Perils of Becoming a Genius

It's easy to call anyone who does an extraordinary act a Genius. I do it all the time and in the process blur the line that separates real genius from average-thinking people like myself. I like listening to intelligent people talk about solutions or mere concepts that propel the progress in our civilization. To me, visionaries are considered genius regardless of their IQ level. However there are organizations, particularly the Mensa, which standardize the tool used in singling out genius from the rest.  I think it's just fair that the top 2% of the population belong in an elite club where they can enjoy privileges worthy of their brilliance. They deserve it. I applaud all kinds of genius because their minds are the modern weapon, so to speak.


Top: H&M | Skirt, belt: from Tutuban Mall in Divisoria | Shoes: CMG | Bag: Fossil | Necklace: Pull & Bear | Bangle: from Platinum Mall in Thailand

These photos were taken last 8 March, serving as my Dad's second birthday celebration with my cousins here. Everyone was feeling lazy then, not even wanting to go out so we opted for a nearby restaurant where we can come in our pambahay and have no one frown upon our get-up (I can't let go of my heels though). Bonus points for the karaoke inside the room. I love singing! We ate in Seafood Paluto in Daang-Hari, a 15-20-minute drive from Alabang. The first celebration is HERE.



It's just fitting that when I talk of genius, I actually think of the author of my favorite book - Oscar Wilde. When someone is capable of shutting up his detractor not by force but by words, and make the latter realize the extent of his stupidity and subsequently become the cause of his eternal embarrassment, then he is my Mr. Miyagi (I'm a huge fan of the Ralph Macchio - Pat Morita's Karate Kid).  Anyway. When we read novels that speak to us beyond the themes present in them, we wish that the author lived in our times just so we can hit him with a Hi-Hello-you're-a-genius-can-we-be-friends note. Certainly an email will suffice (at least for Jodi Picoult who patiently responds to my fanmails). I haven't read from a more illustrious author who can romanticize insults and make the recipient look forward to it. By anyone's standards, Wilde is a literary genius.




Another genius I look up to is Stephen Hawking. I first knew of him when I saw him in an episode of The Simpsons where he told Lisa that "sometimes even the most intelligent are fallible". Of course then it wasn't his wisdom that made me remember him but his wheelchair attached to the computer that aided his speech. For a 12 year old girl, his physical appearance was greatly alarming and fascinating at the same time. It was only years later (I think I was 19 then), when I picked up a copy of his A Brief of History of Time that I was astounded by him for the right reasons. To be fair, I did not understand almost anything in the book despite his attempt to dumb down the explanations. I got a few things though such as, he does not believe that the biblical God is responsible for the universe. What can I do, my mind is more inclined to understand the controversial over the scientific that composed the bulk of the book. Anyway. Since then, I tried to learn as much about him as possible. I saw Benedict Cumberbatch' Hawking (which was terrific!) and later on, I watched Eddie Redmayne's The Theory of Everything (which was even more terrific). I haven't read the novel from which it was based but the movie was good enough to complement what I already know of him. I'm a fan! Wow. Of all the things he stands for, I guess the best piece of wisdom he shares is his warning to everyone about developing a machine that is more advanced than the human counterpart. He's among the most prominent beneficiaries of Artificial Intelligence yet he's also among the most prominent who warns against its danger.




But there are dangers associated to big minds. Perhaps Sherlock Holmes and Sheldon Cooper, although both are only fictional characters, embody the concept that when someone has too much of a thing, he also has something that is lacking. Most often, a high IQ begets a low EQ. The idea of "putting one's self into another's shoe" that we learn when we are young is not something that is present in a genius. And then there's hubris. It comes with the territory, I guess. When someone knows that he is superior, it is expected that he thinks he's incapable of being wrong. There are other perils in being a genius but I'm most particular about the Genius' difficulty in forging relationships the way others his age can. What prompted me to talk about this topic is knowing that someone I care for deeply is due to take tests that will determine if she's a genius or someone with a different condition. Ever since she was born, she has been different. She's only 5 years old yet her command of Math, reading, and Science are advanced. She's so good in academics yet she has problems in relating to anyone. A few days ago, her doctors advised her parents to have her checked because her brain movements are much advanced compared to her peers. People like her need more attention than say, people like me whose difference from others is only rooted on shallow views. And people like her will demand special attention for the rest of their lives.



The final verdict? For someone who wishes to leave an imprint on the world when it's my time to leave, it's easy to wish for a brain that's more than capable. Those with genius-level capabilities tend to make impact on the world more than the rest. But when I get right down to it, they suffer from a difficulty that the rest do not even know of. It's difficult to say which group has the better in life. But personally, I'm somehow contented with the limited thinking that I possess because in a world where relating to someone else is very important for survival, an equal level of IQ and EQ is most effective. Or maybe it's just the Marketing graduate in me whose training is all about connecting people.

Start Them Young

Our baby girl Rayne graduated from pre-school last 21 March 2015 as the Valedictorian of her class. It's a feat that merited gifts, celebrations with her family from both her parents' sides, and immeasurable pride in everyone who loves her, myself included.

Polo top used as dress: Zara Man | Cardigan, socks: H&M | Leather gloves: Temple Street Night Market in HK | Shoes: Adidas

Considering that she's the youngest in their class, she looks like everyone's older sister right? This must be how I look like when I'm with my friends, only I'm everyone's younger sister. Oh well. I wasn't able to take a decent photo of what I wore to her graduation but since this blog is about me-thoughts, me-outfits, me-reactions, I had to post accompanying photos that show what I wore from head to toe. You know, just to satisfy the pretend fashion aficionado in me. The rest of the photos were taken on her graduation day.

Rayne with her classmates

"There was something that he lacked: discretion, aloofness, a sort of saving stupidity."

Over the last months, I finished reading two novels which immediately rose to my 5 Favorite Novels Of All Time. (I really have nothing to share so I'll babble about books today) George Orwell's 1984 introduced the concept of doublethink. To simply put, it's how intellectuals have to be selectively stupid. See, when one lives in a superstate like Oceania with an omnipresent leader such as Big Brother who dictates the expected conduct of everyone, free-thinking is not only frowned upon but more so, greatly prohibited. So even if one knows that Big Brother is just a concept and the history is simply a constantly rewritten novel by members of Minitrue, he has to convince himself that whatever the Inner Party says is true is the truth. 1984 is a brilliant novel that ticks off everything that I look for in a novel. I love words and how they bring to life abstract ideas. This novel didn't only display a new way of putting words beside each other to paint a different term but it also created an entirely different dictionary known to the Party as Newspeak.

The greatest act of rebellion begins with an idea. But as others said, chaos resulted from well-meaning ideas. Stephen Hawking benefits from the advancements of technology but he's never short on warning us about the precautions of having a machine that's capable of being smarter than our race. He warns us to be wary of all the devices that Science is developing under the guise of innovation. Once technology can read what's inside our mind, freedom will cease to exist. Perhaps the government, or a powerful country's government for that matter, can then monitor every one's thoughts under the pursuit of the common good. Who's to say then that 1984's Thought Police are far from reality?

"And that's what's frightening the life out of me. To have no idea."
The stories of Sherlock Holmes were so good that I found other detective stories falling short in comparison. Until I've read Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. I've long been impressed when a book references another literary material so from the very first page of this novel, I was already devoted to finishing it. At the very heart of this, I'd like to believe that this is about a test of one's morality. Was Judge Wargrave's crime justified when all his victims were all criminals, who continued to freely roam around just because the law cannot reach to them, as well? As with all other morality tests, it can only be answered by those who are subjected to the case. Every one else either becomes a passive spectator or self-righteous commenters.



Philip Lombard is my favorite character not only among the 10 "Indian boys" in the story but among all the books I've read. He readily admitted to his crime instead of denying the accusation like the rest did. Secondly, he's very intuitive and logical. His high sense of survival would have brought him out of Soldier Island alive but alas, the panic in the survivors bested him out. It's a shame how the only character who somehow saw the tell-tale signs, which were brilliant by the way (the poster in each room, the figurines on the table, and the glimpse in each of the characters' thoughts), had to die eventually. Of course his moral fibres were also tested. But he's decisive so he knew that if he would choose to stay with the natives, they will all die. To cut the story short, he knowingly left the natives to die and chose to save himself. Was it wrong to choose one instead of none? Again, it's not for us to high-handedly decide on.



I can go on in articulating a few more of the themes in these novels but I'll save them up for future posts when I'll find myself at a loss for insightful thoughts once more (which is pretty often). To close, allow me to say a few words about my cousin's celebration. Since there were around 15 of us that day, her parents decided to have it in Yakimix in Alabang Town Center. I think it's just right that kids are pressured to excel right from the beginning to gauge whether he can do it or if he excels in another area. I grew up with a very lax attitude towards education and by anyone's standards, I've among the poorest study habits. A classmate never even had to dare me to not submit homeworks because chances are, I didn't even have plans of doing anything at all. But as expected, my grades heavily suffered from my attitude - well at least, in my parents' standards and mine. So I say to everyone else, a certain amount of push is necessary. If one wants success, then start young.

The Child They Love The Most

 I have always deemed myself lucky with the kind of parents I was born into. Perhaps I'm as opinionated as I am because they have always encouraged me and my brothers to speak our minds at all times provided that we do it in the appropriate place and while ensuring that respect for both ourselves and the person we're talking to isn't sacrificed. I've generally made my choices in life with my parents' approval in consideration. Of course this doesn't mean that I haven't messed up. I did, plenty of times to be more precise. I keep on making the wrong decisions as I grow up. And it keeps on getting harder to accept the disappointments I subject myself to due to error in judgments but with my parents' accepting nature, at least there are two people whom I don't have to worry about being disappointed in me.

Dress used as top: Zara | Earrings, ring, bangles: Aldo | Shoes: People Are People | Skirt: Zara

This is what I wore to my Dad's birthday lunch celebration in The Cafe in Hyatt Hotel located in City of Dreams last 7 March. We celebrated with the rest of our extended family the following day, which I'm going to post here in a few days or weeks, depending on whether I'll have something to talk about or not to accompany the photos. Anyway. I can't believe 2 months have passed by!! I haven't written anything in February (the last two posts do not count since technically, they happened in January) and March. So I'll publish two entries within the day to compensate for them.



Let me get on my high horses and do something that I both enjoy and detest: preach. Provided that the person came from a fully functional family, he (just to be clear, I'm all for gender equality but the use of "he" in context here is gender-neutral) is completely indebted to his parents. As such, he has the responsibility to live up to his parents' expectations of him. No, really. Call me boring, call me out for sucking up to my parents but I think, when one's only resources, pardon the term for being so frank and tactless, are his parents then it's counterintuitive to disobey the parents' sound decisions. It's called "basic gratitude", I believe. I don't even know where to begin in trying to understand when one deliberately defies his parents' reminders yet has the gall to ask for allowance the following day. Where did he get such impertinence? Financial support aside, the parents are there to provide the necessary voice of reason. They normally advise what would later on become the right advice. They know a lot of things and they are only after ensuring that their children grow up to be better than them.




We search for help elsewhere or a listener in someone else but we fail to see that our parents would want us to turn to them. Definitely we can't talk about specific topics with them - topics that we will hide from them for as long as we live - but I've always believed in communication so even the mundane aspects of everyday life, I try to expound on when I'm with them. Besides, it's in those seemingly trivial stuff that a person's level of thinking is revealed. Not that I've any proof about mine but both my Dad and Mom have superior understanding of almost everything as proven by their immaculate school records. So I really relish every time I get to talk about new and insightful discoveries with them.



I guess the best thing that parents can offer is genuine emotional support. For which I am lucky as I have a Mom who serves as my thoughts' sound board and a Dad whose comments have constantly redirected my goals when they're shaky. There's something very uplifting in knowing that when everything goes wrong and my sudden self-doubts rise up to the surface, they're there to listen. My parents know me so well that even when I got in conflict against school teachers once who tried to paint me in a much negative light, my parents laughed it off. My parents have always been on my side. And to me, their approval is the only thing that matters. I may constantly mess up a lot but as long as I can make my parents see the reason behind my actions, I'm good.

On these notes, I hope either of my parents see this because after the fur vest and fur jacket, I'm going to ask for a new cape. This has been a lengthy prelude to asking for something. Oh well. Happy birthday, Daddy! 

Title's from Phineas and Ferb's Candace Flynn 

La Bête et Sa Rose

Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
With a dreamy, far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle
- Belle

What's with French boys and their roses? I just realized that a pretty rose was central in both the Little Prince's and the Beast's stories. Sorry, even this tiny detail amazes me! So there, I used 'The Beast and His Rose' for my title.


Top: Zara | Brooch: H&M | Skirt: Collab MNL (loved it too much, Ver!) | Shoes: Michael Antonio | Watch: Anne Klein

I wasn't supposed to watch Beauty and the Beast because I was trying to save my parents from spending some more on me this month (I watched it on the 31st January. The post before this happened on the same day) after covering all the expenses brought in by my birthday celebrations and because my musical buddy is currently in Australia with my cousins (Hello Lala!). But then at the last minute, the thought of not seeing this production in person saddened me. So I made the abrupt decision to pester my Mom into buying me a seat, even if I'd have to watch alone. Thankfully I have a very cool, very supportive, very reasonable, very open-minded, very kind, very beautiful Mom. More than buying me a ticket of my desired seat, she willingly accompanied me as well. (Hahahahaha you are super, Mommy!)

As my life has been altered once
It can change again
Build higher walls around me
Change every lock and key
Nothing lasts, nothing holds
All of me
- Home




Don't believe me? Ask the dishes
They can sing, they can dance
After all, Miss, this is France
And a dinner here is never second best
Go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest
Oui, our guest
Be our guest!
- Be Our Guest

Disney musical productions are more difficult to pull off because there's already a material to be compared to. Disney has always set the bar so high that imitation is highly undesirable. So who else can top off a Disney movie? Why, Disney of course! Have I mentioned that in all the interviews I've been to, both in school and possible work, I've always given Disney as my dream corporation to work for? I digress. I can't help singing along all the familiar songs because surely, anyone who's watched the Beauty and the Beast film would know parts, if not the entirety, of the songs. Even the dialogues were too familiar that I can spout them off. ("If it's not baroque, don't fix it") These were clear attempts to show how faithful to the movie the musical production is. As for the costumes, they were terrific! I'm particularly happy with Madame de la Grande Bouche's dress (Yes, the Wardrobe has been finally given a name in this version). All in all, I believe the production is a perfect showcase of what Disney has always stood for: an overall overwhelming experience that doesn't sacrifice any aspect of a good story.



It's not because I'm vain (although really, how can anyone who has a blog all about herself not be vain right?) that of all the characters in the musical, my favorite is Adam Dietlein's Gaston. He's just so funny and unapologetically obsessed with himself that I can't help but believe he is indeed God's gift to women. He's a narcissist down to his core. I'm all about seeing a character respond to a catalyst that will change the way he looks at certain things but sometimes, a character is already so perfect that he doesn't need changes anymore. He's already in his optimum. Such is the case for Gaston. I deliberately didn't include lyrics from any of his songs because choosing only a few lines wouldn't do justice to his greatness. When he starts wooing Belle through his perfectly titled song "Me" which goes along the lines of "we shall be a perfect pair rather like my thighs", I can't figure why a sensible ambitious girl like Belle would turn down a he-man such as Gaston when she knows that "no one's slick as Gaston, no one's quick as Gaston, no one's neck's as incredibly thick as Gaston's". Gosh Belle, you're made of steel to not positively respond to the sweetest proposal I've ever heard. "On occasion, women can have their uses too; mainly to extend the family tree. Pumpkin, extend with me!" If his "Me" song wasn't enough to unfasten your resolve, how could you have still said No after hearing Gaston and the townspeople's uplifting "Gaston"? A he-man "built 6 foot 4" with special talents like expectorating (an inspiring talent if I must say so) who has two songs all dedicated to himself wants you for his wife. Okay fine, maybe he has faults too (very minimal though!) but even if "he plans to persecute harmless crackpots" (like, say, Belle's father himself) and admits to taking "cheap shots", isn't it enough that he has "biceps to spare"? Hahahhahahahaaha. Kidding aside, Gaston in the musical is just as villainous as in the movie's. Only, he's the type of villain whose stupidity and narcissism are endearing. Bad actions should not be rewarded, I know, but points for consistency I guess?


Can you just imagine how much more perfect Gaston would have been to me had I seen Hugh Jackman's performance? I would willingly pay for another ticket just to see Gaston again.
from For the Love of Broadway Musicals

Long ago I should have seen
All the things I could have been
Careless and unthinking, I moved onward 
- If I Can't Love Her



Beast: I never knew books could do that
Belle: Do what?
Beast: Take me away from this place
Make me forget for a little while
- Something There

I intentionally wore blue and white since they're the colors in Belle's town dress. The brooch was more symbolic rather than an ornamental piece as well. To represent the Beast's rose, I wore the only flower brooch I have. Probably the only article I donned that was inconsistent of Belle's outfit was my pair of shoes. I should've worn black but hey it didn't look as complementary to my outfit as my blue ones. Oh no, I'm not a mental dresser who always injects symbolisms in what she's wearing. I'm just desperately salvaging my image after admitting to liking Gaston. Haha! Anyway, I'm so jealous of the kids who were seated near us. Some were wearing fur capes like what Belle was wearing! I wish I have the same guts to wear mine as well in public. (There goes the usual shallow babble).

When I'm human again
Only human again
When the world once more make sense
I'll unwind for a change
- Human Again




Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast
- Beauty and the Beast

I Know What We're Going to Do Today!

Whoever thought they'll eventually outgrow their fixation on children shows should un-think this resolution. It's impossible. Probably they may lessen their daily serving because the show has finished its run or because they do not approve of the new changes or their schedule doesn't allow them to catch the shows on TV  but one day, when they stumble upon remnants of it, they will immediately fall back into its claws once more. I know so because even though I'm already in my early twenties, I have to have a fix of Phineas and Ferb.


Dress: River Island | Shoes: Mango | Flower headband: Forever21 | Necklace: Ever New (thanks S!)

My cousin Jesse (Isabella's nickname is Jesse because she's born on December 25th) flew all the way from Australia to Manila to celebrate her first birthday with her family and relatives here. That is, after she celebrated plenty of times back home. (Tsk tsk. Kids these days are dethroning me in my birthday-associated spendthrift ways Hahahaha) Her party here was held in One Corporate Centre function room which the management, headed by one of my mom's best friends Tita Weng, decorated very appropriately. Hence, I couldn't stop from gushing about my admiration for the well-detailed party. I was wearing a floral headband when I entered the room which proved to be a wise choice since there were lots of accessories to choose from to be in one with the theme. One of which is the array of floral headbands and hair ties.






with cousin Jesse and her mom, Tita Imee

I've been watching Phineas and Ferb since I was in High School. I was gripped the moment Phineas reasoned, "The Stone Age was once the future, as was the Middle Ages. Creativity and inventions never end!" The word play in the dialogues, the tactful insults, and the musical productions (oh where do I even begin with the beautiful and melodious musical productions?!!) - I'm in awe of all of them. As Baljeet said in one episode, 'it is gratifyingly erudite.' I figured, it would've been a really fun life if you're surrounded by people whom you can constantly exchange witty remarks with.


Weeks ago, I was in Disneyland with my family, grandmom, and my cousins and their family. I successfully convinced myself to not buy anything from the stores save for gifts to give for my goddaughters Paris and Martina but along the way, I saw this Perry the Platypus hat. It's non-negotiable, I had to have it! (Oh yeah, remember this place from this POST?)

On that note, hearing news about Phineas and Ferb's new look is making me anxious but definitely in the most positive way!


video source



Trust my words, this won't be the last time I'll post about Phineas and Ferb and their friends. I would've written more but I'm in a hurry. I only have 30 minutes to change and dress up for tonight's Beauty and the Beast show! I can go there wearing this outfit but I've prepared a more suitable Belle outfit. The shallow person in me is grinning Hahaha Ta-ta for now!

Title's Phineas' famous line.