PAL RAINE

Since I made my Goodreads account, I've been reviewing books. It's the biggest group of book lovers in the world, where you can find and read more books you'll enjoy and keep track of the ones you want to read. And yes, some of the Goodreads books I've read have been made into movies or TV shows. One of these is the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid called "One True Loves."

After watching the teaser for this light, sappy yet endearing enough romcom, I found myself siding with Emma's fiancé Sam rather than her estranged spouse Jesse, who arrives four years late to disrupt her wedding preparations.

But before we get into the review, allow me to introduce you to the main character of the film:

If you've watched the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, that's Simu Liu who played the character in One True Loves, "Sam".

Who could forget this actor, Luke Bracey? His role in The Best of Me (2014) is one of my favorites, and I absolutely adore him. This movie made me cry a lot of times while I was watching it. He is an amazing performer, and the way he brings Jesse to life in this movie, "One True Loves" is nothing short of brilliant.

Phillipa Anne Soo is an actress and singer from the United States. She is best known for her leading roles in musicals on Broadway. She has won two Grammy Awards and been nominated for a Tony Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. She first appeared on TV in the NBC series Smash in 2013. Since then, she has been in the Hulu miniseries Dopesick (2021) and the Apple TV+ show Shining Girls (2022). In the film, One True Loves she played the character of Emma.

And getting back to the movie itself, my opinion changed after I saw it. Initially, Sam (Simu Liu) came across as a little damp. Then Jesse (Luke Bracey) appeared again, this time wearing that awful tracksuit. Eventually, Sam's tone became quite paternalistic. And Jesse's tone became quite patriarchal. I came to the conclusion that Emma (Philippa Soo) would benefit from spending four years on a desert island alone, away from both of them.

It is very difficult to pick one loved one over another. Both people deserve your consideration. Because you don't want to do harm to anyone else, it might be quite difficult to decide what to do.

The choice that Sam has made to provide Emma with some personal space is the right decision. He wanted to give Emma some space to reflect on their relationship as well as her relationship to her husband, who had been presumed dead for four years but was found to be alive and expressed interest in reuniting with Emma.

On the other hand, Emma made the correct choice when she chose to spend quality time with Jesse (her husband). In my opinion, this is the case, because if she did not do that, she would not be able to determine which option to go with. After spending some time with Jesse, she realized how much she cared for Sam.

Nonetheless, in the end, Sam won over with his fixation on the three dots that appear when someone begins typing on a mobile device and then... stops.

The plot moves at an awkward pace, and the romantic subplots, which are what we really care about, are as absent as Jesse was for so long. Sam's character lacks emotions. I need more reactions from Sam and Emma. You'd have to convince me to keep loving these characters if I hadn't already done so, and "One True Loves" doesn't do a very good job of doing either of those things. Nevertheless, what I liked about this movie is the comedy part from Sam's students and co-teachers; they made a great team!

Plus, I have a great time watching it because I have with me my youngest daughter, a cousin, friends, and social media colleagues.

Super thank you VIVA INTERNATIONAL PICTURES AND MVP ENTERTAINMENT, GAISANO MALLS OF DAVAO, and GCinema for the #AprilMoviePremier.

This was all made possible by the following sponsors: HALO HALO 97.1 DAVAO, BLACK BEAUTY PHILIPPINES, MX3 CAPSULE, RD PAWNSHOP INC., PEST SCIENCE CORPORATION and GRAPIXELS MULTI MEDIA ADVERTISING

Philippine Christians observe Holy Week by participating in the Stations of the Cross, going on a "Bisita Iglesia" (or "Visita Iglesia"), in which they visit different churches, and rising early on Easter Sunday to witness the "sugat" (in Cebuano) or "salubong" (in Tagalog), or the reunion of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her son Jesus Christ. That is pretty much how we spend Holy Week every year. Yet, since the outbreak, we have stayed inside and followed the activities online.

Both of my parents were quite involved in church activities when they were younger, serving God to the best of their ability and having a strong desire to be of assistance to others within the church community. I was raised watching them serve the church after they got off work, and as a result, I was occasionally left by myself with my maternal grandfather and my maternal aunt. Though sometimes they bring me with them to church, because I was very young at the time, I always sleep while waiting for them to finish the seminars they facilitate.

What I've described is merely a brief overview of my parent's participation in church activities during the 1980s and 1990s. Now fast forward to when we moved to a different archdiocese and my parents stopped attending church. They are probably too old to participate in church events or too far away from the church where they regularly serve.

Personally, I grew up without a strong preference for either Roman Catholicism or the Born Again movement. Everyone on my mother's side is a born-again Christian, and I feel obligated to honor their faith. I've grown up in the same house with my family. I was brought up observing their devotion to the religion they had followed for generations.

Now that I'm a mother of two young adults, I make sure they understand the importance of upholding our faith in God. I entered the Catholic faith through baptism, same with my two daughters. Both my parents' and my extended family's faiths have my utmost respect.

HOLY WEEK 2023

At this point, all pandemic protocols are being lifted, and we are free to participate in any activities planned by the church. By taking part in what is known as the Alay Kapwa, my mother has resumed her service to our GKK (Gagmay'ng Kristiyanong Katilingban), also known as a Little Christian Community. ALAY KAPWA is a resource mobilization program that involves making contributions (alay) to our fellow men and women in the community, also known as our neighbors (kapwa), particularly those who are disadvantaged and underprivileged. The things that unite us and the things that we are able to accomplish for the Anawim, also known as the spiritually impoverished, are manifestations of our solidarity in the fight for genuine human growth.

During this trying time, the practices of pagmamalasakit, pagbabahagi, and pag-a-Alay Kapwa are more compelling and important than they have ever been before.

To tell you the truth, ever since the pandemic protocols were eased, I still haven't made it to church. Perhaps I still have some reservations about going inside. I did nothing more than light a candle in front of the church, and that's it. Indeed, I continue to pray every day in the privacy of my own room, where I also reflect and read from the Bible. I am sorry if you find this weird, but please understand that this is simply how I communicate with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My family observed Maundy Thursday in the same manner as we always do: by remaining at home and carrying out our usual chores while I am out doing errands to pay our bills and stock up on groceries for our household.

Attending mass on Maundy Thursday, during which the priest washes and kisses the feet of 12 individuals, most of whom are members of the church, is a customary way for us to mark the occasion, as seen by comparisons to previous years' observances. When I think back on it, I realize that one of those individuals is my father. At the time, he served as a liturgical leader in our church.

Now, I'm stuck in line because I need to pay for my groceries. This is how I spend Holy Thursday.

In the Philippines, it is customary to recite the Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. This is done as part of the tradition known as "Visita Iglesia," which involves going to seven different churches.

As a result of my mother's strong devotion to the Virgin Mary during my childhood, she took me to each of the five churches that are located within our city. Imagine a little girl like me who will always go with her no matter where she goes, even if it is extremely hot and exhausting. That is how I am with my mother at all times on Good Friday.

But, during the year 2015, my father and I took part in the traditional "Visita Iglesia" by going to various churches in the city of Davao. In 2017, I was accompanied by my youngest daughter to participate in the Stations of the Cross. We visited a variety of churches, and I instructed her on how to pray. And in the year 2018, both of my daughters came with me to Shrine Hills so that they could also take part in the Good Friday events. The purpose of including them is not to convert them into devotees; rather, it is to instruct them in the customary manner of performing the Stations of the Cross. I just conveyed to them the traditional values and skills that were instilled in me by my parents.

We did not travel anywhere this week; instead, we remained at home. The same old thing: watching TV, KDramas, or CDramas while simultaneously engaging in other activities like online shopping and eating. It is, in fact, the Friday before Easter, and you are right; we ought to go to church. It is the time to exercise penitence and abstain from food because doing so is the customary way of commemorating Holy Week. But, despite the passage of time and my continued respect for the conventional method of accomplishing this task, I find it to be completely ludicrous. It would be very unfair for us to try to fast, especially considering that my elderly parents are no longer capable of doing so and that both of my children, who are now adults, and I have our own set of health issues.

The final day of the fast is known as "Black Saturday," and it is during this time that Filipino Catholics express their sorrow over the death of Jesus Christ. My father used to bring me to see Jesus Christ's dead body when I was a little girl. I would scream and cry, not because I was sad, but because I was afraid to touch the dead Jesus Christ. I still remember that from when I was a kid, and it kind of messed me up. And I don't want that to happen to my kids, so when they are young, I don't let them see that kind of thing.

Now that I've gone back and stocked up on the groceries I neglected to buy last Thursday, my Black Saturday has taken on a very different tone.

Waiting for the Facebook "sugat" or "salubong" kept me up all night. Alas! The live video from San Pedro Cathedral allows me to witness Mama Mary being reunited with her son, Jesus Christ.

When I was young, my dad would wake me up early so I could see the "sugat" or "salubong." And it makes this little kid's heart sing to watch my pals playing angelic roles like pulling the linen over Mama Mary's face. And the way they sing the Alleluia makes me think they must all be angels.

On Easter Sunday, I did, in fact, allow my children to observe the "sugat" that is traditionally performed. This is the most exciting thing that happens during Holy Week, and my favorite part is after the service when we get to meet with the risen Christ, give him a kiss, and touch his mother's linen gown. After that, the next step is to purchase kakanin outside of the church. Outside of the church are a number of tiny shops offering various snacks, such as biko, suman, puto maya, etc., and when we arrived home, we devoured all of them!

This time, though, I was the only member of my family up to watch it take place on Facebook Live as the others slept. Well, it is three in the morning, and as far as I can see, I'm the only one who is still alive, alert, awake, and excitedly watching the live streaming. Following that, around four o'clock in the afternoon, Vatican City is streaming live on Facebook the Easter Sunday Mass that Pope Francis presided over.

MY REFLECTION

As we get older and our ideas about life change, so do our ideas about how to celebrate Holy Week. Holy Week is the most important time of the year because it is when we remember the last week of Jesus' life on earth. From the sacrifice, suffering, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the events that led up to them, these are the days leading up to a great awakening.

In the past, we always did things the way Christians have always done them during Holy Week. Holy Week was a serious time. There were no TV shows or radio stations; malls were shut down; and neither cable nor the internet existed.

Kids today won't go through this. Everything changes, and the way I celebrate Holy Week also changes.

Over 79 million people in the Philippines use GCash to make online transactions that are quick, safe, and easy. It is the number one finance super app in the Philippines. Data.ai, a trusted third-party platform, says that GCash is the #1 Finance Super App in the country because it has the most downloads, the most monthly active users, and even the most daily active users, meaning that people use it every day.

GCash was the first company in the country to use the QR payment system. It first came out as an SMS platform in 2005 and then as a super app in 2012. During the pandemic, it helped Filipinos move to digital services. Now that the world is back open, it is expanding its services to meet the changing needs of Filipinos in the digital financial world.

At this year's #GCashFutureCast event, GCash showed 10 ground-breaking innovations for every Filipino that will shape the future of Fintech.

Tools for Financial Freedom

GCash has made it easy and convenient to use money management tools like savings, insurance, and investments. Now, it makes products that help people grow their money and keep it safe.

The GCash app lets people buy and sell stocks online through GStocks PH, which is run by AB Capital Securities, Inc. Its trading interface was made to be easy to use and simple by working with the Philippine Stock Exchange. Users can now trade the stocks of more than 280 local companies through GStocks PH. Soon, more people will be able to use GStocks PH.

Users can learn about and explore the world of Crypto and NFTs with GCrypto. On the GCrypto NFT Hub, users can see collections like The House of OhLala by Filipino contemporary artist Reen Barrera. A PDAX-powered exchange makes it easier to buy and sell cryptocurrency. PDAX is the leading cryptocurrency exchange in the Philippines.

For just P34, GInsure Online Shopping Protect insurance covers all of a user's online purchases for 60 days and up to P20,000. The insurance covers situations in which orders are not delivered, are accidentally damaged, are not as described, or are stolen. The insurance product, which is powered by Chubb, is built into the user's online GCash payment journey across 1,500 online shops and platforms.

GCash goes global

With GCash's new services, Filipinos can now travel without cash anywhere in the world. Filipinos who live outside of the country can now use GCash to send money and help to their families back home.

Filipino travelers can use GCash Global Pay to pay with QR codes at Alipay+ stores in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Germany, Italy, France, and the UK. This saves you the trouble of having to pay with cash or take money out of an ATM, where you may have to pay high service fees. It lets you charge in Forex in real time, and there are no service fees.

With a GCash Card, travelers can buy foreign currency in real time at low exchange rates and no service fees. With this, people can use their money with just one tap at more than 100 million stores in 200 countries and territories around the world that are part of VISA's huge network. This means that travelers can shop and eat without any trouble, no matter where they are. Later this year, you'll be able to get the new GCash card.

GCash Overseas, Filipinos living in Japan, Australia, Italy, and the United States can use their international SIM cards to download GCash. Now they can send money to their families back home, buy loads, and pay bills for them. When they send money to another GCash account, they don't have to pay a fee. This saves them the cost of remittance fees. GCash also announced that it is now available in both the United Kingdom and Canada. GCash Overseas is currently in Beta, which means that only a small number of people can use it. Soon, though, more people will be able to use it.

Borrowing made easier

Filipinos can now buy now and pay later with no credit cards, no extra paperwork, no down payment, and now no interest at certain merchants thanks to GGives. Users of GCash can now buy things in stores or online without the usual restrictions that come with payment plans.

Borrow Load will let eligible users borrow their favorite load promos today for free, so they can still enjoy their favorite entertainment even if they don't have much money. With load deals that last up to 7 days, they can now afford to use apps that use a lot of data. Borrow Load will soon be available to more people.

Improved security and user experience

GCash has added two new features that will make transactions safer and easier:

A new, user-friendly messenger feature GChat makes it easy to talk and transact with contacts, share receipts instantly, and track transaction histories. The feature makes it easier to find conversations with friends, merchants, and customers, while Gigi and Advisories provide real-time support. GChat will launch in a few months.

DoubleSafe is the newest security feature for GCash that stops scammers from taking over accounts. It adds another layer of security on top of 2-Factor Authentication and the mobile PIN (MPIN). DoubleSafe will be activated the first time a user logs in to a new mobile phone. If the user accidentally gives their MPIN and OTP to thieves, facial recognition will protect their account.

GCash CEO Ms. MARTHA SAZON

Martha Sazon, the CEO of GCash, stated during the FutureCast event, "GCash has empowered and encouraged every Filipino to maintain optimism and pursue growth." Being the number one Finance Super App in the Philippines and the first finance app to become a household name in the nation, GCash is positioned to empower everyone to be future-ready. "With GCash's ten new breakthroughs, our hopes for a better future begin now."

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It's been more than three years since COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown measures forced Uniqlo Philippines to cancel its Style Talks. Since then, we've been treated to a screen-based fashion display of historical moments as they unfolded.

Uniqlo has previously held Style Talks here in Davao City last July 2019 with Bea Constantino and Pia Wurtzbach.

Now, Uniqlo Style Talks is back in front of a live audience, this time with Mia Adarna (Cebu) and Andrea Taylor (Davao). These days, however, shows and events are starting to make a comeback. We met up with these two industry insiders to talk about the future of summer fashion essentials as the world is beginning to open up and major events begin to resume.

UNIQLO SUMMER STYLE TALKS

I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation from the EON Group to attend the Uniqlo Summer Style Talks held at SM City Davao. There is a broad and quite natural yearning for physically entertaining shows. The temperature of the digital show is uncomfortably low. And in case you were wondering, the answer is yes: I did accept the aforementioned event, and I'm excited to take part once more in the Uniqlo Philippines Style Talks.

The topic of discussion for today is the same way back 2019, but it will be approached from a unique angle by Andrea Taylor, who is a multitasking mother who juggles her responsibilities as a mother and a wife. And Mia Adarna, an entrepreneur and yoga enthusiast.

During the warmer months, I can't get enough of wearing soft cloth. In this fast-paced world of ours, it may be quite a challenge to find clothes that not only look nice but also feel good. You want to look as good as you possibly can, but at the same time, you want to feel as comfortable as you possibly can, particularly if you sweat quite a bit. It may seem as though you are on an endless quest to find the fabrics that allow the most air to pass through them, but this need not be the case.

As far as I can recall, Pia Wurtzbach advised the audience at one of her talks that in order to find something to wear that is quite comfortable, they should shop at Uniqlo. Exactly! I agree.

Fabrics that don't reveal sweat are usually breathable, which helps prevent sweating from occurring. Fabrics that are breathable make it easy for air to pass through them, which increases the rate at which perspiration evaporates and helps to keep you cool. Even when you're working up a sweat, the Uniqlo AIRism will keep you comfortable and dry; however, not all moisture-wicking fabrics are breathable, and vice versa. Yet, this Uniqlo AIRism will keep you dry as if it were breathing, ensuring that you have a smooth sensation throughout the day. Cupro fibers, which are breathable, are able to absorb and then release sweat from the body. Properties that wick away moisture help you stay clean and dry.

The linen selection at Uniqlo is really popular. The Premium Linen sold at UNIQLO is crafted using only linen that is made of natural fibers. It has a high degree of durability and a natural texture, and when it is dyed, it produces vivid colors. As linen is both breathable and comfortable to wear, it has a long history of being regarded as an important component of summer essentials.

Watch video here for the full discussion about Summer Style Talks.

You can also visit my other site, GLAMOURHOLICMOM for more Uniqlo information.

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