prince, there were still several open subplots, and I was very curious on how Rowling would make all ends meet and put a closure to each of them.

Below are some of the impending questions I had pre-Deathly Hallows:

Will our trio go back to Hogwarts for the seventh year?
Who will be the next DADA teacher?
Who will be the next Hogwarts headmaster?
Will there even be classes that year?
Where is Snape? On which side is he really is?
How will Harry find the rest of the horcruxes?
Will Harry have to die to kill Voldemort?

Reminiscing time!
I can still remember, I was second year college when the book was released. There was no way I would be able to get a copy of the book (I have very limited budget back then), but at the same time I didn't want to get spoiled again (just like what happened with book six). Illegal that it was, I downloaded an ebook of it and saved it in my mp3 player. Remember those very cheap players back in the days that can hold ~100 songs? It came with a very small screen display. I read the whole of Deathly Hallows using it. For more convenience, I just copied each chapter in separate text files and saved it to my player (pag gusto, may paraan 😉).

College life was hectic back then, but I still made time to read the books at night. I read each sentence of the chapter on my mp3 player. Even though my eyes were already so tired, I made sure I would finish one chapter, also because my player had no bookmarking functionality, so it would really be difficult for me to navigate back to where I left off 😅. After so many years (I was already working), I was able to get my hands on a physical copy of the seventh book. I requested it as a gift from my officemate one Christmas. I wasn't able to read through it, not until my Binge Mode reread. It felt like I was reading the story for the first time. It was a refreshing experience -- seeing the illustrations for the first time and reading the chapters now on book format.

Finally, Harry's adventure ends...
Did the book satisfy my expectations? HELL YES!!! The adrenaline rush that each chapter of the book gave me was comparable to that of the climax part of the previous books. This is the only book in the series that did not follow the template in terms of the flow of the story -- although well it did still start at Privet Drive. The familiar Hogwarts setting was gone. Our trio were not anymore worrying about homework or exams, but instead dreading for their own mortality. The bond that these trio have built through the years was thoroughly tested. Friendships fell apart, old enemies resurfaced, and their worst fears were confronted. They're not kids anymore -- Harry, Ron, and Hermione were young adults fighting the wizards war. They experienced loss, doubt, betrayal and also redemption, trust, and love.

Speaking of redemption, the greatest character redemption of all time for me in all of fiction is that of Severus Snape. Who dare not cry when reading these lines from the book?

"After all this time?"

"Always"

And from that, every action and decision that Snape made throughout the series now made sense. His character received so much love and affection after this revelation in the series.

The bigger theme of love and sacrifice of the Harry Potter series was more emphasized to me listening to Binge Mode: Harry Potter. I super enjoyed hearing Mallory's and Jason's commentaries about the story (hey if you're a Potterhead, I highly recommend you to listen to their podcast!).

I was happy I was able to revisit the Harry Potter series this way, but I felt sad at the same time because I had reached the end. It felt like I was parting ways with an old friend again. But oh well, there are still new material in store for us HP fans (Fantastic Beasts arc wohoo!) so we are technically still in touch with the wizarding world, just in another timeline.


I'll miss reading about your story, Harry. All is well. ⚡