My new passion this year is listening to podcasts! It started when I discovered there are available podcasts on Spotify and then I fell deep into the rabbit hole and discovered a lot of podcasts about a lot of things. My particular topic that I'm very into is narrative journalism! Podcasts are perfect to listen while I do paperwork at work and commuting (it actually takes my mind off traffic!). Anyway, here are the podcast that got my ears busy this year!
1. This American Life
- My absolute favorite because it is narrative journalism at its finest. This is a radio that started over 20 years ago and tells various stories under one theme each week. My favorite are the slice of life stories the best
2. Heavyweight
- This podcast features stories of individuals trying to resolved something in their past that was left unresolved. Each episodes are funny and emotional and I absolutey the host's dry humor as well.
3. Kind World
- Short stories of people extending their hand to other people in various ways. This podcast somehow help restore my faith in humanity in this era of outlandish aggressive toxic behavior
4. Household Name
- Each a popular company brand is featured and unknown story about them is told. The often tell fascinating and engaging stories
5. Reply All
- A podcast about the Internet but not strictly about it as well. I love the episodes when they feature Internet subcultures I don't know existed and also stories about how some online event has led to bigger impact in real life
6. Serial
-of course the most popular podcast of them all. The first season is the most popular one and that's not a suprise because the way they narrated the crime was really engrossing. The latest season released this year was also fantastic as well as it deals with the criminal system
7. Start Up
- The podcast about starting a business, the first season was about the podcast company itsefl Gimlet and it was such an engaging journey. The later seasons were more flexible and not just strictly about start ups and business just like this year they released seasons about starting a Church and a charter school.
8. Endless Thread
- A podcast about stories that were found on Reddit! It's kind like Reply All in a way because it stories that stems from the Internet. The topics are as wide as the scope of Reddit is and the stories are always so fascinating especially when they get to interview the people behind the usernames
9. Imagine Life
- This is a narrative podcast where the listener is told the story of a famous person in second person point of view and they only reveal who the person at the end of each episode This is an immersive listening experience and it's actually quite fun when you figure out who the person is before the reveal due to the context clues they drop in.
10. Dr. Death
- This is a podcast that really made me so mad as it is about a surgeon who is so inept that ultimately led to serious damage to a lot of patiens and worse death to some. What's more infuriating about this is how the system of being afraid to fire a doctor enable him to do this big damage.
Monday, December 31, 2018
My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2018
Another year where I watched fewer movies than I would want . Anyway, there are 2017 releases but I've only seen them this year (or was released just this year). From the movies I've seen in the theater this year here are my 10 favorites of 2018!
10. Incredibles 2
- A fun and action filled sequel to the Pixar classic.
9. The Greatest Showman
- The story is just okay but the SONGS! The musical sequences elevated it to me.
8. Teen Titans GO! To The Movies
-Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is indeed a movie about getting a movie made. It sounds a little crazy on paper but it totally worked on screen as the humor is so wicked and sharp
7. Searching
Searching is a nifty modern thriller with strong emotional core that will you keep engaged from start to finish.
6. Ralph Breaks The Internet
- An imaginative and action filled sequel to the 2012 original. The sequence with the Disney Princesses was the highlight, so funny!
5. Smallfoot
Smallfoot is a pleasant surprise as it went beyond simple kiddie entertainment as it explored deep ideas of bending the truth and blind faith
4. Exes Baggage
I felt that this movie was able to capture a relationship by regular folks in this modern era and the soundtrack just added to a fantastic movie experience. And the ending I love it! Not exactly new but the way they build the scene was glorious.
3. Ang Dalawang Mrs Reyes
The movie was marketed as a broad comedy about wives discovering that their husbands are gay and in a relationship. But the movie is so much more than that. It's a great dissection of not just sexual identity but also about relationships and dealing with pain.
2. Changing Partners
This Cinema One original is a fantastic and unique musical which tells the story of four couples of various gender and age gap (played by four actors switching characters) and firmly expresses that no matter what the differences, romantic relationship have similar struggles and challenges.
1. Signal Rock
-The story of the go-to guy of a remote community. This movie perfectly captured what it's like to be the shock absorber and how one takes the extra mile just to solve out problems and issues even if you are not really directly involved. It is also a loving portrait small town life and how the social community functions.
10. Incredibles 2
- A fun and action filled sequel to the Pixar classic.
9. The Greatest Showman
- The story is just okay but the SONGS! The musical sequences elevated it to me.
8. Teen Titans GO! To The Movies
-Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is indeed a movie about getting a movie made. It sounds a little crazy on paper but it totally worked on screen as the humor is so wicked and sharp
7. Searching
Searching is a nifty modern thriller with strong emotional core that will you keep engaged from start to finish.
6. Ralph Breaks The Internet
- An imaginative and action filled sequel to the 2012 original. The sequence with the Disney Princesses was the highlight, so funny!
5. Smallfoot
Smallfoot is a pleasant surprise as it went beyond simple kiddie entertainment as it explored deep ideas of bending the truth and blind faith
4. Exes Baggage
I felt that this movie was able to capture a relationship by regular folks in this modern era and the soundtrack just added to a fantastic movie experience. And the ending I love it! Not exactly new but the way they build the scene was glorious.
3. Ang Dalawang Mrs Reyes
The movie was marketed as a broad comedy about wives discovering that their husbands are gay and in a relationship. But the movie is so much more than that. It's a great dissection of not just sexual identity but also about relationships and dealing with pain.
2. Changing Partners
This Cinema One original is a fantastic and unique musical which tells the story of four couples of various gender and age gap (played by four actors switching characters) and firmly expresses that no matter what the differences, romantic relationship have similar struggles and challenges.
1. Signal Rock
-The story of the go-to guy of a remote community. This movie perfectly captured what it's like to be the shock absorber and how one takes the extra mile just to solve out problems and issues even if you are not really directly involved. It is also a loving portrait small town life and how the social community functions.
Favorites from the past years:
My 10 Favorite Comedy TV Series Episodes of 2018
Here is my annual rundown of my favorite episodes of the sitcoms/comedy programs I watched this year. Like in previous years for variety purposes I just chose one episode per show.
1. The Middle Season 9, Episode 24 "One Heck of a Ride"
- The final episode of one of my all time favorite TV shows. It was perfect end to this simple but relatable show. The finale had a great final shot of just the Hecks in a car where there best scenes of the series usually occur. I will definitely not forget this show.
2. Young Sheldon Season 2, Episode 3 "A Crisis of Faith and Octopus Aliens"
- Sheldon's mother Mary had a crisis of faith and Sheldon unlikely helps her restore it. This is such a sweet episodes that showcased that no matter what the difference of beliefs, love can unite us all.
3. Superstore Season 4 Episode 5 "Delivery Day"
- Dina and Amy goes to labor at the same day and the episode showcased in a funny yet enlightening way the importance of health insurance you get from work and how drastically different it is for the working class.
4. Will & Grace Season 10 Episode 4 "Who's Sorry Now"
- Grace reads an old letter from Will back in the day they were dating and how he was struggling to tell her who he really is. I've been enjoying this series' revival and I'm glad that in an episode like this they never forger the root for the duo's strong friendship
5. The Big Bang Theory Season 11 Episode 24 "The Bow Tie Symmetry"
- Amy and Sheldon gets married! Such a fun episode and glad to see it didn't have the classic sitcom wedding hijinks because that would be predictable. Later on they released two scenes that didn't make the final cut and it's a pity because those scenes involve MeeMaw and the late Stephen Hawking
6. The Good Place Season 2 Episode 9 "Leap of Faith"
- In this episode, Michael reveals to Eleonor and company that they are indeed in the bad place and just when you thought the story jumps the shark but nope it takes them to another level which is exciting. I'm constantly amazed how this could reboot itself and still not run out of creative ways to move the story forward.
7. Speechless Season 2 Episode 18 "N-o-Nominee"
- JJ wins two awards at a film festival and discovers one chose him because of his disability. I'm impressed with how the show handles having the central character with special needs without the usual patronizing like a lot of shows do and this episode perfectly showcased it
8. Bob's Burgers Season 9 Episode 3 "Tweentreprenuers"
- The Belcher kids encounter a taste of "corporate life" for a school activity. This show is just so clever on how they presented the essence of corporate politics on an Elementary school setting.
9. Mom Season 6 Episode 9 "Jell-O Shots and the Truth about Santa"
- After nearly two years of absence, Christy talks to her daughter Violet again but in a podcast! This episode is again another example of how the show masterfully balances comedy and it's more serious tone of the struggles of redemption.
10. Disenchantment Season 1 Episode 1 "A Princess, an Elf and a Demon Walk into a Bar"
- My favorite new show of the year is this animated comedy from Netflix, Disenchanted is not the fairy tale you expect s it shakes up the medieval fantasy genre with its brand of imaginative wit and sharp puns
Sunday, December 30, 2018
My Hot 100 for 2018
My favorite songs of the year!
- Maybe The Night - Ben & Ben
- The Greatest Show - The Greatest Showman Ensemble
- Buwan - Juan Karlos
- High Hopes - Panic! at the Disco
- Mundo - IV of Spades
- Sana - I Belong to the Zoo
- Never Enough - Loren Allred
- Finesse (Remix) - Bruno Mars feat Cardi B
- This Feeling - The Chainsmokers feat Kelsea Ballerini
- Eastside - Benny Blanco, Halsey and Khalid
- New Light - John Mayer
- Isa Pang Araw - Sarah Geronimo
- The Middle - Zed, Marren Morris and Grey
- Akala - Marion
- Solo - Clean Bandit feat Demi Lovato
- Kung 'Di Rin Lang Ikaw - December Avenue ft. Moira Dela Torre
- This is Me - Kealla Settle
- Rewrite The Stars - Zac Efron & Zendaya
- Kathang Isip - Ben & Ben
- Done for Me - Charlie Puth feat Kehlani
- Happier - Ed Sheeran
- Sit Next to Me - Foster the People
- Takipsilim - Autotelic
- Sa Ngalan ng Pag ibig - December Avenue
- Girls Like You - Maroon Five feat Cardi B
- Hunger - Florence + The Machine
- Have it All - Jason Mraz
- Connection - One Republic
- Cebuana - Karencitta
- Kababata - Kritiko feat Kyla
- Dura - Daddy Yankee
- Say Amen (Saturday Night) - Panic! at the Disco
- These Days - Rudimental feat Jess Glyne and Macklemore
- Ako Muna - Yeng Constantino
- Stay - All American Rejects
- Di Na Muli - Itchyworms
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Backstreet Boys
- All The Stars - Kendrick Lamar feat SZA
- A Million Dreams - The Greatest Showman cast
- One Kiss - Calvin Harris feat Dua Lipa
- Give Yourself a Try - 1975
- Say Something - Justin Timberlake feat Chris Stapleton
- Rise - Jonas Blue and Jack & Jack
- Happy Now - Zedd and Elley
- Just My Type - The Vamps
- Psycho - Post Malone feat Ty Dolla Sign
- I Like It - Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J. Balvin
- Pinipigil - Yeng Constantino
- One Day - Logic feat Ryan Tedder
- In My Prison - IV of Spades
- Fix You and Me - Kyla
- Kahit Ayaw Mo Na - This Band
- Happy for You - Jayda
- Side Effects - The Chainsmokers feat Emily Warren
- In My Feelings - Drake
- Boo'd Up - Ella Mai
- Youngblood - 5 Seconds of Summer
- No Tears Left to Cry - Ariana Grande
- Happier - Bastille
- Thru These Tears - LANY
- Para sa Tabi - BoybandPH
- Sa Mga Bituin na Lang Ibubulong - JM De Guzman
- Love Someone - Lukas Graham
- Di Ba Halata - Agsunta
- Tagpuan - Moira
- Taki Taki - DJ Snake feat Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi B
- IDGAF - Dua Lipa
- No Excuses - Meghan Trainor
- Capital Letters - Haille Steinfeld
- Meant to Be - Bebe Rexha feat Florida George Line
- Never Be The Same - Camila Cabello
- I'll Be There - Jess Glyne
- Shallow - Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
- Malibu Nights - LANY
- If You Leave Me Now - Charlie Puth and Boyz II Men
- Want You Back - 5 Seconds of Summer
- No Apology (Wala Akong Paki) - Karencita
- In My Blood - Shawn Mendes
- Sangria Wine - Pharell Williams feat Camila Cabello
- I'll Never Love Again - Lady Gaga
- Only Gonna Love You - Kyla feat Req
- Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons
- Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix) - BTS
- Level Up - Ciara
- Come on To Me - Paul McCartney
- Di Na Muli - Janine Tenoso
- Nadarang - Shanti Dope
- Lake Effect Kid - Fallout Boy
- 2002 - Anne Marie
- Natural - Imagine Dragons
- You Are the Reason - Callum Scott
- Mas Mabuti Pa - Janine Berdin
- Love Lies - Khalid and Normani
- Lumang Tugtugin - Inigo Pascual
- Tahimik - Yeng Constantino
- Better Now - Post Malone
- End Game - Taylor Swift feat Ed Sheeran and Future
- Without Me - Halsey
- Midnight Sky - Unique
- Going Going Gone Maddie Poppe
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Cold Uncertain
There's a cold war from two people close to me and it all started from such a petty issue but harsh words were said (on text!) and now pride couldn't make them set their differences aside. It's affecting the people surrounding them. I want to make a move to patch things up but not working. It's hard to be in the middle of such conflict. It makes me so uncomfortable and what sucks is that literally the day after I had a good day that incident happened. I can't be fully happy. It seems like there are things always stopping me from feeling complete bliss. I can't win.
I've been praying so hard the two work their issue out. Please let them work this out. Let me have this at least
***
Another key part of my life will undergo another change. I'm very worried about it to be honest. Not only my status there but that place as whole. All the people I knew who took care of that place have left one by one and now who is there left to take care of things? I'm so worried that it's the start of the end. The place is actually so different. A shadow of its former glory but it is still thriving and I hope in years to come
So much changes happening
***
Moments ago I tried to do something to fix an issue but looks like it failed. I don't know if I can handle this anymore
I've been praying so hard the two work their issue out. Please let them work this out. Let me have this at least
***
Another key part of my life will undergo another change. I'm very worried about it to be honest. Not only my status there but that place as whole. All the people I knew who took care of that place have left one by one and now who is there left to take care of things? I'm so worried that it's the start of the end. The place is actually so different. A shadow of its former glory but it is still thriving and I hope in years to come
So much changes happening
***
Moments ago I tried to do something to fix an issue but looks like it failed. I don't know if I can handle this anymore
Sunday, December 02, 2018
Free
I have a dream where I can be free
Free from emotional drama
Free from being a shock absorber
Free of anxiety
Free of insecurity
Free of resentment
Free of guilt
Free of fear
But it's only a dream
Because life will never be totally free
Free from emotional drama
Free from being a shock absorber
Free of anxiety
Free of insecurity
Free of resentment
Free of guilt
Free of fear
But it's only a dream
Because life will never be totally free
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