i remember
Manila, 27 January—And just like that, we’re down to our last January weekend! Surprisingly, this did not feel as long and drawn out as last year’s January—for some reason, people got busy earlier. I myself hit the ground running at the start of the year—chalked it up to my mid-January Sinulog coverage, my first major event for 2019. With Señor Sto. Niño’s blessings, I hope this year would be a great one.
So this week was spent mostly going through post-Sinulog deliverables at work, but on the home front, I was pleasantly surprised to find that C actually got me a Kindle as a belated holiday/anniversary gift. <3 This comes in a very timely manner, as I am trying to get back into reading (things in addition to very well-written derivative fiction haha) and so far I have been alternating among:
Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House (creepy and I find myself stopping every now and then)
Paul Kalanithi’s memoir When Breath Becomes Air (too good to be speed-read, so savoring)
James Clear’s Atomic Habits (looks super useful, reading this with a paper and pen on the side for notes).
What’s on your reading queue in the next few months? Seeking recs!
Speaking of recs: A couple of weeks ago, we noted with much sadness that Visprint, a publishing house most notable for taking chances with new writers, is closing down.
In the news reports, they are highlighted as the publisher of Bob Ong’s books and Manix Abrera’s works, but I know Visprint mostly as my friend Eliza Victoria’s publisher. So if, like me, you’re completing your Eliza bookshelf, I hope you can still order while there are still copies of her works.
P.S. I heard Visprint will be in Komiket on Feb. 16-17 (PLUS: We’ll be there, too! So kitakits? :) May bitbit din ata akong Mnemonics malamang, para sa mga naghahanap pa.)
Meanwhile: 2019 na pero hay this country:
The House Justice panel has moved to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to 9 years old. Shit hit the fan, of course, so they’re now ““improving”” this proposal to 12 years old—which was what the Senate has been proposing all along. Alam mo yung tatawad ka ng 50% of price para makuha mo yung 25% off, which was the target all along? Yep.
Senators, during a hearing on Thursday into the third telco, raised questions on the validity of the franchise held by Mislatel. Sen. Drilon argued that because Mislatel has not operated at all since the grant of its license in 1998—roughly two decades ago—their franchise is deemed revoked. Mislatel president Nicanor Escalante cited the peace and order situation in their target area Parang, Maguindanao as the primary roadblock, though Drilon countered that Mislatel was granted a nationwide franchise. DICT’s statement: They’re leaving it up to Congress. (Also: If that’s a 25-year franchise, it is expiring in 2023—under the next administration. Shaky grounds for multi-billion investments for debt-ridden businessman Dennis Uy, whose closeness to the president has been cited as among the reasons this group got the nod in the first place.)
Election period has begun for the upcoming May 2019 midterm elections. It looks like it’s about to get as dirty as ever. I think blatant violations of the campaign period regulations should be grounds for disqualification. Sigh. How’s your Senate list coming along? Here’s the latest list from Comelec, although it still includes 13 names that could be stricken off.
Speaking of violations: There are billboards and biopics that I think are clear violations of campaign laws, how are these things even real?
ANYWAY. Additional media recs:
Russian Doll on Netflix is like Groundhog Day but with Natasha Lyonne and more dying. It looks hilarious and we can’t wait.
Betty Who’s I Remember video is so confusing and lovely, I love it. I hope she comes to Manila for a concert!
Here, have a compilation of short clips of Australian Shepherds wiggling their butts. You’re welcome.
xo,
K.