5 Reasons Why I Blog

5     R E A S O N S  W H Y  I   B L O G

I’ve embraced many different hobbies over the course of my life like drawing anime characters, making comic strips, video games, painting, writing a book,  just to name a few.  I was basically lazy and blogging is something I had wanted to do for the longest time, but had absolutely nothing interesting or worth writing about. 

Two years ago, I started blogging using tumblr and back then I didn't really know why I'm doing it. All I could really think of is that blogging in tumblr is the new trend and I want to be a part of it. The blogs that I've made two years ago was immature and I didn't even worry about blog titles and contents! I was so worried about my writing skills and what people might think of what I was sharing and saying. What makes it really hard is that you’re opening and sharing a little bit of yourself and putting it out there for people to read and criticize. I was no English major, but I was trying to write like a professional because I thought I needed to.

I would like to remind everyone that the blog I posted two years ago is no longer available, but here are the 5 reasons why I started blogging:

1. I want to become a better writer

Writing just like every other form of communication that has ever existed improves with practice. I know that blogging will not force an individual to become a better writer, but on day to day basis it will surely help an individual practice their own writing skills and even expand their vocabulary and critical thinking skills.

2. I want to inspire other people

It is a wonderful feeling when someone gets inspired from your own composition and because blogs are free, anyone can have access to it. It does not only change your life, but it also changes the life of your readers. I personally think that blogging is a series of give and take. Your readers will learn from you and at the same time you will also learn from them.

3. I want to meet new people

Without having access to other humans (and thereby culture) you cannot be human and that's why we need social interactions. Just like a coffee shop, a blog is an avenue or a meeting place. It's a place to meet new people, find acquaintances and a community that shares the same likes and interest. I'm a busy person and sometimes I no longer have the time to make social interactions, but by blogging you'll be surprised at how quickly you'll meet people on-line and that is a good thing.

4. I want to become more confident 

In the purest sense, confidence is a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeeds at something in a way that it conveys to others. By blogging you will realize that you’re living your life with a unique view and you live to inspire other people. It really is a great feeling and it builds up self confidence when someone gets inspired from your own postings and admires your work.

5. I want to make some money

This is perhaps one of the most important reasons why I started blogging. I wanted to earn extra money for some of my other expenditures. I don't want to always rely on my parents for everything that I need and sometimes it's always good to pay them back by doing a little work that actually pays you and can support you with your other necessity. Most of the bloggers find blogging as a profitable medium. Whether it is to earn extra money a week or make it as a full time living, there's no denying that blogging actually lets you earn money. But sadly, not everyone who tries to make money by blogging becomes rich. Although it is a nice feeling to have a hobby that actually pays you back, but you don’t need to make money to enjoy blogging. 

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez Review

R a i n b o w  B o y s    b y   A l e x  S a n c h e z

Plot Summary:

The story follows the overlapping lives of three high school seniors, with the chapters alternating between their different points of view. Jason Carrillo, the popular jock, finds himself questioning his sexuality and decides to attend a meeting for gay youth. He does not expect to see his classmates Kyle Meeks and Nelson Glassman at the meeting. Afterwards, Kyle, the mostly-closeted swimmer, decides to help tutor Jason in math. It is revealed that Kyle has had a crush on Jason for the past three years of high school. They bond over their shared feelings towards coming out and their families, which leads them to become more than friends. Nelson, the flamboyant class clown, has conflicting feelings towards Kyle and their relationship. He's very close to his mother who claims to have always known about his homosexuality, but rarely sees his father. After getting into an argument with Kyle, he decides to hook up with an online stranger named Brick. He has sex for the first time, and fears he has contracted HIV since Brick didn't use a condom. He becomes friends with HIV-positive Jeremy, and they begin a relationship.

Review:

The plot is well-paced and very well written by Alex Sanchez. I feel like I'm actually seeing each of the scenes in real life while I was reading it. It gives me a lot of feelings and emotions throughout the story, because I can relate my life to each of the boys’ situation.  It is its uniqueness, sweet, authenticity and honesty that makes the book so appealing. The characters are also very well-developed and the overall plot isn't dull. It's one of those book that I couldn't stop holding and reading in a day. I think Alex Sanchez does an excellent job of balancing his personal life and random thoughts in writing this book. This book also depicts some of the heavily debated societal issues that occur among the LGBT community that still exists until now, even if this book was written in 2001.

I personally think that this book is so powerful in its own way. I really admire how Alex Sanchez made himself one with his literary piece. He just gave this book its own life by providing it with continuous emotions that depicts the reality of most gay relationships. This book changed my whole perception of homosexuality and the LGBT community. It also taught me a lesson that 'Life is technicolored'. One of the important lessons that I've learned from this book is that parental acceptance and continuous support towards gay teens is really important and that parents should be the first people gay teens should lean on, because even if the acceptance of gay, lesbian and bisexual teens continues to grow in today's society — albeit gradually — study after study consistently shows that many of these adolescents still experience considerable rejection from the very source they crave acceptance most: their families.

Diary ng Panget Movie Review

  D I A R Y    N G    P A N G E T     T H E     M O V I E

  I have already read this story on Wattpad before its film adaptation.  I never like reading Tagalog stories for some reasons, but this is definitely one of those stories that I liked to read again and again. This story has its own colloquial humor and series of twists and surprises that makes reader crave for more.

Every time I watch this trailer I still get the "kilig" feeling. Nadine Lustre as 'Aya' and James Reid as 'Cross'  look cute together. However, their acting needs a lot of improvement, but both Nadine and James are so charming. I loved Nadine's qwerkiness in the movie and James did an effortless job in playing the bad boy role.

I personally think that the book is great, but to be honest the movie is quite disappointing. It seems like the movie was rushed, a lot of scenes which I was expecting to see in the movie were cut and changed as well. I think this is one of those reasons why it’s a big 'NO' to watch something you've read, but that's just my opinion.

 The actors were great but the execution was abysmal and dull. There's just little connection and no build up among the characters. The conflict presented in the movie was easy to resolve and the cause of the problems were very shallow. However I kind of understand why it turned into this. It's pretty obvious that the target market was the readers itself and I think most of the readers have little expectations towards the movie.   

I think the moral value presented in the movie is 'Even if you're alone and you feel like no one will ever like you, don't lose hope, because there's always someone waiting out there for you.'  We also have to accept ourselves no matter what we look like, because the true beauty is in the inside and not our outer appearance. Overall, the movie is tolerable and I still think it's a cute, sweet and innocent movie that is worth watching.

My Top 4 Favorite Gay Themed Movies

1.  eCupid 

 I found this film to be quite dull, predictable and one-dimensional to be honest. The acting was flat and the characters were not particularly likable, but it had a decent plot line that made the acting much better than what we're used to seeing in some of the other gay films of today. It was also a little bit corny and over the top in parts, but that is to be expected with these kinds of movies. I actually enjoyed it, but technology aspect could have been done better. 

2.  Between Love and Goodbye



 

    I had so many different feeling throughout the movie. At first it does seem a little boring and slow, it took me till the second half to really get into it, but by the end I'd fallen in love. There's great music throughout the film which I particularly liked and good actors too. The plotline really kicks up and the surprising twists at the end really moved me and made me cry. Its funny how sometimes family can be the worst enemy in most gay relationships which I hate to generalize but it's true in most cases. Overall, this movie is great, but rather mature.

3.  El Sexo De Los Angeles 

 I really love this movie. This movie brilliantly tackles the complexity of human emotions and what a relationship really is. The story of the movie can be very disturbing to many people; you have to be an open minded person to find this movie nice. It shows what life is really like and normal only is what you consider it to be. It also has the strangest love dynamic that I've ever seen that doesn't give a moral slap on the wrist, but explores love and lust.  Overall, this movie is really unique in its own way and I really enjoyed watching it.

4.  I Don't Want To Go Back Alone

  This movie is one of the cutest gay-themed short films that I've watched in a long time. It is well acted by the young actors and it has so many surprises and twists that makes your heart beat fast at all times. The only downside to this short film is that it could have been a little bit longer and shown how their relationship progressed, but I really enjoyed this movie. Overall, it is a wonderful short film. It's beautiful, innocent and heart-warming.