gone to the dogs
Manila, 30 July—What a week this has been, hasn't it? Gotta love it when the week starts off with a sound-less power grab at the House of Representatives. And just like that, former President-turned-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo is now Speaker of the House and back in considerable power—I mean, just take a look at the people she's been welcoming at her La Vista residence this past week. Is it indicative of a shift in power from Davao to La Vista? Probably. As the President's PDP-Laban loses both House and Senate leadership, it's going to be an interesting few months ahead in the lead up to the 2019 elections.
Arroyo's return to the political limelight is a thing of interest for me and my cohort, probably: Spent most of my college years picketing her SONAs, then the first half or so of my years in the paper chronicling every scandal and impeachment attempt under her administration. With her in the direct line of succession to the President, who knows what maneuverings she is now in a better position to pull off?
Anyway. Just in case you missed it: I revived my semi-dead Medium to write about her: What I mean when I talk about Gloria Arroyo.
Meanwhile, in Good Things We Did This Weekend:
We met my best friend's dog Lala and she liked me! Yay!!! If you know me, dogs don't really like me that much, so I'm thankful that this girl does. Lala is 4 years old this month, and she's an adorable shih tzu x terrier mix (tama ba Ate?) and we had fun hanging out! :) Thanks Ate Julie for introducing us! Hehehe.
We also met amazing dogs at Wagging Tails Maginhawa, in what was a completely accidental discovery haha. We were at Uno Morato to hand off copies of Mnemonics (which we're selling via their store soon!) and Wagging Tails was right beside it. We ended up spending an afternoon with this energetic bunch. (My favorite is this husky on our laps. His name is CJ and he kept on licking the cold railings and tasting everybody's pee. You do you, CJ.)
Game Rec: Life is Strange on Android
I'm just an episode and a half in, and already I'm so so so damn invested
Award-winning episodic game Life is Strange has been on my radar for years, but it's only now that I've gotten around to playing it, because it is finally available for my basic self, who can't operate anything more complicated than an Android device. LOL.
If you know me, I'm not really one for story-driven games, basically because I don't really understand how they are played, but give me a protagonist like Max Caulfield, who discovers she can rewind time while saving her (hot) best friend Chloe Price, and I'm all in, because I'm gay like that.
The entire premise of the game reminds me of a Jeanette Winterson quote from Oranges are not the Only Fruit:
“I have a theory that every time you make an important choice, the part of you left behind continues the other life you could have had.”
This is true for the important junctures in Life is Strange, and they're what makes the game so, so compelling—in addition to that fantastic soundtrack, of course. In any case, I'm just glad there's a well-written game that focuses on female friendship. I can't wait to play through all five episodes of it.
No spoilers please! Orange is the New Black Season 6
Orange is the New Black Season 6 is now on Netflix!
We're pacing ourselves and trying not to rip through all 13 episodes of the latest season of Orange is the New Black in one sitting, so it's going to be a hell of a week ahead trying to avoid spoilers, I'm sure.
Catch it on Netflix here
Movie rec: Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018)
Yes, Meryl Streep is still in it. Yes, she still made me so weepy.
Say what you want about this cheesy franchise, but man this one was such a delight. I mean, granted that there is no repeat of what Meryl Streep did for the first installment, but lord, what more do we expect from Meryl Streep, really? Lily James as a younger Donna plus the younger versions of Christine Baranski and Julie Walters really shine in this, and their comedic timing is crisp and bright, and my god Colin Firth is so brilliant in this as well. He's such a joy, I wish he and Christine Baranski could do comedy together. Also, I wish Pierce Brosnan sang less and danced more (lol) but that final performance of Super Trouper was everything I dreamed of, and more.
Bookmark recs
What it is to love an old dog (Lithub) (tears warning!!!!)
When a stranger decides to destroy your life (via Gizmodo)
The new Buffy won't be a reboot: 'It's time to meet a new slayer' (via Gizmodo)
The Sun has a twin (via Medium)
Consume anything interesting over the weekend? Comment to rec! :)