Wrapping-Up My 22nd Ride

Time fast so swiftly and I can’t even imagine that I’m already writing this wrap-up for my 22^nd year. It’s just like yesterday that I’m at the garage writing my 21^st year wrap. And now it’s official, this is my last day wearing the age 22. J

This year was a big roller coaster ride for me. Aside from it was too fast, it gave me an adrenalin feeling of excitement, fear, and relief at the end.

Now let me have the pride and joy to list down the highlights of my 22^nd year.

-o-I met and got close to the Red Stags -o-My family got and Heinz (Shih Tzu) and Katty (Siamese Cat) on our Household -o- Red Stags Closing Party -o- I got Mikki (My Camera) -o- I became the over-all chairperson for our Foundation day/ and Intramurals -o- Red Stags, CPDFI, CPFI-FEATI, Family, Kat and Company Christmas Parties -o- I got sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas day -o- I got 3gs. My first Iphone -o- Cruz Clan Reunion -o- January Family outing in Bolinao, Pangasinan -o- My friend and I got reunited -o- April’s stress-busting gifts -o- Marketing 2012 -o- I joined Instagram -o- I discovered Milk Tea -o- I met Josiah (fraternal cousin) for the first time -o- Instability of the company I’m working for -o- Work-related stress -o- Zambales family outing -o- I met Henzo (son of a good friend) for the first time -o- Updating and experience-sharing with Marj -o- FAB Party at Subic -o- Post Summer Office Outing -o- I and my peers got our first FAB Shirt -o- My best friend’s party -o- Me stalking the “The Dark Knight Rises” production development -o- The Dark Knight Rises premiere. -o-

See how great my 22^nd was? Soon enough this roller coaster ride will come to its end. The ride is indeed one of my best so far, and I can’t wait to get out of it to traverse towards my 23^rd. J

Positive Me and Nothing Else

When we see something in the light we focus our sights at the object itself. But later on, as we examine the totality of the figure and the light, then we see the darkness, the shadow.

This week, our accountant had this activity for us. The activity is to write at least 3 positive traits of each of our officemates. This day, we collected our positive traits listed to a secret ballot from each of our officemates, and here are the traits that my officemates think positively about me:

-         (4) Mabait (kind)

-         (2) Marunong makisama (flexible)

-         (2) Mapanatindi ya/Malawak ya pag-unawa (understanding)

-         (2) Simple

-         (2) down to earth/ humble

-         May respeto sa ibang tao (Respectful)

-         Hard working

-         Matalino (Intelligent)

-         Maputi (has light complexion)

-         Magaling mag-suggest (suggestive)

-         Pranka (frank)

-         Disciplined in many ways

-         Can able to mingle to anybody

-         You make me laugh always

-         I learn a lot from you

-         Good listener

-         Parating may joke (has a sense of humor)

-         Easy ang trabaho kapag anjan ka (dependable)

-         Good in work management

-         A true friend that is really for keeps

-          May appreciate (appreciative)

After reading the traits written on the ballots, it seems my self-esteem notched a level higher. There are some of the traits I am aware that I have, and there are also some that caught me off guard.

Actually, I’m not a fan of sugar-coating. I admire the people who are honest to me. They are the people who see the light and the shadow in me and tell me that I have both.

But this activity, aside from lifting me up, it made me realize that perspective is and will always be important. That if I focused myself in the lighted area of me or the others, all that I’ll see is the lighted part alone, a sort of a selective exposure technique.

It’s good to look at all the angles, but it is equally good if I 'll just expose myself to what makes me feel better, and that’s my positive me.

Hunger Satisfied

Photo Credits to  www.shadowlocked.com

I never was hungry for something like this for so long (4 years) in my life. And yes, the long wait was finally over. The last part of the Batman trilogy premiered; The Dark Knight Rises (TDKR).

Since I was a kid, I’ve been always fascinated with the literary presentation of The Batman. Much more of it, its latest franchise (Nolan’s) was the best produced so far. All of the movies in the three-part saga were unique but cohesive and each has a well written script, very good story, and an epic direction.

The Dark Knight Rises

Honestly, at first, I was a bit bored with the plot and wondering why the two villains (Bane and Catwoman) are underexposed. The movie was halfway and I can’t still figure out the trend of the plot. Where is it going?

But later on, when the climax rises, everything seems like to be in their proper places, that all of the scenes are quintessential to the movie as a whole. I thought at first that 2 hours and 45 minutes for a movie is too long, it seems in this movie that the running time of it was nothing but perfect.

The last 20 minutes of the film almost gave me a heart attack. Every second is important and twists reveal themselves all the way. It also sewed all of the I-thought-irrelevant-scenes on the first and middle part of the movie.

The movie was epic. It was the perfect wrap for a perfect trilogy on one of the most iconic characters of all times. Enough said.

As Comparison to its Predecessors

I compare the trilogy to a complete course of a meal.

The first was Batman Begins which I guess is the appetizer. It warms up the taste buds for a full blast main course that’s about to come. Of all the three movies, its script, for me, was the best and was the most cohesive. It’s simply is a good start or a good hint of an arising epic.

The second is The Dark Knight (TDK) which I compare it to the main course. It is main event of the trilogy. Everything was perfect in here including cinematography, lights, action and direction. After the Batman Begins warmed the taste buds, The Dark knight then satisfied the craving.

If The Dark Knight is like a main course which is slowly roasted to perfection, TDKR is like another main course where everything goes and was cooked in a fast phase with extremely high temperature. Also, I compare it, particularly at the end part of the movie, as the dessert. After TDK and TDKR fulfilled the cravings, it’s now time for the dessert. Its end was a satisfying end of the entire course.

Villains

One trademark of any Batman adaptations is its villains. In this movie, an unfamiliar and under rated villain was introduce, Bane. Unlike its associate who I guess is one of Batman’s most well-known (or the only) antiheroes, Catwoman.

Tom Hardy as Bane was very good, but its safe to say that it didn’t leveled or even surpassed Ledger (as Joker)‘s performancein TDK. At first I don’t believe him at all, plus his confusing style of speaking. I guess that’s the part of the movie that confused me; I didn’t understand a word he uttered. But in the end, where all ends were knotted, I’ve finally appreciated his craft. I thought at first that he was under-acting, but at the end, his acting was just perfect for his role.

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, on the other hand, from start to finish, was in character. Her interpretation of the character was remarkable, as Catwoman and as Selina Kyle. She almost stole the show in every scene she’s in.

The End

The long wait had come to end, and the legend did end. My cravings and hunger were satisfied and my standards for comic-book-adapted-movies are raised to another level. I’ll surely miss the hunger and the excitement for another legend like this.