Still Taking It Further.

I'm so thankful to God for the past year. I got most of what I wanted. Out of the 7 things that I listed for my extended wish list last year, I got 4 of them without noticing it. 

I wanted to write another list for this year but I can't seem to figure out what I really wanted. It's hard to when you already feel satisfied with what I have - or am I? 

After posting my testimony on what God did this year, I tried to think hard. What do I want? I thought of a girlfriend but is that something money can buy? I don't think so. How about world peace? Nah, tried that last year but it didn't count for a wishlist. 

After weeks of patiently thinking and soul searching that even led me to the streets of Manila, I found out what I wanted. So after wiping the drool off my face, I wrote down some things that I wanted. Here they are:

1. Book Collection. I was able to exhaust all available books written by Robert Fughum in Booksale. I was also able to collect the current Looking Back series by Ambeth Ocampo and the TRESE comics by Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo. I'm still waiting for the latest installments from these books. In the mean time, I hope to buy all books by Bob Ong. I started collecting this year and with the price of the books, I hope I could obtain them all before march. Yet this year, the real goal is the ever elusive, Pacific Rims by Rafe Bartholomew. A friend recommended it and since then, I have been in pursuit of the volume. My friend told me to buy it last May. It's December and it's almost January and I still haven't gotten a copy.

update: I already bought a copy of Pacific Rims. Now, I want a Filipiniana collection.

2. Ipad or Ipod. Whichever I could afford. This almost seemed like a joke. The moment I was able to save enough for an Ipod Touch this year, I ended up buying a notebook PC instead. The next time I saved enough, I bought a PSP. Still the next time, I booked a flight to CDO and Camiguin. Which also led to me being broke today. Still, it's good to have one. Especially the Ipad which has lots of therapy apps.

3. Portable DVD player or External DVD Drive. I wanted to watch DVDs. I still have to catch up on House, MD. and Man Vs. Wild. I also have lots of TV series on DVD that I want to watch. Friends recommend this and that but I can't watch it yet since the Gatey the laptop needs to be fixed. It's still wishful thinking and this one's purely on a whim.

4. DSLR Camera. I already have my trusty point and shoot digicam. I like it (but I still haven't paid for it in full), but there's something in me that wanted to take it on a higher level. I used to marvel at the G11 but now, I wanted to skip it and go higher with a Canon DSLR. I wanted to learn how to capture those great shots by my photographer friends. Maybe it could also be a good hobby for me. Better yet, it could be a good vocation for me. You'd never know, right?

5. House and lot. This time I'm serious after seeing the house a friend bought. It's not a mansion, it was actually humbling. I like the concept. A bungalow or a two story house would do. I also wanted a condo unit that I could put out for rent. Some plans for a passive income wouldn't hurt right? Maybe this house would be enough for me. Anything short of this is unacceptable. Kidding of course.

6. Car. I wanted wheels for myself but I wished for the house first because it's so unpractical to have  a car here in our neighborhood unless you have your own parking space. Any model would do as long as it can run and can reach Baguio or Ilocos Norte intact. Something like this wouldn't hurt though. If this is already available in the market. All I could think of if I see this is HOT WHEELS. Yep the toy. That I could get today.

7. Touch Screen Phone. This is just in case I couldn't get me an Iphone. I'm eyeing the my|phone or cherry mobile touch phone. Yep the one with the television. It has poor reviews I know but those reviews are from tech freaks who wanted more from the phone. Still, an android or a galaxy would still be good.

I sure hope God would still read my post and make this a fruitful year just like this year. I am not hoping to get all of this, but these are the things that I wish for this year. It's still wishful thinking.

How I wish.

TRESE

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo

Don't get me wrong. It's 3 1/2 because I want more. Other than that, it deserves 5 stars. I received the first two TRESE books as a gift. The next week, I bought the third and most recent installment. Now I can't wait to get the fourth when it comes out.

The story is not your cliche mystery whoddunit although some of the stories have that kind of ring to it. The story revolves around Alexandria Trese a vigilante type of heroine whose specialty is supernatural crimes. It sounds funny at first but the moment you opened the book, you'd be amazed at how cool it is. The places are real Manila locations and with almost accurate portrayals (almost because some names had to be changed by the authors). The criminals and the victims come from our very own Filipino supernatural - aswangs, kapres, tikbalangs and the like. What amazes me is how it also has some supernatural creatures that I have heard just now - Santelmo among others. It also adds a touch of creativity with regards to how they portray these creatures as clannish and exists among us - not that I believe it though.

Of the three volumes released, the third book has the highest excitement.The story revolves around Trese and the Kambal's origins. It differs from the other two in style in that the first two were divided into stories that seem to have no or little connection with each other. Whereas the third one is like a great graphic novel with one story.

I surely hope though that the authors would continue writing more. I can't wait for the 4th installment.

Taking It Further Post Script

A friend showed me a scrap of paper with things listed on it. There were also tick marks beside each item. She said it was a list of things she wanted to buy last year. Those were the things she asked God to give her. Included in her list were petty things like a G11 Camera to big things like the renovation of their house. She was ecstatic to tell me that all those tick marks meant that those items were given by God this year. 

I nearly fell on my seat as she related these to me. 

Flashback. I made a similar list here on my multiply. You can view it here. I never intended to give it to God. I thought it was too materialistic of me to give it to Him. After all the kindness and protection that He has given me all these time, I still had the nerve to ask for petty things. Instead, I just listed it and posted it on this site just for fun.

I actually forgot about that list.

God seemed to have read my post. I found out after hearing my friends story that God gave me 4 out of the 7 items I listed. I got all within the year. This time I really fell of my seat. Maybe if I did pray for it and handed the list in God's hands I might have received everything on that list. Nothing's impossible for Him so I guess it could have happened. 

So maybe this is a practice in the making. Maybe I'll post another wish list here. This time I'll really leave it in God's hands.

Looking Back Series

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	History
Author:	Ambeth Ocampo

Browsing through the Filipiniana section of some bookstore in ortigas, I found this seemingly thin book with a curious cover. It was by Ambeth Ocampo so most likely it was history. I was previously taken aback by his "Rizal Without the Overcoat" so this should be as compelling. I was glad that I was right. This mentally stimulating book allows us to look back at the trivial and obscured facts from our history books. The second book in the series "Dirty Dancing" and the third, "Death by Garrote" were bought consecutively. These three books are compilations of his columns with the same name.

The three books bring us back to the land of heroes whose names have become almost legendary if not mythical. Ocampo managed to pull those men and women down to the human realm. Imagine learning that McArthur (yes, the "I shall return" guy) had a Filipina mistress and that Gen. Gregoryo del Pilar could be lined up among the ranks of Rizal for being a playboy. Know who has a greater mastery over the English language: Rizal or Mabini. Learn the histories of our surnames, first names and middle names. The only down side with the book is that you'd want to read more after you've read all three books.

This is a history book that differs from most as the humor and wit of Ocampo has been laid out. It offers a conversational presentation of articles that doesn't bore readers and still produce vital information on our history.