#this all started with me going what if nica was a failed experiment

[queenangst]

Glitch Techs: A Theory about Miko, the Kubotas, and Hinobi

Includes Glitch Techs Season 2 spoilers.

With Glitch Techs season 2 comes more questions and more information. And I have thoughts. Parts of this theory may not be “new,” and have been discussed elsewhere/builds on other ideas pointed out in the fandom before. 

Thank you to @happi-tree for feeding this theory and adding to it. And here’s some great theory by @frogsfangs that covers some points about Hinobi. 

So Glitch Miko is not a new concept to the fandom at all since season 1, though HinobiTech (the Glitch Techs Twitter) has debunked the theory of Miko as a Glitch. According to HinobiTech, “she's only a 16-year-old gamer!” 

We know Miko’s not a Glitch... but that doesn’t mean she can’t be Glitch-like or part-Glitch, a hybrid experiment by Hinobi from their so-called development labs. 

Theory continues under the cut, due to the length.

In seasons 1 and 2 (or seasons 1a/1b, as we can technically consider these two as one running storyline/arc), the most obvious piece of evidence is that Miko cannot be reset with the mind-wipe. This is an anomaly; as Mitch says, everyone can be reset. Why not Miko? This is pointed out multiple times in the show. Another interesting narrative choice is that when involved with the Glitch Techs, in Collection Quest and Karate Trainer, neither of Miko’s sisters were reset. The implication of this is that the question whether or not they can be reset is important to the narrative, and can impact the story later on. 

Here’s where the Kubotas come in. They’re a busy, and incredibly talented family. Nica is tech-savvy. She’s the older sister who taught Miko to game, and is proficient in mobile games, or apps. Lexi, who eavesdrops on Miko and their parents in Age of Hinobi, is proficient in karate, tracking, and seems to be highly athletic. Miko dances well, and as pointed out by Mitch in Find the Glitch, was “one of the only players to log in remotely” at the Hinobi tournament, her teamwork with Five caused “a glitch that nearly took down the entire store,” isn’t able to be reset, “incited the release of a viral glitch [Chomp Kitty],” went on to “destroy the training sim, and... released a dangerous Glitch into HQ.” Not exactly a great track record. And notably, her reflexes are “inhuman.” Nobody could be that good... except for Miko. All of the Kubota sisters (with little information on the brothers) are knowledge or proficient in skills that are what Hinobi wants from a perfect Glitch Tech: athletic, fighting, quick-thinking gamers, who are as if not better than the average. And these are the skills that will hopefully lead Hinobi to Bolypius. 

What about, and why not Nica? Nica is one of the first experiments, but maybe she’s a failed one in the eyes of Hinobi. She’s skilled and knowledgable, yes, but maybe doesn’t display the qualities or desires that Miko does. Hinobi may monitor the experiments as young children/teens, and deemed Nica to be less useful, whereas Miko has more potential. Lexi, at eleven, isn’t quite old enough.

Now for the Kubota parents. Here’s a thought—Mayumi and Hugh Kubota are former Glitch Techs, or even higher-ups at Hinobi, who consented for their children to be Glitch experiments. Mayumi seems quite excited for Miko to get a job at Hinobi, and her parents support that. When we meet them, we also see both parents wearing wrist/smartwatches. While these are shown to help them keep track of time, these could also be a subtle connection to Hinobi; a way for Hinobi to keep track of the Kubotas, or communicate with them. And it’s possible for Hinobi to record any information the Kubotas have forgotten, in case of a mind-wipe like in the first episode, which I’ll talk about later; or the Kubotas themselves may have also consented to having their minds wiped.

But let’s talk about Phil, Inspector Seven, the end of Season 2, and do a little bit of math. Based on what we know from BITT Prime, Phil has been around managing Bailley Glitch Techs for at least 20 years, though he has likely been a Glitch Tech for longer. His younger self at the end of the episode says that Phil has probably has his mind wiped again, so this has happened multiple times, enough that Phil eventually figures out to hide a file and all the information “recovered from Hinobi’s development labs” in BITT, where most won’t find it. 

Jump to Inspector Seven. This is all connected, I promise. Inspector Seven knows about Miko. She also occasionally comes by with her job as an inspector, but that might not be the only purpose. She needs to make sure Miko is progressing as desired, and to keep Phil from being suspicious; to the point whenever she comes for an “inspection,” she’s really mind-wiping Phil for getting too close to the truth about the development labs. Note that in Season 1, the first episode is when Miko is hired and Phil meets (and mind-wipes) Mayumi and Hugh. Right after that, in the second episode, is when Inspector Seven visits Bailley HQ, when she can mind-wipe Phil in case his interaction with the Kubotas causes any trouble. Whenever Phil gets close, he gets mind-wiped. The timeline also appears to line up. Nica is seventeen and Miko is sixteen, which is around the right time for Phil to discover the plans/their existence around twenty or so years ago. (This is, of course, approximate because twenty years refers to when Phil last deleted a file, and so may account for any confusions in the timeline.) 

Hinobi seems to keep track of high-profile and skilled gamers as potential recruits, which is why they host the SmashBall tournament—perhaps to test their skills. Inspector Seven is implied to know Miko, and refers to Miko specifically as “the subject,” whereas High Five is “the subject’s friend.” 

If Miko is a successful Hinobi experiment, a hybrid, human Glitch, she needs training before she can be used. This comes from her own parents and their family, but also from being a Glitch Tech—where Hinobi can keep a close eye on her progress. They need these experiments, because regular Glitch Techs haven’t been working the way Hinobi wants. And they need Miko, too; if she can’t be reset as a side effect/part of the experiment, then Hinobi needs to make sure Miko is working for them under control and not against. 

Also... if Miko is part-Glitch, maybe Ridley can mod her, too, if needed.

There’s a couple questions that still need answers, though. What or who is Bolypius? What about Miko’s brothers? What is on Phil’s files? And hey, what the fuck does Hinobi want? 

(Anyway, real or not, this is some great fic material. And I sure want to write it.)

[littlemissnica]

( barbie ferreira, 24, cisfemale ) I just bumped into [ NICA AARONS ] the other day while walking down [ NORTH ] Kingsboro, where [ SHE/HER ] live. I hear they can be [ INDULGENT ] and [ SELFISH ], but when I think of them I immediately think about [ NEVER WEARING THE SAME OUTFIT TWICE, FLORAL SILK ROBES, CANDLE-LIT ROSE-SCENTED BATHS ]

full  name  ,  nickname(s)  : monica aarons , nica

age  ,  dob  ,  zodiac  :  twenty - four , december 14  ,  sagittarius

hometown  : san francisco, ca

gender  ,  pronouns  :  ciswoman  ,  she / her

orientation  :  pansexual  ,  panromantic

occupation  : personal assistant, fashion designer

language(s)  spoken  :  english  -  fluent  

family life:  as the youngest child raised in a happy family, nica was always a vibrant, joyful child. from a young age, it was obvious that clothing and fashion was her true love, playing dress up and making her own clothes when the market failed her. her family were her biggest supporters, especially her big brother. while making friends wasn’t always easy, she found that as long as she always had the perfect outfit, she could get anyone’s attention.

pre-kingsboro life: nica moved to new york as soon as she graduated high school, taking the summer to settle in before she started at the fashion institute of technology in manhattan. she was eighteen, on her own for the first time, and ended up falling in with the kind of people who didn’t have her best interest at heart. three weeks into her first semester at school, she ended up being arrested and kicked out of school. never one to go down without a fight, she lied about getting kicked out, both to her family and to get a job in the industry. 

kingsboro life: after years of pulling it off, she managed to work her way up to becoming a personal assistant for the head designer at one of her favourite fashion houses. the pay bump gave her the opportunity to move to north kingsboro, where she’s settled in nicely. she loves the area and the people in it. she knows that at any moment, her lie is going to crumble around her, but she won’t give up on her passion.  

dreams & goals: the ultimate goal is one day launch her own fashion house, although she’d like to get some industry experience before going out on her own. she loves designing and usually makes her own clothing, although she does love spoiling herself with some special pieces. she also runs an instagram dedicated to her style with a solid following.

personality: nica is a very bright, happy person, almost to a fault. she often masks her true feelings behind a carefully crafted façade. however, she’s known for being a selfish person, looking out for herself above all else. she’s not afraid to lie, cheat, or steal to get what she wants in life, and believes that power is the only true success in life. she has no time in her life for dating, but is never shy to make a move on someone she’s into.

wanted connections:

to be updated soon, but please feel free to message me for plots!

[more--than--music]

2018 Albums of the Year

Here’s my albums of the year. 2018 has been a brilliant year for music, and so I thought I’d lay out my favourite albums, and the reasons why they’re my favourites.

10: Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex and Food

Kicking the list off at ten, we have the fourth full-length project from the New Zealand lo-fi psychedelic group Unknown Mortal Orchestra. An album that calls to mind at various points dusty late 70s grooves, 80s synth work and yet very modern production sensibilities, Sex and Food bounces between deeply introspective balladry, and funky danceable beats. A sure step forward for a band that only looks to become more experimental as time goes on.

9: Ben Howard – Noonday Dream

The Devon based singer-songwriter gives a compelling vision of the future of indie-folk with this transient and supremely accomplished set of songs. Taking a further stride away from the straightforward acoustic sound of 2011’s Every Kingdom, Noonday Dream shows an artist unafraid to utilise aspects of electronic and ambient music into his soundscapes, resulting in a transcendent, elegant, and above all beautiful set of tracks. The opening duo of Nica Libres At Dusk and Towing The Line are a particular high point.

8: Thom Yorke – Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film)

Surprisingly his first ever venture into soundtrack work, Thom Yorke’s masterful score for the Luca Guadagnino film of the same name could be in this list simply on the strength of its lead track; Suspirium is an otherworldly waltz, a spartan piano line presided over by Thom’s instantly recognisable vocals. But it is the deeper cuts for which this album earns its place; Open Again begins with a fingerpicked guitar progression that grows into a monolithic walk to the gallows and then fades out once more. A master at the height of his powers.

7: Sports Team – Winter Nets

Undoubtedly the least well-known name on this list, the debut EP from the London-based indie-pop outfit Sports Team has been one of my most played records yet this year. A cerebral mix of Jarvis Cocker-style lyricism preoccupied with the minutiae of suburban life, and pitch perfect indie rock arrangements teetering on the edge of chaos, this shows talent beyond their years; the only EP on this list, these five tracks managed to catch my attention early on, and have stayed with me through the year. Ones to watch.

6: MGMT – Little Dark Age

A name I would not have expected to see on this list at the start of the year, the comeback from the early 2000s electro-pop group is unexpectedly brilliant. Far from the runaway chart success of singles such as Electric Feel, Little Dark Age is full of tracks that could have been pulled from the dusty archives of pretty much any 80s synth bands, but combined with so many left-field production choices, and lyrics that belie a dark sensibility beneath the bright instrumentation, this album becomes a very mature release indeed. The single, Little Dark Age, is just magic. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

5: Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy

Bringing us into the second half of this list is Will Toledo’s project Car Seat Headrest, with a rerecorded, remastered version of his 2011 breakout album Twin Fantasy. Toledo’s DIY ethos calls to mind contemporary Kevin Parker, of Tame Impala, although the two go about their self-imposed individualism rather differently. Toledo’s recordings retain the lo-fi teen emotion of the original Twin Fantasy, while adding the production sensibilities of Toledo’s later Car Seat Headrest ventures, resulting in such a dizzying barrage of pitch perfect indie ballads that display mature, incisive and insightful lyricism. The peaks of the album slip off the rails in the most glorious way, and culminate in simple, honest, and resounding emotional resolutions. Few albums so perfectly capture the teenage experience... a brilliant achievement.

4: Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer

It will come to no surprise to those of you who know me that Josh Tillman has made his way into this list; I have been following Father John Misty since last year’s existential crisis of an album, Pure Comedy. But God’s Favorite Customer is an entirely different beast- aside from the single, Mr Tillman, the typical luscious arrangements of a usual Father John Misty album are conspicuously missing here. Gone are the chamber pop orchestras and parlour ballads; here is FJM with an acoustic guitar, a month’s stay in a hotel room, and some utterly shattering songwriting. Tillman has abandoned his lofty perch overseeing the human condition in favour of personal, painful lyrics that dissect a failing relationship in real time. Many of these songs are addressed to, or from the perspective of, Josh’s wife, Emma, and the narratives are as autobiographical as ever. But the key here is that Tillman has ceased to be just an observer of the phenomena he comments on; in God’s Favorite Customer he has no choice but to experience them from the inside, and it makes for devastating listening in places. However, Misty has not abandoned all hope; closer We're Only People (And There's Not Much Anyone Can Do About That) ends the album with a remarkably beautiful and optimistic look at humanity, and leaves you ready to emerge from the hotel room, blinking against the sunlight, into the outside world.

3: Blood Orange – Negro Swan

London born producer, multi-instrumentalist, and general prodigy Devont Hynes, has outdone himself on his fourth project under the moniker Blood Orange; Negro Swan represents exactly the kind of progressive song writing Hynes is so sought after in the pop world for, and brings together a beautiful collage of sounds and textures to produce an album that is so of the moment, it feels like a time capsule of today. Swan embraces diversity, revelling in a celebration of sexuality and identity that feels almost carnival-like in its embrace of so many aspects of modern R&B and Hip-Hop. On what other album can you find Puff Daddy monologuing about his own fear of being loved? This whole project is filled with moments such as this, with trans black activist Janet Mock providing a loose narrative thread tying the album together. But for me, the true highlight of this album is Hynes himself; a young black artist showcasing a striking talent that simply refuses to obey the laws of genre or society. The musical prowess on show is undeniable; in particular, Hynes’ guitar work is so accomplished, tracks such as Charcoal Baby are sheer joy to listen to because of it. The vocals on this record are equally impressive; comparisons will undoubtedly be drawn to Prince, although personally I see Hynes as akin to Frank Ocean, both showcasing a new vision for R&B in the 21st century, and Swan feels in many ways a sibling to Ocean’s 2016 album Blonde, in its transient nature and almost soundscape-like mixture of sounds and feelings. Negro Swan is a glorious celebration in which all expression is embraced, and no identity is off-limits. This is what all modern R&B should aspire to.

2: Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Those monkeys, eh? Four years after their last studio effort, with each member having done something entirely different (and accomplished, see Alex Turner with The Last Shadow Puppets, and Matt Helders on the latest Iggy Pop record) with their sabbatical, no one quite knew what shape their return would take. Recorded in London, Paris and Los Angeles, the sixth album from the band synonymous with early 00s indie could have taken quite a number of directions; furthering the slick arena rock of AM, delving deeper into the baroque pop offering the Last Shadow Puppets pursue, or perhaps even a return to their raucous indie rock roots. Naturally, they did none of the above. The first sign of their step in a different direction was a video they posted in mid-April, announcing a return with an eerie synth line and a fuzzy guitar lick; in hindsight it was the perfect segue into the TBH&C era, both a nod to the leather-clad rock of AM, and yet the space-age synths and fictional space resorts of Tranquility Base. And when the album did come? Oh boy. I’m not sure a release in 2018 divided fans quite like the Monkeys’ did. I’ve heard it variously described as “sheer genius”, “derivative retro nothing” and “f*cking lift music”. It really was that polarising. I’m sure that from its spot on this list you can guess which camp I fall into. From the go, the surreal lyricism of Alex Turner is front and centre, and the record is all the better for it. From surreal references to Kubrick film techniques, and obsession with sci-fi jargon, to ridiculous pastiches of Hollywood clichés, critics weren’t short of liner notes to unpick. But the key for me was the way that the album, as all great sci-fi does, comments on modern life through the lens of futurism, while also keeping you scratching your head the whole time. Furthermore, the actual songwriting is as good as ever, with Turner making a tune about a less than perfect review for a taquiera on the moon into the rhythmic centrepiece of the album. I do have to confess, I am slightly biased; I’m a lifelong AM fan, and I did see this performed live, which only deepened my admiration of it but truthfully- listen to this album. Then listen some more. And then some more again. Because when it clicks, you won’t experience anything else even remotely like it all year.

Bonus Round

These are albums that I discovered in 2018, but weren’t released this year… they deserved recognition along with the rest of these projects.

5: Frank Ocean – Endless

Frank Ocean is one of, if not the, best and most innovative artists working in modern R&B. That much is undisputed. But until 2018, despite being a huge Frank Ocean fan, I had neglected his 2016 visual album, Endless. Perhaps this was due to laziness, not having Apple Music, or perhaps it was because for me it was vastly overshadowed by the release of the seminal Blonde a few days later. Or maybe I simply thought a visual album wasn’t worth my time. Whatever the reason, I was a fool to overlook it. Endless is an ethereal journey through Ocean’s psyche, with a vast soundscape of beautiful, flowing synths and guitars. Furthermore, Endless features some of Ocean’s best rap work since Channel Orange. A truly beautiful project, and Higgs is, for me, Ocean’s most devastatingly sad track… further evidence that Frank doesn’t put a foot wrong.

4: Leonard Cohen: Songs Of Leonard Cohen

In 2016, the music world lost one of its most treasured talents, in the form of Leonard Cohen. However, although I have always been aware of Cohen’s work (Hallelujah, his inspiration of Nick Cave, The Last Shadow Puppets’ Is This What You Wanted cover), I had never taken the time to sit down and immerse myself in his work. Well, I was very much missing out. His cinematic, confessional storytelling, and his instantly recognisable voice and manner, mean that his songs are almost exactly the type of ballads I love, and Songs is his finest work. From start to end, you see the world through Cohen’s eyes. A poet.

3: King Krule: The OOZ

King Krule (real name: Archy Marshall) is a divisive artist; many see him as a visionary, however he is also, to many (including my dad) just “the one with the awful voice”. To me, Krule is a fantastic lyricist and producer, with an instantly recognisable sound. From the moment you enter The OOZ, you are in Marshall’s world, a London of grimy concrete and eerie loneliness. However, there are moments of beauty among the sluggish, smog-filled music; Slush Puppy, despite descending into madness near the end, is a really quite endearingly desperate performance. Cadet Limbo also shows off Krule’s more jazzy influences, and is all the better for it. A view into the future of singer-songwriting.

2: Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear

Josh Tillman has already featured on this list once, and it’s no secret I think he’s one of the best artists working today. However, until this year, I had never given his 2015 romantic opus, Honeybear, a proper listen. I was turned on to Misty by his 2017 work Pure Comedy, and after an existentialist view on all of Humanity, a romance album seemed like a step back, so I didn’t give it the time it deserved. How wrong I was. Honeybear is a beautiful, tender, and being an FJM record, deeply satirical and funny, look at love, relationships, and society. It features lush, beautiful arrangements, and gorgeous melodies, all delivered with Misty’s characteristic tongue-in-cheek smirk. Not one track on the album is dead space, and there are several high points, right from the start. Favourite for me is I Went To The Store One Day, which is a simple, yet incredibly beautiful and moving ballad to close the album. Stunning stuff indeed.

1: Everything Everything – A Fever Dream

I’ve known of Everything Everything for quite a while now, but in early 2017 I was gifted tickets to see them on their A Fever Dream tour, and it absolutely blew my mind. EE have crafted brilliant electronic indie music in the past, with catchy melodies and odd, skittering rhythms. However, A Fever Dream builds on this in the best possible way, building on their electronic sound and adding an even more fiercely of-the-moment view on songwriting. One of the highlights for me was Jonathan Higgs’ vocals, which electrified the music with a fierce intellect, and sparkling melodies. An ecstatic blend of so many musical styles, which results in a fantastic album. A masterpiece for today.

Okay, finally the main event. My album of the year 2018 is…

1: IDLES – Joy as an Act of Resistance.

Here we are then. Number one spot. And again, if you know me, you know there could never really have been any other album here. I first discovered IDLES earlier in the year, riding off the success of their breakout debut album Brutalism, an unstoppable punk locomotive of an album, with guitar and bass lines that are so, well, brutal, that they break down the door and hold you at gunpoint until you sit up and pay attention. This band is the perfect voice for austerity Britain, more mature than Slaves, more relevant than Sleaford Mods, and yet they walk an incredibly fine line. It’s almost impossible to define until you hear a band that possess it, but they simply make. So. Much. Sense. Joe Talbot talks with such a fiery intensity that it’s impossible not to listen, and an eloquence that is so often missing from punk. He’s so likeable, and oddly enough for punk, easy to listen to. However, don’t mistake that for the album lacking brutal riffs. Because it has those in spades. From the opening bass rumble of Colossus, JAAAOR picks you up by the scruff off your neck, and doesn’t put you down until the last manic notes of Rottweiler fade away. This is a rock record that defies rock, a punk record that doesn’t define itself as punk, and a political statement that bases its politics on the phrase “Love yourself.” This provides an infectious alternative to the toxic masculinity of so much mainstream rock, and a uniquely vulnerable take on an incredible variety of issues. Beginning with an immediate left-footing with Colossus, the album the catches its witty and caustic stride with Never Fight A Man With A Perm, going from strength to strength the whole time. I’ve never quite identified with a track lyrically as much as I’m Scum, a rallying call for liberals everywhere: “I'll sing at fascists 'til my head comes off, I am Dennis Skinner's Molotov / I'm lefty, I'm soft, I'm minimum wage job”and erupting into the chant of “this snowflake’s an avalanche”. It goes on to postulate about not caring about the next James Bond, as “we don’t need another murderous toff”. The next track is the joyous Danny Nedelko, an ode to Talbot’s friend, and frontman of Heavy Lungs, Danny Nedelko. It’s a quite magnificent celebration of immigration and diversity, and embodies the sentiment of the album as a whole quite simply with a roar of “Unity!”. Potent stuff. The next highlight (or rather lowlight) for me is the one-two punch of June and Samaritans. June is a singularly moving ode to Talbot’s stillborn daughter, building all the time to a non-existent crescendo, and repeating the six-word mantra “Baby shoes, for sale. Never worn.” Incredibly painful, raw and poignant; you feel as if you’re witnessing a moment that you really shouldn’t be, a would-be father grieving at the bedside. It then transitions into Samaritans, an anti-toxic masculinity manifesto, furious in its denial of male stereotypes: “Man up, sit down, chin up, pipe down”, and building relentlessly to sheer ecstasy of the decree: “I kissed a boy and I liked it”. Powerful, powerful stuff. Track eight, Television, is pinned down by a juddering riff complimented by the incredibly able drumming of Jon Beavis (a very much unsung hero of the group), and a wonderful self-love mantra. Moving on, Great is an anti-Brexit track than manages to reveal the hypocrisy of nationalism without ever moving into preachy politicism, which is Talbot’s greatest strength; he can make any point sound like the simplest and most honest declaration ever. Gram Rock and Cry To Me are witty, and the least overtly political tracks of the album; but even these apparent low points aren’t by any means stale, quite the opposite. Every moment of this record fizzes with energy. Finally, Joy rounds off with the magnificent Rottweiler, a searing discrediting of the UK media, ending in the wheels coming off as the tension built throughout the 42 minutes comes to a chaotic end, with Joe yelping “Unity!”over and over. I have one final thing to say about Joy; it’s production is pristine throughout, with clarity in even its most chaotic moments. This is my record of the year, because I feel no other record held my attention so completely, and was so representative of the sentiment of this year. Pure joy.

Well then, thanks for sticking with me. 2018’s been a belter of a year for music, and I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings.

[bryanllamado]

Feb-ibig

Okay. So before you start reading this blog entry, here’s a quick story. After celebrating Valentine’s the entire week (yes, I made it happen), I had chicken pox. *frowns* As of writing, I’m taking some time off of school to recuperate from this illness–perfect timing, the prelim has just begun (and so as this chicken pox). Disclaimer: I have zero idea on how I got this–no one from the fam or the squad had this skin disease recently. I’m starting to hate February for this apparent reason (getting sick); it never fails to ruin things. But looking on the brighter side of things, I got to spend this year’s V-Day with the one[s] I love!

I have planned this–my dream V-Day celeb–for a long time already and though some things didn’t turn out as planned, I’m glad with the way everything drove out in general. Damang dama ko ang simoy ng pag-ibig, mga bes! I enjoyed every single moment of the week and I feel privileged to have spent the Hearts Day sharing love with the best people in town. Plus, this year saw the light for my first ever (legit but not so legal) valentine date–though it wasn’t exactly a date. Tamis! Let’s just say that I celebrated love the way it is supposed to be rejoiced. But for now, it’s time for me to do a recap of how the previous week went. #HappyHeartsDay

Valentine Week 2017

Sunday

As soon as I reached the dorm, I prepared a little surprise for my girl: a special valentine greeting poem and a banner. I spent the rest of the night finishing the poem (though I finished it swiftly) and cutting out letters for me and my friend’s ‘HAPPY HEARTS DAY’ banner surprise to our two lovely girls. The good thing is that I have the materials that I need at the dorm–glue, colored papers, bond papers and a pair of scissors. I prepared the letter cuts and Gian inflated the heart shaped balloons. We have everything laid out that night and the only thing left to do is to execute the plan. #loverbois

Monday

It’s been a while since we (me and my girl) last visited Starbucks so we planned to grab coffee to start the week. We both came from our respective schools–the 2 Lasallian universities in Dasmariñas–and headed straight to meet each other and get our favorite flavors of frappe. I guess we both needed a breather from a long hard day in school. I enjoyed the night (even though we weren’t able to talk much and catch up). I was preparing for a report and a major exam for the following day as she was scanning through her notes. Handouts before hangouts as people say but why choose when you can have the best of both worlds?

Tuesday

Prior to this week, she already informed me that she and her (single girl) friends will be going out on V-Day. I gave it a nod since I don’t want her to wait too long for me as she’ll be dismissed earlier than I’ll be. The plan is that we’ll meet at exactly 6PM at Walter Mart with no particular place to eat at. It is also the day when we are supposed to hand our valentine gifts to each other but a few days before, the Instagram account (from which I ordered my gift for her–a blue cap and a matching blue watch) informed me that they couldn’t ship/send the items to me yet because they don’t have them yet.

Since she’s out with her friends, I decided to join my friends to try Bittersweet–a café that some of our fellow COEd students manage. I wasn’t supposed to join them (as I’ll be having a dinner date with my girl) but I wouldn’t want to miss a food adventure. After class, we grabbed a jeepney ride and headed straight to Area G–where the café is located. Too bad, Rica, Jane, MJ and Rjhay weren’t able to make it. For the meriendate, majority of us had Tuna Pasta and Choco Kisses milk shake and we all shared a plate of nachos and a barkada serving of fries.

Everybody enjoyed the food and (believe it or not) none of us spent more than a hundred bucks. The food is great and the menu offers variety–though the serving size is a little reduced but my taste buds are still satisfied. The sizes of their drinks are named single, taken, complicated and barkada (from the smallest serving to the largest). The place is not that spacious but we managed to arrange ourselves on a long table. I am satisfied with my Bittersweet experience in general. *thumbs up* After we finished our meals, we had isaw and betamax on a nearby streetfood spot.

I went back to the dorm to fix myself for my first ever (could­-have­-been) valentine dinner. She texted me around quarter to 7PM and told me that she’s on her way already. I rushed to reach Walter Mart and arrived 13 minutes late–not that punctual for an actual date. We decided to dine at Bon Chon (our common fave food place) but to our surprise, the place is too crowded–with people waiting both inside and outside. We were supposed to try the new seafood flavor Bibimbowl but apparently, there’s no vacant table left for us to dine in. It is unwise to have our orders taken out but we did in hopes of saving time.

Instead of having Bibimbowls (which we would appreciate more if we eat in the actual serving), we opted for 2 servings of Calamari. The crew told us that we will be waiting for 20 minutes to get our orders but we ended up waiting for almost an hour–partida, standing ovation pa kami n’yan. The waiting game is on and we took the time to catch up on each other’s ganaps. Instead of getting bored, I enjoyed waiting since I’m with my favorite person. I can still recall her saying, “Sana pala dito na lang tayo kumain kung ganto katagal din naman tayo maghihintay.” I bet she would laugh in case she’s reading this.

Since I’m chasing a curfew time, we went home with our take outs (told you, it wasn’t a date). I’m absolutely disappointed with how the night turned out–the gifts were delayed, waited for an hour to get our orders and ended up not eating together. I actually insisted that we eat instead given that it’s a special day (and I wouldn’t mind going back to the dorm past the curfew time) but she insisted that we should go home–since we’ve spent enough time together. We left the place not with satisfied tummies but with memories and good laughter. Tip: If you’re going on a date, make sure you set up an early one or have a table reservation. By the way, the banner and balloons surprise for our lovely girls was a success! Thanks a lot Gi! I owe you so much man.

Wednesday

We were supposed to see My Ex and Why’s (but she dislikes mainstream Filipino films) or Fifty Shades Darker (but she has already seen it) so planned to have a movie marathon on their place instead. Our friends Gian and Yna–our fellow Lasallian couple–set up the marathon and we all chipped in to have popcorn and nachos to complete the movie experience. We watched Holding the Man and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (the former is LGBT romance themed, the latter is a fantasy). My bad, I slept in between the 2 films so I didn’t understand any of the storyline. It always feels authentic when I’m with the 3 of them; plus, nachos and popcorn. *drools*

Thursday

Y’all know what it is: my friends and I planned to see Fifty Shades Darker on that day and as if fate is on our side, everything went according to plans. Praise the heavens! Apparently, my friends are sort of obsessed with the franchise and I feel their strong will (judging on their reactions when they saw the trailer) to see the film. Well, I’m a fan of film adaptations of novels in general and what could have been a naughtier way to celebrate love month than to hit the movie house with this flick? In short, we have anticipated Darker from the very beginning.

The hype is so real that to some extent, some of my friends even fabricated birth certificates to prove that everyone’s in the legal age–since Darker is R-18. Babala: Ang programang ito ay Rated SPG. There are a lot of ‘great things’ I supposed that happened during the day. 1. I recovered my ID from SWAFO. I lost my school ID (the jacket is already broken so it’s no wonder it got lost) that day when we attended a seminar at the Alumni Building. Good thing I was able to retrieve it from SWAFO right before we leave for Robinsons Dasmariñas.

2. The full show was moved to 3:50PM instead of half past 3PM (which gave us more time to fake birth certificates and get food). We grabbed snacks from 7Eleven; I had a butter flavored popcorn and a huge cup of Gulp–which I finished by myself. #nosharing 3. There is no traffic and the jeepney driver changed routes to shorten the ride. We left 30 minutes before the showing and we crossed our fingers for no traffic. Good thing the driver of the jeepney changed routes to get to the mall faster. After that, we ran–far beyond the stoplight to enter the mall to the last floor to reach the movie house.

4. The guard from the mall simply asked us about our ages and college level (he simply looked at our IDs without even asking for legal documents or proofs). Honestly, there are 3 of us who are not yet 18–Alpha, MJ and Faith.  Rica and Rjhay were not able to join us; T. Annie (Dairen’s best friend) and Leslie (MJ’s special someone) joined the pool. 5. We got inside the movie house just in time. When we entered the cinema, the film has just began and so we quickly looked for seats and placed in the 3rd row. I sat beside Nica and Tin. Our acquaintances Clarisse and Errol were also inside the cinema.

I’m satisfied with the film in general–the story lines and the cinematography. Although I haven’t read the novel yet, it would have been a better experience to know what to expect (aside from what we saw in the trailer). FYI: The plot of the entire trilogy focuses on romance; not on the BDSM thing or the sexual encounters (though the love scenes are really noticeable). One thing I love about the film is that it featured a cohesive shift from the ‘sexual’ to ‘intimate’ relationship between Anastasia and Christian. I highly recommend this flick for lovers out there; perfect for the love month.

After seeing Darker, majority of us headed home straight but Nica, MJ, Leslie and I hopped to SM Dasmariñas which is just a few blocks away. The lovebirds (MJ and Leslie) will be dining there while Nica and I went to Imagine. I personally wanted to go to Imagine because I want to belt out my favorite songs on the karaoke (which I barely do; thank you to my blockmates–Ayah, MJ and Cyra–who went to Imagine that Monday for making me envy). Nica and I had an equal share of songs and this is my set list for that night:

·        Chandelier

·        You are My Song

·        Someday We’ll Know

·        Home

·        Alone

·        Baliw

·        If I Were a Boy

·        The Gift (duet with Nica)

·        Forever’s Not Enough

·        If We Fall in Love (duet with Nica)

I’m not even kidding with the set list though most of the songs are very unlikely for me to sing–Chandelier, If I Were a Boy and Forever’s Not Enough). *laughs* I just want to know if I can still sing those songs. Nica sang Counting Stars, I’ll Be There, Somebody that I Used to Know, Born This Way, A Whole New World, etc. Next time, I’ll be doing more of band music and alternatives like Maroon 5, Coldplay and Paramore–medyo rock para mapaos–or maybe some throwback Chris Brown or Ne-Yo. #nexttime Unfortunately, they don’t have Secret Love Song yet–would’ve been a great jam if the song is there.

Before we went home, I dropped by Tokyo Tokyo to take out Ramen (insane cravings for Ramen; had two steaming bowls that day–one for brunch and another for dinner). That day is indeed tiring but I have seen a great film (Darker), I have great food (Ramen) and I’m with a great company–my college squad. I have 3 homeworks and a quiz the following day but fret not–Carpe Diem. I’m really glad that I was able to carry out everything I have planned that day–felt extremely blessed. Guess what, I’m starting to love Thursdays more than ever… again! #thankyouLord

Friday

Another (tough and long) week at school has passed and the best way to end it is a street food fix: had calamares and my fave buko juice after class. After 2 weeks of indulging in calamares after class, I (think I) should stop this habit–for a.) it is not that healthy; b.) it’s about time to stop cheap thrills; c.) I’m bringing back the thrifty habits. Before I catch the bus ride home, I dropped by my girl’s place and shared a few bites off our favorite doughs. She did it again–she bought a box (a dozen) of our favorite donuts from Krispy Kreme.

In fact, we had KK donuts twice that week because Gian and Yna also purchased a dozen of assorted doughs that Tuesday (which they shared with us). This time though, we had the box all by ourselves–though we have only consumed 4 of which. I helped her fix her things; she helped me sort mine. #dormergoals #rgoals As we packed our bags together, I asked her if we could meet the following day–I’ll finally received my valentine gift for her–so we can give our gifts to each other. Delightedly, she said yes without asking about details or whatevers.

Saturday

The Instagram account (from where I ordered my gifts for her) messaged me that Friday that they already handed the items to my friend Bea–a friend who resides in Manila and the one who picked up the gifts. I personally tapped Bea to contact the account and help me purchase the items since she’s in Manila (most of the time). She went home that Friday so we managed to meet the following day to give me the gift. So there, if you’re reading this, you’ll know where I bought my gifts for you and who conspired with me to get the items. *winks*

We met at SM Trece Martires–our new hide away as the mall is not crowded–and she arrived late (very unlikely of her to). Well, I was late when we met that Tuesday and it is just fair that she came late that time–quits lang. Oh girl, please don’t make me wait. When she arrived, she immediately handed me her gift and to my surprise (nasarprays ako literal), her gifts were the items next on my bucket list–the items that I would care to have but can’t at the moment. Thank you boo! I love your gifts! I handed her my gifts as well–quite nervous if she would like them or not.

She has been eyeing the blue cap–which is from a merch store–and the blue watch on Instagram for some time now. Since she doesn’t have time to purchase them yet, I did the deeds and surprisingly, she liked my gifts. I won’t give a hint on the price of the items (shh lang muna; she gave me a pricey gift as well so secret na lang) because she also bought a quite expensive gift for me. She’s really eager to have the cap–which I would also love to have–and I made sure it comes with a watch (because she’s a big lover of watches; bought a blue one to match the color of the cap).

And all of a sudden, I had chicken pox­–just the mere thought that I have this makes me want to throw up instead. *note sarcasm* So it goes a little like this, Cupid and Aphrodite made me feel all the love the entire week then sends me crashing back down to earth (after putting me on a cloud 9). But kidding aside, I don’t know what I did to contact and/or deserve this kind of sickness. The good thing is that this came after Valentine’s–I got to spend the Hearts Day the way it is supposed to. #atleast

The bad thing is that this came right at the beginning of the Prelim week so I had to take 5 special exams. Not to mention, I’ll be staying at home for the rest of the week and (sighs) no allowance. Sayang baon, mga beshy! I could have felt that Valentine hangover if not for this. *frowns* Di bale na. Looking on the positive side of things: I get to rest for some days; I have been enormously blessed the entire week; I have the love of my life with me–there’s nothing more that I could ask for. #blessed

How about you, my dear readers? How did you spend the Hearts Day? By whatever means, I hope you all had an incredibly romantic and intimate celebration with the one[s] you love! Just a friendly reminder: You deserve to be loved. ❤

Till the next blog entry! Bry. x 022317

P.S. To the one who made this year���s Valentine’s extra special, thank you! I’m blessed to have you.

P.P.S. I didn’t publish this whole entry to brag; it is just my pleasure to share with you how it is to be me.

[bryanllamado]

#DLSUDLive2017

© DLSU-D Website

The Lasallian Festival is one of the events that I definitely look forward to (in the university). It takes place usually on Valentine’s week but due to the shift in the academic calendar, it is celebrated from the 27th of February until the 4th of March instead. According to the DLSU-D website, it “seeks to highlight the community's response to the 2008 Philippine Lasallian Family Convocation to all the District schools to “institutionalize the celebration of the Lasallian Mission.” The week-long celebration features programs and activities which aim to deepen and instill the Lasallian Core Values of faith, zeal in service and communion in mission.

There are a LOT of things to anticipate during the LSF–no classes (on almost all subjects), programs which serve as alternative classes, the opening of the bazaar and *clears throat* wearing civilian clothes the whole week. This week also marks my post-chickenpox return to school. Isn’t it amazing? But wait, didn’t I miss friggin’ 5 prelim exams? Yes, I did and the LSF served as a ‘catch up’ time for me and the scantron sheets–talk about perfect timing. What a way to end February and welcome March, right? I enjoyed this year’s LSF and I’m sharing my 2nd LSF experience with you, through this entry. Happy scrolling!

Lasallian Festival 2017

Monday | 022717

I grabbed a quick breakfast at Nanay’s Cuisine to start the long opening day. I met up with my blockmates at Rotonda and we attended the Holy Mass Celebration to begin the week. I don’t have to describe how good it feels to start something by hearing mass. #blessed 🙏 After the mass comes the Mission Parade from the chapel to Ugnayang La Salle (ULS)–wore blue (which is my college color) and held blue balloons. The Convocation was held at the ULS and it featured the theme ‘Lasallians as Champions.’ Trivia: We went out of the venue to grab meals only to find out that it ended before we finish our meals. #fail

Each college (together with some organizations) flaunted their colors in the parade and it seemed as though balloons came to rain and flood. I had a good time chatting with my mates as we walk along the streets of DLSU-D. A week off of school made me miss (my blockmates, the food and) the setting of my alma mater–to the point of missing the stinky smell of the lake, no. The performers featured on the Convocation are the performing arts group of the university; hats off to all of its members. I wish I was one of them, though. #nexttime

© De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite's Premier University

In the afternoon, the Educ Fest came about at the COEd Grounds with each block bringing a specific food as the contribution to the small celebration. My set of friends–the Pabebe Warriors (which can be seen at the featured photo)–arranged in one of the CEAT kubos and shared our food together. We have made it a tradition–that every Educ Fest, we eat together at the kubo. It felt good to catch up with them while munching street food and common snacks. There are a total of 4 programs that day and so I planned to chill right after by dropping by the bazaar before I hit the books (since I am, not to brag, a good student).

Tuesday | 022817

Cindy and I started our Field Study 2 duty that morning (we are finished as of writing) and tallied a total of 8 hours during the week. I finished a quiz and a major exam on one subject. We, the COEd students, attended the Lasallianization of COEd Buildings and Deepening the Future Teachers’ Lasallian Identity seminars at the Alumni Building. I had to admit it–I did not remember anything from the seminars that day. Apparently, we’ve attended like 4 or 5 seminars in the Alumni Building in this semester alone so I (sort of) confuse and mix them with each other. #infooverload

© Mary Kristine Arias

Perhaps I am just distracted with the thought of contacting ‘chickenpox’ to other people so I stayed far from some of my peers that time. Although I confess to be fully healed that time (as my blisters have all dried up), I wouldn’t want to have any casualties or afford one of my friends to have the skin disease. I want the trend to start and end with me so… Having that worry in the back of my mind definitely took away my focus from the seminar. FYI: My chicken pox is just mild–just small blisters, no fever or joint pain.

The campus dormitory (where I reside in) held its Open House for that day which means that dormers are allowed to welcome visitors at their free will. I wasn’t supposed to have any visitors as I was busy catching up with my exams but Gian and Yna–the CBAA couple–called me up asking if they can see my room. I’m not in the dorm so I hurried to meet them at the food square and tour them in my room. They only managed to stay for an hour since I have to attend a seminar in the afternoon. Thank you for the visit, GiNa!

Wednesday | 030117

We have no required activities in the morning but we have the COEd Jam as our main college activity for the week–which is quite similar with the GA. The theme of the program is neon. #LetsGoWithTheGlow Too bad, I wasn’t able to stay that long and missed my blockmates’ performance due to academic reasons (you know, the exams that I missed) and the Ash Wednesday Mass, which I attended in lieu of the COEd Jam. I took fasting in the literal aspect and ate only 2 pieces of bread that day. Going back to the topic, the COEd Jam consisted of a contest which requires each block to have a representative.

© DLSU-Dasmariñas College of Education Student Council

As for BSE21, we formed the BnW Band and they served as our official entry to the contest. The band members are Nica, Van, Dairen, Anne, Tin and Paw–making it an all-girl group. I was supposed to be a part of it (as one of the vocalists) but due to chickenpox, I wasn’t able to make it. They bagged the 2nd place and I couldn’t get any prouder of my classmates! Congratulations to BnW Band! Some of our professors even found time to praise them in between classroom discussion. They performed a Taylor Swift mash up with snippets and elements from other songs. If you want to preview their performance, click either here or here.

© Mary Kristine Arias

As for the Ash Wednesday mass, the homily is about going minimal–in terms of food, clothes and other material things. We are blessed with so much more than what we need (especially in terms of material needs); so much that we don’t get to use all of our clothes and shoes at some extent. Going minimal means taking what you need and giving away what you have but don’t need to those in necessity. On another matter, the practice of fasting is also explained. We are blessed the entire year with our needs and it wouldn’t be a loss on our part to experience hunger (and going minimal) for a day to experience what Jesus has done.

© De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite's Premier University

Thursday | 030217

I scheduled another major exam that morning so I just rushed to catch the rest of the Youth Empowerment Conference at the Alumni Building. The speakers were Sir Royce Salva, Sir Makki Espinosa and a speaker who is an alumnus of CBAA (the former two were from COEd). They are all Lasallian alumni and are all recipients of the St. John Baptist de La Salle Leadership award. The seminar caters the youth from different schools and has a team building activity in the afternoon (which we aren’t required to attend). I learned more about leadership–the personal conflicts of a leader to the external ones and basically, what it takes to be a good leader.

© Mary Kristine Arias

Even though I missed the first half of the seminar, I was able to catch the open forum part wherein students got the chance to ask questions to the three speakers. It makes sense to me how these people bagged the enormous recognition of being leadership awardees–they have made a difference in their unique means. The seminar inspired me (not to aim for the award but rather) to create a difference and inspire the people around me to dream. It’s not about the greatness; it’s all about the bass, ‘bout the bass (no treble). *pun* It’s all about the way you inspire and put that inspiration to concrete actions.

My friends and I decided to have a photo op with the DLSUD letters in front of the chapel. (From left to right, we are) Cyra, MJ, Rica, Tin, Nica, Alpha, *yours truly*, Faith and Cindy–the Pabebe Warriors. #incomplete Insert Jane, Dairen and Rjhay. For some reasons, they have decided to keep those letters even after the LSF has concluded. The not-so-good thing about it is that it is placed in front of the pavement so it would require a perfect timing to have your photo taken, with all the pedestrians passing by. Swiping through the photos makes me feel jovial.

Friday | 030317

Anne, Mynette, Cindy, Jane and I went to Main (Dasmariñas National High School) for our FS2 duty. We observed the class of Ms. CJ Flores–our cooperating teacher, who is also an alumnus of our alma mater–and they had a film viewing that time for their critic paper; they watched the film Swiss Army Man. I gained insights about some realities in life by seeing the film. It has a deeper meaning despite the simplicity in the storyline and comedic approach. I accomplished another major exam that day at the ReEd department wherein I got a perfect score, (not to brag be let me). I attended one more seminar at the Alumni building right after.

MJ, Cyra, Tin and I attended the Bloggers Expo III: Wanderlust Edition, a talk which featured 4 of the top travel bloggers in the country. The ticket costs around 70 bucks and despite being a bit pricey, it was worth the pay. For a young and aspiring blogger like me *ehem*, it is important to be exposed to the deeper nature of blogging. It feels surreal to have them on stage and great to have seen (some parts of) the world through the lens of four travelers. The event also inspired me to take on local destinations first before going out of the country. #bloggersknow

© Mary Kristine Arias

If you want to check out the bloggers who were in the expo, click the links below:

Loving. Eating. Wandering. - Life is beautiful. Go out and explore!

Ironwulf En Route | Travel Blog in the Philippines and Beyond

No Barriers Just Horizons

Wanderlass | one lass's quest to live a life not ordinary

That ends my 2nd Lasallian Festival experience! I’m pleased to share this experience with you through this entry. Moreover, it feels magnificent (take note: I barely use that term) to be a Lasallian especially in times like this. The programs and activities made me want to engage more with my alma mater and live up to the Lasallian core values. This experience helped me view my Lasallian identity as a fundamental tool to shape and inspire the people around me. The LSF goes beyond having no classes or having the bazaar; it is a celebration of the Lasallian mission which Saint John Baptist de La Salle has started.

I was supposed to come up with a lookbook blog entry to feature all my OOTDs for the week–similar to what I did during the Students’ Week–but apparently, I wasn’t able to document everything. Plus, (I think) it is just right to have everything piled up in this entry–with all the worth-sharing shenanigans during the week. I took me a week to decide whether to write this entry or not and 2 sittings to finish writing. Credits to the DLSU-D Facebook Page, COEdSC Facebook Page and to Mary Kristine Arias for some of the photos that I used in this entry. I hope you had a good time reading!

I hope everyone enjoyed the LSF 2017 as much as I did. Now, we’re back to regular classes. #backtoreality

Till the next entry. – Bry x 031617

PS. Thank you so much LSF for allowing me to catch up on the exams that I missed. Next time kasi, alagaan ang sarili nang hindi nagkakasakit.