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 Today's topic: BINGE-WATCHING.

Source from Google Images

So recently, despite being busy and stressed with academic work, I still found some excuse to squeeze in some time to binge-watch American TV series but at the same time, still manage to go out with my family. It's been a while since the last time I binge-watched. Although school only began three weeks ago, I feel like I've been studying for half a term now. That's how bad school work is, or maybe because it's just now that I'm starting to feel the pressure from my major subjects.

BUT this entry isn't about me ranting about school work. I've come to realize how much this superhero franchise has become this big! Not only dominating the box office charts, but also prime time TV. These superhero movies has generated so much buzz and talks around town and creating a big hype even more when production companies announced superhero movie line-ups good for the next five years! 

And while enjoying these movies on-screen, as mentioned, franchise companies has decided that it would be a great idea to penetrate cable TV. Honestly, I'm not a comic die-hard fan so being any other movie-goer, I was satisfied and pleased with just watching my fave heroes in cinemas. When The Arrow, the TV series came out, I thought I felt indifferent towards the show - well, more of "since when did superheroes had their own TV shows?" kind of feeling. I was already contented seeing them on the big screen or watching their animated series (yes, I admit to this one because my family is a big fan of superheroes and the reason why I grew fond of watching them). At first, I was convinced not to watch Arrow or any other live super hero series at that matter because I thought it would be too convoluted and even more, because crossovers are inevitable, but eventually, I ate my words and ended up even binge-watching the first season! But I kinda dropped it half-way because of Laurel Lance AKA Black Canary. I hate her character - it felt like the whole story was revolving around her because Oliver Green was too concerned, though I still managed to be kept updated through my dad (he practically spoiled the whole thing without me even asking). 

Netflix's Daredevil and CW's The Flash, on the other hand, is a whole different story. My friends kept on recommending me to watch The Flash, that it's really good and no doubt I would enjoy binge-watching it, but I kept on making excuses that the series is still ongoing and I would wait for the whole series to be completed. Same goes for Daredevil, though I heard that the build up was too slow and it took him the whole season before he got his suit and established his name. But eventually, I gave in and here I am now, just finished watching Daredevil and The Flash in more or less three weekends and still not over with what happened.

Would you believe me when I say I was rooting for Wilson Fisk - the Kingpin - while watching Daredevil? I loved how Vincent D'Onofrio portrayed his own version of Fisk as a character. I really felt like I understood Fisk's intentions, how his actions justify his purpose of the protecting the city, and even more when Vanessa, his love interest, came into the scene. 

Fisk's character interaction with Vanessa made me more sympathetic towards him and eventually, root for him, but of course, I don't agree with his methods of "having his own way" - the means don't justify the ends. This isn't the first time I'm rooting for the "bad" guy to win. Most of the anime I watch, I tend to like more of the bad characters (I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing but rest assured, I'm not into bad guys in real life HAHAHA). Nevertheless, it is inevitable for Fisk to be defeated by Daredevil but still, it was a good watch. 

Unlike The Arrow and Daredevil, The Flash is lighthearted and enjoyable with not so much convoluted plot twists but the season ender was really a cliff-hanger. You just have to wait for the next season. Definitely, I felt the suspense and his "name" was established early in the first few episodes which I think is a good point. Crossovers with The Arrow wasn't surprising since they introduced Barry Allen's character through the series. Felicity with Atom and Oliver Queen at different occasions, cameo-ed in three or four episodes and inevitably, Dr. Caitlin Snow and Barry Allen in The Arrow.

One point I want to share though is that I'm not fond of the love line between Barry Allen and Iris West. I don't exactly know if they did end up together in the comics but I prefer they date someone else or just not end up with anyone in the series. Now that I think of it, every superhero has to have a leading lady. Well, can't take that away from them, can we?

So to keep me from writing anything else that might spoil you, I'll end it here! I hope this entry can somehow motivate you from watching them (or maybe if you're just as hesitant as me in the beginning, a little push would just do the trick). :)

Amidst today's plans and activities, I was craving for this certain Filipino delicacy that I can't seem to buy just from anywhere. Googling it, I found myself time to try making something new - "Palitaw". Hence, I decided to make an appreciation post it and share to the world how good it is (and what you're missing out if you haven't tried it!).

This is a famous Filipino flat sweet rice cake dessert that's quite easy to do, considering it's no bake as I couldn't resist myself from doing it myself. Notice from the photo above, Palitaw is usually served with coconut gratings and mascuvado (raw sugar), topped with white sugar and sesame seeds.

How to make Palitaw:

The dough that was actually made during the process is the same dough we use in mochi, a Japanese rice cake, and in the black sesame rice ball, a traditional Chinese dessert. See photos below.

Note that the outer filling is the rice dough. You mix it with different food colorings as well.

You can read more about the Chinese rice ball dessert in detail here: 

http://ladyandpups.com/2014/02/21/inside-out-black-sesame-sticky-rice-balls-eng/

Personally, Filipino desserts have this standing-out flavor compared to others. I find it sweet yet bland (I don't understand it myself either), but it makes me crave for it sometimes. Aside from Palitaw, I really recommend trying out puto bumbong, a very distinct purple dessert, usually eaten during Christmas season.  

This Filipino delicacy is cooked in a very unique steamer. It is usually a metal kettle, shaped with protruding tubes on top of the base to hold the "bumbong".

Check out the recipe here : http://www.pinoyhapagkainan.com/puto-bumbong/

These two top my must-try Filipino desserts. And if you took notice, both are best eaten with muscavado (raw sugar). Yes, I love the muscavado taste! It has this different texture and leaves off a different flavor compared to white and brown sugar. Now that I think of it, maybe I crave for Palitaw and Puto Bumbong just so I can have a taste of muscovado, but, nah, the desserts themselves are really good! It's just that the muscovado enhaces the flavor. *wink wink* 

Of course, there's still lots of Filipino good food out there but this ends my first food post. Good day! :)

When thinking of usernames or passwords, we always try to use numbers that have some sort of meaning to use like birthdays and anniversaries. And believe it or not, numbers play a very important role to Chinese culture. Studying the dates when is the best time to get married, when is the appropriate time to have a child, picking which combination/s will bring luck or fortune, even sometimes as simple as cellphone numbers and house numbers is quite common. I don't know if this can be considered as superstitions but as far as I'm concerned, Chinese are very well-involved in this kind of practice.

Source from Google Images

Okay, so starting off with the lucky numbers! Zero (O) or 零 (líng) in Chinese is considered lucky because it is an even number and often associated with money (cha-ching!). Well, how really, I don't know it came to this. Maybe because of the number of zeros in money denominators (10s, 100s, 1000s, and so on). 

The number two (2) or 二 (èr), 两(liang) in Chinese is a lucky number as there is a Chinese saying that goes "good things will come in pairs". It's very common to encounter this symbol 喜which stands for happiness though in Chinese weddings, it's more often written like this 囍 which actually still means and pronounced the same way, but if you notice, it's written as pairs to symbolize the happiness of the marriage.

Source from Google Images

Three (3) or 三 (sān) , on the other hand, is considered lucky as it represents the "three" stages in life - child, adult and elderly or birth, marriage and death (it goes the same way). 

Now, more so often before, the number six (6) always appear in three's in Western horror/scary films that brings misfortune and symbolizes the devil or hell; however, in Chinese culture, it's an extremely lucky number - the more, the better, even - because this number or 六 ( liù ) has the same sound which also means flow or smooth. Chinese think the number six (6) is a great number to represent businesses, with a mindset that fortune would flow in and business would operate smoothly.

The luckiest of the lucky numbers is the number eight (8). This number is greatly valued that there's a mall in Binondo, Manila (considered as the Chinatown of the city) called 888 Meisic Hall. It's so special because eight (8) or  八 (bā) has a very similar pronunciation to 發 (fā) which means to be wealthy. Moreover, if you turn 8 to the side, it becomes an infinity symbol; hence, infinite wealth!

Source from Google Images

Have you ever felt this feeling after finishing a certain TV series or Kdrama (Korean Drama), you're just not yet satisfied - the feeling of "What that's it? What now?!" - that you want more? 

Source from Google Images

I'm sure everyone has experienced this at least once. Well, welcome to the world of fanfiction! Indulging in fan written stories (fanfiction) is a whole new world to get into - the world of which is sometimes, crazy and overwhelming yet a wonderful way to satisfy all the hanging "what ifs".

I remember the first time I was introduced to fanfiction. It was during high school when my friends who were really into anime finished watching Gauken Alice (Alice Academy), a popular must watch to their watch list and they can't stop shipping MikaXNatsume OTP (one true pairing). 

They were so into the show to the point, they aren't even contended with the happy ending. Despite the anime having a manga (comic) version, it was yet to be completed at that time, hence, their desperation, the discovery of fanfiction.net alas! But for the record, this wasn't my first fanfic. Funny enough it was on Boys over Flowers' Yi Jung and Ga Eul, played by Kim Bum and Kim So Eun respectively. 

This is one of those cases where I got to like the supporting characters (couple) better than the protagonists. It felt like they didn't get enough screen time and I was wanting for more. There comes fanfiction to the rescue! (*Note: Because fans really began shipping this couple, the pair bagged a cellphone advertisement together though I kinda think it's fan service. Click this to check it out!)

Fanfiction, sometimes called fanfic or FF for short, picks up where the "reality" of the show leaves off. This encompasses all types of shows - movies, TV series, anime or manga provide actual canon or the official truth or facts on which the work is based on. Canon may be set on a normal life or could be as fantastical as can be, giving the stories more plot twists and making it more complex. But honestly, this is the hardest part - writing the fanfic. I admire those writers who are able to express their imagination in writing, convey and share their ideas to the world. It could be as grounded and as loyal to the original show - "loyal to the canon" - and more so if it isn't the sky's the limit and imagination is the only boundary.

To dwell on this topic more, get started with a  help of a quick cheat-sheet below on what to remember!

AU (Alternate Universe)

It is one of the popular categories of fanfiction wherein the "universe" was changed - meaning characters are brought to a completely different world and/or timeline or transforming them into different species. For example, Benedict Cumberbatch as an 18th century prince or My Girlfriend Is A Nine-Tailed Fox's Gumiho became Justin Bieber's girlfriend.

A/N (author's note)

It's a disclaimer, explanation or preface from the author usually at the begining or end of the written work.

Angst

Genre with a heavy depressing, emotional, hurt-heavy themes as characters experience suffering, depression, break-ups or death.

Beta (beta-read, beta-reader)

It is to edit or comment on someone's work; or one who does the editing or commenting as requested by the work's author.

C&C (comments & criticism)

This pertains to the readers feedback, usually placed at the end of every chapter or section.

Collab (short for collaboration)

Basically, a fanfiction written in installments of different authors (a story written and divided among two or more authors)

Crossover

A genre wherein fanfic interacts or straddles between two different universe (two complete different series/characters/worlds) or fandoms

Drabble

These are short vignettes (more or less around 100 words only) usually written in POVs (most of the time first POV) for the author just to express his thoughts and ideas on the topic.

Fluff

This is a light-hearted genre and feel good themed stories. Stories revolving around sweet nothings and courtings usually.

OC (original character)

A fanficion created with an orginal character created by the author.

OOC (out of character)
Fanfiction characters undergo a complete turn of personality or attitude (behaving differently, non-canon way)

OTP (one true pairing)

This is what you call your ultimate bias or favorite pairing of all time regardless whether canon or not. *In my case, my first OTP would be Yi Jung and Ga Eul from Boys of Flowers*

Ratings

Authors would rate their work according to content or theme of their work, ranging from G to NC-17 (mature) - in fanfiction.net's case, from K to M.

RPF (real person fiction)

Stories about real people and how they are paired up

R&R (read and review/rate and review)

A call for an R&R are usually noted at the A/N either at the beginning or end of their work.

Ship, shipping 

(short for "relationship","relationship-ping")

Author or story's main romantic bias with a fan couple name together (i.e. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Brangelina)

So now you know the 101's of fanfiction, go ahead and try reading one!