Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Favorite Fiction Characters

Here’s the list of my favorite fictional characters:

Most Fave Literary Character – Sherlock Holmes.
Hands down. He is the most intelligent hero in fiction. Holmes excels in all areas of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Intelligence. And since he is cool (and cold) and immune to worthless emotions, he can think and act logically without the biases emotions can bring. He also possesses great skills and talents and knowledge in many areas, related or not to his profession. Truly, a genius this man, Sherlock Holmes.

Most Fave Comicbook Character - Spiderman
I was a Spidy fan since I was a small boy. I like him not only because of his cool powers and abilities, and not only because he is intelligent, witty and charismatic, but also because of his principles and outlook. True to his motto, “With great power comes great responsibility”, he strives to always use his powers to fight for what’s good, protect the weak, and help and save others, even if he is always bombard by many personal problems, and sometimes people don’t appreciate him and his sacrifices, even calling him a “menace.” Spider-Man, Peter Parker, is a true hero.

Most Fave Literature-to-Movie Character – James Bond
I love the James Bond character in the books and the movies – intelligent, confident, versatile and charming. Throw whatever mission or problems at Bond – no matter how “impossible” – Bond always find a way. In my opinion, the best spy hero in fiction.

Most Fave Heroine – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Yes, it was a cool TV series. One of the main reason why Buffy is very cool is because of Sarah Michelle Gellar. Not only because Gellar is hot, but because she portrayed Buffy well, that many of us grew to love the vampire-butt kicking vampire slayer.

Most Fave Anime/Manga Character – Genjyo Sanzo
He’s just too cool, with his revolver, his costume and his Evil Sutra. His persona is very fascinating -cold but not coldhearted. His “Sanzo Party” is the coolest and most entertaining and most “invincible” foursome in fiction - and Sanzo is the coolest, most entertaining, and most “invincible” among them.

Most Fave Comic in Fiction – The Mask
The most entertaining antics belong to The Mask making him my most fave comic (second is Genie of Disney’s Alladin). I may also add that he might be also the most indestructible character there is, but of course his alter ego, Stanley Ipkiss is very fragile. I liked The Mask movie but I appreciated him more in the cartoon TV series. His trademark expressions “Smokin’!” and “Somebody stop me!” are very cool. And no matter how serious the situation is, he goes through them goofing, but getting the job done.

Most Fave Duo – The Hardy Boys
I was very fond of the Hardy Boys books when I was still young (and up to now). Teenage sleuths with the capability of solving mysteries, and getting the bad guys in dangerous adventures makes everybody admire them. Their intelligence, along with their other skills and know-how, makes them larger than life heroes. Imagine, they’re teenagers!

Most Fave Swordsman – Himura Kenshin
He’s the best swordsman from all the fiction I’m exposed to. Battosai the Slasher. But what makes me admire him is his conviction that he will never use his skill to kill anymore, by using a reversed-edge sword, and by avoiding conflicts, but not to run away from things that he knows that he can help into. But, to kill or not to kill, Kenshi rocks when he finally draws his sword…. Hiten Mitsurugi style!

Most Fave Criminal Genius – Artemis Fowl
I first read about him when we were in the same age – twelve years old. And I quickly grew fond of him, a boy criminal genius. I do love geniuses – not geeky geniuses like Dexter – but geniuses like Artemis Fowl. It is fun how Fowl develops flawless plans, can think under pressure, and manipulate effectively though he is still a young boy.

Most Fave Headhunter – Duncan MacLeod the Highlander
I hated the movie “Highlander: The Source”, but I liked the Highlander TV series and animation. A sword wielding immortal what walked through the centuries of history, cutting off heads of other immortals because “there can only be one” is so cool.

Most Fave Psycho Vigilante – Batman
The Dark Knight is the first in my list in this category (second is Punisher). He is the coolest character of DC Comics, and the movies and TV animate series of his I also loved and enjoyed. His costume design is good that it makes you forget how cheesy that “the underwear is above the pants” thing in superheroes. Plus, he has cool gadgets and he relies to his fighting skills, intelligence and cunning to survive in the business because he does not have any super power.

Most Fave Villain – Hades
No. Not the Hades in old Greek mythology. But the Hades in Disney’s Hercules. Coolest and most entertaining villain is this guy. The way he talks, his entire atmosphere, and “Vadabim Vadaboom!” Yeah, the best villain there is.

LAUGHTER

Laughter is magic. Laughter is a statement. Laughter is a philosophy. Laughter is an instrument. Laughter, does not only breaks the ice, but breaks entire walls of glaciers. Laughter works miracles. And laughter is the best medicine.

I love to laugh and be happy, and make others laugh and happy, too. That’s why I read a lot of satire and humorous literatures. I am fond of jokes. I am “game” when it come to wholesome “trippings.” And I love comedy. Laughter is one of the good things in this world, and I meant to enjoy it. I indoctrinated laughter in my life - an important part of it.

“Laughter is the best medicine.” I agree with that statement. Of course, one should not always interpret it as true. Of course, laughter does not cure the diseases, but one can endure and forget the disease because of laughter. Laughter is a panacea in its own way.

There is a saying, “don’t cry over spilled milk.” True. Do not cry, but laugh instead. Not all human mistakes are horrible. It is good to laugh at our mistakes and troubles. If we just think about it, we start to realize, that sometimes our mistakes and troubles are not worth crying at, but rather, it is a laughing matter after all.

Life is funny. There are a lot of things we can find to laugh about in this life. A good sense of humor in looking at things is an optimistic point of view. Being serious once in a while is not bad, but being very serious and losing one’s sense of humor is bad indeed.

Sharing a laugh with someone is better that laughing alone. So, it is good to share a joke or a humorous anecdote or event. It is also worth reminding that, laughing with someone is good, but laughing at someone is not good – especially, if that someone don’t think it is funny.

Someone said to me, “laughter is not really the best medicine but rather the best disguise.” Mmmm, I don’t really agree with that. Sure, when you laugh it doesn’t always mean you are happy. When you fake laughter, it is not a true laughter since it lost the essence of a laughter – which is supposed to be with fun, humor and happiness. But still in times of troubles or loneliness, laughter don’t really mean you are in a great state of happiness and humor, but during the time you were sincerely laughing – a joke or other humorous realization – you are at least happy for five seconds or five minutes or the span of time the joke or humorous realization has effect on you. That is better than nothing.

A good sense of humor and laughter is a gift from God. And like all gifts from God, it is worth sharing and spreading. Go on, friend, spread laughter.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Some Tastes

When asked, “What kinds of books are your favorites to read?” I answer, “All of them. I read all kinds (which is true).” Or, “What kinds of music do you listen to?” My reply: “All kinds of good music.” Or, “What kinds of food do you eat?” the answer is. “I’m not a pick eater.” This goes for movies, TV shows, games, etc. I have a wide area of interests, and so my answers to questions like that are not specific. Ask me what are my favorites… the list is long.

But okay let me be a bit specific on some of them…

I like to read best mystery, thriller, suspense, espionage and such (I grew up reading Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew that lead me to read Sherlock Holmes and James Bond later on). These kinds stimulate my mind most. But of course I like to read other genres, too, like classic, sc-fi and fantasy – but not romance. As for non-fiction, I prefer biographies, history and witty essays or reflections above other else. Michael Crichton, C.S. Lewis, Max Lucado, Mark Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are my favorite authors. As for comics, I grew up on Spider-Man and Marvel Comics, so I say Marvel is my fave. As for local, Pugad Baboy is the best!

For music… Rock is my favorite (I’m not much of a hip-hop fan, but I listen to some of them, too). I’m a kind of music lover who prefer Hillsong over Integrity, Bon Jovi over U2, Beethoven over Mozart, The Beatles over The Rolling Stones, Maroon 5 over Linkin Park, Rivermaya over Bamboo (Rico Blanco left the band? Pity. I guess Bamboo is now my fave local band, unless Rivermaya can make further impact without Blanco), Red Hot Chili Peppers over Limp Bizkit, Eagles over Led Zeppelin, The Corrs over Evanescence… I’m that kind of music lover (but of course I still think of Bamboo, Evanescence, Integrity, Led Zep, Mozart and others are great). In summary, I’m into good music… not worthless noise.

The movies I prefer most are action, suspense and comedy (that’s why I like Jackie Chan), and of course animation, too, and movies that entertains and makes the viewers think. Same with TV shows, I like animation, action, suspense and comedy. I really really love cartoons; even now that I’m not a child anymore (I love both American and Japanese cartoons [and comics]). I watch TV shows like “The Twilight Zone” (my fave), “The Simpsons”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel”, “Smallville”, and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” to name some of them. I love Discovery Channel and National Geographic.  There are no local TV shows that made an “impact” to me. As for Asianovelas (as they are called), there’s “Gokusen”. Other than this, there are none that became a favorite. I liked the early part of “Meteor Garden” but it got too syrupy as the show progressed so I dropped it. And for Mexican telenovelas (that were amusingly dubbed), there are three (so far) that I can still remember that I liked, they were: “Maria Mercedes” (I was in Grade 1 then and it was the firs of its kind), “Alta Gracia” (Now this is my most fave TV show from Mexico ever. The mystery and plot was just too good! I even cut classes back then to watch episodes of it), and “Daniela” (it has a great theme song).  Between the two, I prefer soaps from Mexico than soaps from Asia (which most of them come from Korea).

And now for food… I love fish (though beef is my favorite), I grew up on them. I also love eggs. I do eat ampalaya (I like to cook them with egg, tomato, onion and garlic), my fave veggie next to potato. But, of course, shakes are my favorite drinks, pizza my all-time fave food, halo-halo my fave dessert, sisig my fave dish, and chocolates my fave sinful food. My diet very much also includes Lucky Me instant pancit canton, canned corned-beef and lots of bread and rice (very Filipino!)

Okay. Okay, I’ll include my taste on girls before I end this essay. Mmmm… I’m attracted to girls with beauty (but beauty with no character? Forget about it), inner beauty that equals her outer beauty, talented and intelligent… girls that make me say, “Wow. There’s something fascinating about her.” But don’t get me wrong… I like female friends, and not female flames.

Of course, all our tastes vary and these tastes can reflect on what we value, what we prioritize and what we are as a person.  And these some tastes I had mentioned should, somehow, give you a glimpse on what kind of person I am.