Bliss

Since September 14, 2019, I was attending an Adobe Photoshop Training in Ortigas, Pasig. We had a lesson about how to make a movie poster.

As a movie enthusiast like me, I had difficulty choosing which movie should I personalize.

I asked my husband what will he be doing since we're together on this training and he said jokingly that he will create his own movie poster.

Well, that was a great idea!

The reason for getting into this training aside from the fact that we are already personalizing T-shirts, is for me to enhance my skill in editing photos and be certified with it.

As much as I wanted to star in my own movie, the pictures that I have at hand, does not look and feel cinematic. So, if I were to see a movie, I would choose the movie with my favorite actors instead. I remembered that Joker with Joaquin Phoenix will be showing October 2019.

Although I loved Joaquin since "Gladiator" days and when I saw the "Inventing the Abbotts", my all-time favorite Joker character is Heath Ledger on The Dark Knight.

That is why I decided to use both of them on my movie poster activity.

My Tribute to Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix as Joker. May we find the truest sense of bliss.

Today, October 3, 2019, my husband treated me on a movie date. (^_^)
We were reminiscing when was the last time we went to the cinemas since the dawn of Netflix at the comforts of our home. The last movie we saw together was Kita Kita (2017)!

After getting some snacks, I advised him that we have to be inside the cinema in time for the trailers and when we arrived it was just us and a mother and daughter tandem climbing up the stairs slowly but surely. Before the trailers and announcements started, a few people only joined us for the 4:00 PM show.

Well, this blog is not meant for me to tell you in detail what I saw because I highly recommend that you see it for yourself!

I wanted to confirm that we cannot compare The Dark Knight Joker with it because they are totally different with a totally different plot and scenarios. Like what I have responded on one of the tweets I saw about Heath as the best Joker ever, watching Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker will never replace or forget how Heath Ledger portrayed the role, it is a chance for us to look at things on a different perspective.

And when you look at things in a different light, you will be more open to changes and improvements that hopefully will benefit you more for the good than before. No doubt, the acting expertise of Joaquin was a masterpiece, naturally executed in the light of a person who lived a tormented life.

I realized after watching the movie that it all starts in the family. Although we cannot have a perfect family, I believe in reality, God will always show the way for us to find a family that we can consider as our basic support system outside of our homes through friends and professionals as long as we consistently pray in whichever religion one may have, then to admit to ourselves we needed help, and to seek, meaning attempting to find, ways on how to receive help or cure from others.

If all else fails, the system, the government, based from experience, there will always be someone or a mediator who is willing to open their arms or ears, who can give their time to be the voice of the voiceless.

I always pray that I become a part of the solution. And for me, communicating with my loved ones and having a Bible Plan are a few of the ways I use to muster all the courage that I must have daily. I am almost done reading, "Words Matter" by LoveGodGreatly.com

When Arthur said in the movie that his life was a comedy, I had flashbacks when I was in college during our theater class. A comedy is a play characterized by its humorous or satirical tone and its depiction of amusing people or incidents, in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity.

This is the comedy I wanted for all of us "Arthurs" out there, so we can always put a happy smiling face in spite of it all. :)  #virtualhugsandkisses for the meantime.

Overall, the movie is all our money's worth. The 70's/80's vibe is my favorite and the shots, angles, minimal effects taken were at the right time and at the right place, they were necessary! Those where done not to compare with past movies but so we can understand during that era how things work that maybe until today, even with all these technologies, we still haven't made any advancement on our approach to people like Arthur that is why we still produce and meet Arthurs any where. I love the original soundtrack and I already found it on Spotify. There was a confusing part for me at first after the subway scene with all that adrenaline rush but later I understood why he has to dance it away. #InsanelyClassic

October is my birth month and reading my past blogs revitalizes me. Although I am still a work in progress, I am truly happy and contented now. #Cheers #Halflife

My First Voting Experience

#PHVote2016

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. 

Indeed, especially if it is during an Election Day. I know, I'm already 32 yrs. old and this is the first time for me to exercise my right to suffrage due to the following reasons:

• Mismanagement of authorities that my registration documents had to be reprocessed while I was in Abra for our college thesis

• Lack of interest since my schedule was upside down during my BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) years that I preferred to sleep and do other things than register to vote.  

  So, after venturing to other careers, I was finally able to find time, rather I had a lot of time to visit our organized City Hall, therefore, I had finally completed my registration and biometrics and hopefully I'll get my actual Voter's ID soon! 

As a first time voter, I prepared myself by being informed about the dos and don'ts imposed by the COMELEC (Commission on Elections) and knowing each candidate based on their portfolio, moral acts and actual public service. And I firmly believe that those candidates I have selected today truly deserve the position they are running for and that they will greatly lead the Philippines, one step at a time, to a positive and a progressive change. I felt it as I look at my Voter's receipt. I'm glad that I did not encounter too much hassle compared to others, or else!

Now I also understand the reason why others choose not to vote. No matter how we try to modernize the equipment being used during elections, we still have the same old low tech and unorganized system. Sir/Ma'am, please do not forget that it should also be included in the advancement of things. No one or nothing should be left behind. Little things take for granted are the things that can pull you down or slow you down in the course of life. Be it in terms of personal or career goals. I know this first hand in many ways and situations. Since the choices I made have dictated the life I'm living now. 

I have said before that I wanted to be a Senior Citizen as soon as I can but in a scenario like this, I wanted to be a Super Senior Citizen. I pity them when the system plays them around and makes them feel helpless. My mama is a senior citizen and she was eager to vote. Instead of seeing guides or a map upon entering the school assigned to our barangay, we have to check the posted list of voters on each classroom that shows our polling precinct number. 

Lo and behold! Her name was not on the list under her precinct number. We asked some officials and confirmed that they don't have an access via computer to easily search our inquiry. There was a section for PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) where you can manually go over the paper copies of all the voters’ names. We confirmed with our family friend that her name was also missing and she found out that it was included on a different precinct number. I was thinking maybe, since my mother recently became a senior citizen, COMELEC, decided to transfer her on a different polling precinct number together with other Senior Citizens without even sending any notice, great! And to my surprise, she was! I left her to the “new” polling precinct assigned to her.

So, off I go and I went to my polling precinct upstairs. There was also a man who had the same situation. His children's names were listed except his wife's and his name. He approached one of the BEIs (Board of Election Inspectors) and went through the paper master file list they have. He was also not on the list, therefore, the man wasn't able to vote and he was upset that he has to waste his time searching where his name got listed.

A vote missed, a vote wasted.

While I was waiting for my turn, I prayed that everything will go smoothly and be followed as planned when my moment comes. 

This is the outline version of what had happened to me:

• Presented voter's slip and SSS ID
• On the list outside the polling precinct I was #62
• Confirmed that I am #82 on the master list
• Signed across my name and logged my name on a separate bond paper that looks like for attendance purposes, there was one for the Males and the other one noted for the Females
• Got my ballot, folder and marker
• Sat on the chair close to the window farther to the ride side of the room
• Took my time in shading my bets cause I don't want to get any error messages or other excuses
• I wanted it badly that my vote will be counted!
• A bit ticked off when someone tap her folder on my table while I was writing, excuse me!?
• Ha ha, I was able to contain my emotion cause I was focused on what I was doing
• The VCM (Vote Counting Machine) had a bit of an attitude like an idle time or lag time error every after 2 ballots were fed. It was like wanting a continuous feeding of papers to its mouth
• Finished! I had the same feeling when I was taking an exam in school and I know I have given my all to answer every question, didn't under or over vote (I have all the time, chance and power in my hands now not to put it into waste or let the moment pass by for nothing) and I am satisfied whatever the result will be because I know that my participation in this event will be worth it
• Asked the BEI the next step
• Went forward to the VCM to feed my ballot
• Praying it will take it smoothly
• Gave back the folder and marker
• Allowed the VCM to take the paper instead of shoving it to the feeder resulting to paper jam or possible errors 
• Surprised when I got a message on the screen that my “time has expired” while the entire ballot is going through the feeder and the BEI assured me that it is okay
• Waited for my voting receipt
• Voila! It showed completely my selected candidates, I'm a happy kid/voter inside
•  Got inked, He he, but I felt I was up for a manicure and presented my 2 hands to the BEI, she inked my left forefinger instead of the right looking like my nail has a smudged eyeliner after crying blue tears
• Folded the receipt and inserted it on the black receptacle box
• Went outside the polling precinct and looked for my mama (No time for Selfies or what not, I did not go there for a photo shoot, I went there to vote!)

While I was looking for mama, the number of voters in the school doubled! It pays to be early indeed! I also saw my friend in line & I asked her if she saw my mother. She said that there were some inconsistencies in the master list that my mama went towards the PPCRV to get assistance. 

True to that, I saw my mother exhausted and disappointed. She confirmed that her name was not on the masters list on both the “new” and previous polling precinct numbers assigned to her and the BEIs advised her to go back and forth for her to find out the real score. She has arthritis on her knee joints and this charade made it distressing for her. 

I’m not sure how COMELEC save or update their files, if they have 2 separate files for the list outside the polling precinct and the ones they use before you are allowed to vote. Should it be identical in the first place? My father's name was included on the list and my mother is using the same last name. How come it was not there? Was it accidentally deleted together with the other registered voters whose names were also missing? Oh man, the endless what ifs. Well, instead of bidding for the shirt/uniform/other paraphernalia, I’m grateful that it was fortunately cancelled! It could have been beneficial for all of us if you have spent your time organizing your files to end this inconvenience especially to Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities. It could have greatly changed your image for the better without even spending a lot, if that was your only main concern.

Well, a vote missed, a vote wasted, again.

At the end of the day, I can say that all is well. Let us continue on praying because it has not ended yet until the proclamation day of the victors. At this time, I am opting out to watch newsfeeds about violent happenings in other regions and delaying tactics. (I’m thankful we do not have these kinds of nuisances in our place)

Thank you for your guidance, Jesus and Mama Mary.

God bless the Philippines.