ATASHIN CHI-INSPIRED COMICS 2

(Blogger's note: This post was originally written two months ago.) 

My second stab at drawing comics! Yay! Thank you teacher's pwet for the inspiration and of course Mama, the bida in this Atashin Chi-inspired comics series of mine.

SAAN KAYA GALING?

I initially wanted to color it, but for now I can only work well with either crayons or oil pastel so I decided to just leave it like that. I do hope you get my drift and won't require any further explanations. He he.


I've been meaning to draw something that has this so-called "synergy" and now that I was finally able to (fingers crossed!), I can't help but preen. I'm just so happy.

HAIKU NO. 18

  

Your smile I feel

it lives in me

even now you're gone...

 

 Lablab kong Mama...

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE: MY HAPPY MAMA

Bawal ang sad!

REAL CONNECTIONS

I admit, I was once addicted to Facebook. But unlike most of its users who busy themselves with curating perfect lives on the social networking site for people like them to gawk at, my frequent visits -- childish as they may seem -- had been driven by the gamer in me.

CityVille, FarmVille, The Sims Social, Island Paradise, Candy Crush, Restaurant City, Happy Aquarium, Pet Society. Name it. I have played almost every popular game offered on FB. That instead of engaging myself in a productive activity during my free time -- like writing for this blog, for instance -- I would rather play an FB social game for hours on end.  And that was even when I knew I set up an account to connect with people and not to collect virtual coins. Sadly, to me, Facebook is more fun when it comes to the latter.

This is because I don't agree with what has become of Facebook to many. Now, it is more of a place that caters well to attention- and affirmation-hogging people. People who, as I said, choose what fits public consumption and then propound that their peak of the mountain is higher than that of other people's. Obviously, there's no real connection anymore, but a showcase of who has more and who is better.

Nevertheless, I am still glad and thankful that there are Facebook friends who go beyond the feed for some "real" connections. Did I say they are what makes an FB account worth keeping, after all?

THIS IS NOT A POEM

Time indeed is way too busy being time. It doesn't even mind that it has left me behind. I slept last night and woke up this morning, and suddenly realized that there’s no more waiting. For the days they zoomed to make up months. Twelve months to a year, oh how time flies! And now I’m here, wondering why I try my best to make these lines rhyme. Guess you’ll agree with me if I say that it seems like yesterday when the last one came our way. But this time I really hope my wish comes true at last. Fate please allow me 'coz I already have a pass! In case you're wondering what I'm talking about, oh it's nothing just a book fair, the biggest one we've got. It runs for five days; this year's starts today. Its name's MIBF, Manila International Book Fair. 

Haay, mukhang malabo na namang makapunta ako. Tsk tsk. 

ISANG HOPELESSLY LATE NA REVIEW NG ISANG HINDI ROMANTIC

Walang gaanong tao noon sa National Book Store. Kahit na nga mag-cartwheel ka nang apat na beses ay okay lang dahil walang gaanong tao na ma-we-weirduhan sa’yo, masisita ka nga lang ng guard sa loob. Pero nang makulimlim na hapong iyon ay hindi naman kami nandoon ng kapatid ko para mag-cartwheel, kundi bumili ng kailangan niyang gamit at kung may matitisod ay bumili na rin ng librong worthy pero mababa sa P200 ang presyo. 

Hindi naman ako nabigo. Habang abala ang kapatid ko sa paghahanap ng ID holders na kailangan niya, isang librong kulay pulang-pula ang cover ang umagaw naman ng atensyon ko. Ang bungad nito: Para Sa Hopeless Romantic ni Marcelo Santos III. Binasa ko ang deskripsyon sa likod, kasunod ang pagpapakilala sa awtor. At kahit na nga hindi para sa akin ang librong ‘yon dahil hindi naman ako romantic, ehem, napilitan pa rin akong siya’y bilhin. Bakit, ang tanong mo? Mamaya ko na lang sasabihin.

Umiikot sa kwentong pag-ibig ng limang indibidwal ang nobelang Para Sa Hopeless Romantic: kay Ryan, na naghahangad na magustuhan din siya ng secret love niyang si Maria na gusto rin naman pala siya; kay Becca, na natatakot nang magmahal ulit pagkatapos siyang iwan ng boyfriend niyang si Nikko na hindi rin naman pala siya kayang kalimutan; at kay Jackie, na hopeful naman sa isang magandang love story.

Horizontal ang treatment sa pagkakabuo ng istorya, karamihan ay flashbacks at pinagtatagpi-tagpi ang mga ito gamit ang point of view ng kasunod na character. 

Unique ang pagpapaloob ng awtor sa kwento ng dalawa sa mga tauhan (na bumubuo sa masasabing “totoong kwento” sa libro) sa kwento naman ng iba pang dalawang tauhan (na maituturing na “hindi totoong kwento”), at bihira ito sa ganitong uri ng babasahin. Gayunpaman, dahil dito ay nagmukhang pampuno na lang at huli na nang maisip ang panglimang bahagi kahit na ito’y kasama sa “totoong” kwento. Sa palagay ko, gusto marahil ng may-akda na mag-iwan ng isang kwentong magaan at nakakatuwa sa mambabasa bilang pagtapos sa kanyang akda.

Kung tutuusin, hindi na rin bago sa panlasa ko bilang mambabasa ang Para Sa Hopeless Romantic. Ang totoo, pamilyar na sa akin ang ganitong istilo (tawagin nating “hopeless romantic style”) sa pagsusulat tungkol sa kinababaliwan ng karamihan -- lalo na ng mga kabataan -- ang love. Gayunpaman, tunay na nakakabilib ang may-akda dahil nagawa niyang makabuo ng isang maayos na kwento at maisalibro ito. Kaya naman ang passion sa pagsusulat ng awtor ang para sa aki’y binabakas ng bawat pahina ng nobela.

Mas mainam sana kung walang “padding” na idinagdag ang awtor (kapansin-pansin ‘to sa unang bahagi) upang mapahaba ang obra niya at umabot sa kinakailangang bilang ng pahina. Ito yung tipong “backstories” na sa tingin ko’y wala naman talagang kinalaman sa istorya. Pero maaari rin namang ito’y paraan ng characterization ng sumulat. Kung ganito nga’y sana’y nagawa niya itong malinis at pulido.

Tulad na lang ng ginawa rin sana bago na-i-print ang libro. Palagay ko, hindi naging busisi pagdating sa proofreading. Sa maraming pagkakataon ay mali ang paggamit ng “ng” at “nang.” Ang salitang “tingnan” ay hindi rin gaanong tiningnan muna kaya ito’y naging “tignan” na lang sa lahat ng pagkakataon na ito’y ginamit sa nobela. Kapansin-pansin din ang pagkakamali sa mga petsang nailagay pagdating sa isang flashback.

Ang mga ito’y ilan lamang sa typo errors na hindi napalampas ng aking mga mata, na siya ring parehong mga mata na naakit ng isang librong pulang-pula ang cover kaya siya’y aking binili. Hindi naman ako nagsisisi. Dahil alam kong kapwa ko PUPIAN ang aking tinangkilik.

Para kay Marcelo Santos III, ang aking malugod na pagbati.

WHEN LOVE BECOMES SOMETHING YOU FALL INTO...

Just stumbled upon a very meaningful quote. 

“We’re all seeking that special person who is right for us. But if you’ve been through enough relationships, you begin to suspect there’s no right person, just different flavors of wrong. Why is this? Because you yourself are wrong in some way, and you seek out partners who are wrong in some complementary way. But it takes a lot of living to grow fully into your own wrongness. And it isn’t until you finally run up against your deepest demons, your unsolvable problems—the ones that make you truly who you are—that we’re ready to find a lifelong mate. Only then do you finally know what you’re looking for. You’re looking for the wrong person. But not just any wrong person: the right wrong person—someone you lovingly gaze upon and think, “This is the problem I want to have.”

I will find that special person who is wrong for me in just the right way.

Let our scars fall in love.” 

― Galway Kinnell 

EH BAKIT NGA BA HINDI AKO CRUSH NG CRUSH KO?

Ay teka, wala na nga pala akong crush.

Pero ano nga ba ‘tong fuss (okay, I know super late ako) tungkol sa akdang libro ni Ramon “Lucky” Bautista – na noong una feeling ko eh “somebody” pero di ko kilala until natunghayan ko siya sa ewan ko kung nasa ere pa rin ngayon na May Tamang Balita at nagpakilala siya saken – at nagawa pang gawan ng movie adaptation? Ewan ko. Pero salamat na lang din: una sa aking bro sa pag-uwi niya isang gabi sa bahay bitbit ang isang hiniram na kopya ng Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? at pangalawa, dahil ang librong ‘to ang nag-enlighten sa aking isa pala akong “Halamanization” expert.

Hindi ko masasabing market-moving ang librong ‘to. He he. Nang matapos ko ngang basahin in one sitting (dapat lang) ay tinanong ako ng kapatid kong nanghiram – at inunahan kong magbasa – nito kung maganda raw ba. Sagot ko ay isang medyo mahabang pause at “pwede na rin.”

For me, isa siyang reminder, kumbaga. Yung kalipunan ng questions and answers mula sa Formspring account ni RB – re signs na di ka gusto ng taong gusto mo, paano mag-move on, pagiging NBSB, at paano sasabihin sa parents mo na bumagsak ka sa eskwela – ang bumubuo dito, at ilang “selfie” pictures niya na may kasamang quotable one-liner sa ilalim. May mga tanong-at-sagot na totoong magpapangiti sa’yo. At meron ding ilan na talaga namang makaka-relate ka, tipong “teka, may Formspring acct. yata ako at ako yata ang nagtanong nito nakalimutan ko lang.” Parang ako, pagdating dun sa NBSB section.

So ayun.

Maidagdag lang. Kung sa radyo may Papa Jack, sa Internet (at print na rin ngayon) si Ramon Bautista ang counterpart niya. Siyempre minus the pagiging racy, dahil cool dude lang itong huli. At kung sakaling bibili ka ng sarili mong kopya o makakatisod ng hiram lang at babasahin mo ang Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?, pramis sa isang picture andun si Luis Manzano kasama ni RB (na kamukha “raw” niya kaya pwede mong i-compare o kaya ipilit). Wala lang. Pakihanap na lang din dun si Aga Muhlach if you can. 

A SECRET REVEALED

Every once in a while, amid life's turn of making us savor boredom, we stumble upon things that shift our frown upside down. Sometimes, these things come in a one-word facade that whether we're prepared for it or not renders us temporarily stunned. And if by some cosmic coincidence we've got the same wavelength, I bet you've already figured out it's the word "secret." But I'm not referring to the one kept well-hidden with a red stamp over it. Still, I'm delighted to say that my recent discovery involved a "secret" movie. Well, not-so secret actually.

Introducing Secret, a 2007 Taiwanese movie that lets us in on the mysterious love story of Ye Xianglun (Jay Chou) and Lu Xiaoyu (Gwei Lun-mei), both piano major students of the-not-fictional Tamkang Secondary School. An old piano piece, aptly titled "Secret," leads them to each other, and thus provides a "magical" element to the story.

For someone who had just forayed into film directing, the multi-hyphenate Chou undeniably was able to deliver in this movie, but obviously not when we talk about his acting. While Lun-mei was able to strike off her character's enigmatic aura convincingly, Chou, on the other hand, flubbed his portrayal by being emotionless and flat most of the time.
  
But what he lacked in thespian performance, he made up for with his musical prowess, and this, for me, is the best thing going for this film. 

The music he and his fellow composer Terdsak Janpan created for Secret, which was all classical, blended well with the scenes. Moreover, piano enthusiasts will surely find this movie a great one, as it is a real treat for their aural senses. Add to that the larger-than-life piano duel between Chou's character and someone named Prince of Piano, which serves as one of the film's highlights.

Spending your precious 100 minutes for this film is worth it, and I hope you'll take my word for it. Just don't mind the inexplicable and illogical turn of events toward the last part. Now that's an unspeakable secret between the two of us; please don't tell anyone.

PIANO WEEK: SONG NO. 7 (SOMEONE LIKE YOU)

Rounding out my Piano Week's to-be-featured songs is another Adele hit, "Someone Like You." Though at first this wasn't my favorite, despite the constant oh-she-is-playing-her-favorite-song-again joke being thrown at me whenever I play this one, I do admit that it is now.

I won't be posting my self-illustrated tutorial today, but rather an instructional YouTube video through which I was able to learn how to play the song. There's a part where I can't keep up with the proper pace (waah, I just can't!), so I am warning you not to expect the best piano playing for this song. I guess that also goes with the other videos in this challenge, but there you are, staying with me until the end. So thank you very much for that. Till next challenge!

PIANO WEEK: SONG NO. 6 (SECRETS)

"Secrets" is the OST of the fantasy-adventure movie The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010). I liked it big time when I first heard (and saw) its "electrical" version being played in the movie, not to mention that that scene was so rad you would wish to witness such thing in real life. (oops, spoiler alert!)

Click here to download the PDF version

PIANO WEEK: SONG NO. 5 (FIX YOU)

Just in case you don't know, "Fix You" is an inspirational song sung by the British band Coldplay. I love playing this song on my keyboard. I know you will love it, too. 

Click here to download the PDF version

PIANO WEEK: SONG NO. 4 (THE MAN WHO CAN'T BE MOVED)

Learning to play this song really ingrained in me the importance of fingering -- proper finger placement -- in playing the piano/ keyboard. It is hard to explain why, so let's just leave it at that.

Click here to download the PDF version

PIANO WEEK: SONG NO. 3 (ROLLING IN THE DEEP)

To my recollection, I was able to learn Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" in just one sitting, which took a little over 20 minutes . Well maybe it was because it's one of my favorites.

Click here to download the PDF version

PIANO WEEK: SONG NO. 2 (FIREFLIES)

I love to play this one a tad slower than the original. But here I opted to stick by the song's usual speed (so sorry for the frying sound ). I'm always reminded of someone whenever I play this; don't know why though.

Click here to download the PDF version

PIANO WEEK: SONG NO. 1 (A THOUSAND YEARS)

I’ve been dreaming of posting videos of me playing the keyboard on this blog. But given the phase I’ve been in lately, I just don’t seem to have the drive to finally get round to it.

And then one day I came to realize that setting aside that “dream” for so long might eventually lead me to just write it off, so much so that I’d probably do the same to my other to-do blog entries. Needless to say, of course I don’t want that to happen.

So today – armed with renewed enthusiasm – I’m setting out Piano Week. I will be recording a preselect song each day of this week, meaning seven different songs for seven days. Moreover, I will provide simple illustrations (which I made myself) to teach you how to play some of them. It’s not that I’m good enough to be a piano teacher because you see I’m light-years away from being one , but I think it’ll be all the more fun and fulfilling on my part to be able to share what I know with those who are just starting to learn the piano just like me.

I want to make it clear, though, that it was through classpiano.com by Regan Starr that I was able to learn the first six songs – not to mention almost all of the songs I know – that I’ll be having here. And I’d be remiss if I just go about this seven-day challenge without expressing first my sincerest gratitude to the site’s owner. So, .

Moving on, here’s my Piano Week’s first song, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. I once heard a piano-cello cover of this song and very much liked the “transition” (dunno if that’s the correct term for it) before the second part of the intro. So here you’ll be seeing and hearing me play my interpretation of that “transition,” which is actually made up of just two keys.  

Click here to download the PDF version

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE: MINIONS

25 QUESTIONS

The oft-mentioned remark “asking the right questions is the answer” may very well be our foolproof reminder when it comes to deciphering the meats and potatoes of everything and, I guess, everyone. As they say, wielding the right questions is tantamount to having great power. Well, I couldn’t agree more. This time, though, let me willingly give you that “great power”: to know me more. If you’ve got the time (AND interest), that is.

Oops, so serious eh?My apologies. That was just me trying to sound like I have long known what “meats and potatoes” is and not just a while ago.

Anyway, I came across this 25 Questions assignment we had way back in college while rummaging my digital files the other day. And because I’ve been in kind of I’m-so-bored-I’m-gonna-die mood lately, I decided to post my answers here, for the heck of it. And I’ll tell you what, I was oddly surprised with some of them. Maybe that’s what you get when you have gotten way past your younger self and have quite forgotten who and what you were back then. Or maybe, again, that was just me.

There’s also this 25 random questions tag that has been gaining ground on YouTube and some blogging sites. But if you go for heart-rending, headache-inducing questions, you may look into this awesome website.

1. What are your most compulsive habits? Do you regularly struggle to break these habits?

          I do have quite a few compulsive habits. But I won't reveal all of them because I think it's too personal. But let me tell you one which, I think, is worth telling.

          I have this habit of looking out for my things over and over. It's as if someone's going to take them away from me. And no matter how I try to fight such unwanted thought, I just can't help but follow "this" voice inside my head that keeps on telling me repeatedly, "Look, your books are lost!" or something like, "You have left your stuff over there." Then I have to check if I really don't have it with me.
         It's really hard. Though I believe it's still okay as long as it doesn't cause me problems and the like.

2. You know you will die of an incurable disease within three months. Would you allow yourself to be frozen within a week if you knew it would give you a modest chance of being revived in 1,000 years and live a greatly extended life?
        It is not that I'm against the idea of being "frozen" but I just don't feel like it.
        If I will die within three months, then I will just let myself die. Besides, if it's only me who will be frozen for 1,000 years, I won't be happy. Because when I "wake up," there won't be familiar faces to greet me and for sure I'll live in a strange and different sort of way where nobody will really love me as I am.

3. If you were to discover that your closest friend was a shabu dealer or user, what would you do?
        If that happens, I'll ask what made him/ her do that. If it's about sustaining his/ her family's needs and he/she just did it once (be a drug user), I'll forgive him/ her and help him/her get out of such problem. But if he/she still uses shabu frequently or still sells it, I guess this time professional help is needed. I'll take my friend to a drug rehabilitation center and let him/her be treated.
        This question really bothered me a lot because a close friend is involved. I think I have given an honest answer though I am not really certain if that's what I'll do if that'll happen. I just hope it won't.

4. What do you most strive for in your life -- accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge or something else?
          I would say that it's happiness. And I think almost everybody would say that, too. whatever you strive for in your life, whether it's accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, etc., all of them lead to happiness. Whatever you think would make you happy, you will try hard to achieve that.

5. Have you considered suicide? What is so important to you that life, without it, would not be worth living?
        Yes. The reason, though, was very personal so I won't elaborate more about it.

6. If you were having difficulty on an important test and could safely cheat by looking into someone else's paper, would you do so?
        No, I certainly won't. But I admit that I did cheat once, back in high school. We had a short quiz (I don't remember the subject). Actually it was a surprise quiz and I really didn't know anything about our recent lesson then (the reason was valid). And I didn't want to flunk that test so I hid my notes inside my transparent file case and placed it atop my armchair. When the professor wasn't looking, I simply peeked into my file case and feigned that I was just thinking of the answers. Luckily (is that the right term?), I passed the test.
        It gave me a guilty feeling and right after, I promised myself that I would rather have a score of zero than cheat. And I have kept it in my heart until now. 

7. How do you picture your funeral? Is it important for you to have people mourn your death?
        I want my funeral to be filled with the people I loved and shared my life with. But I don't want them to grieve over my death. And I don't want balloons; I just don't like them at my funeral and I really don't know why. Perhaps it is because they make me sad when they're up in the air. And I don't want sadness pervade my funeral.
       I would also love to have everybody singing my favorite songs so that I won't forget them. That is my ideal funeral. Oh, I want to be cremated though.

8. Can you urinate in front of another person?
        Yes, I can. I actually do it but only in front of a girl, too (don't expect me to do it in front of a boy!).
        Though, I guess, to actually do this in front of another person is quite a taboo. But what would you do if you really need to do it and someone's in the john?

9. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
        I sing to myself every minute. I sing when I take a bath, when I write or even when I am just thinking of something. Music indeed is a part of my life. And I won't last a day without singing to myself or simply humming a tune.
        When it comes to singing to someone else though, I think the last time I did it was last month when my friends and I sang in a nearby mall's KTV.

10. When did you last say "I love you" to your loved ones?
        I am not the type of person who says "I love you" verbally to the ones I love. I don't know why but I am really shy when it comes to that matter. Though I always make it a point to hug and kiss my mom everyday for her to know that I do love her.

11. What was your best experience with drugs or alcohol? Your worst?
        I can't answer this one for I don't take drugs and alcoholic drinks.

12. If you knew there would be a nuclear war in one week, what would you do?
        In case a nuclear war will happen and I have a week's leeway to prepare or do the things I want to do, I'll probably travel with my family and friends to places I want to visit. I want to have my happiest moments with the people I love before I die. And at least, for the last time, I would have to see the peaceful and wonderful world God created for us before it will be turned to kaput by man.
        
13. What was your most enjoyable dream? Your worst nightmare?
        I have several enjoyable dreams though I can't remember my most enjoyable one. But I do have this certain dream which I find extraordinary -- I fell in love with a guy whom I have never met. And while I was having that dream, I really felt that I was attracted to him. 
        My worst nightmare, on the other hand, was when someone tried to kill my mom and then I found her in a coffin. I remember that in my dream, I was really scared when I saw her there. It is probably the worst thing that could ever happen to me, lose my mother.  
        
14. Which sex do you think is easier for our culture?
        At present, it doesn't matter what your sex is. Even women, who were stereotyped as second-class citizens are now given equal opportunities and rights as male citizens.

15. Would you be willing to murder an innocent person if it would end hunger, terrorism in the world?
        No, I won't! And besides, what has killing an innocent person got to do with ending hunger and terrorism?!

16. Would you accept $1M to leave the country and never set foot in it again?
         I won't! I am not saying that I will never go abroad. But not to return to my homeland ever again is a thing I will never do. I believe everybody would say that, too. No matter how far one has traveled, the thought of coming back to where he or she was born would always be present. And for me, I would love to spend my last days reminiscing my fondly experienced times here in my beloved country.

17. Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a remote house that is supposedly haunted?
        Though still in denial, I would say that I believe in spirits or evil spirits. But not in ghosts because the Bible says that they don't exist.
        I have encountered few situations where I have seen or sort of felt their (spirits) presence but I don't want to entertain the idea that they really exist that is why I just ignore them. I am scared of them. And if I would be asked to spend a night alone in a remote house that is supposedly haunted by evil spirits, I would refuse even if I would be offered with P1 billion or even any higher amount.

18. Would you rather be extremely successful professionally and have a tolerable yet unexciting private life or have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable professional life?
        I would rather have an extremely happy private life and only a tolerable professional life.
        Well, I am not saying that to have an extremely successful professional life would not make me happy. But there would always be a "sacrifice" if I would have such kind of life. And that "sacrifice" would be an unexciting private life where I certainly won't find peace. I would rather choose to be an ordinary person than to fret about being intruded by other people.
        
19. Are there people you envy enough that you would want to trade your life with them?
          Honestly, I don't want to trade my life with somebody else's. Although there are some whom I really admire, still I want to be unique. I want to be successful in whatever endeavors I would take by myself. And I can say that I am happy and content with my life right now. I have a loving family, really good friends, and a peaceful life which I will never trade for anything else.

20. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Is there anything you hope to do that is even better?
        I won't tell that my greatest accomplishment would be my academic achievements because what I consider as one is somewhat a personal triumph.
        I was a pyrophobic. I was really afraid of fire more than anything else. I couldn't even light a match or even turn on a stove because I always thought that it would explode right on my face. Even to hear a discussion about fire was something I can't stand. And for more than ten years, I had lived my life denying the fact that someday my fear of fire would be gone.
        But, over this last summer vacation, it did. And I am very glad to say that I now cook food for my family. And it is something that I am really proud of.
        There's just this one habit of mine that I can't get rid of until now, my tardiness. I really want to be on time but I can't do it. I just hope that one day, I'll learn my lesson and change for the better.

21. When were you last in a fight? What caused it? Who won?
       It is not in my nature to be quarrelsome. I really don't want to be in a fight. Though an angry argument or disagreement can't be avoided. And for that matter, I can say that I was in such, with my brother or sister perhaps, last week or maybe yesterday. I really don't remember when because it was just a petty disagreement and no one really won.

22. If you could choose the manner of your death, what would it be?
        If I could have the chance to do that, I would choose a natural death. I certainly don't want to be killed in an accident or to be murdered by somebody. It is really horrid for me. Though I am not afraid to die. Really!
        To talk about death is a reluctant thing. But we have to accept that all of us are going to die. We just have to live our life to the fullest to serve our purpose.

23. What is the worst psychological torture you can imagine suffering?
        The worst psychological torture that I can see myself suffering is to see my loved ones being killed or hurt in front of me and I can't do anything to help them.
        Just thinking of it really scares me. I don't want to be in such situation. I would rather sacrifice myself just to save them.

24. Would you like your spouse or sweetheart to be both smarter and attractive than you?
        If I would have a special someone who is both smarter and attractive than me, well I would be proud of him. But it doesn't mean that I look for someone who is smarter or more attractive than me. It is okay if he is not. What is important is he is true to me and really loves me as I am.
        But if I would have a boyfriend who happens to be smarter than me, I don't want him to brag about his intellectual superiority. I won't tolerate that!

25. If you found out that your good friend has AIDS, would you avoid him or her? What if your brother or sister has it, would you avoid him or her?
       I certainly won't. But I won't say that I won't be surprised if that will happen. Of course I'll be shocked if a good friend or a sibling of mine has AIDS. But instead of avoiding them, I will help them in any way I can. I know that people with AIDS need love and understanding. And even if everybody hates them because of what they have, I will still accept them and never leave their side.