For All Eternity 1

So at the end, Bella was able to get her own small but perfect piece of her forever with her Edward, Renesmee and the rest of her vampire family. But it took her four, thick books to reach that finale and bid ‘the end’ to the readers. I think it is really anti-climatic to write about the ending, but that exactly what the Twilight saga was.

The debut book ‘Twilight’ was really a literary genius. Offering the readers a new perspective about the vampire world, making them fall in love with Edward and Bella and pushing them in the edge of their seat as the Cullens fought against the vampires who wants to hunt Bella.

The second book New Moon was one of the best rebound books of all time. Edward left Bella, supposedly for her own sake. He abandoned her and it was as if her heart was ripped out of her chest and her soul was sucked out of her body. The readers sympathized with Bella, understanding her grief and rebellion. The readers almost rooted for Jacob, who was there to be a good friend who can ease the ‘hole in her chest’. But with some twist of fate, rather, by excellent writing or Stephenie Meyer, Edward wished to end his life, Bella and Alice went to Italy to try and rescue him, thus meeting the sinister Volturi coven. The book wrapped up by Bella and Edward back in each other’s arms and the threat of the Volturi to destroy Bella who is security hazard to the vampire secrecy, effectively leaving the readers clamoring for more.

For All Eternity 2

Eclipse was like a kid story book about vampires, werewolves and all the supernatural that Stephenie can throw in. It was more on about the history of the tribe of Jacob. It sure was interesting, but the overwhelming pages allocated to narrate all the backgrounder were downright unnecessary. The third book also exposed the author’s weakness to keep up with the climax of her plot. She heaped anticipation by building up the danger of the rampaging ‘new borns’ under the command of Victoria. The tension was felt with these new and old enemies and the preparation of the pack of Jacob and the Cullens was entertaining. But when it was time for the real fight, maybe because of the limited point of view, it fell short, stale and bland. The ‘new borns’ turned out to be dimwitted underdogs, easily shredded to bits by the more powerful Edward and Emmet, well- experienced Jasper and clever Carlisle, not to mention the equally powerful women members of the Olympic coven; Alice, Rose and Esme.




The final book, Breaking Dawn, was a more promising book. After all, it is The Volturi coven, whose members are the most gifted, strongest and evil vampires, who are going after the Cullens. Even if they were able to assemble the other vampire covens as witnesses, some of which are even willing to fight along with them, the coven from Italy still has the obvious upper hand. It seems that they are all doomed to die but not with out an exciting, blood soaked ‘royal rumble’ kind of fight. But disappointingly, what the readers got were word plays, instead of snarls and bites; mock trial rather than of unleashing of fighting techniques; a ‘let’s leave in peace’ shameful surrender crushed hope of trash talks about death and vengeance. It was all anti-climatic, and it was because of their secret weapon, the shield of Bella and the unexpected presence of the shape- shifter gang of Jacob.

In books and movies sequels, anticipation and climax build until the explosive and decisive face off of the protagonist and antagonist of the story. But in Breaking Dawn it is as if Agent Smith committed suicide instead of having the epic battle against Neo in The Matrix or Voldemort slipped and hit his head causing his instant death rather than having the final wand fight showdown with Harry Potter. The Volturi was demoted into all snarl and hiss bully vampires who turned out to be toothless after all.

Even with major glitches, Stephenie Meyer’s talent is undeniable. The readers were happy that the Cullens were all safe and as cool as ever. They are hopeful of the new allegiance that the different vampire covens formed and might bring down the tyranny of the Volturi. They were satisfied that Bella, Edward and Renesmee will be together loving each other, for all eternity.

Calm in the Chaos

We had experienced this weekend the fury of mother nature. Our country had been devastated by the storm Ondoy which the amount of rainfall for two days is something that weather forecasters claimed is equivalent to a month’s worth. Filipinos had been used to typhoons, and many assumed that Ondoy would just be jotted as one that will visit the country. In this complacency, many were surprised that the havoc that this storm created which caused them their houses, possessions and even worst, their loved ones.

What will make Ondoy unforgettable is the scale of its effect on the people who I know and the places that I often go to. A number of my relatives, friends and colleagues had narrated how the level of flood had been alarmingly fast to rise and that there was no way to save all of their belongings. Rosario, Pasig, which is the gateway out of Rizal, had been submerged underwater and the exodus of people trying to cross it was really surreal. TV footages of people’s struggle for survival and the aftermath of the disaster show how powerless we are against Earth’s wrath.

But people tend to have a short memory. Ondoy should not be a tragedy that will just be a part of our country’s gloomy history of disasters. This should call for preventive measures against flash floods and landslide, not reactive by telethons to raise funds; good urban planning, not to scamper to rescue stranded residents from their shanties or two-story houses and protection of our environment not plundering it until our planet can’t bear it anymore.

In just a week, several more disasters occurred, the earthquakes in Indonesia and Tonga and the tsunami in Samoa. These are obvious warnings that our planet is in the verge of break down. It is on its limit, refusing to take any more abuse from its inhabitants, it is striking back at us exponentially on how we treated it badly.