Lately, I’ve been having trouble keeping myself from insanity and I can only suspect one culprit: DO-MIN-JOON. Ayiiiiii~

I first heard about this drama from my thesismate in college who is also a drama-buff like me. She gave me three dramas to watch, one of which is My Love From Another Star.

Let me make this clear, I didn’t create this post to spazz about Do Min Joon or anything. I’ll try my best to at least keep my heart calm while typing. So please bear with it… Hihi.

Plot. My Love From Another Star offers us a very unique theme:  from space travel to alien-human romance. I find the space travel concept very interesting since it’s very different from the time travel concept as shown in various KDramas. MLFAS also portrays the theme of unrequited love [Hee Kyung’s love for Song Yi]; fame vs. family; success and downfall; as well as friendship and betrayal.

***SPOILER ALERT*** I have to admit that the ending left me hanging. It didn’t really give me the happy ending that I wanted, but it somehow satisfied me in the sense that they were never separated forever. I was honestly expecting hoping that Do Min Joon [DMJ] would become human. But then I realized that maybe it was better that way since it gives us the idea that love is still possible despite their differences.

The ending shows the book about the rabbit finding its way back home. We can be sure that even though DMJ appears and disappears from time to time, he will always manage to find his way back home… in Song Yi’s arms. ♥ ***END SPOILER***  

Cast and Characters.

Do Min Joon. Let’s start first with the alien protagonist of the drama. Never did it occur in my wildest imagination that aliens could be so damn *please excuse the term*hot. His “hot” looks directly oppose his cold demeanor. But underneath that outer shell of composure and sophistication lie the bubbly and cute Do Min Joon. I had to say that he’s lucky in some aspects. His 400 years of existence gave him the opportunity to witness significant historical events, as well as master different kinds of fields: law, astronomy, medicine, etc.  The only thing that I didn’t personally like about his character is his carefree attitude [although what made him that way is quite reasonable and he also somehow changed after meeting Song Yi naman, so… sigh~]

I have to give Kim Soo-hyun double thumbs up for his performance. To be honest, he’s the reason why I decided to watch MLFAS. I’ve been his fan since I first saw him in Dream High, and I loved him even more in Moon Embracing the Sun. As expected, he made my heart tremble once again with his character Do Min Joon. His acting prowess, aside from his killer good looks, surely captivated me.

Seeing him cry also breaks my heart and makes me want to hug him. <//3

Cheon Song Yi. I really love this character. Despite her reputation of being an airhead, she’s still full of guts and overflowing with confidence. Her character may seem strong in front of the camera and her colleagues, but behind the flashing cameras and fake smile lies the soft and fragile Cheon Song Yi. She’s also very wacky and has a lot of crazy ways to relieve her stress.

Frankly, I was hesitant about their team up at first. Why? I’m not really a fan of May—December couples, and we are all aware of the age gap between Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun. NEVER did I expect that I would love their chemistry so much. This was her comeback on the small screen, if I’m not mistaken, and I really have to say that Jun Ji-hyun is Jun Ji-hyun. I first saw her at Windstruck and loved her since then. For me, she’s the perfect actress to portray the character of Cheon Song Yi. While watching her, it seems so natural. I also never expected that she can do aegyo. OMG. I really enjoyed watching her.       

Lee Hee Kyung. Does a guy like this really exist in real life? Tell me. I didn’t really understand why CSY never fell for this dude. I know that she already has her first love [which is DMJ, of course] but still… He can both be your prince charming and knight in shining armor. He’s rich, good-looking, supportive, and most of all he’s crazy about CSY. He even waited 15 years just for her. Oh well. I like the way Hee Kyung unselfishly loves Song Yi. He’s not the type of guy who would do negative things just to separate her from his rival.

Yoo Se Mi. Se Mi’s character is the perfect icon of betrayal in this drama. Although President Ahn betrayed CSY after abandoning her during crisis, I believe pretending to be someone’s friend is much worse. There’s this “you know you want to hate her, but you just can’t”—thing on her. You can’t blame her though. You can feel her struggle for having one-sided love for 15 years and for always being in the shadow of your “best friend.” Envy is one crazy bitch. ***SPOILER ALERT*** But then, I love how the two former “best friends” “reconciled.” Their reconciliation was not really direct, but you can see it at the latter parts. [Hey, it was Se Mi who recorded Song Yi’s wedding proposal, which is sooooo cute ♥] ***END SPOILER***

source: onetvasia.com

I like how she silently loved Hee Kyung. If it were other dramas, this character would’ve probably done everything just to steal the love of her life. If you’ll come to think of it, she has lots of advantage: she’s the best friend, she has money and fame, and her rival is actually not considered as rival since CSY’s not in-love with Hee Kyung. But then, she remained silent and kept her feelings to herself and still managed to support Hee Kyung. I have to say that she, together with Hee Kyung and Mr. Jang, provided the best support for this drama.        

 Mr. Jang. No man is an island. This is the perfect cliché to describe his relationship with DMJ. We are all aware of how much DMJ wanted to live his life in secrecy. However, he still engaged himself with Mr. Jang, his only friend. There’s no doubt that he played a big part in DMJ’s life. It was really heart-breaking when they bid their goodbyes. Ajooojooojoo.

Overall Production. It is evident since episode 1 that this drama was financially supported: from the luxurious clothes and lifestyles of the characters up to the special effects. [BTW, I was surprised to see Dara at the red carpet on the last episode. Hihi.] I have to commend the computer graphics, especially when DMJ stops the time. It seems so realistic. The use of flashbacks is also greatly appreciated in this drama. It helped me understand the whys and it also gives us a glimpse of DMJ’s journey through time.  

I decided to have my once in a blue moon “habit” (lol) of cleaning my lair last Saturday and guess what I found. I happened to unearth the keys to my past… the perfect instruments to reminisce the moments that I used to share with my first love: drawing.

I’m not really a “gifted child” like those advertised in Promil commercials, but I’ve been drawing since I was young. Too young that I can’t even remember what age I started. I love drawing and I love telling stories. Combining these two, you get manga*.

As my blogspot states: thefrustratedmangaka.blogspot.com, I am THE frustrated mangaka*. I don’t know why but I’m too awkward to let others see my work. (It took me quite some time to gather enough guts to give you a peek on my works. Lol~)

FYI: manga = comics, mangaka = someone who creates manga ^^

The first manga that I made was entitled “Claire.” It was inspired by the anime Judy (ABS-CBN) that I used to watch during my childhood days. The funny thing about Claire is that the femme fatale appears to be the protagonist. [When I was younger, I liked the female antagonists more than the martyr, api-apihan protagonists. To be honest, they piss me off. That may be the reason why I was biased in creating Claire. HAHAHA.]

Anyway, there are tons of mangas that I’ve already created since then. BUT, the first ever manga that I’ve really put much effort to was “Nina: Witch of Trouble (2005).” This was my first manga to reach almost 300 pages, and the first to be book-binded. Parang may mali sa grammar? Haha.

I was a high school junior in 2005 that time. When I finally finished Nina, Towties [my circle of friends, barkada] keeps on borrowing it one after another until before I knew it, most of our batchmates [and some of our juniors] have already read it. (0____0)

Nina: Witch of Trouble

My “second” project was “Wedding (2006).” To be honest, this was the most memorable manga that I’ve ever created so far. Why? First, all of the characters’ names were taken after Towties and some high school friends. Second, my friends helped me with the erasing. Note that Wedding is my first inked-manga [Nina’s in pencil]. Third, one of our high school teachers was able to read it. (0____0)  Lastly, I used Wedding as the basis of my script for our Introduction to Film class (Bridal Masquerade). 

Wedding

After high school graduation, I somehow managed to come up with another project entitled “Hapi Haus (2008).” I was able to finish it, but unfortunately wasn’t able to continue with the erasing.

Hapi Haus

After Hapi Haus in 2008, I started working with what I thought was my last project: “The Apocalypse (2010).” Before graduating high school, I promised one of my friends that I would make a manga especially for her. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fulfill that promise. Not keeping my word is a taboo to my principles that’s why I forced myself decided to create one and give it to her as a “Christmas gift.” A Christmas gift that eventually became a college graduation gift. I asked one of my closest friends (her neighbor) since she’s still studying in Manila. Until now, I’m still not sure if she already has it. HAHA.

The Apocalypse

All in all, I still have 52 projects on queue. These projects are stories that I actually made when I was still in high school. Whenever an idea (or story) crosses my mind, I write it down as a synopsis and are eventually added on my list.

As of now, you may be wondering about my status as a mangaka. Since I was so inspired after finding these treasures of my first love, I am currently working on the manga version of How to Become a Tough Guy. Yes, the story I wrote in wattpad is supposed to be a manga. So wish me luck, guys.



1. Sydney Francisco and I. 
2. Take a peek at my desk. How to Become a Tough Guy still on-going. :) 
3. Character sketch of my next female lead. 
4. Thinking hat on! I usually wear this hat while drawing. Feeling ko ang galing ko mag-drawing pag suot ko 'to. Lol~
5. My inspirations. Pangarap ko magkaron ng library na puro manga ang laman. Hihi. 
6. How to Draw Manga by Hikaru Hayashi. Grade School graduation gift from my mom. O diba, very supportive! 
7. Shinshi Doumei Cross by one of my fave mangakas: Arina Tanemura. Hoping to be like her, soon. Charot. 
8. Haze Gatcheco, How to Become a Tough Guy.
9. Another gift from my mom: Basic Anatomy for the Manga Artist by Christopher Hart. 

Please click here for Part 1. Thanks! Hihi.

Day 2. March 9, Sunday

I set up my alarm as early as 5 in the morning. Since we are six in the room and I take a 30-minute bath time, waking up early is a MUST. After taking a warm bath, I decided to go back to sleep. Nyahaha. Snow White [or should I say, Maria Clara? lol] lang ang peg ko for it was the chirping birds that woke me up [again] and not the alarm. 

We had our breakfast in Marivent Cafe at around 7am. After eating, we went back to the room and relaxed. We attended the holy mass at 10am which was held at Casa Binan.

I would like to note my favorite part of the homily: it seems that morality depends on time—sa kung ano ang uso at sa kung ano ang idinidikta ng ibang bansa. Making the good evil, and making the evil good.

Anyway, after the mass we decided to roam around the area ulit. I remembered that we still haven’t visited the beach. Good thing, Tita Maryanne likes the ocean so she accompanied me to the beach area. It was a sunny day so we didn’t stay that long.

While ordering, we were surprised to see that our attendant was one of our favorite dancers from last night’s cultural show. What surprised us more is that he’s also from Bicol [our family is from Bicol, originally].

  

Anyway, I decided to pig out on Lasagna [one of my fave pasta dishes OM] and pizza, of course. I’m kinda biased when it comes to Italian food so please don’t ask my verdict regarding the taste. NYAHAHA. All I can say is, they’re generous when it comes to cheese. ♥

While eating, a string trio came and serenaded us again. The trio is composed of two guitarists and one bassist. They were not on the cultural show last night so I asked my uncle if he knows them. “Kainuman ko mga yan eh.”—wow. Haha. Anyway, one of the performers was a contestant in Showtime [I think he just came back].

I soo love La Bella Teodora. I love the place and its overall ambience, the food [I told you I’m pasta and pizza-holic, biased, biased, biased], the service, and of course the music.

After guiltily indulging on my Italian food fetish, we went back to the room for our final preparations [and picture taking]. I tell you, guys, two days [or to calculate it correctly: a day,] is not enough to fully enjoy the resort. I wish we could stay longer but our weekdays schedule won’t allow it. Time seem to have frozen during our stay at Las Casas. After we left, it felt like we escaped from a time warp wormhole and finally returned to reality.. the present.

On our way back, I realized that today we're going to be the future's history. I sometimes wonder what this generation would leave as its "heritage" for the future generations. Antique cellphones? Antique tablets? Kayo, what do you think?

Additional photos:

Last March 8-9, we went to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Resort in Bagac, Bataan. Aside from the fact that my uncle works there, the vintage houses and the beach stimulated my need to tag along in this short journey to the past.

Day 1. March 8, Saturday

Mom and I left Laguna at around 6:20am. We arrived in Cubao (Genesis bus station) at around 8 to 8:30am and met with my titas and cousin. Unfortunately we took the wrong bus. We were supposed to take the bus going to Balanga, but we took the Mariveles (with a sub-sign ‘Balanga’) bus instead. Along the way, there was a stop-over (I think it was in Orani na) for those passengers who want to pee, or in our case, for passengers who need to transfer to another bus.

So we waited for a couple of minutes (hindi naman ganon katagal) for another Genesis bus going to Balanga. It turns out, that bus was also in Cubao but we were led to take the Mariveles bus maybe so that it can leave early. Anyway, we arrived in Balanga at around 12:30pm. 

We took a tricycle going to the coffee shop that my uncle suggested: The Beanery. I ordered Bacon and Mushroom Fettuccini and Strawberry & Cream shake for lunch. The serving was bitin (or maybe I’m just too hungry since I didn’t eat breakfast), but I still managed to satisfy my hunger with the dessert. 

We finished eating (and chatting! Lol) and left the Beanery at around 2pm. We took another tricycle and went back to the Terminal where we rented a mini-bus going directly to Las Casas. (Note: I suggest you take (don’t rent, lol) the mini-bus going to Balanga. It only costs Php 47 per head.) The trip was fun because of the nice view of landscape and the relaxing countryside-feeling. 

Finally, we arrived in Las Casas at around 3pm. We first went to Casa Mexico where the Front Office is located, arranged our reservation, and met with my uncle. We went to room 201 [in Paseo de Escolta] after and rested while waiting for the tour at 4:30pm. 

Casa Mexico

The Resort

Culture, arts, and history are the main concoction of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. The resort is filled with vintage houses built in as early as 1800s. The houses, from different places in the Philippines, were dismantled brick by brick and were reconstructed in the resort.

Casa Candaba

Casa Jaen II

Casa Vyzantina is the largest of the vintage houses that can be rented in the resort. With its huge 3-storey area, this casa was once a home for 500 squatter families in Binondo before it was transferred in the resort.

Even though we only saw the ground floor, this is my second favorite of all the houses in the resort [second to Casa Binan]. It caught my attention because of its rich interior design and the chandeliers. It is also designed with mosaics on the walls and ceilings, making it the most colorful house in the resort. So even if it was originally built in 1890, it was the only house where I felt alive. Maybe the colors and the fact that it sheltered hundreds of families made this house less creepy than the other houses.

Casa Vyzantina

Paseo de Escolta serves as the hotel that caters the tourists and visitors of the resort. It also has stores and antique shops on the ground floor. This is where we stayed during our visit.

Casa Luna is one of the houses that serve as a museum. What caught my attention was the volada. It was a part of the house where the aliping sagigilid used to pass through to attend to their masters’ needs. I learned that they were not allowed to ‘interact’ with their masters directly, and it was the aliping namamahay that intercedes between the two.

There are a lot of items inside that describe the way of living of the early Filipinos. Examples are the early flat iron, tobacco holder, the tampipi [Chichay lang ang peg haha], etc. Sorry I wasn’t able to take much pictures, as I am too immersed with the explanation of each item. Lol~

Casa Luna [back]

Casa Cagayan is an example of a typical house of early Filipinos. If I’m not mistaken, these houses were usually found near lakes. The area underneath the actual house serves as the pahingahan (resting place) or as a livestock pen. 

Casa Cagayan

I suddenly remembered our bahay kubo in Bulacan. It’s not as big as this house, but it also has the same calming effect coming from the ventanillas~~~~~~

Casa Lubao

The next abode that we entered was the ‘Hogwarts-lang-ang-peg’, Casa Quiapo. If I remember it correctly [senior moments, sareeh], this establishment was the first building of Fine Arts in University of the Philippines Manila. There is an off-limits part of the building which is said to be used as a place for abortion. Creepy, huh?

The building is also famous for it is where some of the scenes from Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story was filmed. My favorite element of Casa Quiapo is the original pillars of the building. I like the feeling of touching those pillars, for it seems to be taking me back in history.    

Casa Quiapo

The last house that we were able to enter was Casa Binan. This is my favorite of all the vintage houses in the resort. Why? Aside from the Italian restaurant located here, Casa Binan is from my home province: Laguna. It is the residence of our National Hero’s mother: Teodora Alonzo.

Casa Binan, according to our tour guide, is the most controversial house in the resort. First, is the issues concerning the house being a National Heritage and should not be taken from Binan. Thus, the original house remained there and only 1% [not so sure about this info, senior moments ulit] of the house was moved. Anyway, Casa Binan in Las Casas was constructed exactly the same as the original one.

The second issue involves an event that took place inside the residence. The story cannot be found in history books and is quite long to elaborate, so I suggest that you come here and discover it yourself. Haha. Too lazy to type~

The house is really really huge, another evidence that Jose Rizal is from a well-off family. As of now, I think Casa Binan will be opened as a museum anytime soon.

We finished the tour at around 5:30pm, 30 minutes before the cultural show. Usually, the cultural show takes place in front of Paseo de Escolta. But since there was a wedding [ang ganda nung wedding, promise. Naka kalesa pa yung bride hihihi. OM.], the cultural show took place in the Lola Basyang area near the bridge.

The dancers performed a variety of traditional Filipino dances, but my favorite is the singkil. I specifically love the way the dancers performed. They were all smiling and dancing vigorously and gracefully. My heart also raced during the sayaw sa bangko performance. Parang napapalukso din ako sa bangkong kinauupuan ko habang nanonood.

After the performance of the Las Casas dance troupe, Kundiman si Lolo, si Lola followed. The duet showcased old Filipino songs [Kundiman]. Too old, maybe, that I can’t even remember the titles. Haha!      

After the cultural show, we indulged at Marivent Cafe, located at Casa Unisan. They serve authentic Filipino cuisine that will definitely satisfy your tumblin’ tummies. I was too hungry to document what we ate, but all I can say is… yum, yum, yum!

I’m a carnivore, so I’m not really fond of eating veggies, but I still managed to eat their pinakbet. Ganon sya kasarap, guys. One serving is good for sharing, so it’s really sulit. The menu is quite expensive but it’s worth it.    

The best part of the dinner is the fusion of delicious Filipino food and music. Lolo and Lola serenaded us with their heartwarming music. The best thing about their performance, this time, is that you can request for any song. O diba. Define sulit.     

After the heavenly delicious meal [and the chikas for dessert], we went back to our room and ended our day with fulfilled hearts and tummies.

Please click here for Part 2. Thank yoouuu~