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In a post I wrote months ago, I mentioned how intrigued I've been to watch Romance is a Bonus Book. But there was another Kdrama that I also looked forward to watching -- Her Private Life. When I read that Park Min Young is starring in the series, I thought that maybe I'll enjoy watching this one too as I have seen her other rom-com, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim.

Her Private Life tells the story between an artist and eventually museum director, Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook) and museum curator Sung Deok-mi whose "private life" is the center of this Kdrama because next to working for Cheum Museum of Art, she is a fangirl of a Kpop idol, Cha Shi-an of the group White Ocean. Trouble ensues when a rumor breaks out that Deok-mi and Shi-an are dating. So in order to protect Deok-mi from the threats of Shi-an's diehard fans, Ryan Gold suggests that he and Deok-mi pretend to date each other instead. Another challenge was when the previous director's daughter, Sindy, (who is also a Shi-an fanatic) gets to be an intern in the museum with a mission: to prove that Deok-mi and Ryan aren't really dating. But the question of where their play-pretend relationship leads them is worth watching as you move from one episode to another (at least, that's how it was for me).

I honestly thought I would quit watching the second episode because I got annoyed with Ryan Gold's aloof personality. But towards the end of that episode (and after knowing that there's such a thing as caffeine allergy which made me think of my coffee consumption for a moment), I just found myself watching one episode after another which made me disregard my "one episode per night" rule. The decision was worth it. In one of the episodes, I even felt like being slapped by reality over the subject of having a little courage-- especially when it comes to love. Yup, at some point it made me remember a former professor's advice: follow the path to romance!

Pardon me for the lack of words on how I could describe my thoughts on this series. I guess it's because things have yet to sink in as I only finished binge-watching the series hours ago. But next to feeling giddy seeing the chemistry between the two characters, Her Private Life offered some surprising twists in the story. I've always wondered why those "bubble-themed" paintings were that important to Ryan. Who is Lee Sol and Heo Yoon-jae? What is the significance of Lee Sol and Cha Shi-an to Ryan? In all those, I was left with a surprised reaction when the answers are revealed. But what made me cry the most was when Sung Deok-mi found out the truth about the child named Deok-soo and what happened to him.

In general, Her Private Life was worth the late-night binge-watching. I can absolutely give a thumbs up to the characters, the plot, the feelings it will give the audience and even the OST (Float and Maybe are my favorites-- I even play that on repeat!) Next to people who are after some feel-good romantic comedy, this show is ideal for those who are inclined to arts and the artistic life and if you are intrigued about the life and how it is like to be a fangirl.

I've been MIA from this blog for almost a month. As of this writing, community quarantine has relaxed a bit. In the area where I am now, we're under general community quarantine from being under enhanced community quarantine for two months. Some forms of transportation are now visible though it seems restrictions from moving out are stricter than the previous months.

Malls are now open though they operate at reduced capacity. Honestly, if you are to ask me how am I feeling with these changes, I could not say I am relaxed -- or if I can even be. Instead of feeling better with the downgraded state of the quarantine, I felt more terrified seeing how people rummaged through malls and supermarkets on the first day of the general community quarantine.

It's as if a real-life Zombie Apocalypse happening. I feel more paranoid leaving the house to buy essential goods even if it meant just being outdoors armed with face mask and alcohol for just two hours.

Compared to the situation now, I felt more comfortable during the enhanced community quarantine. I prefer the previous guidelines of having a market day scheduled for each baranggay, when you are not scared of being flocked by strangers and people. I felt people were more law-abiding and cautious then than now -- when they all behave like bumpkins, forgetting safety measures by flocking the malls as if those establishments won't be there tomorrow.

I don't want to sound pessimistic. But it seems this form of leniency would end up doing more harm than good.

They say a lot of things shall change and they call it the new "normal". Being the paranoid one that I am, I have yet to really leave the house fully -- I'm thinking of doing so maybe after two more weeks. I don't know how it will affect me but changes in my usual routine with likely occur -- including the possibility of shifting to work from home employment instead of working in an office which I did for eight years.

And I hope to land one as soon as I get to settle the needed logistics for it.

Over the past few days, two articles became noticeable on my Facebook wall due to two common things: famous (Filipino) directors and Kdramas. One earned flak while the other received praise and appreciation. I was not supposed to write this post as this would be in defense of my perception of Kdramas but then I thought what I am about to say might somehow be valid.

Six weeks into the ECQ. I will not deny that while I am not the type who would indulge in binge-watching Korean dramas, these shows are partly doing its share to lessen the boredom that I am feeling with having to stay at home due to the implemented quarantine. I've never really immersed myself in Kdramas. It was only around 2016 when the medical drama Doctors aired on late-night TV that I found myself devoting minutes of my supposed bedtime to watch a creative output from another Asian country.

Photo: SBS Twitter page

I know I've previously mentioned in this post that this has been my favorite Kdrama. But I never thought that next to igniting my interest in medicine and life sciences, this would impart me great lessons on courage. I wouldn't say so, if not for a personal setback that I had to experience two years after. When the show was aired the second time through ABS-CBN's sister channel in 2018, I still went on to watch it. It was also around that time when our family faced the uneventful news that Papa was suffering from cancer.

Despite being told to live each day as normal as I can, I just knew that I am literally racing against time. When you learn that a loved one is suffering from an incurable disease, it's like living with a ticking time bomb every single day. So each one needs to make the most of the time that's left. My ultimate wakeup call came in the form of the Kdrama's episode 11. There was a scene there where Dr. Hong lay on the older Director Hong's chest while saying how happy he was to have him as his father. It made me realize that for the longest time, I was never vocal about such feelings to any of my parents, much more to Papa. I just knew that letting him know how much he was loved was something that should not be kept unsaid. And so, in our private conversation, two weeks after my 34th birthday, in between sobs from hearing his last requests, I took all the courage and strength that I have left and told him everything-- of how much he is loved and how lucky and blessed I have been for he was my father and not anyone else. My words did not come unreciprocated for I likewise received a reply that I'll always carry in my heart until it's time for us to see each other again.

That would be the last lucid conversation I would have with Papa. He turned for the worst in the days that followed and died five weeks later.

It's been a year and four months since he passed away and this is the first (and maybe last) time that I am writing about that moment on this blog. Recalling that moment causes my tear ducts to release the dam of emotions (and yes, I am partly sobbing as I type these things tonight). The void of losing a loved one will indeed remain in the heart forever but for me, the pain was somehow eased because I mustered the courage to do what was needed to be done and let out the most important words that were left unsaid for years.

So, going back to that director and his comment on Kdramas, I can say I have the right to oppose it. For what he claims to be just made out of faux Cinderellas and belofied characters once taught me something that his masterpiece might not be able to teach -- that is meaningful life lessons and courage was one of them.

Source: tvN Drama Instagram page

Today is Day 31 of the ECQ. It was supposed to have ended two days ago but given the current situation, the government decided to extend it to two more weeks. While it is starting to feel odd to be in idle mode for more than a month, I'm just looking at this stay-at-home period as an opportunity to catch up with several things -- which includes binge-watching the Korean dramas that I have always wanted to see but never had the time.

I just finished watching Romance is a Bonus Book last night. I've been meaning to watch it for months because I was primarily intrigued with the title -- more so, the story includes one of my favorite things: books. However, there was actually more to it than just the librarian and bibliophile life.

Romance is a Bonus Book revolves around the characters of Kang Dan-i (played by Lee Na Young), a single mother who hopes to return to the professional world after taking a seven-year career break, and Cha Eun-ho (played by Lee Jong-suk), a successful author, professor and chief editor for the fictional Gyeoroo Publishing. Despite being a successful advertising copywriter years before taking a career break, Dan-i decides to apply as a member of the publishing company's task support team. Eun-ho lends her a helping hand in many ways despite knowing that she could do much more than the just menial jobs.

I must admit, I had hesitations about whether to finish the series in the first few episodes because the story also includes the concept of noona romance (romantic relationship between an older woman and a younger man) in its premise. I find such topic to be a bit awkward. However, as the story progressed, this was portrayed interestingly (read: it could also be a good material for a kilig-filled love story). It was worth the late night puyat.

Another thing that I loved about Romance is a Bonus Book is that it gave viewers a glimpse of life in the publishing industry. The drama gave its audience a peek of the process involved in creating books as well as what happens to the copies that are not sold and why people should not open tear sealed copies of books in bookstore shelves more so fold its pages. I can't help but smile and sometimes nod at the same time because this made me travel back to my younger years because my first job after graduating was spent in the confines of a publishing house as an editorial assistant (though my boss was not as dashing as Cha Eun-ho). Writers, editors and booklovers will like this drama because it reflects a part of themselves.

I'd like to think that watching this drama while on a career hiatus was really something for me to do because aside from satisfying my inner bibliophile (the interiors and the library of Gyeoroo Publishing is on my bucket list!), Romance is a Bonus Book also teaches its audience about courage in facing personal and professional challenges -- that a person can be who they want to be no matter what their age is. That you're never "too young" or "too old" to start again in life -- may it be in career or love.

Today marks Day 15 of the Enhanced Community Quarantine. Two weeks of staying at home and three weeks of being away from the confines of the office.

I am still trying to stay productive from my end and my planner could somehow prove it. In the last fifteen days, I have just tried going around thrice but with a legitimate reason, that is to procure supplies and food and do some quick bank errands. Honestly, this current situation has inflicted me with some paranoia. I somehow fear to leave the house and be questioned why I am out. But so far, in the last three instances, I have yet to experience such fear.

I have been out of the office and away from work for three weeks now. And just when I thought my worry was all there is, I got notified through a phone call last Thursday that I only have 30 days at work as my boss decided to terminate my current Contract of Employment and this current pandemic is among the reasons. For a moment, this came as a huge blow. But somehow, I expected this would happen. Given the current situation and the drastic effect this problem has caused, I sensed that this would come too. The fact that this issue calls us to stay home for a month just to safeguard our health and well-being, it would mean crippling a business because we would be away for a month. And being understaffed is not a good thing for any business.

Maybe you're thinking, how come I could still be cool about this. Don't get me wrong. Part of me still is scared. After eight years of being with the same organization, I am suddenly unemployed. This would mean having to try to manage my money more efficiently. I am afraid too because this meant having to go back to step one, do the legwork and start over from the bottom.

It just felt disappointing that we in the team were unable to do or say farewell to everyone formally. The next time we will see each other will be just to clear our desks, retrieve our unclaimed stuff and process our exit clearance. But in a way, I was able to accept this situation calmly because I already have plans of filing my resignation eventually. I also wanted a career change after feeling that my life has been becoming stagnant and I don't want to be in that kind of situation forever. It's just that I find it difficult to decide so I have yet to do it. Until this happened.

I found it difficult to decide so God decided for me. I know I am left with no other choice but to start somewhere and right now, fear should not have any place in me whatsoever. I started working on things that need to be done to "start the ball rolling." And as I do, I also pray that once this pandemic is all over and things start returning to normal, God will replace the job that I had to lose with something better.

It has been eight days since I last went to the office. I am one of those employed folks who are currently affected by the government's order of placing some areas on an enhanced community quarantine in the hope of curbing the increasing number of CoVID19 incidents in the country that has now reached around 500 reported cases.

You might want to ask me how am I feeling. Honestly, this is completely different. It's kind of surprising that a virus, that is invisible to the naked eye was that powerful to halt everything and turn things around in an instant. Establishments are closed -- yup from schools, offices, malls even the coffee shops that I frequent every morning to get my daily coffee fix. Prior to going into this unexpected hiatus, I remember telling a colleague about how, during the time of our parents, we already thought being in the time of Martial Law is already the worst time to be in.

Only to realize that we, as adults in this present time, would witness and experience such period now. And compared to that of our parents, the one that is causing trouble now is something we do not even see -- which makes it all the more frightening.

I might be home now but still, I could feel the economic effects of this disease as an employed person. The enhanced quarantine period is supposed to be for one month. And it's for the same duration too that everyone is told to stay home. For someone employed it would mean being unpaid if they are part of the workforce that implements a no work, no pay policy. And being unpaid for a month is really painful in all sense of the word.Just like the others, I also have woes particularly what would come next after this or worst, what if this locked down situation gets prolonged. I am unable to work from home because the situation and technology won't allow me to perform my tasks efficiently unlike when I am in the office -- where what I need is there (and where the internet connectivity is steadier and much reliable).

One week down, around three weeks to go. Despite my worries, I just came into a resolve to think of the positive side of this month-long hiatus. Aside from using this time to rest and finally get enough sleep, I am using this time to catch up on attending to things that I realized to have been neglected for so long. I also think this time will also be good in order for me to think and decide on things and issues in my personal life that needs some realignment. I knew I need to act and decide on things that I have set aside many times when I should have already acted on it.

I am just like other people. Hoping and praying that the pandemic curve will finally be flattened and this frightening situation will finally be over.

For the past few months of 2019, I started to notice that I have a number of books that are left unread at home. It was also during last year that I learned about the Unplug to Read Campaign of National Bookstore. The campaign aimed at promoting the reading habit by turning off mobile phones and gadgets every night at 8:00 pm and devote time immersing in a good book.

I decided to give that campaign a try in November last year. I don't get to watch TV a lot except for the evening news program so I thought I will be able to accomplish it. Around that time, I was intrigued with the Wattpad writer named Jonaxx so I decided to immerse in one of her books, Training to Love. I would spend an hour every night (usually until before my bedtime at 9:30 pm) and I believe the bookstore's campaign worked. Call it an achievement but I finished this book in four days.

After succeeding in my first attempt, I decided that I could probably make it a habit. For this year, I decided to engage in what I call Two Book a Month Challenge. I found the inspiration for this project after seeing the posts of actress Toni Gonzaga and a Taiwanese mommy and businesswoman that I am following on Instagram named Nikki Wu where they would post books that they have read.

I decided to read at least two books of any genre within a month. Yup, just to be on the safe side because given that I sometimes have unpredictable workload in the office, it might leave me tired if not exhausted to read (or do anything). At least, if I specify and keep it at that number, I can still keep up with my assignment. For this month, I picked books by two Filipino authors to be on my reading list. Hello, Love Goodbye The Novel by Charmaine Lasar and Right Where You Left Me by Elizabeth Galit.

While I have seen the movie twice (!) last year, I still decided to read the novel adaptation of Hello, Love, Goodbye in order to further understand the events that transpired in the story but were never shown in the movie. Content wise, almost all the lines from the movie also appeared in the book. I enjoyed reading it because it included the backstory of Joy's life in the Philippines before flying to Hongkong. Parts of the book also provided narrations from Ethan's point-of-view. And if everyone felt bitin with how Ethan and Joy's story ended in the movie, the epilogue in this book will surely justify every moviegoer's plea for the movie to have a second installment.

Can love really happen between two people living different lives and totally different careers? That was the question that prompted me to get a copy of the book Right Where You Left Me through my friend Kim Derla (who is also friends with the book's author Elizabeth Galit). When I first read the short summary of the book, I just knew I had to read it and there was not a single moment that I felt doubtful if it will be worth reading or otherwise. More than just finding out if romance is possible between a doctor and an ESL teacher, I found the book delightful (at least for me) because aside from giving the glimpse of an independent life, the book touched a number of subjects too -- from the existence of "Judgmental Titas" which we all tend to encounter at a point in our lives, the fact that fights are sometimes an essential part and test of a genuine friendship, to the importance of deciding to follow your heart because it is by doing so that you will be genuinely happy. The book further fueled my belief that doctors are crushworthy individuals especially when I found out that the male character in the story, Dr. Danilo Almendras was actually inspired by a real-life neurologist. But you need to read the book to find out who he is.

The love month of February starts tomorrow and so, I'll be starting with a new batch of books for the month. I wonder what the genre suits best. Should that be love and romance or anything else? Drop me a comment. I'll be glad to read your suggestions.

MABUHAY!

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