A Trip down memory lane-The Five Snapshots

FIR RB# 6
Title of story read: The Five Snapshots
Author: Lina Flor
Page nos. read: 5
Date read: July 23, 2010

Lina Flor is actually one of the most neglected Filipino writers in her generation, which is unfair because, even though she has a unique way of writing short stories(for instance, a personal favorite of mine is her short story called the Five Snapshots, which will be my topic in this blog), the public has failed to notice her works, whether because she was a female writer(back then, women aren't that much noticed as good writers), or the critics aren't reading hard enough.
But in the twenty-first century, new Filipino critics and writers look back from the past to see that no talented writer gets left behind and actually shares Lina Flor's short story through a collection of short stories from other writers from the old to the new, together with other notable writers, such as Nick Joaquin, Cristina Pandoja Hidalgo(another favorite), Jessica Zafra, among others.

The (unique) story
The story is all about the lives of five best friends: Mina, Letty, Jo, Lydia and Teeny, and their stories are written in a mini-biography style, with the narrator of the story being actually one of them. The time and setting of the story first takes from their graduation day from High School to college to their careers.
The first mini-biography tells about Mina, the leader of the group and the most beautiful, although the narrator points out that Jo was actually the biggest(which it is sometimes the advantage for a fearsome leader)in the group and Lydia being the oldest(meaning she has more experience). But the narrator continues to point out that Mina was destined to be the group's leader because she was very intelligent and every action she makes is done fairly and without prejudice. Her beauty, another factor for her leadership, is not actually the envy of others but is the very thing that inspires everyone.
Mina is an only child of a rich widower and was the apple of his eye, though Mina knows this and does not take advantage of it to become spoiled. During the end of the graduation, Mina--who was overseas--had sent each letter from her friends to ask what their plans will be after college. Jo's letter came first and it said she has plans to got to medicine school and become a doctor, which was delightful news. Next was Lydia's, who was the oldest in the group. Her letter simply said that she isn't going to college anymore and had actually decided to marry her long-time boyfriend and would be busy to make the things for her future child with him. Then there was Letty's, and her letter simply said that she wasn't sure if she will continue her studies because her family doesn't have enough money to get her to a college. The last was from Teeny, who's letter said that she was going to a Normal School to become a teacher, though she didn't want to be one for her interest was on painting. Her parents told her that if she wanted to become an artist, she will just need to make a salary of her own so she could afford it herself. Wishing them all luck, Mina goes back to the Philippines only to realize that she will not be able to continue her own studies herself because she had fallen in love with a man she met overseas. Deciding to elope, being approved from her father herself, she got married, lived with him and lived happily ever after. When her baby was born, her best friend Lydia gave her a present for her baby, which are clothes she made herself.
Next was Lydia's story. Being the oldest and most ambitious, she was in love with her boyfriend and had decided to elope with him, as he is already a working man. After the graduation, she immediately set on to work on being a housewife and was talented in making clothes, especially to her soon-to-be made baby. Unfortunately, just after getting married, things didn't work out for Lydia as she got into a quarrel with her husband(the details were never made clear in the story itself). After separating with him, she gave away all that she made--the clothes for her baby, recipes, etc.--with most of them to her best friend, Mina, who has her own child now.
Soon enough, Lydia joined a convent instead and was a Postulant. In later years, her friends Mina, Jo and Letty(their other friend, Teeny, couldn't make it as she was sick), waved goodbye to her as she took her steps to the aisle and into the church, to become one of the sisters.
The third story is from Teeny, a shy, timid girl who is often teased to be a cry-baby. Despite her fragile personality and physicality(as the nickname implies, since she is actually very small), she was gifted in drawing. She often told her friends that someday she would become a painter, but when college came, she instead went to Normal School to become a teacher and never realized her dreams. Being so serious about her studies, she forgot to take care of herself and became more sickly. When Lydia entered the convent, she offered prayers to Teeny so that she may be better. But fate became unfair as Teeny dies unexpectedly.
The fourth story goes to Letty, a girl of immense popularity. In school, she was very active in all the extra-curricular activities, especially in singing. Although her parents had no money, talent scouts and some from her music teachers as well knew she had talent, and soon enough, this became an opportunity to her to hone her talent. Letty herself never dreamed that she could actually use her voice to become a new star from inside and outside the country. But despite all the glamour that she now has, according to her friends, she once had a romance with a man. They both love each other, and the man proposed to her to marry him. But unfortunately, she declined and went to Italy instead to study her music and eventually marries an Italian guy. It is often said by Letty's friends' letters that the man is still in love with her and refuses to not miss any of her concerts, while his new wife never accompanies him.
The last is Jo's. She was the biggest among the five and is actually playing the role of 'mother' in the group. Being a compassionate person, she realized that the best way to share that was being a doctor, which she had told to one of her letters to Mina. Little is known about her love life as she was too down-to earth and too practical to see men. After she graduates from medicine school, she immediately opened a small clinic that she facilitates herself.
It is revealed in the end of the story that she was the narrator, as she owned the five snapshots of their High School graduation and wrote short stories in her free time...

My Insights
I very appreciate the story so much because the story is very related on how each and everyone of us plans our future and meets the most unexpected twists and obstacles along the way.
For Mina, it was such a disappointment that she never continued her studies(she, too, wanted to be a doctor, just like Jo) as she married her lover, but I can see that she was actually the luckiest character, even though she didn't continue college.
As for Lydia, I found her to be typical and naive to fall in 'love' immediately with her boyfriend and never thought about anything at what she does. When she went to the convent, I thought that she might have given up marrying men and went to the church instead, but this might not have any holy reasons for joining said group. Although she might have them now as she was committed to stay in the convent.
For Teeny, I was very sympathetic about her because she dies without even given a chance to make her dreams come true as an artist, though I also find her slightly pathetic as she cannot overcome her frailty.
For Letty, I think she was the luckiest character, besides Mina, to become a sensational star across the seas. I see her to be an opportunist as well as she had chosen her dreams instead of marrying a man who is obsessed with her.
Then lastly is Jo. I think she is the most mysterious as the story never reveals too much about her personal quest of how she became a doctor(well, she was the narrator of the story, a big twist!). But I had also found her to be heartwarming, as she writes stories about her friends, which I can relate to her, because writers express their works through their experiences and I find Jo's story as a reflection of how she never forgets her past.

A break from the Sandman, now a bowl of Chicken Soup!

FIR RB#5
Book read: Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul
Author/s: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Bud Gardner
Story/ies read: 'Ronny's Book' by Judith A. Chance
Date read: July 15, 2010

Picking up a different book was actually a relieving experience. Finally taking a break from reading too many dark contemporary/fantasy fictions (that's a mouthful!), it is a relief to find a book that understands: Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul.
This book talks about the experiences of writers or people who appreciate writing as it is a way for them to cope hardships of life and, finally, overcome them by simply reading or writing. An example of this is the first short story that was shared by Judith A. Chance.

'Ronny's Book.'
Ronny is an eight-year-old first grader who seems to lack the basic knowledge of reading, even though he was older than his seven-year-old classmates. In the teacher's perspective, she is both sad--as she sees that Ronny is lugging behind his classmates and seem to be also a product of a low-class family, as it is evident in his grimy clothes and grungy exterior--and proud, as Ronny, despite the obstacle that he couldn't pronounce words as properly as his classmates could, tries his best and wants to improve very much.
Before the year ends, however, the teacher wanted to award Ronny's motivation to learn, as it is tradition in the class to award the pupils. When Ronny receives the award--'Most Improved Reader'--and also takes the book from her as part of the award, Ronny is filled with joy as he realizes that he had at least gradually improved from his predicament and can move on. The teacher is also moved to tears of joy as she knows she had done her part to help Ronny in learning from her.
Finally a Second-grader, Ronny--who was reading the book the teacher had awarded him from his previous grade while sitting in a school bench--was once again seen by his previous teacher and was told by his new teacher 'that Ronny never puts down that book and wears it like a shirt!', she smiles.
In her conclusion, the teacher states that she is thankful that there are writers who make books for children and had not given up on them, and finally states that she wants to be like that kind of writer as well.

My Insights
I was moved as well as how the teacher was very dedicated in teaching Ronny how to read and had not given up. Unlike Ronny, though, there are still children around who aren't as blessed as he was, being surrounded with caring people, even outside his home.
It is indeed an inspirational read and should also be read by many, especially to parents as they are the sole influences and role models to how a child develops learning.

Dreaming of London - A new Hellblazer-Constatine episode!

FIR RB# 4
Book Read: The Sandman, vol. 1, Preludes and Nocturnes
Chapter/s read: Chapter 3
Pages: 24
Date read: July 7, 2010
Author: Neil Gaiman

I am truly determined to finish this graphic novel, really. I don't know, maybe it has been my habit to finish something interesting once I started it. Anyway, this is already the third chapter to the story.

The Summary of the chapter read:
The last chapter had talked about how Morpheus--the Sandman--realizes that he must find his three possessions to recreate his Dream Realm and goes back to the Human World once more to locate the first object: The Pouch of Infinite Sand.
The story starts in John Constantine's room, waking up in the morning with the usual blue mood. Doing his morning routines, he reflects that his dreams are becoming more and more despondent that the last time, knowing that he should be used to it by now since ever since he was a child, he had always had nightmares.
Going out in the town, he meets a friend named Mad Hettie, who, in greetings, warns Constantine that the Sandman is back and is around the streets of London. Constantine, however, brushes it off, even though he himself is acquainted with the supernatural forces and walks off from her. Contemplating about the warning, he eventually searched his files about the Sandman. Then, lo and behold, Morpheus appears right in front of him in the doorway when Constantine opens the door.
Morpheus immediately tells him who he is and asks about the pouch, which, according to Morpheus, Constantine bought in a yard sale. Constantine explains that he had bought a certain pouch years ago and that he knew what it contained, knowing it would be dangerous for the pouch to stay in inexperienced hands. Unfortunately, he had lost the pouch and knows nothing of its whereabouts. Speculating it might have ended in his friend Chas's garage, they go there together.
Looking through all the drawers and file cabinets, Morpheus grows tired and tells him that it is not in the place, when Constantine, rummaging through the papers and photos for clues, finds an old photo. In the photo, Constantine was able to remember that he had once went out with a girl named Rachel, who had been with him when he had bought the pouch full of Sand. Deducing that she must know where it is, they go to her place as soon as possible.
Finally getting to her house, Morpheus unlocks the once-locked front door and goes in, and instantly feels the power of the Sand and informs Constantine to be careful. Creeping in through the first door upstairs, Constantine goes in first as he didn't heed Morpheus' warning that something is not right in the room, and instantly hallucinates that he is falling from the sky. Immediately, Morpheus decimates the magic of the Sand in that room and quickly goes to the next one. Sensing the power of the Sand ever more in the next room, they go in--to find Rachel in her room, with her using the Sand's powers as a sort of 'happy drug' to her as she hallucinates in wonderful memories, while her life slowly ebbs away as the Sand uses her life to become real.
Knowing that she will die soon, Morpheus tells Constantine that there is nothing more he could do to the woman, but being stubborn, Constantine tells him to do something, which Morpheus grants. Making him leave the room, Morpheus sprinkles the Sand over her once more, giving her happy thoughts and memories of when she used to be with Constantine, and then Morpheus covers her body with the blanket, dead.
Telling him that Rachel died peacefully, Constantine asks Morpheus one more thing before he leaves. He asks if Morpheus could, at least, help him in making his dreams more bearable as he has been dreaming more awful things than before, in which Morpheus grants. Disappearing in a puff of smoke, Constantine starts to walk back home, singing and humming about a song called The Sandman...

My Insights:
In the story, there has been some change of how Morpheus interacts with a human, who is Constantine. Morpheus, The Sandman, the King of Dreams, is more known to be merciless and with a biased thought of humans to be impudent and a lesser kind than him. But seeing as the author was able to change his personality one notch a bit, Morpheus had appeared almost empathetic to humans, especially to Constantine.
And even though Morpheus was supposed to be someone who hates change, he himself had changed...well, almost.
Anyway, since I still have to read the next chapters, perhaps the Graphic novel can still prove me wrong whether or not Morpheus is a round character or not.

The Story continues in the Sandman series

FIR RB#: 3
Date read: June 29, 2010.
Title of the book read: The Sandman - Preludes and Nocturnes
Chapter/s read: Chapter 2
Pages covered: 24
Author of the book: Neil Gaiman

I started taking interests in Neil Gaiman when I saw the book on the college library. Though I had known him and his works since I heard his name(I can't recall when that was), it was on that day only when I saw it on the library shelf did I take a curiosity to read it myself and determined to finish it.
I had wondered at that time why would a Graphic novel be in an exclusive Catholic school for women in the first place?
Anyway, it's cool. Now let me go to the summary of what I read on that chapter.

The summary of Chapter 2
Previously on the first chapter, Morpheus (The Sandman) had escaped his imprisonment in the Human Realm and had cursed the last of the descendants of the Burgess family, forever sleeping in nightmares.
Finally out, Morpheus immediately sets out to go back home--to his Dream Realm, despite that the three of his things when he had been summoned and imprisoned had long been gone from him. But since he had been imprisoned for so long a time (it had been 70 years), the Dream King is weak and was only able to make it to Cain and Abel's house.
Now, Cain and Abel are the two brothers in the Genesis story, right? Since their deaths, they had resided on a part of the Dream Realm ever since, with Cain still the antagonistic brother and Abel now being this masochistic and bumbling sort, as he is always the subject of Cain's sadistic character and torture.
When Morpheus was inside the brothers' house, they immediately helped him as Morpheus reflects on the previous events of his imprisonment. When some of his strength was back, Morpheus immediately sets to get back at his Realm, but only to find that his Realm was now in disarray. Lucien, one of his servants, had told him that without the Dream King around to 'nurture' the Realm--as the Realm itself was made by Morpheus--the place slowly changed, until it deteriorated. Morpheus, who had not thought of this to happen, realizes that he must locate his three possessions that was stolen from him 70 years ago by the Burgess family to attain back his powers to re-create his Realm. Asking help from the three Fates, he understands that finding three strange objects in the Human world would be no easy task. The first object, the Pouch of Infinite Sand, had been bought by John Contstantine(he has a movie in 2004, if you could remember); the second is the Helm, which was actually traded to a demon by a museum curator, and last but not the least is the Ruby Moonstone, where almost all his powers are kept hidden. The Ruby was last seen by the Justice League and no one knows where it is.
Deciding to look for the Pouch because it is easy, the Dream King once again ascends from his Realm to look for his possessions.
Meanwhile, Abel, beaten up by his brother again, cries outside the house's porch as he narrates to a hatchling gargoyle how Cain and Abel used to be really close...

Now for my Insights...
It's weird with this one, as Cain and Abel are in the chapter and are living in Morpheus' realm. Although the story of the chapter got really interesting as Morpheus realizes that a heavy new journey must be done to organize his realm once again, the brothers Cain and Abel were really the ones who set out the dark horror of the story. Abel is depicted in the chapter to be the victim, whether by verbal or physical abuse by his brother Cain, who in turn is depicted to have no actual control of his sadism when he is annoyed at his brother Abel, leading him to 'kill' Abel.
The lesson? Well, the lesson I caught at once in the story came from the brothers themselves. It goes to show that there are people who are psychotically evil and there are those who are victims of these sociopathic mercilessness, especially to those close to them.
Hopefully, the third chapter shouldn't be as weird as the first.