The Vampire Diaries: A Closer Look. :D

I started watching The Vampire Diaries out of complete boredom (no thanks to you, Onody!). I didn't know what to expect other than the fact that it's another one of those shows about vampires -- a current trend, it seems. Since I do love the Twilight Saga (not the movie though, that was awful), I decided to give it a try. After watching the first episode, I was instantly hooked. This is so much better than Twilight! :D

I know I've already made a blog about the series' plot. This time I'd like to focus on the specifics. :D

What's really cool about this series is that it gives you a feel of the whole Twilight romance but at the same time it shows the darker side of the vampires life. I like that they're not afraid to show blood and the vampires feeding on humans. I also love how they mixed romance and suspense together but without the level of intimacy and sensuality of True Blood. I believe this is attributed to the fact that the series targets teens for audiences -- hence, my reason for watching (walang kokontra!LOL).

Unlike Twilight, this show really lets you see each character's personality. No one character is left on the side. I also like the fact that even the villain of the story arouses my interest.

A few other points against Twilight (LOL), you know how Jacob fans always say:

Team Jacob: because we like our boys rugged NOT sparkly

Well, the same statement goes for this series' vampires. Only, you would have to modify it into:

TEAM STEFAN: Because we like our VAMPIRES rugged not sparkly. :D

I love that Stefan and Damon DO NOT sparkle in the sun -- very manly. I also enjoy the fact that the heroine in this series is actually lovable (Sorry Bella fans. :D). Plus, it has a really good story. It gets you feeling different emotions in a single episode. And puzzles! I love how you have to listen carefully to fully understand the beliefs of the vampires in this show.

This is a really good series. I highly recommend it. :D

All Eyes on "The Vampire Diaries"

For the past few years, vampires has been a fad. It all started with the US Series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" in 1997. Soon other vampire-inspired shows, movies, and books surfaced. Soon after Buffy, they started giving vampires more attention through the series spin-off "Angel". Even the anime world was dominated by these blood sucking creatures through the series called "Vampire Knights". Current vampire favorites are the Cullen's in the hit Saga "Twilight" and the vampires of HBO's "true Blood".

Hoping to join the vampire act is CW's new series "The Vampire Diaries". The series focuses on the young heroine, Elena, who captured the hearts of two vampire brothers. The story begins at the start of the school year, four months after the death of the parents of Elena and her brother Jeremy. Elena and her friends' attention are captured by the new guy, Stefan. Elena and Stefan are immediately drawn to each other. However, Elena was oblivious to the fact that Stefan is actually a centuries-old vampire. Stefan's brother Damon adds flavor to the story as the bad guy who does everything to make living peacefully with humans impossible with Stefan.

The Vampire Diaries shows a good mix of elements from Twilight and True Blood. It has the captivating romance from Twilight but also features the dark side of True Blood. The series is actually based on L.J. Smith's book series, The Vampire Diaries, but with a few changes in details.

The series is now at its third episode and it keeps getting better.

***

...Elena quickly realizes that the only thing more dangerous that being in love with a vampire is being desired by two...
-- http://www.vampirediaries.net/

Ondoy Relief Drop-Off Sites (From Definitely Filipino)

Ondoy Relief Drop-Off Sites Share Yesterday at 7:06pm A Relief Operations Drop-Off Center has been set-up at La Salle Greenhills beginning today 9:00 AM, Sunday, September 27. Please bring donations to Gate 2 of La Salle Greenhills, along Ortigas Ave., Mandaluyong


Relief Goods can be sent to Caritas ManilaOffice at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (tel.no.5639298/5639308) or Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Corner EDSA (tel no. 9257931-40)


Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas Disaster Relief:Drop off for relief donations at Balay Expo across Farmers Marketcontact:a. Jana Vicente: +63 928 520 5499. Clare Amador: +63 928 520 5508


Ateneo Resident Students Association now accepting relief goods for Typhoon Ondoy at Cervini Hall lobby at 12nn. For details, please contact 0917 631 2423 AND 0917 703 5357


PAOLC - We are requesting for donations (Clothes, blankets, towels, canned goods, Bottled water etc) to be distributed to typhoon victims. You can drop them off at the Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo

DLSU-Manila WILL ACCEPT RELIEF GOODS TOMORROW (Sept 28) by 8:30 am. For volunteers please be there by 8am in southgate benches (gate nearest to McDonalds), let us help OPERATION: SAGIP METRO

La Salle Greenhills students have set up a donation stand inside Unimart, in front of the alcohol/liquor area. They will receive all cash and in-kind donations to be transferred to LSGH Gate 2.

7-11 in cooperation with NDCC and DSWD now turning all branches into drop off points for relief supplies

CBN Asia / Operation Blessing - Operation Blessing is starting to mobilize disaster relief efforts for typhoon Ondoy victims in Metro Manila. YOU CAN HELP by rallying finances, resources and volunteers. Call us at the following numbers: The 700 Club Counseling Center at (632) 810-7176 / 810-7717 or toll-free at 1-800-1-888-8700 Operation Blessing at (632) 812-0581 in Manila or (082) 297-3080 in Davao It is critical that you help TODAY


All Jollibee Stores Now accepting relief goods.

Petron - All stations are DSWD drop off points

ABS-CBN: Donations can be brought to Sagip Kapamilya warehouse at 13 Examiner St., West Triangle QC/ABS-CBN Center/ Road along Mother Ignacia QC/Scout Bayoran corner Tomas Morato, beside Alex III, QC.


We will be updating this list as we get more info

(via Definitely Filipino)

The Cine Europa Experience

I have to say, my last year at La Salle is making me an art junkie. Haha.

Last term, my HUMAART class exposed me to my first ever orchestra experience and I loved it! After that, I don't think I'll ever say no to another live orchestra show. This term, I got to experience my first film festival.

Last night, Anne, Fae, John and I went to Shangri-La Plaza Mall to catch one of the movies for this year's Cine Europa. We didn't really get to choose what to watch since they only showed a movie per time slot and we were free only from 7 to 9 pm. Luckily, we got to watch a really nice film from The Netherlands.

The movie's called Alles Is Liefde (Love is All). It's a romantic comedy from The Netherlands that follows a set of different relationships. And when I said different, I meant like a whole variety. They showed relationships of every age and every kind! We got to see married couples, divorced couples, a teen and a woman at her late thirties, a saleslady and a prince, children couples (possibly at the age of eight to ten), and even same sex couples. The film portrayed events happening in the Christmas season with Saint Nicholas acting more as a cupid than a toy factory.

It was a really nice film. Humorous but with sense. I think the only thing I had difficulties with was the subtitles. It's a little difficult reading the subtitle and looking at the characters at the same time. It gets better as our eyes got used to it though.

I really had fun with this! I also like how I feel I got to enjoy at the same time learning something about Netherland's culture (although I might not have gained much knowledge of their culture, just some little bits here and there). Another thing I loved about it? It's free! Haha.

Epic Fail

Even before the start of the school year, there had been much talk on the new "no-more-course-card-distribution-day" policy. Instead, students will just have to view their grades through their My La Salle accounts.

Apparently, such move would be "beneficial" and "less" stressful for the students. All we needed to do was wait for our grades to be uploaded on the specified date. No need to go to the school unless you have problems with your grades. In that case, they have set a grade consultation day for students who would like to see the computations of their grades and the like.

Why is it a failure?

Actually, the plan does sound really good. It would be even better if somebody's actually uploading the grades. It's already minutes past eight, but most of us have not seen our grades for most of our subjects. At this rate, we're all going to be forced to go to school for the grade consultation day tomorrow just to see our grades.

In the end, the whole policy change was only a change of name from Course Card Distribution Day to Grade Consultation Day. If they added anything else, it would be an additional stress for the students. They just made us wait the whole day for our grades for nothing.

Thus, Online Viewing of Final Grades = EPIC FAIL. Just bring back the Course Card Distribution Day if they can't do as promised.

Uncommon Knowledge: Convenience Store Doughnuts

Are you a doughnut fan? Well here's something you ought to know...

When you buy doughnuts at convenience stores, it's best to look at them very closely before you purchase them. Check the products out for any "cuts" before you buy anything. If you see a cut, DON'T BUY IT.

Apparently, when doughnut suppliers deliver new stocks of doughnuts to a convenience store they cut the doughnuts from the old stocks. This cut shows that the doughnuts have reached past their expiration dates and should be thrown out. The responsibility of throwing the old doughnuts rest on the convenience store owners. However, it seems that some convenience stores still fail to throw these old doughnuts. Whether its out of carelessness or deceit, I don't know.

What we need to do now is remember this simple tip so we get our money's worth and don't end up consuming those old doughnuts. After all, a smart buyer is an informed buyer. :)

A Taste of Hogwarts

Harry Potter has captured millions of hearts through its captivating plot, its diverse range of characters, and its well-described places and creatures. Aside from those details that Rowling created, there also are the many treats meant for the sweet-toothed wizards.

We witnessed how Harry and his friends had their first sip of Butterbeer, or how Harry had his first battle with a Chocolate Frog. Now we 'muggles' can also get a taste of one of those amazing treats without having to visit their world.

Jelly Belly Candy Company came up with their own version of Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans that they called the Bean Boozled.

Jelly Belly's Bean Boozled candies comes in twenty different flavors:


I became acquainted to this as a result of my sister and I's childish love for Candy Corner products (Sour Tapes, yum yum!). We wanted to try something new and found this!

What I love about this is the suspense it brings. You don't have a clue what you're going to be eating next.

I was lucky at first getting Caramel Corn and Top Banana. I gave up after my third try, though. I got Black Pepper. Ugh! Haha. My sister's the brave one, I must say. She got Skunk Spray the first try and didn't back out. She even got the Booger flavored ones! LOL.

This is one fun group activity. You can do eat it with your friends or with your family (like we did!). I'm not sure about eating this alone. though. It's not gonna be as fun. But if you're the loner type, I guess you can give it a go.

If you wanna give it a try, you can check them out at Candy Corner for a hundred bucks each! (Advertisement? Haha. I should get paid for this! :P)

Religion vs Philosphy

the way i see it, religion and philosophy go against each other even in the most random areas like YouTube...

Just so it's clear, I'm still at religion's side... :)

Spring Awakening

I was browsing TicketWorld.com and saw this:

I am so excited that their showing "Spring Awakening" here in the Philippines! I love their soundtrack. This is definitely going in my Must-See list!

term break!

The term's finally over! It was one hell of a term, that one. I thought I'd go crazy over all the deadlines, projects, and exams.

I can't believe that our thesis is finally over! It felt really good finally handing over our newly book bound thesis paper to the department. Although I'm still a bit bitter about almost making the cut-off grade for best thesis... Curse you, IFRIC 12! haha. It's okay though. I got something from the process that's worth more than a plate-sized medal. I have amazing thesis buddies that are almost like sisters to me now, thanks to the sleepless nights of thesis making and all the crazy little issues tied to us and the whole process. I'm so glad that we weren't the kind of thesis group that hated on each other as a result of the pressure. I so love those girls!

Two more terms and I can hear the graduation march playing... :)