Hello everyone! Hope you all have been having a great weekend. This week was a heck of settling back into university life. Countdown to a week to think if I am really going to stay through it all. I think at this point, I have already made up my mind... My life is moving forward to so much bigger and better journey. I am excited for what is in store for me.

This week, I am quite guilty for not focusing fully on my work. Spent my time drawing and watching new movies. Hence, here come 3 Pinoy Movies I have watched this week. I don't know how many people actually watch Philippine movies. Most of the story line are pretty cliche. BUT! I have to say none has failed to make me cry. I think its the heartwarming part of the movies, the real and raw parts that hits straight to your feelings. Or MAYBE, I am just becoming more and more of a crybaby ever since I learned to cry. Haha. 

Specially for these reviews, I won't be able to give any star ratings and I would just write what I feel about the movies. I would say they all are about 6.5/10 Stars.

Synopsis: *copied from StarCinema's website*

"Loving In Tandem" follows the story of Shine (Maymay Entrata), a positive and determined girl who will do everything for her family. She meets the balikbayan Luke (Edward Barber) in the most unusual circumstance and later on finds herself experiencing various stages of love – as they get closer.

With a bit of a language barrier getting in the way (or not, really), the two accidentally put themselves in an awkward (but nonetheless, kilig!) situation when Luke announced in their entire barangay that Shine is his “JOWA.”

 Will the language of their hearts triumph over whatever differences Shine and Luke have? How will they change each other’s lives?

Review: In my opinion, first of all, I like how its not the typical super hot/pretty girl in a movie but she just looks normal like most of us. Not to say that she isn't pretty, but you know how some movie stars just have a different vibe? Then everyone just swoons over their beauty and they are like the most famous or most liked female character throughout the movie chased by many. This female lead is just a normal girl that you see in town, helping around, doing normal jobs. 

I have to give credits to the story line. I like how it portrays the hardship in our life. How we work so hard to satisfy and make the people we love happy that often time we overlook ourselves. This movie is not your typical romantic comedy movie but it talks about friendship, love, and family. I love how the whole town would help each other out especially in times of hardship. The whole movie just speaks of HOME. Which in my opinion, many would not grasp the idea what a home is.

 This movie also talks about all the sacrifices we are willing to make for our love ones. Spoiler alert, this young lady sacrificed her self just to save her nephew. It also shows how we always have that one family member who are not responsible. It shows that we should chase for our dreams and how we should never give up. We shouldn't lay around at home, doing useless things, but actually doing something useful.

I think the most important part of this movie is family. We can lose the ones we love so much. At times, guilt creeps up on us when we made the wrong choice and sacrifices. Also wounds that are rooted deep in the heart cannot be healed immediately. For example, Luke hated how his mum left him for his step siblings, for years. No matter how the mother tried to reconcile their relationship, he HATED her. But, again, this movie taught us that, sometimes, things are not what they seem. It was only towards the end that Luke realized the reason of why his mum left him. It wasn't that she didn't love him, but its actually how mother's love cannot be given to only one child. It has to be for all and every kids. His stepbrother was sick, so she had to leave Luke to take care of her other child. This part made me cry so hard. Haha. 

In summary, this movie focused on the meaning of home, love, family. Sacrifices that we make for the ones we love until we forgot the self love. Forget about how we need to make ourselves happy too. 

Synopsis: In the shortest explanation and the first thing I found as I googled the synopsis for this movie is - 2 STRANGERS GOT MARRIED, LEGALLY ON PAPER. To make it more complicated (as how movie goes) the girl has a partner and her partner proposed to her. Even more complicated? The people who were there to witness the marriage died of accident. Hence, harder way out to nullify the marriage.

Review: First things first, THIS MOVIE DO NOT MAKE SENSE. Haha. I have to admit that the plot is kind of crazy. How they got married while they were drunk in a club and they claimed it was love. Secondly, ah this song 'Can't Help Falling in Love' will not fail to remind me of someone. Haih. Back to the movie, despite its nonsensical plot, I like how the movie taught us about what it is like to love someone who supports you and your dreams. The girl's initial boyfriend was great, but you could see how he always has a say in the things he does, he never really considered her opinions, her thoughts, her feelings. This movie also possibly taught me that, 10 years or no matter how many years of relationship doesn't really mean anything. But it is the moment we spent with someone, how we feel, makes the most out of the relationship. I think we all know this, sometimes 10 years of friendship cannot beat that 10 minutes new friendship you have just made and how you just click with someone. I have to say it was a pretty nice rom-com movie. Oh! Another lesson, DO NOT GET DRUNK AND GET MARRIED. PLEASE TAKE CARE.

Synopsis: Copying from IMDB, this movie talks about a young man who's learning to move on from his past love and a girl running away from home to find her purpose in life and mend her mistakes. A fun fact, the lead actor and actress for this movie is same as the movie above. 

Review: This movie I would say runs deep into the heart. It talks about grief, sacrifices, achieving our dreams, trying to fulfill dreams of others, lost of love ones, betrayal.... the list goes on and on. One phrase I would like to quote on this movie said by the main lead actress: 

As she said that, she left and returned to homeland. This movie talks about love in a mature way. I like how this movie teaches a purpose in life, to move on from grief, and to chase your dreams. Do what you are good at. Most importantly, DO NOT CHEAT ON EXAMS. Oh yeah! I have to remember how this movie talks about how grades was seen so important to the society. But, not many realize that when they put such high expectations to their children, are your kids happy? For example this girl, flew all the way to Barcelona just to fulfill her dad's expectation of her because she failed. She was considered a disgrace as she cheated on her exam. Not to condone cheating as a good behavior, but she was so afraid of failing as after a week of sleepless nights studying, her mind went blank like a piece of white paper. Due to being afraid of failing and getting shit from her dad, for not being as good as her elder sister, she chose to cheat to save her life. This is the fear that I am sure we see around our society. Especially Asian parents. How many times we have seen in the news about a young girl or boy suicide because they are to afraid of failure, not meeting the expectations of their parents. Not making their parents proud. I am an example of this, there were times where I was super stressed out just for grades. I still am. But I am glad that I have the grit, the help from counsellors etc to pull me through. I have people that tell me "it is ok to fail once in awhile". My expectations and pressure partly comes from within, from myself, but for some, the pressure comes from others and those are the ones who needs the most help. Therefore, grades do not dictate your life. This main lead, was so much more happier and successful in doing the things she is good at. As much hardworking she is, she works better in the things she is good at and loves. 

Same goes to the guy, many wants him to be an architecture. He can draw. But hey, he was so good in animation. His animation was brought to life and touched people's heart. See, when we stop someone from doing something they love and good at, the best you could get will only be average work. Many people I know are also like this guy, doing things that people say they are good at, they should do that, not many would choose to do the things they love. They don't see that they can do both. They fail to see the balance in life. He reminds me of a boy I know who I see talent and passion in gaming, his hobby. But he wouldn't pursue it, because he was told not to, and slowly, he believed in it. Believe that his passion and hobby wouldn't make a living, believe that he isn't as good, believe that he couldn't make it. But from my point of view, I find that if he had found the balance in life, he could do it. Life is a risk, there's a 50-50% chance to everything that we do. If he had found the balance, he could be great in his job and his dreams. His dreams may fail, but he would still have a stable job. See, the balance? You will never entirely fail in something, unless you give up or you just don't work for it. Don't you think so? As an outsider, I wish he had the courage to chase after something he love, something he believes in, something he likes, not only the plans made by others. But, I can only advice, pray, and hope. To many others and even to myself, I hope we all have that courage to never stop pursuing our dreams.