[NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA] Budget and Itinerary

TUESDAY: 29 December 2015

German Embassy (Schengen Visa) - 60.00
Eurowings (SMART Fare Phuket - Cologne) - 245.00
S13/S12 (Bonn-Cologne International Airport - Hansaring - Rudolfplatz) - 2.80
Airbnb (1 Night) - 29.00
EUR336.80

[MÜNSTER] Cold in Muenster

I didn’t really have enough time to plan my German New Year trip because it just sort of happened. After that booboo at Phuket International Airport, I just lost consciousness several times on the plane and the next thing I knew we were already landing in Cologne. What I remember, though, is that I had two options: a) hop on an evening flight to Hamburg the same night, or; b) stop at Münster the next day because some friends of mine are from there and happened to be at home for the holidays.

[COLOGNE] Long-Haul, Low-Cost

Going back to Europe was not really part of the plan, well at least not this early. Already booked for LA this January, I decided to have my flight rescheduled when my Xiamen friends confirmed that most of them will spend New Year’s in Hamburg. One of them told me to check out Eurowings and that’s how I discovered that you can fly from Thailand to Germany for as low as PhP 10,000 one-way. And so I booked the flight anyway. I mean, how could you resist such a tempting offer, right?

[VISA] Germany (Multiple Entry)

This is my second time to apply for a Schengen visa so I was more confident that I had a higher chance of approval despite less documents submitted this time around. I had the backing of a university the last time. This time around I just wrote a cover letter explaining that I will be visiting friends in Hamburg for the New Year. The German embassy has had good feedback recently so I had high hopes. In the end, I got my visa after 8 working days, the same time it took for the Austrian embassy to release my visa the last time.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) heads to Jakku to retrieve some intel that will lead them to the location of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last Jedi who disappeared shortly after the destruction of the Death Star. His mission almost fails when First Order warrior Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) lands on the planet and captures him, but not before he entrusts the map to his droid, who flees to safety. Amidst the chaos, FN-2187 (John Boyega) suddenly grows a conscience and decides that he wants to be a Stormtrooper no more. Ending up in a wasteland, BB-8 ends up with scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley), who gets entangled in the whole Resistance versus First Order skirmish when she steals the Millennium Falcon. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca trace and intercept their ship and joins the fray. With the help of Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), now general of the Resistance, they band together to put a stop to the First Order’s atrocities. But their days are numbered and they must race against time before the enemy charges their weapon and blow them to smithereens.

The Danish Girl

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Both struggling artists, couple Einar (Eddie Redmayne) and Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander) are trying to make it big in Copenhagen’s 1920’s art scene. When one of her models does not show up for her painting session, she asks him to fill in for her by posing in her costume. The little experiment awakens something inside him, a feminine side which he knows has always been there. Given his aversion towards parties, she suggests that he accompany her one time not as her husband, but rather as his “cousin” Lili from Velje. For fun. But what starts as simple cross dressing escalates to something more she has never expected, the emergence of a dominant female persona undermining her husband’s male personality. Soon enough, her portraits of Lili begin to receive fame and attention, much to the benefit of her career. It does not take long, however, before the resurfacing identity that he has suppressed for so long affects the dynamics of their marriage.

Ex with Benefits

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Despite him being a senior and her being a freshman, Adam (Derek Ramsay) and Arkisha (Coleen Garcia) do not really consider their age gap as an obstacle to their budding romance, so they hit it off right away anyway. But the pressure of medical school and everyday life in general would eventually take a toll on their relationship. And so, on the day of his make-or-break exam, she decides to walk away without even saying goodbye. A decade later, he is now a famous sports doctor while she is also considered successful in her career as a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company. What she does not know is that he is still in love with her, and what he does not know is that she has been sleeping with her clients to secure her position as top performer of the year. When she is asked to go after his endorsement for their newest painkiller, the two of them end up in bed. It then turns into a habit, or as they would like to call it: “Ex with benefits”.

Heneral Luna

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1898. Spain concedes defeat to the United States in exchange for $20 million, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. As the Americans prepare to claim their new territory, they are met with resistance by an infant republic under the presidency of Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado). Feisty general Antonio Luna (John Arcilla) serves as commander of the revolutionary army and makes it difficult for the new colonizers to get what they want. But he is playing a losing game, as he participates in heated verbal arguments at the Cabinet which are just as adrenaline-inducing as the skirmishes they have in the field. Rife with conflicts stemming from opposing factions, the Filipinos themselves are at war with one another, unable to reach an agreement whether to continue waging war or just accept peaceful annexation by an emerging superpower. Can one brash general really swim against the tide and emerge victorious despite such unfavorable circumstances?

[KANSAI] Budget and Itinerary (2)

SATURDAY: 1 August 2015

Cebu Pacific (Manila - Osaka - Manila) - 4,181.55
PHP4,181.55

JR Kansai/Osaka Loop (Kansai International - Tennoji - Osaka) - 1,190.00
JPY1,190.00

[OSAKA] Harry Potter and the Muggle Evacuation Center

I arrived at Universal Studios half past 12 and to my surprise, there was no queue. After paying 7,200 yen for the admission ticket, I immediately made my way to the Harry Potter World timed-entry ticket kiosk. I really had no intention of exploring USJ again because I already did so a couple of years back before HPW came to existence. The earliest available time was at 3 PM which was more than okay for me. I had more than two hours to kill.

[SHIKOKU] Budget and Itinerary

SUNDAY: 2 August 2015

Peach (Osaka - Matsuyama - Osaka) - 6,410.00

JPY6,410.00

[EHIME] Yet Another Japanese Castle

I have no problems with castles per se, except that they are like temples to me, especially if they have the same motif. To some extent, you’ve seen all once you’ve seen one, unless of course if you are an enthusiast, well-versed, or perhaps just interested in ancient history. The past can really be amusing but for those who do not give a shit, it could translate to boring... OUCH! Who just pelted me with a rotten egg? Show yourself, I will troll you! Sorry, I’m schizo sometimes. No. I’m not. Yes, my precious.

[EHIME] The Oldest Bathhouse in Japan

Shikoku appears to be one of Japan’s less popular regions overlooked by most tourists. I was not really planning on going here until I found out that a friend from Imabari was back in his hometown for summer vacation. All I knew was that I had a Manila – Osaka – Manila flight and that I had three days to spare, or rather, two, because one was already reserved for Harry Potter World. Thanks to Peach, travel within Japan is not as expensive as it was before, so I thought why not give it a shot?

Saturday Night Fever (Atlantis Theatrical)

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Working at a paint shop, Tony Manero (Brandon Rubendall) does not seem to have a clear goal as to what he wants to achieve in life, but he does know one thing: He loves to dance. This is why he and buddies Double J (Nick Varricchio), Joey (Nel Gomez), and Bobby C (Bibo Reyes) always make sure to hit the 2001 Disco every weekend. His moves prove to be popular, attracting girls such as Annette (Mikkie Bradshaw) who repeatedly professes her love for him. But he only has eyes for Stephanie Mangano (Jenna Rubaii), the dancer who works in an office across the river. They get a chance to dance together in hopes of winning $500 in a competition. She makes it perfectly clear that their relationship should remain professional, but he obviously wants to be more than friends. With other everyday hang-ups to deal with, Tony and friends try to stay alive, mainly through dancing as a means of escape from reality.

Ant-Man

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Fresh out of serving his jail sentence, burglar Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) finds it hard to keep a job despite holding a master’s degree in engineering. Desperate to have enough money for child support so he could be with his daughter, he goes back to his old ways and robs an old manor. Instead of money, though, he finds nothing more than a helmet and a suit in a vault. He tries them on and gets the surprise of his life, discovering that his new costume gives him the ability to shrink himself and go back to his original size at will. What he does not know is that he has been manipulated by Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), who needs his expertise to break into Cross Industries and steal the Yellowjacket, a similar gear his protégé Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) plans to capitalize on through military deals. Pym’s daughter, Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), wants to don the suit herself, but he just would not let her. Instead, the three form a team to make sure that such delicate technology wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands.

The Breakup Playlist

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Gino (Piolo Pascual) and Trixie (Sarah Geronimo) argue in his car en route to a musical gig. She says she’s had enough. She tells him she is quitting their band. He says he’s had enough. He tells her to get out of his life. And so their relationship ends on a sour note, with no signs of reconciliation. It is not until years later, when a popular loveteam taps the duo as their favorite musicians for a reunion concert, that the two get the chance to meet again. He is wishing for a second chance, but she wants nothing to do with him anymore. Animosity proves to be more prevalent than hope, causing unwanted conflicts in their daily rehearsals. With pressure from their producers, the ex-lovers strive to get along for the sake of professionalism. Is one song enough to fix what has long been deemed as broken?

Minions

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Since their origins as single-celled organisms, the Minions have only had one goal in mind, which is to find an evil master that they could serve. Unfortunately, they seem to bring bad luck everywhere they go, spelling bad news for whoever it is that they are serving at the time. This persistent string of misfortune pushes them to a life of isolation and gloomy existence. Just when all hope seems lost, a leader emerges in the form of Kevin, who recruits Bob and Stuart to join him on a mission to find their new boss. The trio’s journey brings them to New York, and then to Florida to attend a Villain Con where they meet Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock), super villain du jour, who plans to steal the crown of the Queen of England. Everything seems all set, except that clumsiness and circumstance connive to bring about misunderstandings between master and minion, turning them instead into unlikely rivals.

[TOKYO] Marshmallows and Choco Syringe in Prison

Goodbye fuel surcharge means airline promos are legit again and this was proven when I booked my Manila – Narita – Manila tickets via Cebu Pacific. I only spent PhP4000 all-in! How can you say no to that? There is a problem, though. I already did the tourist thing in Tokyo back in 2012, so what the heck am I going to do there now? I decided against exploring the Tohoku region north of Tokyo because I’m lazy like that, even if it’s just a short train ride away. Oh well, let’s just chillax in Tokyo then!

Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady (Dalanghita Productions)

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Mely (Frenchie Dy) is your archetypal big sister who would go to great lengths to ensure that her family is well-supported financially, even if it meant working as a maid for a group of superheroes. Fuwerza Filipinas is not just your typical team of heroes, they are popular as well and have an image to maintain, pretty much like the matinee idols you see on television. Led by Madre de Dios (Shiela Valderrama – Martinez) and her abs, the ensemble consists of: Nena Babushka (Giannina Ocampo), the healer; Windang Woman (Caisa Borromeo), who could command the wind; Bazooka Man (Chuck Lazaro – Hipol), with an iron cannon installed on his left arm; Popoy Pusakal (Chesko Rodriguez), the little brother who has feline-like abilities; and Leading Man (Markki Stroem), whose ring gives him telekinetic capabilities, and who has a rather bad record for being infatuated with the maid. Meanwhile, a rival group of misfits, the Kayumanggilas led by Senyor Blangko (Nar Cabico), recruits Mely’s sister, Viva (Natasha Cabrera), to sabotage Fuwerza Filipinas by having her ingest Chemical Q, which gives her extraordinary powers.

VIRGIN LABFEST XI: Set D

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TALO ANG WALANG ALAM – Myrna (Nikki Pastor) goes on labor in a cart parked on the street, while her brother-in-law is chased by a corrupt police official for whom he peddles drugs. The arrival of a working student who asks for help to recover her bag with money for her mother’s dialysis shifts  the dynamics of the game, as the money changes hands until it reaches its new owner. And so it is indeed, the one who knows least emerges as the loser.

This seems to be one of those entries that feels obliged to show you the underbelly of society, the nitty gritty that is sure to make you wince with every scene. Some would be quick to dismiss this as poverty porn, not that different from what you see in most indie films. While we acknowledge the need for entries to be socially relevant, perhaps there are other ways of getting the message across without being too cliché. The acting is good alright, but the entire hour felt just like watching the local news, or even a soap opera, to some extent.

VIRGIN LABFEST XI: Set C

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BIRTWAL – Guy (Ron Capinding) and Girl (J-Mee Katanyag) decide to meet up after almost a year of romancing each other online, except that their descriptions of themselves might be a little bit too farfetched from the truth. They both agree to wear blue, but end up both donning green. Would their online romance be sufficient for them to hold onto once they see that they are both far from the virtual image that they have made for themselves?

This one is a bit hard to watch but innovative nonetheless. The two main characters share the stage with four flat screen TVs displaying their conversations online, which is probably the best way to do it. In a way, it makes the audience feel as though they are part of the action themselves. It must have been challenging for the two actors to pretend texting all the time like that in front of the audience. What you'll find really striking here is not the play itself, but rather the critique of society that it offers you. How do you know which is reality and which is fantasy nowadays, in a society governed by the dynamics of social media, could you still distinguish between what’s real and what’s made-up?

Bituing Walang Ningning the Musical (Resorts World Manila)

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1980’s. Manila. The dominance of the cassette tape is threatened by the sudden arrival of the compact disc, which many consider to be the future of music consumption. But this does not bother diehard fan Dorina Pineda (Monica Cuenco), because she will buy whatever music superstar Lavinia Arguelles (Cris Villonco) produces regardless of its format. Manager cum boyfriend Nico Escobar (Mark Bautista) thinks her matinee idol girlfriend should expand her repertoire by singing ballads in addition to her dance music, but she thinks that the shift in style would mean losing her fan base. Their creative differences eventually take its toll on their personal relationship. After seeing Dorina perform as a singer at a sing-along bar, Nico entertains the idea of launching her as a balladeer for his very own recording label. Lavinia is not really open to the idea of her once wide-eyed fan now becoming her rival, and makes sure that she does everything in her power to remain on top. In the glitzy world of showbiz where the quest for fame and stardom could tear a person apart, is there really a place for a love that conquers all?

Sense8: Episode 12

12. I Can't Leave Her

Trapped, Wolfgang visits Kala to bid her farewell, but she’s not ready to say goodbye and so she crafts a homemade explosive for him. He kills his uncle with her watching, then tells her that’s why she should just marry Rajan instead. Riley dreams about her husband’s death and the birth of their child, who also dies shortly after. Will flies to Iceland to rescue her. Nomi hacks their way into the facility. Lito flirts with a lab assistant to get the room number. Sun fights off the security personnel. Kala finds a medical reagent to jolt her back to consciousness. And Capheus takes care of the getaway ambulance. But Will accidentally looks Whispers in the eye, and now he can tap into him. Wolfgang takes the wheel to go head to head with Whispers’ helicopter. As Will and Riley get trapped on a mountaintop, he drugs himself unconscious so Whispers can’t track them, putting his faith on her. He wakes up on a boat cradled in her arms, before she drugs him again. As she looks up, she sees all eight of them onboard, sailing towards the setting sun.

Sense8: Episode 11

11. Just Turn the Wheel and the Future Changes

Riley wakes up in a hospital, and the sensate who warned her against Jonas tells her she’s going to die on that bed. Nomi wakes up from that nightmare and she and Will visit each other to plan her rescue. Kala admits to Rajan that his father asked her not to marry him, and he tells her that he has always known. She is later celebrated by the temple’s worshippers for “getting rid” of her future father-in-law. Sun’s brother comes over to deliver bad news: their father’s death. But she can see through his charades and tells him he murdered their father. Capheus settles “his debts” with the thugs, but instead of giving up the girl, he faces them alone. He then finds his boss captive there, and they ask him to end his life. Sun’s rage and his coincide and a bloodbath ensues. As he is trapped in a highway chase, he asks help from Will. Wolfgang gets Felix out of the hospital and relocates him somewhere safe before going on a suicide mission to kill his uncle. Kala tries to stop him, and they kiss, but he just won’t listen.

Sense8: Episode 10

10. What Is Human?

Sun signs the paperwork that could serve as her get-out-of-jail pass. Kala visits Capheus and they talk about courage in life. Wolfgang’s cousin comes over to threaten Felix’s life, unless he gets “his” diamonds back. Wolfgang returns them and almost gets killed, but Lito comes to the rescue with his acting skills, buying him time to grab his rocket launcher. Lito comes to terms with his sexuality and makes the first move to win Hernando back by thanking the bartender who flirted with him before with a kiss and by rescuing Daniela from her psychotic fiancé. Jonas explains more of the sensate situation to Will, on how they don’t belong to the Homo Sapiens species. He visits Riley before they bond with their respective fathers. Sun and Capheus visit him and together they watch the fireworks in Chicago for the fourth of July celebration. Later on, they all join Riley in Reykjavik to watch her dad’s piano concert, all of them getting a flashback of August 8, the day they were all born. Overwhelmed with emotions and visions, Riley faints.

Sense8: Episode 9

9. Death Doesn't Let You Say Goodbye

In Iceland, Riley meets an older sensate outside of their cluster who works for the enemy but is saving all the sensates she can before they are hunted down. Will dreams about Whispers before Jonas and Riley visit him, separately. When the other sensate with her finds out about Jonas, she warns her that HE is the enemy. Wolfgang gets a veiled threat from his uncle. Kala is interrogated by the police regarding her future father-in-law’s attempted murder, and Rajan reassures her that it’s not her fault. Sun’s father drops by to see her in jail for the first time and confesses his guilt to her, telling her that he will reveal the truth. Capheus visits Riley at her husband’s grave in Reykjavik. He shares the story about how he and his mother had to give up his baby sister at an orphanage because they had no choice. Nomi visits Lito and they talk about their respective heartaches at the Diego Rivera museum, where he and Hernando first met. He later attempts to take his own life, while Neets finds Nomi back at their apartment.

Sense8: Episode 8

8. We Will All Be Judged by the Courage of Our Hearts

Daniela agrees to marry her fiancé again so he’d leave the two alone, causing Hernando to break up with Lito. Kala visits Wolfgang at a Berlin hospital where Max is confined. Her future father-in-law tells her he knows she doesn’t want to marry his son and that it’s fine, before he gets repeatedly stabbed in front of her. Scared, Capheus decides to just drive his matatu again after witnessing his boss chop off the hands of a person who betrayed him. Thugs later threaten his mother’s life in exchange for his boss’ daughter. Sun gains both friends and enemies in prison, and puts her kickboxing skills to good use. Will gets ready for work when Riley visits him. She gives him a tour of her Reykjavik home. He does the same, and invites her to come to America. They kiss. He visits Nomi and they finally share their intel leading them to a company called BPO. Whispers arrives at Neet’s house and Nomi gets cornered in an alley. Sun fights off her two assailants, while Capheus helps her escape by driving a stolen car. Will is suspended from his job.

Sense8: Episode 7

7. WWN Double-D

Daniela repays Lito and Alejandro’s kindness by bringing them to a popular restaurant for a date, suggesting that the latter pretend to be their bodyguard. The fun ends when they find her ex-fiancé back at their place and he harasses them. Riley goes back to Reykjavik still believing that she is hexed, but Capheus joins her in the plane ride and reassures her that she’s lucky. Sun is welcomed by tough women in prison who are there for crimes like murder. Kala consults Ganesha about her wedding and Wolfgang’s frequent appearances, when she suddenly finds him right there. They share their views about gods and religion. Back in Berlin, Max winds up dead after their partners in crime betray them. Will brokers a deal with the street thugs he’s patrolling in exchange for intel regarding the night of Angelica’s suicide. Nomi reconnects with her criminal hacker past to even the playing field against their enemies. When they break into Metzger’s place, he catches them, before being ambushed by Whispers. The doctor ends up dead.

Sense8: Episode 6

6. Demons

Riley’s past catches up with her as she finds her drug lord friend in her flat, asking for his money and merchandise back, by force. As they suffocate her with a plastic bag, Will is also asphyxiated. He helps her break free from her ordeal. Sun takes the fall for her family and surrenders to the police. She goes to jail. Riley visits her and they talk about their respective dilemmas over hash. Kala wakes up the next day with her entire family watching her. When they leave the room, she sees a shirtless Wolfgang on her bed and blames him for what happened at the banquet. He tells her that he wanted her since the first time he saw her, and he thinks the feeling is mutual. Capheus quits driving his matatu in exchange for being his benefactor’s daughter’s driver/bodyguard. Nomi and Neets relocate to the latter’s house to hide. As their morning make-out session coincides with that of Lito and Hernando, as well as Wolfgang’s pool session and Will’s workout time, they experience a sensual connection like they have never before.

Sense8: Episode 5

5. Art Is Like Religion

Nomi contemplates on her hallucinations. Neets says the doctor might be hiding something and they must find out what it is. Capheus’ package is intercepted by goons, but he tracks them down and gets it back, securing his mother’s HIV meds as a prize. He visits Riley in London and Sun in Seoul, where they talk about their respective mothers. Lito experiences the pain of Sun’s menstrual period, affecting his work. His film action sequence coincides with Will’s actual police pursuit, where they inadvertently share each other’s actual reality. Will talks to Nomi’s mother, getting intel as a police officer regarding her whereabouts. Wolfgang’s uncle suspects he’s the one who stole the diamonds that should’ve been for them, but he feigns ignorance. Kala marries Rajan but as she is performing her part of the ritual, a fully naked Wolfgang fresh out of a swim in a Berlin pool appears right in front of her. He asks her what she’s doing, telling her that she doesn’t really love him, before they both lose consciousness.

Sense8: Episode 4

4. What's Going On?

An old man buys the diamonds Wolfgang and Felix (Max Mauff) have stolen, and they party hard with the sudden windfall. The wedding preparations of Kala and Rajan are now in full swing. Sun applies make-up on her facial bruises before meeting her father and revealing her brother’s embezzlement transactions. He begs her to take the fall to avoid a family scandal. Capheus’ newfound fame means he now has more passengers. He later meets a wealthy gangster who offers him HIV meds for his mom, in exchange for being a drug courier. Lito tells Daniela how her fiancé invited him to lunch and pointed a knife to his throat, but she’s busy flirting with Hernando over breakfast. Riley receives a call from her dad. Will uses his personal connections to talk to Jonas, but fails. He appears anyway and teaches him the difference between sharing and visiting. Nomi is being prepped for surgery once more. Using his sharing skills, Will wakes up on Nomi’s OR bed, removing her IV, leading to her successful escape with Neets.

Sense8: Episode 3

3. Smart Money Is on the Skinny Bitch

Will wakes up in a hospital after his car crashes with Jonas’, who gets caught by Homeland Security in the process. Nomi is still trapped at the hospital, drugged on a regular basis. Neets, disguised as a nurse, starts a fire and rescues her just before she’s about to get lobotomized. Riley gets rid of all her cash and stash of drugs at a subway station. Lito tries to get rid of Daniela, but she insists on staying, saying that she’s about to be wed off to someone she’s avoiding. In effect, they are now both using each other, with benefits. Sun deflects her family frustrations with a double life, spending her nights as a prized fighter in Seoul’s underground kickboxing scene. Capheus makes ends meet finding a cure for his mother’s HIV, but is sabotaged by the cruelty of Narobi’s street gangs. Armed with Sun’s martial arts and Will’s marksman skills, he pursues his assailants and shows them who’s boss. In Mumbai, Kala and Rajan send sweet messages while attending a corporate meeting on fake drugs being dispensed in the third world.

Sense8: Episode 2

2. I Am Also a We

Riley is on the run from the scene of the bloodbath of a pot session she got involved in. Capheus wakes up on his matatu’s roof, then sees himself in a pride parade in San Francisco. Lito uses his co-star, Daniela (Erendira Ibarra), as a smokescreen to hide his sexual orientation. When she tries to seduce him and instead finds his boyfriend, Hernando (Alfonso Herrera), on his bed, she gets even more excited. Rajan (Purab Kohli) and Kala enjoy their engagement party in Mumbai, when she suddenly feels a carnal kind of heat. In Berlin, Wolfgang is having an intimate time with a girl, and then craves for Indian food afterwards. Nomi falls off a motorbike and is rushed to the hospital, diagnosed with a brain tumor of sorts, and is locked up there. Her girlfriend, Neets (Freema Agyeman), promises to break her out. Will risks being up for psych evaluation, not giving up on his visions about Angelica. Jonas appears to both Nomi and Will, telling her to run, and revealing to him that he is a sensate, and that she needs his help.

Sense8: Episode 1

1. Limbic Resonance

Alone in an abandoned building, Angelica (Daryl Hannah) squirms in pain. Jonas (Naveen Andrews) appears out of nowhere and persuades her to help “them”. She tells him she’s too weak, but finally initiates their psychic connection. “Whispers” (Terrence Mann) is suddenly by her side too, mocking her. She puts a gun into her mouth. As he arrives at the scene, she pulls the trigger. Will (Brian J. Smith) is a police officer in Chicago. Riley (Tuppence Middleton) is an Icelandic DJ in London. Lito (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) is a Basque actor in Mexico City. Transgender Nomi (Jamie Clayton) is a political activist in San Francisco. Capheus (Aml Ameen) is a matatu driver in Nairobi. Sun (Doona Bae) is the CFO of her family’s company in Seoul. Kala (Tina Desai) is about to marry a man she doesn’t love in Mumbai. Wolfgang (Max Riemelt) is a locksmith who cracks safes in Berlin. As they go on with their daily lives, they unwittingly start sharing one another’s senses, united by a common recurring vision of a woman shooting herself to death.

Game of Thrones (HBO): Season 5/Episode 10

5.10 Mother's Mercy

With what army he has left, Stannis attacks Winterfell and is easily routed by the Boltons. Brienne finds him heavily wounded and exacts her revenge for Renly’s murder. Sansa plots her escape but is foiled by Myranda, whom Theon pushes off the wall to her death, before helping her escape. Arya crosses out the first person on her list, but is reprimanded for ending a life she’s not meant to take. As a consequence, she goes blind. Myrcella sails back to King’s Landing with Jaime and tells him she always knew that he’s her father, before her nose bleeds and she dies in his arms due Ellaria’s poisonous kiss. In Meereen, Varys reunites with Tyrion who is tasked to lead the city while Daario and Jorah look for Daenerys, whom Drogon leaves at a field surrounded by a Dothraki horde. Cersei confesses and is punished with a nude walk of shame back to the Red Keep. Sam and Gilly goes away to the citadel so he can become a Maester. Ser Davos reasons with Jon Snow to send reinforcements, right before Melisandre arrives on horseback bearing the news of Stannis’ defeat. Jon Snow is tricked using info about his Uncle Benjen as bait, and is led to a cross which says “Traitor”. His brothers stab him one by one, with Olly dealing the final blow.

[QUEZON] Budget and Itinerary (2)

SATURDAY: June 13, 2015

JAC Liner (Buendia - Lucena) - 209.50

Bus (Lucena - Mauban) - 52.00

Supplies 1200/6 (7 Eleven/Market) - 200.00

Boat 1500/4 (Mauban - Cagbalete) - 375.00

Island Hopping 1200/6 (Cagbalete) - 200.00
Nipa Hut w/Fan 1200/4 (MVT Resort) - 300.00

Bonfire 120/6 (MVT Resort) - 20.00
PhP1,356.50

[MAUBAN] Cagbalete Weekend Getaway

It was a toss-up between Calaguas and Cagbalete, and if there is something you should know, it’s that Calaguas never happens in this universe of mine. It’s always a plan and stays that way. Cagbalete won because it was more accessible and relatively closer coming from Manila. It did not really matter that much to me because I haven’t been to either destination. I just initially thought that Cagbalete was in Aurora. It turns out to be located in Quezon. Okay, let’s mark Aurora red in our map some time later!

Jurassic World

♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣

Zach (Nick Robinson) and his brother Gray (Ty Simpkins) go on a one-week vacation in Costa Rica to visit their Aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), who acts as the operations manager of a dinosaur theme park. Relying on advanced DNA technology, the park owners and their team of scientists have been able to revive many of the once extinct species. Dinosaurs are no longer bred, but rather “designed” based on the whims of corporate investors who see the whole process as one big profitable venture. Their quest for a more vicious and controversial hybrid leads them to their latest masterpiece: the Indominus Rex. What happens, then, when a park with more than 20,000 tourists falls prey to an untamed monster with advanced genetic capabilities out on a hunting spree? It is up to Velociraptor trainer Owen (Chris Pratt) to save the day, and his girlfriend. If they could outwit a giant reptile that can camouflage and hide its thermal signature, that is.

Game of Thrones (HBO): Season 5/Episode 9

5.9 The Dance of Dragons

A group of 20 men is sent to sabotage Stannis’ army, destroying their food supply and killing their horses in the night. Desperate, he succumbs to Melisandre’s divine plan of offering Shireen to the Lord of Light. Jon Snow and the Wildling survivors make it back to Castle Black, but not everyone is glad to see them. Jaime comes face to face with Doran, who pardons him and agrees to send back Myrcella with him, in the condition that Trystane join them and take Oberyn’s place at the Small Council. Ellaria is pardoned as well and she swears her allegiance to her king. Arya sets her sights on one of the names on her kill-list, one of the guards accompanying Lord Tyrell in Braavos. Daenerys attends the reopening of the fighting pits and witnesses Ser Jorah fight to the death for her name. He succeeds, and hurls a spear towards the stage, uncovering a Sons of the Harpy rebellion that quickly escalates into a massacre. As they are hopelessly cornered at the middle of the arena, Drogon descends from the sky and whisks his mother away to safety.

Game of Thrones (HBO): Season 5/Episode 8

5.8 Hardhome

Tyrion and Daenerys square off verbally, but he easily wins her over with his wit and counsels her against killing Ser Jorah. She accepts her as her advisor. Ser Jorah goes back to his slave master so he can fight for Daenerys at the pits. Cersei is tortured in her cell being prodded to confess. She alternates between begging and threatening her oppressor, but neither seems to work. She has been charged with treason, incest, and fornication. Arya carries on with her training, assuming a different identity to completely lose her own. Sansa confronts Theon about his betrayal. He admits to Sansa that Bran and Rickon are still alive. Ramsay suggests a preemptive attack against Stannis, but Roose does not agree. Jon Snow and Tormund reaches Hardhome. As expected, they don’t get the welcome they never thought of getting. The Wildlings are divided. Only around half of them agree to get on the boats, until an army of White Walkers descends and attacks all of them. Jon Snow stays behind and gets firsthand battle experience with a White Walker.

Spy

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Despite her many years of service rendered for the CIA, Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) has always been confined behind the desk, playing support to super spy Bradley Fine (Jude Law) who also serves as her love interest. Although their relationship never progresses to anything beyond professional, she is forced to step up as a first-timer in the field after a botched operation involving Bulgarian arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne). Big boss Elaine Crocker (Allison Janney) is skeptical at first, but is left with no choice given how most of her seasoned agents’ identities, including that of cocky Rick Ford (Jason Statham), have already been compromised. It is not long before Susan finds herself globetrotting and hunting assassins and weapons dealers alike, dodging bullets and improvising along the way. The question is: can she really go far in a world of double agents who would betray you in the blink of an eye?

[CALIFORNIA] Budget and Itinerary

MONDAY: 18 May 2015

Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong - Los Angeles - Hong Kong) - 4,012.00

HKD4,012.00

Airbnb (5 Nights) - 225.00
LAX FlyAway (LAX - Union Station) - 8.00
Metro (Tap Card) - 1.00
Metro (7-Day Pass) - 25.00
Coffee Bean (Ice Blended Vanilla Large) - 5.44
Wako Tonkatsu (Tonkatsu w/Rice) - 12.00
USD276.44

[SAN FRANCISCO] View from the Top

While most people refer to California as the Golden State, I actually see it more as that state of lost cousins who I only get to see every five to ten years or so. For our last hurrah, another cousin came all the way to Newark to pick us up and tour us downtown, as well as up above. Leaving at just around midday, we were in a rather tight schedule because my plane bound for LA leaves at 8 PM, meaning I would have to be at the airport at around 6 PM. In the end, everything worked out just fine.

[SAN FRANCISCO] Chillaxing by the Bay

For my second to the last day, the clan decided to head to where all the tourists at the Bay Area tend to converge. No, I’m not talking about the Golden Gate Bridge or the Palace of Fine Arts. That’s where people go camwhoring. I am referring to Fisherman's Wharf, for lack of a collective term for that area by the bay where Pier 39 is also located. For many, this area is an essential stop not just because of its proximity to Downtown SF, but also thanks to the very touristy vibe and the myriad of activities available.

[SAN MATEO] Facebook and Food Trucks

Once again, Day Two was reserved for even more shopping. The venue this time was called Great Mall, which is a mall alright but still mostly catering to outlet shop worshippers. I don’t have anything against shopping, but when it comes to clothes I usually struggle to find something that actually fits me. I was quite surprised to find size 26 shorts at American Eagle yesterday. That streak of luck did not continue here, unfortunately. Why the heck do I have to be so emaciated? Oh well, that’s just the story of my life.

[SAN FRANCISCO] Shop Until You Drop

Almost everyone in LA was warning me to be wary of the LGBT community in San Francisco, and I was forever wondering why. Do they bite? Apparently, this side of California is considered to be more liberal than its southern cousin. I really thought that it was the other way around. Anyway, San Francisco does feel more like the United States. I see more white people and the downtown area has a different feel in terms of ambiance and architecture, not to mention a bit foggy and damp in the morning.