And June becomes July

Here's a really quick runaround of July. 

Meet up with Edgar, Maiqui, and Jona

We met at SM Megamall on a Sunday at noon. Ate at Zark's, played games at the arcade, sing songs at the Karaoke room, had a quick catch up about anything on a Coffee Bean and ended in a Toy Store.

Started collection of action figures. 

I started with Tanjiro from Demon Slayer, then my brother sold me the other main characters, Zenitsu and Inosuke. Then, it triggers the domino. I can't go on without Tanjiro's beloved sister, Nezuko. I had to buy it, so I did the most obvious thing to do. 

Here's Nezuko, the other mains are still on the box.

And there's Fullmetal Alchemist franchise, I do not have Alphonse yet. You know the drill, I can't sleep with this. 

And another line, this time, with my favorite anime, Naruto.

Here's the most expensive one that I have: Jiraiya. 

And my favorite yet:

This is really unexpected. I watched so many videos on Youtube and Tiktok about this and I told myself that I won't be poisoned with this collection. I'm just here to watch them with their hobbies, now, here I am, joining all the anime collector Facebook groups, searching for all the legit website that sells figures, making some friends online, and researching a lot. 

Good thing, I have a very supportive wife. She supports this new found hobby of mine and, just thretens to sell them when an opportunity presents itself. She even attempted to play with it, with our dog. 

Business meeting with Maiqui and Edgar + Jona

Since the start of the mini reunion, we've been contacting each other to plan out our business play. 

One-accord Anniversary. 

We were also invited to attend the One Accord Christian Community Church. It was nice seeing former churchmates and friends. This view has always been lovely to see, knowing that they're there and still serving and still have this connection without the barrier of some kind. I really hope that any broken bridges will be built again, that any pain from the past will be healed and that we will all be true brother's and sisters in Christ. 

Dumplings

//AndJuneBecomesJuly

//sebajisoka

Parasyte: The Maxim will make you think about humanity | Anime Reviews

Parasyte: The Maxim: 24 Episodes

Duration: 23 min/ep

Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Seinen

Theme: Psychological, Gore

Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

“Human life is precious isn’t it?” – Shinichi Izumi

Pilot Episode Thoughts

We opened with a short clip about Aliens. Eating people, overtaking lives. What is this about? An alien? A parasite? 

This show has potential, watching the pilot does not feel like a pilot episode. There's a lot to build around but everything is seamless, I have questions but I'm curious and willing to wait on how the story will unfold.

“Why are humans so irrational.” – Ryoko Tamiya

Full review

The show contains high elements of gore. It does not shy away from any gruesomeness and it indeed does not shy away from killing characters, it's interesting. 

Parasite's point of view will get you thinking about the human experience, because as they have observed, we do things, sometimes illogically. 

The pacing is great and nice. I'm enjoying every moment of it. Amazingly, it matches the character development, it has really good touching moments too. For some reason, this show reminds me of Devilman. I think it has a lot of influence on this. 

Many parts of the anime are such a messed-up scenario. While watching, it gave me some what-if scenarios if I were in someone else's shoes. The agony, the pain, and confusion. Just the uncertainty might cause someone else's death.

“I’ve been thinking… for a long while. For what purpose was I born into this world? Whenever I resolved one question, another would arise in its place. I sought the beginning. I sought the end. I’ve just been walking and walking, thinking all the while. Perhaps nothing will change, no matter how far I go. If I’m to stop my journey, that is fine, too. Even if I were informed that everything has reached its end, I’d just accept it. But even so, I found an answer to yet another of my questions today.” – Tamura Reiko

The Finale

From all the action-packed episodes, we opened in an emotional sequence of unusual goodbye. It's sad but satisfying, there are still a lot of questions but we will understand to just let it go through. 

A narration from our protagonist, displaying realization about life and the core of humanity and the earth. What is this really all about? Do we really place ourselves above other life forms? 

This has become a twist and turns up until the end. It's traumatizing, it represents agony and despair. But we will end in a wholesome, touching and it's the perfect way to end a gruesome anime, warmness. 

“When you feel your life’s on the line, your true nature surfaces.” – Shinichi Izumi

My takeaway

If we think hard about it. We, humans, destroy. We are the ones responsible for many things that happened on our planet and even with each other. Watching Parasyte made me, even more, realize that we are taking almost everything for granted.

We take peace and relationship for granted. But we cling to it when there's a war that's about to burst or when relationships are about to be broken. 

We destroy the earth but we work hard enough in saving it. It's illogical but that's how we do things. 

“Flies know how to fly without being taught. Spiders know how to spin webs without being taught. Why is that? Here’s what I think: Flies and spiders are simply following an order. I believe all lives on Earth have received orders of some kind. Don’t humans have any directive? When I took over this human’s brain, I received a directive. It said, Devour this species.” – Ryoko Tamiya

Big question!

Are we truly the parasite of this world?

“Shinichi, upon researching the concept of demons, I believe that, among all life, humans are the closest thing to it. Although humans kill and eat a wide variety of life forms, my kind eat merely one or two kinds at most. We are quite frugal in comparison.”- Migi

//ParasyteTheMaxim

//sebajisoka

Kaguya-sama is a story-telling masterpiece | Anime Reviews

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War: 12 Episodes

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?: 12 Episodes

Kaguya-sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-: 13 Episodes

Duration: 25 min/ep

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Seinen, Slice of Life, Suspense

Theme: School, Psychological, Romantic Subtext

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

“The merit of your courage comes from the intensity of your fear. That’s what true strength is!” -Kaguya

Full review

“When you feel this person could protect you and your children for the rest of your lives, you start to feel a desire to be with them forever.” -Kaguya

Kaguya-Sama is an insane masterpiece. For some reason, it has everything that you could ask for. This is not something that I expected in any way from this anime. I've read and watched many spoiler-free reviews about this and they always say the same thing. This show hilariously blew their minds. 

The show revolves around the President and Vice-president of the school council which are both in-love with each other but both has the highest pride in humanity but not wanting to confess. This has been going for seasons! They compete and tried not to fall to each other's trap of confession. It's really enjoyable. 

The story is set in a school, a typical setup for an anime. It's quite safe to be honest, not to mention the romance part of it, however, they elevate the standard. It's common but it's unique. This is a slice of life but this anime cannot be listed as a slice of life. Because it's all over the place.

What do I mean?

You got the school, you got romance, action, fantasy, comedy, you freaking name it. This anime has it all and it's interconnected in an insanely weird and in a really good way. 

The transitions of the animation are insane for an anime of its kind They even explore a different aspect ratio, using black and white and dragon ball-type of scenes. Truly incredible. 

This show has a massive entertainment value. It has really great story-telling behind a very simple plot. It's really impressive.

“Telling people what to do isn’t really my thing. Something like this is only noble if you do it without saying anything.” -Ishigami

The Finale

An impressive conclusion for this epic storytelling about our guys. A masterpiece that we might only encounter once in our lifetime. This is a really great ending, all those seasons, those build-ups, are all here. This is what we are all expecting for this anime but it has to grant and has a really rewarding culmination.

It's ridiculous but it works. It's somehow heartbreaking but it's fun. It's warming for sure. My heart aches a little knowing that it's the end. You'll be amazed, you'll laugh and you'll be satisfied while asking for more.

And there's a surprise Christianity in the end. Now, tell me if this anime has everything 

“Even though it’s a single word, “Love” can have many meanings. Love for one’s family. Love for one’s friends. Love for those in one’s care.” -Shirogane

My takeaway

This show may have madness but it also comes with its won cleaverness. They have intelligent lines that sometimes we brush off as we proceed in watching the show. They got controversial quotes and lines that really make sense. 

I really like it when they show how we people set our best foot forward. This line is a positive way of using it, but in actuality, we often try to deceive the people we like. We tend to do those really nice things to gain their trust and their love. It's weird, it's hard accept but it makes sense. 

“You have to hide your weakness and ugliness behind a veil. Otherwise people won’t love you.” -Hayasaka

Big question!

How much can you offer and how far can you go for someone that you truly love? 

“It’s not good to be excessively afraid of physical contact with other people. I guess that’s the dark side of the society “ Kaguya

//KaguyaSama

//sebajisoka

Spy x Family is insanely adorable | Anime Reviews

Spy x Family: 12 Episodes

Duration: 24 min/ep

Genre: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Slice of Life, Supernatural

Theme: Childcare

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

I will be writing this at the start of episode 6. So, it won't be in the usual format. I watched this a few weeks ago, while there are only a few episodes in, and at the time, I don't have a standalone blog for each anime that I watched. 

All people have a side of themselves they can’t reveal to others - Loid Forger

Full review

Anyway, I'm smiling the whole time. There's a mix of cuteness and comedy in this anime, and yes, this is a spy-themed anime that circles around your unusual family. A spy family. Truly enjoyable. 

We are introduced to the Forger Family. They're not your usual family, aside from the parents are not actually married and they are only adoptive parents. The Father's profession is a Doctor, the Mother is a clerk, and we have an innocent little girl from an orphanage.

But that's not the whole story, apparently, Loid Forger, the Father is actually a spy, the Mother, Yor Forger is actually a hardcore assassin, and the cute little girl, Anya Forger is a Psychic. 

The story revolves around those characteristics and the fact that only Anya knows everything makes the show really enjoyable to watch. I watched the whole season without getting bored. It will give you chuckles and a really nice laugh. This is worth watching, an easy 10 stars for me tbh. 

Making a world where kids don’t need to cry… that was the whole reason I became a spy in the first place  - Loid Forger

//SpyxFamily

//sebajisoka

In June after dark

I'm not really sure what happened this month, but.. 

Shiro Vaccine

Earlier this month, this good boy from San Pedro had his vaccine against BBM supporters. Oh easy lang, joke lang to. ahhahaa. 

We also celebrated my mom's birthday and father's day: 

We don't really have any pictures together but here's liempo bby. 

Of course, this masterpiece has an ugly and tired creator. 

Men's Fellowship

For the first time in the history of mankind, I became a part of a men's group in Victory Alabang. We had a fellowship and I'm with my Dad's. It was a nice experience, a lot of encouragement and laughs. I missed this, for the past years, I never really had a group to attend to where I can share my thoughts like these. It was fun! 

Dumplings

I failed to document as much this month due to Celtics and all, I'm kinda pre-occupied with something but yeah, it is what it is. Welcome to my photo dumplings:

//JuneAfterDark

//sebajisoka

Just watch Fruits Basket | Anime Reviews

Fruits Basket: 25 Episodes

Fruits Basket Season 2: 25 Episodes

Fruits Basket: Final Season: 13

Duration: 23 min/ep

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life, Supernatural

Theme: Love Polygon

Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Pilot Episode Thoughts

Fruits Basket. Hmm. Another slice of life, I'm heading toward loving these types of shows. It's hard for me to invest in animes with long plots nowadays, but this has 50 episodes, interestingly this has been on my watchlist for a while. It's also been a trend since a couple of years ago. 

The pilot is enough to be interested in the show, at first, you're trying to understand their world and basically, it's a slice of life, there's nothing much really to build around. You are just there for the characters and their experiences. 

The first few minutes showed us some mysterious elements, or beings. That scene reminds me a lot of an earlier favorite of mine, Clannad. They resemble some aspects. Well, this is just for a pilot episode, let's see what they have for us moving forward. 

Probably, the hook on this anime is the last scene and will probably revolve around that plot. Anyway..

I wish I could've lived my life without making wrong turns. But that's impossible. [...] We make mistakes. And little by little, one step at a time, we push forward. - Yuki Sohma

Full review

The quotes are on point, they don't feel forced. It calms and is funny and it's a slice of life. I enjoyed watching it but I'm expecting some extreme stuff to happen, then, apparently, It has become very dragging, I stretched this watch time from just 3 days to an ongoing one up until now. I finished the first season in about 10 days. Usually, these kinds of animes with 25 episodes take about 3 days max to finish for me.

But, once I accepted that there's no massive plot twist or super special stuff, I began enjoying it. I watched this without any expectations and, I started to love it. 

The show is about acceptance of who we are, including our past, and understanding it all. 

The mystery in this anime is subtle, you won't think about it until they brought it up again. You'll enjoy those mysteries without ruining the main theme of the anime, the slice of life. 

This anime is brilliant. A true masterpiece for all the slice of life. I just thought that this is just a simple and ordinary anime, a slice of life with a small hint of supernatural but, that's just the surface. The later episodes are amazing, it is well written. 

I was wrong. Watching the first 2 seasons felt like a drag. Apparently, everything is intentional. Those times you will spend knowing the characters will hit you real hard in the end. I forever believe that this anime invented character development. 

Everything leads up to the last season and everything makes sense, all those investment in the past 50 episodes are totally worth it and it paid off well. 

To truly love someone, is to always put their feelings before your own... no matter what. - Saki Hanajima

The Finale

The ending is about sending off. A perfect way to this massive surprise. Everything's warm, the best final episode that you could think of for a slice-of-life anime. It's bitter-sweet. 

We have encountered a masterpiece of an ending. I cried my eyes out towards the end. It's surprising, especially from my experience with the anime, this makes everything makes sense. It makes me really happy about the outcome. Would I recommend it? 10! 

It's not like I suddenly became stronger. [...] My body still trembles, but [...] what's important is the desire to improve, which stems from weakness. - Yuki

My takeaway

Tohru is a picture of grace. She's graceful in almost every way possible. No red flags, just innocence, and almost perfect. 

We want that. That's the goal. We often try to do more or try to do better, but sometimes we lack something, grace. She does not pick up friends, she tries to understand and be considerate. She cares about her friends and has strong family values. 

As human beings in this massively imperfect world. This is what we all need. A person who. at times, unable to understand but tries to. Being the "good" in every scenario and every way possible. A person with so much love to give, unselfish. What a lovely sight. 

It's not always easy to see the good in people. [...] But if you can somehow, find a way to believe, sometimes that's all it takes to help someone. - Kyoko Honda

Big question!

How can we be better people? A person who tries to understand despite everything. 

//FruitsBasket 

//sebajisoka

The 2022 Boston Celtics

It's been an amazing ride. At the start of the season, nobody would have thought that the Celtics will push the Warriors to a 6-game finals match-up. 

We started with an embarrassing 19-21 record, but then the energy has been shifted, and finished the season with 32-10 and the 2nd best record in the east. Beating the favorites in the playoffs and completing the East revenge tour:

KD, Kyrie, and the Brooklyn Nets. 

Giannis and The Milwaukee Bucks.

Butler and the Miami Heat.

Eastern Conference Champion and first NBA Finals appearance since 2010 with the big 3 of Pierce, KG, and Allen. 

There are lots of moving pieces since the elimination from the last year's playoffs. 

President of Basketball operation Danny Ainge (Trader Danny) retired. 

Brad Stevens, the Celtics coach has been promoted and taking the open spot for the President of the Basketball operation

Hired the former assistant coach of  Spurs, 76ers, and Nets Ime Udoka 

Traded Kemba Walker to OKC Thunder for Al Horford - a huge piece in this Celtics Playoff run.

Traded Josh Richardson and a first-round pick to San Antonio for Derrick White.

Sent G Romeo Langford to San Antonio.

Acquired Daniel Theis from Houston through Dennis Schroder

All of these are important pieces for this incredible run. 

The future is still bright. We have a young core of 

Jayson Tatum: 24 years old

Jaylen Brown: 25 years old

Marcus Smart: 28 years old

Robert Willaims III: 24 years old

This team will definitely improve. I bet free agents will definitely consider the Celtics this offseason. I want to see Bradley Beal play with the Jays without giving up too much. 

I'm sad and disappointed that we did not win the championship this year but I'm still hopeful for the future.

This playoff run has been emotional for me for many reasons. Aside from the stats I've listed above, I'm invested in this team. I'm faithful and loyal during those crunches, I became a fan a decade ago and they are the team that I'm rooting for. 

I still remember how sad I am that the Celtics traded Pierce and KG away. I love those 2 players and I enjoyed watching them even playing for other teams, but my heart, for some reason is still on the Celtics. They were rebuilding, it was fun and exciting, we have several players. 

I can still remember when we drafted Smart and hired Stevens as the coach. It went uphill since then, we had Gerald Wallace, Jeff Green, Jonas Jerebko, Brandon Bass, and a bunch of random players on the roster. 

Then, we had Isaiah Thomas, we had Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, and we had Kemba Walker. From those teams to this team, we have come a long way. 

This team has reached the East Conference Finals 4 times in 6 years. Lost several times due to some injuries. Those were heartbreaking. Every loss is heartbreaking. 

I've rooted for this team for a long time and watched almost all the games of the season. That's why I took offense when some bandwagon started talking against this team. Well, it's hard to root for a losing team and it's way easier to root for the winning team, right? 

I took pride in this loyalty and apparently, this is not the same for everyone. Especially if you're a Lakers fan rooting for who's winning right now, or someone who rooted for a different team and suddenly became a warriors fan since 2015.

I'm sorry but this is a complete joke to me. I admire Steph Curry, he's that good and fun to watch, It's always hard to root against him, to be honest, but it is what it is. They are the champ and we will carry on this burden until the next playoffs, hoping to be better and a champ.

//Celtics

//sebajisoka