The Centennial Concert (June18)

Despite all the "mad" ramblings regarding the Centennial Concert tickets, I got in the first night! Yes, thanks to my over-determined classmates. The sole reason why I attended Wednesday morning’s events was to here news about the tickets.

After the opening with the "circle of balloons", after seeing a long line of students at Vinzons buying the ID lanyards, after the performances of By Hannah, PEP Squad, and Sitti at Vinzons UPgrade, and after the band and the 100 Oblation Runners, I resigned with the idea that we cannot make it to the night’s concert.

Come afternoon, I went to see my dentist at Makati, when my classmates texted me that they got in the bus. On my way to follow them at CCP, they texted again saying they already got tickets for us - of course, for free.

I don’t know if I’d call it luck or hundred percent determination. The night was really a once-in-a-century kind of concert. As they dubbed, "UP’s history through song and dance". A night full of talented performers you can never put together again in one event.

Plus, Julia Abueva was there. She sang "Next In Line", as a finale, preceding the "Our Beloved UP/UP Naming Mahal".

I’d say the highlight of the event is the interpretative dance of UP Filipiniana and UP Dance Company portraying THE OBLATION. Second would be the PEP Squad and Street Dance’s MOVE!

The concert started on time and ended at 10:45.

Equilibrium (2002)

It’s conflicting really. I’m reviewing the story here, the plot, the concept - and not any other factors. Reminds me of that long Korean video that looks like a phone commercial (with DBSK and Boa, and other Korean artists).

Peace, by elimination of emotions. Not only emotions, indulgence in books, music and arts are forbidden, too. Their world is controlled by someone called "Father" and their government, Tetragrammaton. They call anyone who don’t follow rules the "Sense Offenders". And then the lead character Preston (played by Christian Bale) discovered how to feel, how to let his emotions take the course of his actions.

What confuse me is that - if their world is completely void of emotions, why is it that they feel anger (shown when Brandt was supposedly arrested as an offender and in a couple more scenes)? It’s a contradiction. Is it only joy, happiness, the sense of life in arts, music, books that they want to eradicate?

Equilibrium, in the mere definition of this word, is maintaining balance. And, putting biases aside, no one can survive just by thinking or just by feeling alone. Objectivism doesn’t mean the eradication of emotions.

And I did get the message they wanted to convey; but somehow, in highlighting something that which is your point, you forget the "equilibrium" in the story. In trying to break the dominant by highlight what is subordinated, you somewhat distort the story by not giving equal emphasis to the other side.

But then again, people can argue, that’s not the point. The point is emphasizing the subordinated. Just like the authoritarian or fascist system controlling its subjects.

In the present world, however, especially in the Philippines, I can see that it is the emotions that is winning than objective and rational thinking. Take a look around you, you’ll notice what I’m talking about.

Sample lines:
Mary: Let me ask you something.
[Grabs his hand]
Mary: Why are you alive?
John Preston: [Breaks free] I’m alive… I live… to safeguard the continuity of this great society. To serve Libria.
Mary: It’s circular. You exist to continue your existence. What’s the point?
John Preston: What’s the point of your existence?
Mary: To feel. ‘Cause you’ve never done it, you can never know it. But it’s as vital as breath. And without it, without love, without anger, without sorrow, breath is just a clock… ticking.