Whitewash

Isa ang Malaysia sa mga masusuwerteng bansa sa South East Asia. Hindi ito nakakaranas ng lindol at bagyo. Ngunit, kagaya ngayong hapon at ng ilan pang nagdaang mga hapon, malakas ang ulan ngayon.

Ang karaniwang makulay na tanawin sa labas ng kwarto ko ay tila na-white wash sa lakas ng ulan na may kasamang hanging tila humahagunot. Pero tandaan, hindi raw ito bagyo.

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Tuwing ganito kalakas ang ulan, di maaring hindi ako magreminisce sa aking kabataan. Pag ganito kalakas ang ulan, pihadong walang pasok sa Pinas. Malamang maraming kalsada na rin ang baha. Malamang darating na ang service namin dahil sinuspindi na ang klase. 

Kapag ganito ang naging scenario, jackpot! Pwedeng makapanood ng TV nang mas matagal. Maabutan ko rin ang opening spiel ng Ang TV. Higit sa lahat masarap humiga sa kama kasi malamig ang panahon. Paborito ko rin kasi na ikiskis ang paa ko sa malambot na bed sheet. Weirdo ko lang. Kaya rin nung bata ayoko na bagong almirol ang mga kubrekama.

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Tuwing ganitong umuulan, mahilig magluto ang lola ko ng ginataang mais. Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, palagiang kakaunti lang ang niluluto nya. Sapat lang sa dalawang mangkok. Lima kami sa bahay -- si daddy, si mommy, si kuya, ako at si lola. Pero bakit kakarampot lang ang niluluto nya? Pero dahil sa paborito ko ang ginataang mais, madalas isa't kalahating mangkok ang nauubos ko. Ang kalahati ay kay lola. 

Nang minsang matindi ang ulan at nagluto siya ng ginataang mais, naglakas ako tanungin bakit kakaunti lang ang niluluto niyang ginataang mais. Tandang tanda ko ang pagngiti niya sa aking pag-uusisa. Marahan niyang sinabi, "dadalawa lang kasi tayo ngayon sa bahay. Mamaya pag dating ng daddy at mommy mo at ng kuya mo malamig na yang ginataang mais." Dahil sa ako ay sadyang likas na makulit, nagfollow up question ako. "Hindi po ba pwedeng initin ang ginataang mais para sumarap siya ulit pagdating nila?" Ngumiti lamang si lola. Hanggang sa ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam ang dahilan bakit ayaw nya initin ang ginataang mais pero sapat na sa akin ang matatamis na ngiting isinagot nya sa aking tanong. 

Haze!

Since two weeks ago, I already noticed how hazy the KL skyline was. I would wake up wondering why at 9am the sun is still not shining as per BAU.

Lo and behold! The nasty smog + haze experienced by our Singaporean neighbors are invading the home of tallest twin towers. Arrgh. It is really hard to breath.

This is taken from our condo. Usually, the KLCC towers greet us in the morning. Now it is shrouded by the thick smoke from the burning Sumatran forests.

Minions!

Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart

Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing

It's ok not to be ok

-Jessie J

I enjoy playing iPad games. They are simple yet captivating.

Recently, I got hooked to the Despicable Me tie-up game Minion Rush.

If you are a fan of Super Mario then this game is for you. The visuals are nice and entertaining. The sounds effects will remind you of the movie. You may even challenge your friends in amassing collectibles. As of writing my highest score is 124,832. Add me in your friends list.

Though Despicable Me revolves around the premise of an evil scientist being illuminated to become a good dad, the side story of the Minions is a well-hidden justification for slavery and brainwashing. This glamorizes the ever-dangerous lives of the banana-loving creatures. 

I already outgrew my fascination of conspiracy theories regarding the Illuminati and the NWO. However, I can't help but feel they are using a seemingly innocent cartoon to get their agenda across. Nothing can be more blatant than the name of one of the groups producing Despicable Me:

Whether Despicable Me is a product of a group of people aiming to catapult their ideas to innocent kids, we can't discount the entertainment value this franchise has brought. Maybe this group of people is herding the masses to become their minions. Maybe not. However, at the end of the day, what really matters is how we truly feel that at times being not ok is ok if the sacrifices we make gear towards our dreams and aspirations.

PS. Jessie J is thought of as one of the MK kittens.