HP 7 recap

What a way to end a successful series...Anyway, here's my recap and some tidbits of review of this much-awaited book.


Dudley Dursley, Harry’s cousin, is actually a wizard.

Professor Dumbledore is really dead.

Hogwarts has been temporarily closed for this school year because of the war, triggered by Dumbledore's fall.

Voldemort has taken hold of the Ministry of Magic (considered the highest office in the wizarding world) after killing its minister and then the interim minister. Percy Weasley, Remus, Tonks, among many characters, are also killed here.

As for the bida, Harry Potter has fallen so deeply, madly in love with Ginny, and it's like eewww to the nth power ilang drama. There are actually a number of times when I felt like reading Sweet Valley High, although I’ve never in my life read such mushy high school novels. And, take note, they have PMS here. Not explicit yet enough to make me almost puke. I mean, this is supposed to be for kids and big kids alike, yeah, and why in the name of Merlin has JKR gone into that direction. They are all the same, Ron and Hermione, you see. Pfft!

Ginny, because she is Harry’s new love, has been allowed to join the group of Ron, Hermione and Harry. With her around, it’s like watching a Tagalog action movie wherein the male lead has to save his ass and his girlfriend’s while trying to get away from the enemies. I’ve never skipped a single word in all HP books, until this one. Too many down side, I almost reached to the point of hating JKR for using this type of storyline...just to prove that the characters are already growing up? Nah. But what the heck, this could be a fan fiction for all I know.

To kill Voldemort, Harry has to destroy all 7 Horcruxes, each of which contains the Dark Lord’s soul. The 7th Horcrux is Harry, which means he has to kill himself too in order for him to completely destroy Voldemort. After several smooching episodes, run around stuff, Harry has successfully killed Voldemort in the end, sparing his own life by creating his own horcrux using Voldemort’s soul, which has been in his body since his childhood. This part, though, bears that unmistakable trademark of JKR. At least, there is that one part.

So Voldemort’s dead.

Draco Malfoy, for his part, has become an instrumental factor in killing Voldemort with his Legimency skills (reading the mind thing). He turns against the Dark Lord after he failed to kill Dumbledore in book 6, scared he might be killed so he sought refuge to Harry’s group (the Order of the Phoenix).

Snape gets arrested, and jailed in Azkaban.

THEN, everyone lives happily ever after: Harry marries Ginny. Harry takes care of their baby. Ron marries Hermione. Et cetera. Et cetera. Nakakaloka!

But not for long. The story ends at Privet Drive, the Dursleys' home. It appears that Dudley, who fancies dark magic, is showing some signs of becoming the next Dark Lord. His parents have been "mysteriously" murdered here.

This may not be the end of the HP series after all. But if there will be more Harry and Ginny snogging in the next ones to come, I’d rather have this one as the last. Salamat nalang!

I don't mind getting filthy rich tomorrow. really.

body of Ferdinand Marcos Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Sunken Cemetery, Camiguin The Colosseum, Rome

Diplomat Hotel, Baguio The Pyramids of Egypt



The Hanging Coffins of Echo Valley, Sagada, Mountain Province


Somewhere in Singapore, said to have housed some of Yamashita's treasures

Saddam's gold. Wow! Kadaghan.

The remains of the city underwater in the eastern harbor of Alexandria, which used to be Cleopatra's Kingdom.

Premonition (a review)

Premonition

Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon

The reviews aren't good, but i went to watch it yesterday anyway. Sandra Bullock, as usual, gave her best shot here. I've read, she did not even have a double when her character, Linda, was given a shot of some IV liquid. Talking of good performances.

Anyway, some may find this film as another one of those...It even reminded me of "If Only," however, as the story progresses it proves its point that it's something else. It's even a lot more different than any other films of the same nature I've seen.

A housewife (played by Sandra) receives the news of her husband's death one afternoon. The next morning, however, when she wakes up she finds her supposedly dead husband in her side. And when she awakens again the following day he’s dead, and alive again in the next. How she lives through with this mystery is for you to find out, kay hasta ako naglibog hangtud karon.

Pero in fairness, the film is done in good taste, the performances are great (including the two kids’), and the story is interesting, although mind-boggling to the nth power.

whatever!!!!

I don’t know if I should be happy about this new thing that I’ve allowed myself into. But if I’m into this, with or without my heart, I think I will learn to live by and love it eventually.

Anyway, I had my first day of formal diving lesson today (bec my instructor was kind enough to give it for free). I should be happy about it, right? But honestly, I was kind of apprehensive at first. I had gone scuba diving three times already, and no doubt the experience was fun. But, I’m still hesitant to continue my lessons. I’ve already gone underwater, thrice, as I said it, but why I’m still bloody frightened is I don't know. I am a jerk jud. Ggrr!

This morning’s lesson was supposedly followed by a real scuba diving, me going underwater with a heavy tank strapped in my back and all without much of an assistance, which I am not used to. During my first three dives, I was not in full gear: no fins and tank, bec I’d rather hitch one than carry my own super heavy tank. Yeah, number one tapulan. I feel uncomfortable with fins on, just like that) But today, I was made to wear and carry them all like an obedient student.

The dive, done at the swimming pool, was fine though. My breathing was okay, and I did quite well almost all the techniques (defog the googles while underwater, how to swim with the fins on, read hand signs, etc)

My instructor had already set up the motorized boat that would take us to the Lagundi Reef, which is just about 50 meters from the shoreline of barangay Poblacion beach, but I chickened out. Well, not actually. I had a press conference to attend to in just an hour, so it was kind of a good excuse to postpone the trip. Had there been no other engagement this afternoon…

I just don’t know if I could complete the test (I honestly don’t know how far this will be) like stay underwater for at least 30 minutes or longer (the better). Whoa! The longest I made it was 20 feet for about 10 minutes. And when I decided to go up it’s always because of my goggles (foggy or watery). Always.

There may be a real dive tomorrow. And I am not excited about it. But part of me wants to do it once and for all. The divers in our place are planning to go back to Moalboal to try Pescador Island anytime this month, and they have already invited me to join them. If I don’t get this thing done and over with very soon, I may not be able to join them (and just stay about 20 feet like in the past dives, which is not that exciting anymore). That’s going to be a big loss, if ever. But I still have tomorrow or the day after it. So help me God.

i care, i vote

May 14 is fast approaching, and I'm still not getting any offers to buy my vote. Honestly, no one has ever tried to approach me of such intention. Either the candidates' commissioned "agents" just missed me during the past elections (I've been eligible to vote since...never mind) and this year's or they have since known my vote is never for sale. But really, I am going to accept their money if ever. I gathered from neighbors that one vote is no less than P500. Oh, man, that's 3 tall mocha frappuccinos and 3 chocolate donuts at Starbucks already. Cripes, buy me now! Hahah! Seriously, I already have a list, a very short one, for next Monday. And here it is:

My Senators:

1. Joker Arroyo (TU). "Pag bad ka, lagot ka." I met him two Fridays ago (when Team Unity candidates went to Talisay City), and I could say he is really nice. Had a picture of him, I'm posting it one day. This man is not our traditional politician. For one, he is known as the most frugal senator in the country. He never travels abroad on government money, and his SAL has remained almost unchanged from the time he entered public service in 1986. Who can beat that, huh?

2. Prospero “Butch” Pichay (TU). “Itanim sa Senado.” So itanim. I think he’s not bad.

3. Chiz Escudero (GO). I’ve interviewed him once, and he’s got this political will only a few in his league has. Take or leave a few of that will, he’ll make a good legislator.

4. Mike Defensor. He looks nice and honest.

Not in my list…definitely.

1. Loren Legarda (Genuine Opposition). Syet! I hate her TV ad (so overly dramatic. What does she think of the Filipinos, fools??), her guts, her face, her inconsistencies, and almost everything about her.

2. Manny Villar (GO). Man, he was behind Erap’s impeachment, and now he is literally behind the deposed president’s back. Talking of politics!

3. Chavit Singson (TU). This is another of those how-far-can-my-money-take-me games. Then good luck!

4. Richard Gomez (Independent). Are you kidding me?

5. Noynoy Aquino (GO). His mom is former President Cory Aquino, and his dad is the late Senator Ninoy Aquino, who was allegedly ordered dead by then President Marcos. Marcos died but left a good number of cronies. Erap is no doubt one of them. GO is backed by Erap, and Noynoy (and his mom too) is with this party. So much for honor and consistency.

6. Alan Peter Cayetano (GO). When his father Rene Cayetano died, his sister Pia kinda of replaced him. And now this Congressman wants to get in the Senate too. Why, is Pia dead already?

7. Miguel Zubiri (TU). Argh! This guy talks a lot like a girl. I don’t like his guts, and his smile, it looks photoshop-ed to me.

8. Antonio Trillanes (GO). He wants to effect change, he’s just in the wrong way. Look what his failed mutiny had stirred in this country, it triggered several attention-grabbing scenes like in Manila, for example, wherein people would just climb to the tallest billboards and voila they become instant celebrities (not to mention that guy who held hostage a busload of kids). And here too...just a few days ago, a man shot himself dead before a huge crowd; and yesterday, a man was perilously dangling from SM’s third floor because he was desperate. Yeah, we want to be heard, but please, not this very bad way.

I can only count in my one hand those who are worthy of my one vote. The same also goes for the local bets in my city. So far, I only have one (of the 10) councilor in my list (he so deserves it ‘cause he is my neighbor. Heheh.) and haven't decided if I should vote for our releectionist mayor (who is my bestfriend) or not. I think not. In the provincial race, I don’t have a vice guv, and a second provincial board member (there are two). Unlike in the written exams, I can go ahead leaving blanks in my ballot this May 14, because in this case my mistakes are three years to feel in the local scene, while six years in the national. And I won’t be feeling it alone. Seriously.

And for the more serious thing...

Digest it.





A door of a guardhouse of Saavedra Fish Sanctuary, barangay Saavedra, Moalboal.

Moalboal revisited

This time with proofs and more adventures...

Hali Resort, Moalboal town




Its peaceful landscape...



Hali at low tide. This place becomes a perfect place in the afternoon (but only on low tides) for long walks to the other side of the beach: Magpayong and in the right is the Panagsama.




Rocky but beautiful. Several meters ahead is the Panagsama (of the famous Bas Dako beach)



Farther down is the Magpayong Beach (see photos below)



From the rock are another rocks. The umbrella-like rock formations of Magpayong. Hence, its name.



A little closer.



Yeah, starfish.




The I-do-not-know-you sea creature. Snake-like but it's actually not. Still, it scared me when I almost stepped over it. Geez.



Exposed. The dreaded sea urchins.



Almost sunset. This is the view from the tambay area of the resort, about four meters above this level.




Sunset at last. I had no sunrise photos to post because I so missed it. Still asleep, eh. Darn! :D

The Scuba divers from my city, the owner of the resort (the lady at the back), the mom of one of the divers (the smaller woman), and this blogger (also a diver...naks!).



And yezz, we went to the "cliff" part of Bas Dako, and I wasn't scared at all. Well, only at first, but when I was already there and saw the garden of corals, I was really amazed and totaly forgot my fear of being swallowed by that dark abyss. Seriously.

The first time I was there, it was last year with friends, and we all had a scary experience. I mean, you don't want to die a meaningless death, do you? You and your friends just go on boating and suddenly you all go down and poof, you all die just like that! Plus, there's not a body to be buried, if you get unluckier (no tombstones, not even a mummy me. heheh). But heck, it was just a morbid thought because in that "hole" is actually a beautiful world of corals, fish, and other sea creatures. And it's not even dark once you get there. My diving instructor, Sir Alfie, brought me to 20-feet down under, the total depth is no less than 90 feet (it's not bottomless after all as I thought it was), and it was really an experience I will never forget in my lifetime (thanks much, sir). I should have gone deeper and farther had my goggles not welcomed seawater (or my fault maybe) midway. So there, my Moalboal dive last Monday. And oh, we were supposed to try Pescador Island, too, the next day, but there was no more available boat to take us there (about 20 minutes from Panagsama beach). Sayang!