The Wheel and Axle

I have been a fan of Mervin Malonzo’s Tabi Po graphic novels, a series about aswang (which, in his world, derives from asong buang, i.e. crazy dog) for some time now.

I only came upon this by chance, actually. I’d been looking for more local comics beyond Carlo Vergara’s Zaturnnah and Trese by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. By fate, I saw the first Malonzo’s beautifully rendered book, I think either in a bookstore or in a comicon.

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As Justice League‘s opening date draws nearer, and with the recent full trailer released, more and more TV spots and promotional material are coming out. It’s absolutely nerdgasmic, and with the film less than a month away, I could only eat up as much as I could to satisfy my unabashed eagerness. Times like these make me wonder why patience is a virtue.

Bring it on, DC.

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Here’s a little humorous – yet very on-point – lesson on homophobia, whether outright bigotry or else subtle microaggressions.

Just. Do. Not.

Recently, eating lunch as the household help watched Eat Bulaga in the background, and with another AlDub event on the horizon apparently, I came to realize just how creatively stifling the local phenomenon of “love teams” truly is.

I understand this is what the masses want, whether it be AlDub, KathNiel, or JaDine. In the past, it was Claudine/Rico, Bojo/Mylene, Bobby/Angelu, Aga/Lea, Juday/Wowie, Romnick/Sheryl, Lotlot/Monching, Maricel/William, Albert/Snooky, Sharon/Gabby, Guy/Pip. That’s Entertainment and even AngTV thrived on love teams. It’s not really a new phenomenon in the Philippines; it’s probably just been magnified with social media and the predilection these days for silly portmanteau nicknames.

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And so they’ve recently released a full trailer for Pacific Rim: Uprising. It definitely looks bigger and more outrageous (in a good way) than the first. I am loving it.

Someone please bring back Charlie Hunnam for a future third movie. Life will be elevated.

As I’d mentioned before, I love meeting new people when traveling abroad. Ultimately, what makes a place warm and exciting are the people you encounter as well.

Iran, of course, is no exception.

In fact, contrary to what some people might perceive about Persians, they are actually some of the friendliest and most hospitable people I have met. They will show you a lot of interest when they realize you’re a foreigner, and by that I mean a sincere interest in getting to know you. They would even ask to take pictures with you, and if they find out you speak English, a number of them would even practice speaking it with you.

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And it was all so glorious!

Tehran

We stayed in Seven Hostels, a cheap yet very clean hostel. There were a lot of foreigners staying here, and the service and helpfulness of the staff were top-notch.

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New Julfa
Isfahan, Iran
27 September 2017

New Julfa is the Armenian quarter of Isfahan. Established over four hundred years ago, it is located near the Zayande River and is one of the largest Armenian quarters globally. Although the Armenian residents need to adhere to Iranian laws on clothing, they freely enjoy their distinct Armenian culture – including language and cuisine – and are in fact government-protected. In New Julfa, there are a lot of sites – mostly churches and museums, including the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Holy Savior Cathedral (a.k.a. The Vank).

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Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Isfahan, Iran
26 September 2017

About four centuries old and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Naqsh-e Jahan Square is a highlight of the city of Isfahan, situated right at the center of the busy city. It is surrounded by the Ali Qapu Palace, two mosques, and the Isfahan Grand Bazaar. Historic and grand, the Square has been a haven for tradesmen as well as ceremonies for hundreds of years.

The Square was commissioned by Shah Abbas as a show of power after the capital of Persia was moved to Isfahan in 1598. Designed by chief architect Bahā’ al-dīn al-‘Āmilī, the Square consolidates the three symbols of power of Persia into his own domain: the clergy, as represented by the mosque; the merchants, as represented by the bazaar; and his own power, represented by the palace.

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Incredible Isfahan
Isfahan, Iran
26-27 September 2017

The centuries-old City of Isfahan (also known as Esfahan and Sepahan) is so beautiful that the Iranians we spoke to in Tehran and Shiraz, whenever we mentioned we would be going to this city, would always exclaim in amazement and praise its grandeur.

They are not wrong.

Isfahan is not only a green city, full of tree-lined streets, but it is also a center of art, history, and architecture. It is a fabulous amalgalm of ancient Persia and modern Iran, a city of absolute beauty.

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