"'Til you put me down"

"You call me up again just to break me like a promise. So casually cruel in the name of being honest."

The Five Runners Up :)

"Safe and Sound" - I sang it a lot in my mind after Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. Tear-stained, babe.

"Long Live" - Spell victory with this song. It just reminds me of that time when we were champions during the Sportfest.

"22" - The lady jam. I have self-proclaimed after all that I am forever 22.

"All You Had To Do Was Stay" - Can you listen to "I Know Places" and not put this on next?

"Wildest Dreams" - Dark and sexy.

***

November please come soon, we are soooooo excited for "Reputation".

XO,

Carissa

So, it's a YA series set in the near future, precisely after the Third World War, in a country called Illea which occupies present day North America and some parts of South America. The ruling class is the monarchy (the Schreave family); the society has a caste system (One to Eight; One being the highest). The story revolves around the Selection process of finding a suitable spouse for the heir to the throne which is done through (gasp!) picking one representative from each province (that makes 35 candidates), inviting them to the palace, and the Prince decides who stays up to the very end. Very Big Brother-ish ha!

The first three books talks about how Prince Maxon Schreave found his perfect match in America Singer, a Five. At the end of the third book, they vowed that when the time comes, they will never subject their own child to such Selection again.

Well, who would have seen this coming. In time, Maxon and America became the rulers of Illea. They successfully eliminated the castes but trouble was brewing everywhere that King Maxon thought a distraction would come handy while we was trying to figure a way to fix things. He thought that having a new Selection to find a spouse for Princess Eadlyn was the perfect way to distract the people of Illea.

I remember how headstrong and stubborn Queen America was when she entered the Selection twenty years ago. She didn't want to enter in the first place and she was sort of dragged by her own mother to put her name in. I totes understood where Princess Eadlyn's bullheadedness was coming from because she didn't want to be married off to some stranger. She wasn't even thinking about marrying yet. As the thirty five eligible bachelors pour into her home, she was thinking of ways of how to get rid of each one of them.

*Insert bleary-eyed teenager mode again here*

Because that's how love comes, ayt? When you least expect it. Maybe even when you don't want it. Gah! What a cliche. With some very wise words from her Daddy, she decided in the end to stand up for her love and everyone gets a happy ending. And why not.

XO,

Carissa

PS. Here's the hierarchy of the caste system in Illea.

Anyone who loves books about royalty and historical fiction will have heard about Philippa Gregory. She has penned several books on that theme; The Other Boleyn Girl is among them. My personal favorites are The Lady Of The Rivers, The White Queen and The White Princess; the last two have been adapted as TV series.

This recent read of mine, The Constant Princess had been sitting on my reading list for a while. I couldn't even figure out who the story was about based on the title. When I found out that it was about Katherine of Aragon, I sort of felt lazy to read on. I felt that her life won't be an interesting topic. The mere mention of her name conjures thoughts of a frumpy queen who was dumped by the dashing Henry VIII because she couldn't give him a longed-for heir. When I finished rereading The Other Boleyn Girl, I remembered that I also had The Constant Princess so I decided to read it too while I was still high on the Tudor drug.

Portrait of Katherine of Aragon by Michael Sittow, c 1502. Photo Credit: englishhistory.net

The Alhambra Palace: Photo Credit : traveldigg.com

Interior Dome in The Alhambra Palace. Photo Credit: traveldigg.com

👑The Constant Princess👑

It's an apt title because she really is constantly the tough one despite all the trials and hardships that she went through. For starters, being a kid raised in a military camp is already tough; she saw and experienced many things that a child ought not to see. As a teenager she served as her parents' pawn to fulfill an alliance with England and married not out of love but of obligation. She eventually found love in her husband but he too was taken away from her. After Arthur's death, her future became uncertain. She waited about seven years more, before she was married to Henry VIII, only after the death of his father. During those 7 years, she was  basically neglected by the royal court and was forced to live in destitution. But Catalina was headstrong and she believed that Harry would choose to marry her in the end. Her persistence paid off and eventually she fulfilled her and Arthur's dream and she became Queen of England. On their first night as husband and wife, she convinced Henry that she was still a virgin.

Even as she was Queen, she still received opposition from Henry's grandmother, Margaret Beaufort. until her death. Henry was an ambitious king and he wanted to reclaim lands in France and so he went into war. Meanwhile, England's neighbor Scotland had been a troublesome lot and they kept raiding the borders. So while Henry was campaigning in France, Katherine served as Regent and was busy defending the kingdom against Scotland. I daresay her parents would've been proud of her victory.

Henry and Katherine's marriage was fraught with miscarriages, stillbirth and infant death. More than two decades after their marriage, Henry was doubting that God was punishing him for marrying his brother's wife. He has also been having mistresses but Katherine chose to look the other way and never complained. When Anne Boleyn, a lady-in-waiting came into the picture, she recognized that there could be trouble because it was clear that Anne didn't just want Henry but was also after her crown.

On the epilogue of The Constant Princess, Katherine says these words as she recognizes the gravity of the words she told Henry more than twenty years ago when she had to convince him that she was a virgin untouched on the first night of their marriage. The same words have been used by the The King and Anne Boleyn's camp to discredit her; to further prove that God does not approve of their marriage that is why they have never been blessed with a male heir. The same reason was also used as grounds for divorce.

We know from history that Katherine was treated badly after the "divorce". Much like her life after Arthur's death, she was sent away to a faraway castle way from the court. She was not allowed to see her daughter, the Princess Mary and was barely able to communicate with her. She died alone and I wished she had a far better life at the end. But if I were to believe what's written in the book and bank on the story that Arthur was indeed her one and only true love, then I'd be happy to think that they fulfilled their promise of meeting again in "Al-Yanna": the word that means garden, secret place, and paradise.

I deeply revere the memory of Queen Katherine.

XO,

Carissa

***
Synopsis

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

It is a heartwarming film; very relatable for someone like me who has my own family and has a little girl for a kid. I've run through several reviews at IMDB and I must say that this movie has gained mixed opinions. I will disregard the goofs and the loopholes and go straight to the moral lessons for me, as a parent.

To Be More Patient

That kid in the movie, Riley, isn't my daughter. But somehow, I was able to look at a different perspective about how a kid's mind works. Four years of being a mother and I know I'm not yet  a pro at it. This movie made me realize that I have a long way to go. Kids, they feel sad, they doubt themselves a lot, along with other emotions and it is important to listen, to look at the signs of what could be troubling them, and through it all, just be there for them.

Keep An Open Line of Communication

There will come a time when they changes occur around them and they will be too shy or too guarded to express themselves. I would like to avoid that in the future as a mother so I make sure that as she ages I will let her know that I am here to listen. Being open would be a great way to help my kid and let her know that I will always be there for her.

I've acknowledged this fact a long time ago. When I am sad there's no point in trying to cheer myself up. But instead of wallowing, I use the sadness as an inspiration to try and be more creative.

In this movie, even if Riley was already aware that there was to much change going on around her, she was trying to hold herself together and trying to be cheerful until she couldn't hang on anymore and she was almost self-destructive. Sadness made her miss her family and in the end, she ran back to them and confessed how much she needed them. See, a normal person needs to have balance of all emotions. She be sad if she is sad. For a kid, it's important that she gets the help that she needs before it's too late.

Anger

****
SPOILER ALERT!!!!

"In certain incarnations, we divide into two. Our souls divide as do crystals and stars, cells and plants...and those new souls are in turn transformed into two and so, within a few generations, we are scattered over a large part of the Earth... 

If we merely keep dividing it would keep growing, but it would also become gradually weaker. That is why, as well as dividing into two, we also find ourselves... that process of finding ourselves is called Love. "

Photo credit to skyhdwallpapers.com//post-processed by itsnotpoison.blogspot.com

I don’t know if you’ve heard of her because she isn’t a character who gets discussed so much on a mainstream level. I got curious about her when I watched the TV adaptation of  The White Queen, another book by Philippa Gregory. I asked myself if what kind of woman would have the guts to go toe to toe with King Edward IV’s mother, Duchess Cecily of York when she is just a mere wife of a baron. Further readings about her life gave me all the answers. So many kings and queens are descended from her so I think she's a rock star! 

I have never felt happier seeing a plane land safely. Up until the eve of January 17, I have been wondering if Pope Francis would push through with his schedule here in Leyte. What if the authorities won't allow him to board the plane because of the typhoon? But seeing him wave happily and tirelessly to the waiting crowd despite the downpour and the howling wind, I knew that he wanted to be here. He was clearly overjoyed that thousands of people welcomed him despite the bad weather.

Yellow hope. Pope Francis wears the same raincoat as the ones worn by the Taclobanons. This image is property of www.inquirer.net. No copyright infringement intended.

Hurrah people of Leyte! The Holy Father has landed safely. This sight on TV made me exhale loudly. And bravo pilot! This image is property of www.gmanetworks.com. No copyright infringement intended.

Hearing him in his homily during his mass in DZR Airport increased my admiration for him a thousandfold. This is the Holy Father, speaking with all humility and speaking from the heart. And I cannot help but be on the verge of tears because I knew in my heart that he was sincere in his actions. He has been with us in his prayers. Seeing the somber crowd from the TV screen, I knew that we who have come toe to toe with Yolanda feel the same way.

Yolanda was fourteen months ago but the memories and the lessons it has taught us will remain forever. Some people may say that we Waraynons are still wallowing in it and that we can't get over it. Dear friends, it's not about being melancholic. It's about the fact Yolanda has left us irreversibly altered for the rest of our lives, especially those who have lost their family members.We remember but we move forward.

We move forward with the knowledge that Jesus is here for us. As imparted by the Holy Father himself in his homily, Jesus is capable of understanding our pain because He himself has gone through suffering on the cross. We are never alone. He never lets us down.

No copyright infringement intended. Image is property of GMA Networks

I remember when Yolanda was ravaging us, I cried, Lord and Mama Mary, please make it stop. But if this is the end of us, know that we lived in faith until the end. We felt so alone then, me and my family stuck in our kitchen. When the winds stopped, we moved to another undamaged part of our house because we knew that the winds will be back again coming from the opposite direction. Lo and behold, there were people outside our gates and soon enough when Yolanda came back pounding there were about four dozen people in our garage. There were babies and toddlers, pigs and clothes. Suddenly I didn't feel so alone. With renewed strength I knew that we could weather the storm together. These were neighbors and strangers alike and I thanked God for sending them in safely. This memory came vividly into my mind when the Holy Father said in his homily that we are like brothers and sisters because we help each other.

When he faced the crowd in Tacloban, he acknowledged with all humility that he doesn't have the words to express himself but he reminded us that Jesus is here for us. Mama Mary is also here for us. And he reminded us too that we all have each other as brothers and sisters. Suddenly I felt warm despite the cold weather. I would have said that it gave me chills if it were possible but nah, let's stick to warm. :)

Brothers and sisters we are all. Image is property of  Rappler. No copyright infringement intended

Yolanda brought him here but it is sad that another storm, Amang, made him leave early. The Holy Father had to go back to Manila four hours earlier than his scheduled departure. I bet many were saddened but I know that the Waraynons would understand that his safety and security is important. His short but sweet speech at the Palo Cathedral even made me smile. He asked for two things: Pray for him and Be quiet. And then the talk about leaving things in the hands of the Mother.

Photo Credit

He leaves the Philippines today, January 19. Many are still euphoric about his visit and suddenly we all want to be good, to do good. He has left us all with so much wisdom. I hope that our desire to follow his teachings transcends the euphoria and even if a month, a year, or a decade has passed, we would still remember him and keep his words in our hearts.

Xo,

"Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is:

What if my leaves are falling like its own?"

Those lines may sound all too familiar. You may read the entire poem here. It's Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'Ode to the West Wind'. Those verses, along with a few others are my most favorite from that poem. A powerful line as I prefer to call it.

I will tell you how this poem makes me feel, but I hope you won't call me delusional. Or over-imaginative even.

Reading the 'Ode' makes me feel like I'm standing on the edge of a high cliff. With eyes closed I can feel the West Wind blowing, making dead leaves swirl all around me. The soft white cloth of my dress billows at its strength, my hair blown in organized disarray. And with all my hearts desire I wish I were the dead leaf, the wave or the cloud borne and blown by this untamed wind.

But I am not. I open my eyes instead and with all the strength I could muster, scream unto the invisible, everything that I keep and hold back inside me, to be spirited away to who knows where.

"Make me thy lyre..." Indeed, am I trying to flirt with you that you may play me with your gentleness?

"Even as the forest is: What if my leaves are falling like its own?..." 

Now why does this part make me sad? As  if lamenting old-age while I'm still at the prime of my youth. Do I also have that dilemma?

I will give this a fitting close, with the final lines of the said Ode. Whatever you make of these lines, just reading them gives me goosebumps.

"The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"

So I'm reading a book : One Day by David Nicholls.

Boom! It's probably old news for bookworms such as you because it's not even a new book. Well, I just got hold of a copy alright, alright?! And it's already been turned into a movie (starred by Anne Hathaway) so you probably already know the plot. However, nothing beats the details of the good ol' book so...I'm not even halfway through and it's looking beautiful. The book I mean and how it's written with such wit and smarts. So I've decided to take down notes about my most favorite lines. There'll be many, this being one.