Thursday, February 26, 2009

Breaking Dawn ♦ by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn is split into three separate "books", or parts. The first part details Bella's marriage and honeymoon with Edward, which they spend on a private island off the coast of Brazil. Edward grants Bella's wish and makes love to her. Soon after, Bella notices her period is late and realizes that she is pregnant. After contacting Carlisle, who confirms her pregnancy, she and Edward plan to return home. Edward, concerned for her well being as the fetus develops with unnatural rapidity, urges her to get an abortion. However, Bella wants to keep the child and decides to contact Rosalie for support, knowing that Rosalie has always wanted children.

The second part of the novel is written from Jacob's point of view, and lasts throughout Bella's pregnancy and childbirth. The pack of werewolves, not knowing what danger the unborn child may pose, make plans to destroy it, even though they must kill Bella to do so. Jacob vehemently disagrees with this decision and revolts, leaving the pack to form his own with Seth and Leah Clearwater. Bella soon gives birth, approximately a month after becoming pregnant. The baby breaks many of her bones, and Bella loses massive amounts of blood. In order to save her life, Edward changes her into a vampire. Jacob, who was present for the birth, immediately "imprints" — an involuntary response in which a werewolf finds his soul mate — on Edward and Bella's newborn daughter, Renesmee.

The third section of Breaking Dawn shifts back to Bella's perspective, finding her changed into a vampire and enjoying her new life and abilities. However, the vampire Irina misidentifies Renesmee as an "immortal child", a child who has been turned into a vampire. The creation and protection of "immortal children" was previously outlawed by the Volturi. After Irina presents her allegation to the Volturi, they plan to destroy Renesmee and the Cullens. In an attempt to save her, the Cullens gather vampires from around the world to stand as witnesses and prove to the Volturi that Renesmee is not an immortal child. Upon confronting the gathered Cullen allies and witnesses, the Volturi discover that they have been misinformed and immediately execute Irina for her mistake. However, they remain undecided on whether Renesmee should be viewed as a threat to the secret existence of vampires. At that time, Alice and Jasper, who had left prior to the confrontation, return with Nahuel, a 150-year-old vampire-human crossbreed like Renesmee. He demonstrates that the crossbreeds pose no threat and the Volturi leave, knowing that they no longer have just reason to destroy Renesmee. Bella, Edward and Renesmee return to their home in peace.
The title, Breaking Dawn, is a reference to the beginning of Bella's life as a vampire. The cover is a metaphor for Bella's progression throughout the entire saga; she began as the physically weakest player on the board, the pawn, but ended up the strongest, the queen. The plays The Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night's Dream both influenced Breaking Dawn. Originally, Meyer wrote a book titled Forever Dawn, which was a direct sequel to Twilight. While the basic storyline stayed the same, Forever Dawn was narrated completely from Bella's point of view, the werewolves and Jacob were "only sketchily developed", Victoria and Laurent were both alive, and there was an epilogue. Meyer goes on to say that she "may post some extras someday if I ever have time to go back through the Forever Dawn manuscript—it's just as long as Breaking Dawn. There are a couple of things that family members told me they particularly missed, so I would start there."

Of all the four books in the twilight saga, Breaking Dawn is my most favorite! Love the action! Love all the vampires who helped the Cullens. The creation of Renesmee's character was just so unbelievable and I loved it! If you really don't like all the lovey dovey stuff, then this is the book for you. I still hate how Bella sees lowly of herself. Self pity and all. Amf!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The Old Spaghetti House


Upon entering The Old Spaghetti House, one enters inside a different world. The restaurant is lit with dim lights, booths are lined along the walls, stained glass lamps hover above the tables, and antique furniture pieces are showcased all over the walls. It is truly a comforting feeling, stepping inside a childhood memory perhaps, when you entered your lola's kitchen hoping to get a taste of the food she is preparing for a family feast.

There is no doubt that The Old Spaghetti House feels just like a cherished experience with the family. The décor on the walls, which are personal possessions of Lizzie and Chito Guerrero, the owners of the restaurant, friends and family, are priceless. Each piece is unique, irreplaceable, which makes the restaurant feel like a treasured home. The restaurant itself is made of antique wooden panels, antique doors, comfortable bunk seating upholstered with fine fabrics, tiffany lamps, wooden tables, classic batibot chairs, antique decors: brass pots and pans, flower vases, old paintings and art works.

It is not by chance that the motto of The Old Spaghetti House is "Treasures Waiting to be Discovered." Since, not only does the atmosphere capture treasures from the past, but the menu too is a treasure chest waiting to be discovered. The menu of "The Old Spaghetti House" was developed by Lizzie Guerrero, who studied culinary arts in the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila. The recipes that she uses have been passed-on to The Old Spaghetti House from friends and relatives. Such items include Mama's Chicken Piccata (Lizzie's Lola) (P140), Tita Nenette's Eggplant Parmigiana (P130), Ate Badjie's Mud Pie and Spaghetti w/ Meat Balls (P110/P165) and Mommy Annie's American Baked Spareribs. (P160).

It was just another boring day, no work and no classes. So we decided to go food tripping! We've heard about T.O.S.H. which just recently opened here in Cebu. We went there to see it for ourselves. And I'm just sucker for pasta and other Italian food. Can't resist trying this new spaghetti house, or rather The Old Spaghetti House. I had a hard time picking what to order. I wanted a dish with lots of cheese of course. So, I ordered one of their best sellers, the chicken and mushroom in white sauce. Totally it was delicious! Can't deny it. And the place ambiance was also nice and cozy. A nice place for a romantic date.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Eclipse ♦ by Stephenie Meyer

As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob—knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?


Eclipse is the third book in the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer. It continues the story of 18-year-old Bella Swan and her vampire love, Edward Cullen. Eclipse is preceded by New Moon and followed by Breaking Dawn.

The book jacket features a torn red ribbon. The broken ribbon represents choice, as in the book Bella must choose between her love for vampire Edward Cullen, and her friendship/love with werewolf Jacob Black. Meyer also stated that the ribbon represents the idea that Bella can't break away completely from her human life.

I personally loved this book since aside from all the romance, it also had action. I also liked how Jacob tried to fought his love for Bella and handling it when he was not chosen. I really pitied him, he was such a nice character. Bella here is just so plain impulsive and stupid. *sigh* But I'm still excited with what would happen in Breaking Dawn. I've heard that Jacob would imprint on Renesmee, Bella and Edward's daughter. *ooops* Spoiler alert! :D

"BELLA?"

Edward's soft voice came from behind me. I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once, just like he had in the parking lot, and kissed me again.

This kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine—like he was afraid we had only so much time left to us.

New Moon ♦ by Stephenie Meyer


For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning...

Legions of readers entranced by the New York Times bestseller Twilight are hungry for the continuing story of star-crossed lovers, Bella and Edward. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.


A young adult fantasy-romance novel by author Stephenie Meyer, and is the second book in the Twilight saga. According to Meyer, this book is about losing true love. The title refers to the darkest phase of the lunar cycle, indicating that New Moon is about the darkest time of the protagonist Bella's life. It was originally published in hardcover in 2006.

I both loved and hated this book. This book reminded me of how I felt when I had a break up. I also hated Bella here, giving Jacob false hopes and all. It's just so unfair for Jacob. What I've heard from the people who also read this, they said that this is the worst book of the Twilight Saga. Well yeah, it is the worst so far. I haven't read Breaking Dawn yet but I can say that what they're saying is true. Looking forward hot this would turn out in the Eclipse.

"Shoot," I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.

It all happened very quickly then.

Edward threw himself at me, flinging me back across the table...

I tumbled down to the floor by the piano, with my arms thrown out instinctively to catch my fall, into the jagged shards of glass. I felt the searing, stinging pain that ran from my wrist to the crease inside my elbow.

Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm—into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.

Come, gentle night; come, loving, black-browed night;
Give me my Romeo; and, when I shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night...

~Romeo and Juliet Act III scene ii~

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Robotars by JoMike Tejido

Robotars is a little tarsier with a big dream, to leap out from the murky forests of JMTejido's mind and enter the URBAN VINYL art scene.

Be part of the ROBOTARS history! of promoting Philippine art, wildlife and making our country known all over the world. The ROBOTARS masterplan aims to link art, Philippine tourism, and modern toy culture in an affordable toy that reminds us of our roots, in a non-"indigeous" way that our country has always been known for. It's time for change. It's time for ROBOTARS!



This 2009, I have made my contributions
and adopted these robotars...















 

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