Why we think Disney's Raya and The Last Dragon was actually made for adults than kids?

Raya and the Last Dragon is one of the early Disney releases this 2021 and is one of the best movies I have seen this year. This underrated film just gave me goosebumps. The ending left me in awe.

Honestly, I did not have this feeling ever since Frozen. 

I know that this is purely fiction/ fantasy but I can't help relate this to our current situation as we are battling this pandemic and this is why I think the movie, Raya and The Last Dragon was actually made for adults than kids. 

So why do we think that the movie, Raya and the Last Dragon was made for adults?

Raya and the Last Dragon teaches us one important thing - TRUST. 

In the movie, they were in a situation where there was no end in sight. Many of their loved ones were lost. Kids were orphaned and have to learn to fend for themselves. Something that is not too far-fetched in our current situation. 

While each one of them tried to fight the monster on their own, their efforts were only temporary. It doesn't really kill the enemy. The only solution is that they learn to make a collective effort to fight it.  

There was even a scene in the movie that they built canals over their kingdom to send the monster away since it's afraid of the water. This is very similar when we try to close our borders. We restrict its entry and keep our people safe but it is not a permanent solution. The threat will always be there and that people outside the "safe zone" are still in danger.

Their struggle was prolonged because they do not trust each other. They are fully aware of what they need to do but they were hesitant to let go because of too much distrust. After all, it doesn't make sense to trust each other after the many betrayals that happened in the past. The problem even started because one betrayed another. 

And this is exactly what is happening in our world today. We do not trust each other. 

People do not trust their leaders that the pandemic is real and that lockdowns are in place for the benefit of the people's safety. 

People do not trust our health experts when they say that we need to wear masks and that following health protocols are important.

People do not trust medical frontliners when they say that one is COVID-positive and needs to be confined in the hospital. They do not believe that this is done for the patient's own welfare and is not another way of profiteering.

People do not trust the vaccination program when they say that it is meant to protect and save your life and it is not another conspiracy theory. 

There is so much distrust. 

We know there are so many uncertainties. The treatment and vaccines are still on continuous trials and there is no clear answer to this pandemic. 

But you have to have FAITH that there is goodness in our leaders and medical experts. 

They make decisions that they think would be for the greater good of many. I am not saying that you will become a blind follower but at least be open-minded and not simply refute everything they say and do. 

Sometimes we have to learn how to TRUST even if it doesn't make sense. We have to learn to trust even if it means putting our life on the line because just like the movie, it may be the only way we can beat this "monster."

Anyway, if you haven't seen the movie -- please watch Raya and The Last Dragon and you'll understand what I mean. :) 

Until then, thank you for dropping by! 

More High 5 Things About European Higher Education Fair 2021

The European Higher Education Fair, one of the biggest education fairs in the country, returns on 1-2 October to again give Filipinos everywhere the EUnique opportunity to connect with dozens of institutions in the EU.

Who can join?  

The Fair is open to Filipinos interested in pursuing higher education in the EU. And it doesn’t matter where you are in the Philippines. The Fair is virtual, so whether you’re in Aparri or Jolo, you can join so long as you have an internet connection. Even your Pinoy friends who are currently abroad can join. The more, the merrier, especially when you eventually get to study in the EU together.

Do I have to attend the entire 2-day virtual fair? 

Participants are highly encouraged to maximize their time in the fair by exploring as much as they can. There are loads of information to take in and activities to attend that will be very helpful to start the journey to Go Higher with EU. That goes for all participants, those who already have a particular field of study or EU member state in mind as well as those who haven’t quite settled on something yet. The Fair happens only once a year, so it’s best to take full advantage of this EUnique opportunity.

What can participants expect?

A lot. Dozens of higher education institutions from across the EU are participating this year and they have packed the 2-day Fair with activities. Participants can expect to be fully loaded and raring to Go Higher with EU after the event.

• Webinars on research programs, mobility opportunities, and postgraduate degrees

• Country presentations from participating EU member states

• Live chats with representatives, alumni, and scholars from participating institutions

• Virtual meeting rooms for Philippine institutions and their EU counterparts

Is there an age limit for the participants? 

Learning in the EU knows no age, so there’s no limit to joining the Fair. It’s open to all Filipinos who have finished an undergraduate course, whether here or abroad, and are intending to take higher education.

What programmes are available? 

Astrophysics, Biotechnology, Business, Chemical Engineering, Football management, Geography, Green energy management, History, Information Technology, International Relations, Languages, Law, Literature, Medicine, Sociology, Teaching, Tourism, Zoology, and much more.

You can also avail of study programmes with a ‘modular’ structure that allows you to build a personalised programme by choosing several different modules or units of study each year. For example, if you are studying Fashion, you might choose one module on Fashion Marketing, one module on Textile Design, and one module on Ethical Textile Production.

Registration is free. Thus, you are interested just visit https://ehefphilippines.com/register/ 

These Harry Potter books are so pretty and here's where you can get them

I have been a Potterhead since I was 14 and 20+ years later, I am still in love with the wizarding world. That is why I got so excited when I saw these books online. 

It's so pretty that honestly, I stop thinking about it! So, I did a little research.

Here's what I found out. 

Source: @happily_undignified / Nerdy Ink

This is not a new edition of Harry Potter books so which means that you don't have to buy a new set to get this. (Thank God!) 

Instead, these are dust jackets from a small family-run business called Nerdy Ink. It retails for $35 or roughly around Php 1,700. Considering that it helps protect our books plus it's the perfect way to brighten up our bookshelves, I guess the price is reasonable. 

They also offer free shipping for orders of $35 and up. Thus, if you are in the Philippines, you only need to worry about the shipping costs from the US to the Philippines in case you decide to use shipping companies like Buyandship. If you don't want to go through the hassle, I saw a seller on Carousell selling this set for Php 2,350 (you just have to confirm legitimacy) 

 

Please note that this is not official Harry Potter merchandise but based on reviews, it seems to be of good quality. Also, this is only suited for the Harry Potter Potter US Hardback Set, ISBN: 9780545044257 so, you might have to check which edition you currently have before ordering. 

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you for dropping by. 

If you are also a Potterhead, let us know by answering this question in the comments section below. What’s the name of the three-headed dog that guards the door to the Sorcerer’s Stone?

Movie Review: Cinderella (2021)

Amazon Prime's latest adaptation of Cinderella which was released last Friday (September 3) has received quite a lot of negative reviews. This made me a bit hesitant to watch since it may just be a waste of time. Actually, as of writing, it has a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Anyway, as a huge Cinderella fan, I decided to just see it for myself and ended up having mixed reactions about the movie too. Watching the first few minutes was cringe-worthy as I was expecting something different. 

Then, I realized that it is important that we need to manage our expectations to be able to enjoy the movie.

1. First, the movie is not produced by Disney so, it is important to let go of our expectation of the "magical feels" while watching this movie.  

2. It's a musical. It's like Pitch Perfect + High School Musical + James Corden's crosswalk musicals combined. So, if you are a fan of those, then this movie is for you. (By the way, James is part of the cast and one of the producers) 

3. One thing that I love about Disney's movies and adaptation is their attention to detail. That is something that is missing here. 

4. Happily Ever After means different in this adaptation. Her dream is not about marrying the prince, living in the palace, etc. (This has be shown even in the trailers) Instead, it focuses on the "girl boss feminism thing" and it is not only through Ella's character but also with the other characters in the movie too. 

Thus, if you are looking for something that is a princessy type (if there is such a term.)

This movie is not for you.  Ella in this movie is a bit "rough."

Do you recommend the movie? 

One thing that is notable in the movie is that it is inclusive in terms of race, gender, and size. Parental Guidance is a must since it uses strong words such as "idiot", "disgusting" to describe people and animals. 

What the movie can improve on? 

Since Ella is shown as a promising dressmaker in the movie, I hope they did not skip making clothes for her mice friends. It was one thing I loved in the original animated movie and with all the sewing supplies available, it wouldn't be far-fetched to make one for them. 

I also wouldn't mind if they just throw away the movie title and choose another one instead of banking on the popularity of a classic. They can also opt for better song choices and find one that we can better associate with Cinderella. I don't think "Let's Get Loud" is one of them. 

Anyway, that's it for now. How about you? What do you think of the movie? Let us know in the comments section below.