it's beginning to feel a lot like
It's only eight days til Christmas! Can you believe it! Which means it's already Simbang Gabi season, if you're into that. If your company is into Christmas in any way, chances are you already have a Christmas tree in your lobby, or Christmas toy sales in your cafeterias, or company-sponsored anticipated Simbang Gabi masses. Truth is, it is almost impossible to not be infected by that unmistakable Christmas spirit—capitalism and traffic notwithstanding, hehe.
But truly, nothing screams Christmas like the mad-rush to complete gift-shopping for loved ones. How many godchildren do you have by now? I have a friend who already has 12, and I was like, Pwede na kayong Jesus and the Disciples! Hehehe.
Anyway, I've braved several toy stores this season, and hands down, my favorite find is this Hangman boxed set—with actual GALLOWS. It's available in Toy Kingdom, FYI.
MOVIE REC: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Mind-blowing combination. Catch it on the big screen!
We were so hyped about this latest Spiderman installment—we've heard friends raving about it being their best movie for 2018, and about how the art was so good, etc. It certainly did not disappoint! We went in with high hopes, and yes, it truly was all that. I enjoyed it—spiders aside, even! I can't say much else because I don't want to spoil anyone, but please, please just go watch it before the choices change in time for this year's MMFF. It's an experience.
Plus: It has a rockin' OST, and it's on Spotify. It's perfect for your workout playlists for 2019. (Naks, workout playlist hahaha)
P.S. Yes, there's a post-credit scene, stay!
P.P.S. Yes, there's also a Stan Lee cameo.
SERIES REC: Supergirl season 3
I am five hundred years late to the Sanvers breakup party and oh my god, now everybody has moved on and I'm here processing feelings. Hahaha. Though to be honest, the breakup came across as... amicable yet unavoidable? Chyler Leigh and Floriana Lima killed in this, though. In the brief time that they were together, I think they were able to bring to the fore a lot of important issues about coming to terms with yourself, and your family, and all that jazz. I felt seen, and I felt thankful. Plus they were getting married! Plus nobody died! This was how they should have let Lexa exit! Oops haha a Clexa stan jumped out wow I don't know where that came from sorry.
Also this week
TIME Magazine has named a group of killed, imprisoned and targeted journalists ("The Guardians") as its 2018 Person of the Year. This includes Filipino journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.
In his note, TIME Magazine editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal said the magazine is honoring Ressa, slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, imprisoned Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and the staff of the Capital Gazette of Annapolis, Maryland, "For taking great risks in pursuit of greater truths."
Congress voted jointly to extend for another year martial law in Mindanao. This means Mindanao will be under martial law during the May 2019 elections. Senators participated in the voting, and the following re-electionists voted yes: Villar, Poe, Pimentel, Ejercito and Angara. That's a no for me in May.
Influencers are promoting JPE on Instagram. I'm marking their posts as spam, and you should, too. Kadiri.
The Balangiga Bells have been returned after 117 years. (A friend suggested singing Balangiga Bells to the tune of "Ring my Bell" by INOJ and my life has never been the same.)
Reading list
The frantic, unprecedented race to save 700,000 NSFW Tumblrs for posterity via FastCompany
Lucia Berlin's Art of Retelling via New Republic
Tell yourself a different story at work for a change via HBR
thank u, next—
Tis the season for Ariana Grandestickers! Limited run only. Stocks available at La Local near DLSU Taft starting tomorrow, Dec. 18. P300/pack, includes 8 stickers and a postcard :) [La Local map]