Why the Fuss?

Lately, there has been some clamor on the inaccuracy of the storytelling of Amaya. Apparently, some groups are complaining that there is an incorrect depiction of the binukot tradition in the first-of-its-kind Philippine TV series. Personally, I don't get the reason why there is this fuss about Amaya's historical accuracy. Sources for the background of the story of Amaya have been cited by the writer, Suzette Doctolero, numerous times. History professors are consulted with even the most minute of details. Also, the show is a fictional story with a historical background; the reason why it's called historical fiction. The story was developed by putting together clues from our not-too-documented past, since Philippine ancient history was usually in the oral tradition (not that our ancestors were illiterate).

However, even foreign historical series are so full of artistic liberties to make the story appealing and exciting to its viewers. For example, we know of King Henry VIII as the polygamous monarch of England, but much of what is mentioned in the TV series, The Tudors is far from real. For example, King Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn when he was in his 40s, but in the series, the infamous king married her at a younger age. Physically fit Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who was chosen to portray King Henry VIII, is also far from the fat, bearded king.

According to some ancient Korean sources like the Samguk Sagi, the birth of Jumong, founding monarch of the Kingdom of Goguryeo, was legendary. He hatched from an egg which resulted from the union of Hae Mosu and Yuh Wah, the daughter of the river god. However, in the Korean historical drama, Jumong, Lady Yuh Wah, and the warrior Hae Mosu were mere mortals. Jumong’s son and heir in the series, Yuri, is also now thought to be a usurper of the throne because it puzzled historians why Jumong died only five months after his son’s arrival in Goguryeo.

Because of the scarcity of details about the life of the first female doctor to the king, the writer of Jewel in the Palace depicted Jang Geum as a deposed palace chef who struggled to study medicine despite the dominance of men in that field. In the annals of the Joseon Dynasty, there is never any mention of her serving as a palace cook. In another Korean historical series, Deokman rose to power after struggling for what is rightfully hers. While the story is perfect for a colorful TV drama, nothing in the Samguk Sagi is mentioned of her struggles before becoming Queen Seon Deok of Silla.

Academy Award Winning film Ben-Hur talks about the story of two friends, who eventually become rivals because of beliefs in their own governments and religions. While the story is set during the time of Jesus, the events and even some of the characters in the story are purely fictitious. Another Academy Award winning film also draws inspiration from history, yet weaves a beautiful fictional story of love, courage and sacrifice: Titanic. The shipwreck did happen, and some of the characters in the movie were historical figures, yet the leads Rose and Jack were entirely a product of a creative mind.

Amaya intends to tell a beautiful story of the struggles of a woman in a time dominated by men while masterfully revealing the colorful Pre-Hispanic history of our nation. If we stick to that premise, we wouldn’t need to bother ourselves with petty issues taken out of context of the story and production.

150 Years of Dr José Rizal

June 19, 2011, marks the 150th Birth Anniversary of Philippine national hero, Dr. José Protacio Rizal.

A man way ahead of his time, Rizal--or as his friends would fondly call him, Pepe--was gifted with talent for art and literature. But apart from merely creating literary works that other writers of his generation did, he used his talent to promote an idea, that of nationalism, of love for one's own country. He chose to use his gift not for personal gain, but for the good of his fellow men. It was very easy for him to merely choose himself over his countrymen; he was born of a wealthy family and he was educated, having graduated from some of the finest schools in the country. He could have used his talents for international recognition, but wherever he went, he longed for the sake of the country.

I admire him for who he is. And that is why José Rizal is my hero.

Online Tickets?

One of my closest friends has once told me that if one can, he must watch at least one major concert or sporting event in life, because he may never know when that event will present itself again in the future. I agree with him a hundred percent. For this year alone, there are several major events to look forward to, from major concerts to major sports events. For starters, try to look up the event schedules of your favorite music artists online.

Your search engine tells you that Alicia Keys will be at the Beacon Theatre on June 30. Wish you had Beacon Theatre tickets to her concert? Or Honda Center tickets for The Lord of the Rings In Concert: The Fellowship of the Ring on October 15? How about Madison Square Garden tickets for the November 14 Josh Groban concert? No matter what up and coming event there may be, one can never be sure about tickets and seats as prices can be steep especially for major concert and sporting events.

Good thing, there’s A Cheap Seat. A Cheap Seat provides cheaper options compared to many online ticket resellers. They provide tickets and seats to many events across the country, including major championships or concerts. Every day, they have great deals on premium event tickets! So whether you’re getting Nassau Coliseum tickets to see the cast of Glee live in concert, or Staples Center Tickets to see the Los Angeles Lakers in their home court, there could be no other option.

Fashion Schools: Why Not?

A good friend of mine once told me that fashion helps people express their feelings, emotions, desires, place in the society, beliefs and ideas that it actually reveals a lot about the true nature of people; fashion defines the individual. I firmly believe this. I have friends who have an optimistic view on life who showcase their positivity through the clothes and accessories they wear. Likewise, I have friends from the other end of the pole; they highlight their pessimism by wearing dark and subdued apparel.

Still, individuality does not make an excuse for people to become fashion victims just because they feel that they want to wear the clothes they wear. I’d like to think of this as something like democracy, where citizens enjoy certain privileges and perks because they are governed by the will of the people, but even so, they still have rules, laws and obligations to attend to.

A lot of attention has lately been given to fashion. Fashion TV programs have sprouted like mushrooms; fashion reality TV shows are some of the most popular programs today. But while fashion can be learned on TV, it’s still best to learn fashion by enrolling in fashion stylist schools or escuelas de estilistas as there are plenty of things that get edited out because of the time. And as demand for fashion increases in our cosmopolitan world, enrolling in fashion schools will not only ensure someone to be in style, but will also open doors to employment and compensation opportunities.