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Of Grief and Chatbots
I once relied on a bot to get through my grief. It helped, but it lacked.
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On Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police: How Individual Memories Shape Our Collective Identity
Perhaps, at the end of it all, being human is reason enough to compel oneself to look out for others, memory loss be damned.
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Filipino Rising: How a Common Enemy Can Bring Out the Heroes in Us
Our common enemy today is not a certain group of authorities, but a system. A system of oppression, corruption, and “padrino.”
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Fan Fiction Saved My April
Maybe it’s about the strong conviction fanfic writers have for the pair — an unwavering belief that when two people are meant to be together, they’re bound to find each other, even in the most out-of-this-world circumstances.
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You Make Flowers Bloom
Now, I feel I can start anew, and maybe make flowers bloom in concrete, too.
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Irene Sarmiento’s Stray Cats Combines the Whimsical and Tragic Vibe of Manila
One might also wonder why most of the adults, especially those who look and act “proper,” seem to care little or not at all, while Elisa insists on searching for her friend, even when it means facing terrible monsters herself.
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Art Fair Philippines, Color Blindness, and How To Get Out of a Slump
Somewhere along the way, you’ll find people who will help you once you decide to challenge your limitations. You might even find love as you tread.
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How To Navigate Manga Fandom Discourse (and Dispel Bad Vibes)
I always tell myself that manga, and fiction in general, is something that should enrich my life. It is not my life.
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Learn about Hikikomori Reads
I started this blog to decolonize my reading list by featuring Filipino-authored books. But I couldn’t resist Roy, Dazai, and Oda, so we’re now, bit by bit, covering works from all of Asia.
In this blog, I talk about how the stories I’ve read shifted my perspective, consoled my heart, and changed my life. In sharing my thoughts, it is my hope that you would experience these profound moments as deeply as I have.
All love to Asian literature. Happy reading!