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#TabiTabiPo

Do you believe only humans reside in the busy streets? Is there something lurking in the dark shadows? Let us join Alexandra Trese in her quest to protect her world from the sinister world of the aswangs.

Trese, is an animated show produced by Netflix base on the works of Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo.

The story revolves around the mandirigmang-babaylan or a warrior-shaman named Alexandra Trese. She goes around the city to solve unnatural crimes and exorcising aswangs creating chaos—basically saving the world!

These aswangs are not the kind you see in childrens’ fairytales. Instead, the aswangs are set in modern times, each having their own origins and back stories—which is usually based on the different aspects of the Filipino society.

Trese boldly tackles different social issues in the Philippines.

"None of you cops are saints. We're not people to you, we're just numbers, statistics." said by a character who had his brother who was suspected of possessing illegal drugs gunned down by the cops in the series.

This scenario make us remember the Drug War implemented by the Philippine President. Drug War was a campaign to eradicate the use of illegal drugs in our country. The cops were tasked to imprison individuals who possesses or sells any kind of illegal drugs.

A famous case of a teenager who was accused of possessing illegal drugs and was gunned down by the three police officers, but it was never confirmed if the teenager actually possessed illegal drugs.

Another famous aswang, called tiyanak—a monster that takes the form of an unborn infant. This monster returns to it’s true form and attacks once picked up by it’s target. The tiyanakportrayed in the series was a child aborted by his mother during her pregnancy, and returned to haunt it’s mother.

As a country where majority of the citizens are Christians, topics involving abortion is sensitive and is opposed by most people. However, it is reported that thousands of women secretly carry out abortions.

The show also features an aswang that lives in a mound of dirt, called punso. This aswang is called Nuno sa Punso. In this show’s case, it is called Nuno sa Manhole, as the name suggests, it lives in a manhole. Trese usually calls for nuno to gain informations by using the famous catchphrase in the Philippines: “Tabi-tabi po”.

“Tabi-tabi po” is a catchphrase used in the Philippines to give respects to the Spirits or Elements lurking around. “Tabi-tabi po” literally translates to “excuse me” in English. As the english translation suggests, it is used to say your excuses to the nunoor the other elements around whenever you are crossing it’s territory. When angered, the spirits or elements may give you illnesses that are incurable, unless you apologize while giving a peace offering.

Trese tackles many important social issues, while using the rich folklores found all over our country. It features varieties of supernatural beings known in the urban legends told by our ancestors.

Many kinds of aswang were portrayed and showcased in this series, and hopefully many more in it’s future seasons!

This show will surely fascinate you by it’s great storytelling and it’s nice portrayal of the aswangs.

Trese is now streaming at Netflix!

#netflix #trese #aswang #kambal #philippines #manila #drug war #illegal drugs #abortion #tabi tabi po #folklore #urban legends #supernatural #animation #alexandra trese #filipino #crispin #basilio #komiks

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A North Korean Tale

How many people are being abused and mistreated in this one hell of a country? A country with only one channel on television. A country without internet connection to connect to the outside world.

Her name is Yeonmi Park, a North Korean defector, now a human rights activist. Stay with me and let us discover the horrific experiences of the citizens of North Korea.

Yeonmi stood in a traditional Korean dress, in front of the audience at the One Young World Summit. She courageously tells her story while wiping her tears many times and having many long pauses, trying to compose herself.

In the terrifying country of North Korea, people aren’t free to sing, say, wear, or think what they want, and even executes people for the sin of making unauthorized international phone calls.

Yeonmi said that, growing up in North Korea, she never saw anything about love stories between men and women. Books, songs, movies, and the press are banned from publishing literary pieces. No one knew about Romeo and Juliet, the only stories they heard was a propaganda to brainwash children about the dictators leading their country.

Born in 1993, Yeonmi Park was abducted at birth. She never even learned the words freedom or human rights. Every citizen are desperately yearning and dying for freedom.

At the very young age of nine years old, she saw a friend’s mother being publicly executed for the crime of watching a Hollywood movie. Expressing your thoughts about the government may even get three generations of your whole family killed or imprisoned.

At the age of four, she was told by her mother not to make even the slightest noise, as the forest and mice could hear her every sound. She even thought that the North Korean dictator could read her mind.

Unfortunately, when they escaped to China, her father died. She had to bury him in secret, and couldn’t even mourn her dead father. She couldn’t cry because of the fear of being sent back to the horrible country of North Korea.

The day the young Yeonmi escaped from North Korea, she witnessed her mother being raped. The Chinese broker was eyeing the young girl, but her mother allowed herself to be raped instead of her precious daughter. In North Korea, there is a saying that every mothers are always strong for their children.

About three hundred thousand North Korean refugees were vulnerable in China. North Korean women and teenage girls, are being sold, sometimes so far as low as two hundred dollars.

Following the path to freedom, they walked across the Gobi Desert, trying to escape to the free country of Mongolia. She felt that only the stars we’re crying with her and nobody in the whole world cared.

Mongolia was their only way to freedom. They were prepared to kill themselves, if they were going to be sent back to North Korea. They only wanted to live as a normal human being.

When they arrived at Mongolia, they were placed under arrest and was kept under custody at a detention center at the capital of Mongolia. They were eventually freed and was allowed to depart to Seoul, South Korea.

Yeonmi and her mother had difficulties adjusting in the life at South Korea but still managed to find a job and continue her studies. In the year of 2014, Yeonmi was informed by the South Korean intelligence, that her sister was also able to escape from the hellish North Korea. They were eventually reunited together with their mother.

In the present, Yeonmi Park is living in the United States and is telling her tale as a Human Rights Activist.

#north korea #defector #refugees #freedom #human rights

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#TokYO! Let's GO!

Fashion. Food. Tourist Spots. A State of the Art City. Tokyo, a city in the sophisticated country of Japan. A city full of amazing people, great foods, hot tourist spots, trendy fashions, and great culture. Indulge yourself in the spectacular city of Tokyo!

Tokyo is a whole new planet itself, and it is a must-see for each and every travel enthusiast. Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture, discover more of the sophisticated city life, and transform into a real-life cartoon character. Not to mention the diverse, unique, and wonderful food choices available. There is just no city like Tokyo... and here is my very own Tokyo travelogue!

As you land in the city of Tokyo, you will mostly find yourself looking for a way to roam around the city. Here’s where the modern transportation system of Japan comes in. One of the most sophisticated railways around the world, having 13 subway lines and more than a hundred surface routes run by Japan Railways and other privately-owned companies, Tokyo’s transportation system was surely geared up to bag many world records. Most places in the city are accessible by trains, if not by short walks.

When using public transportation, make sure to stay off your phone and keep it on silent mode to avoid distubances with the people around you. If you happen to see a pregnant woman, elderly, or a disabled individual, be sure to give way and let them have your seat. It’s a law!

Going back to the first word of this blog, Fashion. If you are a fashion enthusiast, you’ll surely love it in the fashionable Harajuku District in Shibuya, Tokyo. If you like offbeat style, such as Lolita, a Japanese fashion inspired by Victorian and Rococo clothing, you’ll enjoy shopping at the colorful Takeshita Street. After seeing the colorful street of Takeshita, you may continue your shopping at the high-end stores at Omotesando while admiring the fine architecture on your way. Feeling tired? You can take a break at the lovely art galleries and fine cafes at Aoyama. You’ll surely love the cozy feels in their cafes!

If you love anime, you’ll surely enjoy going to Akihabara Electric Town. Akihabara will surely wow you with their complete volumes of anime, manga and gaming merchandises. Anime enthusiasts will surely find anything that they need for their collections—comics, CDs, figurines, cards, and costumes for your cosplays.

You can also check out the bizarre maid cafes where waitresses dresses in maid outfits inspired by the customers fascination with mangas and anime.

After a long day of travelling around the city, you’ll surely be looking for a place to eat. I always believe that food tastes a hundred time better after a long tiring day. It is noticeable that the foods served at the customers are meticulously prepared and presented almost the same as the picture you saw at the menu. The ingredients are also carefully selected to assure that the foods being served are fresh and full of flavours that will taste like treasure in your mouth.

You can find varieties of restaurant in Tokyo, whether you’re in a budget or you’d like to go-all-out and treat yourself in a nice and expensive dinner. Almost every food you can find will surely satisfy your food palate.

After a nice meal, you will surely want to explore the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree. Towering at 634 metre height, you’ll get the full view of the city and the fascinating city lights of Tokyo. You’ll also love the botiques on your way up to the observation decks. Located on the 5thand 6th floor is the Sumida Aquarium, you’ll find fishes such as sand tiger sharks directly purchased from Ogasawara Islands and Eels with different colors that will surely catch your eyes. There is also about fifty Magellanic Penguins in one of the largest indoor penguin pools in Japan.

Tokyo is full of surprises and surely won’t disappoint you. Anything you want? You’ll be able to find it there. Food galore? Shopping spree? Tours? It’s there. You’ll end up not wanting to go home after spending some time there.

There’s nothing not to love in this city full of wonders and uniqueness.

#TokYO! Let’s GO!

#tokyo #japan #shinkansen #harajuku #fashion #takeshita street #omotesando #aoyama street #akihabara #electric town #anime #manga #comics #cosplay #maid cafe #tokyo skytree #sumida park

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Taylor Swift: Reputation

“Look what you made me do.” Every artists has their own peak and downfall.

A country sweetheart turned pop princess.Taylor Swift was your average teenager, except her beautiful voice of course. Taylor Swift gained recognition as soon as she released her very first self-titled debut album “Taylor Swift”.

The sixteen-year-old was building up a career with songs like 'Our Song' and 'Teardrops on My Guitar,' which became teenage anthems. They went crazy about her voice, and she struck the nail on the head, securing her popularity.

Following her initial success, she recorded the album Fearless, which was released in 2008 alongside her single "Love Story." It peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, with "You Belong with Me" at number two.

The lyrics, which were inspired by Swift's sentiments as a teenager as a result of personal romantic experiences, address all aspects of love, from infatuation to heartbreak. The title relates to what Swift said as the common theme of all songs, since they all represent her bravery in confronting the difficulties of love.

In 2009, the ‘Billboard 200' named it the best-selling album of the year. MTV also named the song video the "Best Female Music Video." She was also selected 'Artist of the Year' for her record that year.

Taylor Swift proved to her fans and critics alike in 2012, with the release of her new album 'Red,' that she was more than just a country artist. The album had tracks from diverse genres, including dance-pop, heartland rock, and dubstep, and received positive feedback.

She characterized the album's many musical influences as a "metaphor for how messy a real breakup is," and called it her "only true breakup album." While the music on the album transcends her country roots, her storytelling talent, honed by her country background, stays intact in her songs.

In contrast to her earlier songs, which featured fantasy-driven scenarios with happy endings, Red confronts the unsettling fact that even the most apparently everlasting romances may end in heartbreak.

She became the first female to have three consecutive albums sell over one million copies after the release of her critically acclaimed album '1989' in 2014.

1989 showcased a maturity in Swift's perspectives: Rolling Stone noted that the album was her first to not villainize ex-lovers, instead expressing "wistful and nostalgic" opinions on broken relationship.

Taylor explained: "In the past, I've written mostly about heartbreak or pain that was caused by someone else and felt by me. On this album, I'm writing about more complex relationships, where the blame is kind of split 50–50... even if you find the right situation relationship-wise, it's always going to be a daily struggle to make it work."

Following the release of 1989, her first official attempt into pop music. She had no idea what to do following the Grammy-winning venture. She didn't have to wonder for long, because the drama with Kanye West, as well as her sexual assault complaint against a former radio DJ, happened soon after.

She was influenced by the attention all over her and composed Reputation with two themes in mind: one based on excessive media gossip, and the other on finding love in the middle of chaotic circumstances.

Taylor teased a rhyme that will describe Reputation before her release: “There is no further explanation, there is only reputation.”

Every artists reaches their peak and walks in the path of stardom but eventually, they will reach their downfall. May it be because of them losing popularity, or the negative issues that emerged and killed their careers.

Taylor Swift was strucked hard after the drama with Kanye West, and her sexual assault complaint against a former radio DJ. Amidst all this issue, other people may give up and lay low. Taylor was different. She made this issues her motivation and surprised everyone by showing a new side to her. She turned her supposed downfall to another rise in her career.

“With Reputation, I wanted to keep my head down, not say anything, but work harder than I ever worked. It was really motivational for me to just have the stadium tour to prepare for and prove myself almost. My career was in a weird spot, but still have that kind of ignite something in you to work harder, to practice longer, to think of bigger, better concepts for the live show.” She explained.

#taylor swift #fearless #red #t.s. 1989 #reputation