Masters And Servants ^_^

"I have a secret that I haven't told you--- I'm a Mage."

When I had my vacation, I found ample time to go over my copies of anime which I still havent watched. I wasnt able to watch all of them as I have a handful but one anime really caught my attention. It was the "Fate/Stay Night". This anime is actually an adaptation of a PSP game released in Japan and the characters resemble much of those from Ragnarok.

At first, I was kinda skeptical watching such anime considering its typical theme - battling to gain something of an enormous power. But as I delved myself into it, I realized that I liked it. For me, the characters are awesome (though the main character's looks resemble Ichigo from "Bleach".. but just a bit softer.. lol) and the way they linked them into legendary heroes was quite astounding.

"Shirou Emiya lost his parents in a fire when he was young and was later adopted by a sorceror by the name of Kiritsugu Emiya. Although he was full of admiration for his adopted father and yearns to become an ally of justice, Shirou has limited powers and was unable to become a strong sorceror like his father. That is until one fateful day, he was drawn into the Holy Grail War and had to summon a female "Servant" known as Saber in order to protect himself.

It turns out that the Holy Grail War involves a series of battles among powerful sorcerors to fight for the possession of a relic that will grant one's wishes, the Holy Grail. There are altogether seven "Masters" who can summon their respective "Servants" from different classes known as Saber, Archer, Rider, Berserker, Lancer, Caster and Assasin. These "Servants" have to hide their names in order not to reveal their weaknesses to the enemies."

Servants are the reincarnations of legendary souls from all across time. These resurrected Epic Spirits possess superhuman characteristics and wield powerful artifacts or abilities called Noble Phantasms. Servants use "mana" to keep them going and one thing that could replenish their mana is to devour human souls. Only one Servant can be summoned in each war from one of seven classes. However, the Caster was the one who summoned the servant assasin, which She used as a "gatekeeper".

Masters have what they call as "reiju" or command mantra which if activated can issue an irrevocable order to the servants. When all three Command Mantras are used up, Servants are no longer obliged to serve their Masters, and as such, may freely choose to turn upon their ex-partner. In the event of a Master's demise, a Servant may choose to bind him or herself to another Master.

The Masters and their Servants:

"I ask of you, are you my Master?"

1. Saber - a female servant that appeared for Shirou. She is considered as the best servant and is actually preferred by any Master. Saber, who happend to be "Arturia" was said to be a descendant of King Arthur. Her weapon, of course, is the Excalibur and her Noble Phantasm is the Avalon.

"You are my Scabbard.. and I am your Sword."

Saber initially fought with an invisible sword due to the incomplete and "unconscious" summoning process. But later on, Shirou was able to materialize her sword after returning her Scabbard which Saber thought was nowhere to be found. She later then realized that Shirou was "her scabbard" since Shirou's stepdad who happened to be Saber's previous master implanted that inside of him as his form of protection (the reason why he heals quickly).

Legendary speaking, the scabbard was said to be stolen from King Arthur shortly before the Battle of Camlann which maybe resulted to his severe injuries and even death).

She is superb in fighting but the most deprived when it comes to doing that. That is because Shirou prefers a "no fighting battle".. LOL. Saber is bewildered by Shirō's "protective" tendencies, and believes his erratic and reckless behavior jeopardize her chances of winning the Holy Grail War. Instead of being the protector of the master, Saber was the one being protected by Shirou... Now I think you get the idea of what might happen between the two of them.. ;)

Although Saber's previous Master - Kiritsugu, was the one who actually won the previous war, he forfeited the Holy Grail's power by giving Saber the command to destroy it (resulting to the river of fire that killed many people including Shirou's family). Saber was then defeated by a "golden" servant who have countless Noble Phantasms which He perhaps accumulated over the years (He's actually my fave! for reasons I cant explain.. lol). That golden servant seemed to really like Saber that she want to become his possession! Unfortunately, Saber was the "no strings attached, say-no-to-romantic-commitments" type. LOL

OMG! as in OMG! bwahaha.. I think I have said too much for just a single entity! nyahaha.. Sorry I got carried away that I even became a spoiler!!! ahaha :P I'll just leave the rest for my next post. Getting tired already and I still have to sleep again.. ahaha.. :D "Feels great to do something you're really fond of."

Roaming Rome ^_^

"The Glory That Was Greece; The Grandeur That Was Rome."

Rome, particularly the Vatican City is undeniably on a hot seat nowadays due to the rising and falling of issues and critics that the movie "Angels and Demons", a movie adaptation of Dan Brown's book is facing. Ever since the "Da Vinci Code", Dan Brown and Ron Howard (director) dealt with loads of criticisms but nevertheless, their work of art was astounding and something many people can never forget.

One thing that hooked me into reading and watching "Angels and Demons" is my inclination to history and breathtaking architectures. Evidently, "Angels and Demons" were full of magnificent structures and watching the movie just got me daydreaming. When and how on earth can I go visit Rome and many other historical places? *sigh*

As a result, my love for historical structures was again awakened. Rome is one of the many places I want to visit. And if given the chance, I'd be oh so willing to sacrifice a sound sleep just to go roaming around Rome. Lots of things can surely amaze me in Rome: churches, buildings, palaces, monuments, gardens, bridges, baths, basilicas, forums, gates, walls and many more. You name it. haaayz... thinking of those stuffs and going them over the Internet just makes me want to drool.. ahahaahah :D

Rome has unique and fascinating history, thousand churches, palaces and fountains; It is where behind every corner and building lays a secret to be discovered, a legend to be told and history to be revealed.

Traditionally founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, Rome began its great development beginning from the 10 century BC till it became first a Republic and then the centre of a great empire, the Roman Empire.

- Rome is in the Lazio region of central Italy on the Tiber river (Italian: Tevere). The original settlement developed on hills that faced onto a ford beside the Tiber island, the only natural ford of the river.

The historic centre of Rome was built on seven hills: the Aventine Hill, the Caelian Hill, the Capitoline Hill, the Esquiline Hill, the Palatine Hill, the Quirinal Hill, and the Viminal Hill. The city is also crossed by another river the Aniene which joins the Tiber north of the historic centre.

There are around 900 churches in Rome in total, aside from the cathedral itself, some others of note include: the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, the Basilica di San Clemente, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane and the Church of the Gesu.

One of the symbols of Rome is the Colosseum (70–80 AD), the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. Originally capable of seating 60,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial combat.

A list of important monuments of ancient Rome includes the Roman Forum, the Domus Aurea, the Pantheon, Trajan's Column, Trajan's Market, the Catacombs, the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Ara Pacis, the Arch of Constantine, the Pyramid of Cestius, and the Bocca della Verità.

Rome is a nation-wide centre for higher education. Its first university, La Sapienza (founded in 1303), is the largest in Europe and the second-largest in the world, with more than 150,000 students attending.

The works of the architects Borromini and Bernini, masters of the Baroque, left an indelible and representative sign to the city, embellished by a great numbers of palaces, villas, and fountains. Many works of art by the greatest artists of Italy and the world are gathered in the famous museums of the city and of the Vatican.

Miyazaki Madnezz ^_^

I've been digging Hayao Miyazaki's animated films lately and I never thought I'd enjoy watching them. Been fascinated by modern animation that I took for granted one of the pioneers of great animated films.

Miyazaki's films display an obvious trace of classic yet prominent kind of japanese animation that kind of looks like western too. Most of his films contain not the sort of action (although "Princess Mononoke" displayed many brutal scenes) that you can find in many japanese animations nowadays; but they truly depict astounding storylines.

Miyazaki has used traditional animation throughout the animation process, though computer-generated imagery was employed starting with Princess Mononoke to give "a little boost of elegance". Miyazaki's films often emphasize environmentalism and the Earth's fragility.

Anime directed by Miyazaki that have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award have been Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1984, Castle in the Sky in 1986, My Neighbor Totoro in 1988, and Kiki's Delivery Service in 1989.

1997's Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-Hime) centers on the struggle between the animal spirits who inhabit the forest and the humans who exploit the forest for industry. The film was a huge commercial success in Japan, where it became the highest grossing film of all time, until the later success of Titanic; and it ultimately won Best Picture at the Japanese Academy Awards.


Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, 2001) is the story of a girl, forced to survive in a bizarre spirit world, who works in a bathhouse for spirits after her parents are turned into pigs by the sorceress who owns it. Released in Japan in July 2001, the film broke attendance and box office records with ¥30.4 billion (approximately $300 million) in total gross earnings from more than 23 million viewings. It has received many awards, including Best Picture at the 2001 Japanese Academy Awards, Golden Bear (First Prize) at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival, and the 2002 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.


Howl's Moving Castle is a film adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones' fantasy novel. The film premiered at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival and won the Golden Osella award for animation technology. On November 20, 2004, Howl's Moving Castle opened to general audiences in Japan where it earned ¥1.4 billion in its first two days.



Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Naushika, 1984), was an adventure film that introduced many of the themes which recur in later films: a concern with ecology and the human impact on the environment; a fascination with aircraft and flight; pacifism, including an anti-military streak; feminism; and morally ambiguous characterizations, especially among villains. This was the first film both written and directed by Miyazaki.


Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), adapted from a novel by Eiko Kadono, tells the story of a small-town girl who leaves home to begin life as a witch in a big city.


Time to go for some good old stuffs. hahaha. I've already watched Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke. Next in line would be Kiki's Delivery Service. I dont know if I'm going to watch all or most of Miyazaki's films since I still have loads of other stuffs (anime/movies) to dig in. haha... Goodluck to me.. :D

Salute To Moms! ^_^

Mothers are irreplaceable. You can always find another lover after a breakup or other friends to hang around if some cant be available. But your one and only mom, no matter how annoying she is, how demanding or "irresponsible", she will always be your one and only mom and nothing could ever change that. Face it, no matter what happens to you especially during the bad times, you will always end up going back to your mom for some comfort and guidance.

Mothers differ in various ways. Some are sweet and some are super strict. Others may be carefree but most are anxious. You may find mothers who are disciplinarians as well as mothers who can just be your best friend. But one thing is common and constant, their love for their children. As such would mean their everything... their life. And no matter how great the sacrifice they would make, it's nothing compared to the satisfaction of seeing their children safe and well.

So no matter what kind of mother you have, it pays to give them what they deserve. You may not hear them asking anything for all the things they've done and given to you just like God who constantly gives His love and blessings without pressuring us to call upon Him. But simple acts of appreciation in the form of warm embrace and sweet kisses can truly make them feel so loved.

This Mother's Day, I'd like to greet all the Mothers in the world and salute them for all the things they've been through which are way incomparable. Their strength and faith can never be matched nor shaken by any circumstances the cruelty of life can bring. Kudos to all our Mothers!!! :D


Ma,

I am so sorry. Thank you. And I love you. *mwahugs*

Catching Up....

Well, Mother's Day is fast-approaching and I'm way anxious on what to give my mom as a gift. She deserves it... Every mom does. Lately, I have been depending lots of things to my mom.. especially the household chores... been quite so guilty for not being able to help.. but I just cant help it. Poor mom... Anyway, I'm planning to treat her exclusively.. but I bet that wont be possible coz we have a "bug" taking a vacation at home... hahaha.. cant wait for that little creepy creature to go home.. :D but truly, we're having a great time with her.... :D

For me, Mom's day should be celebrated everyday and not just on a particular occasion. So hopefully, you get to appreciate your mothers for all the hard work she'd been through and thank her everyday... For mothers, small things count... so a simple hug and kiss can make her feel better... and that's one thing I wasnt able to do for my mom.. tsk3... Geesh, I just get so emotional whenever my mom is involved... She and the whole family is my weakness.. but also.. my strength. :D

To catch up, I'd like to share some of these quotes intended for Mothers:

It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it.

My mom is a never-ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune.

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his. – Oscar Wilde

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. ~Spanish Proverb

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own. ~Aristotle

Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort. ~John Lancaster Spalding

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials. ~Meryl Streep

The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.
~William Goldsmith Brown

[A] mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. ~Emily Dickinson

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. ~Erich Fromm

Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My mother.
If I was damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o' mine, O mother o'mine.

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. ~Abraham Lincoln

A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done.

No one in the world can take the place of your mother. Right or wrong, from her viewpoint you are always right. She may scold you for little things, but never for the big ones. ~Harry Truman

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. ~Carrie Latet

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb

Never marry a man who hates his mother, because he'll end up hating you.

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but
whose place no one else can take."
-- Cardinal Mermillod

"When I was a child, my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk you'll end up as the pope.' Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."
-- Pablo Picasso