If you could have one super power, say: time travel, teleporting, telekinesis, ability to fly, regeneration or the ability to mimic every one else’s power, would you be a hero and save the world?

Origin of Heroes

Heroes is a new sci-fi drama produced by NBC and made its US premier on September, 2006. It became a phenomenal hit over the US and started pummeling a world-wide appeal come early 2007. Half way through its first season, Heroes have already garnered awards and recognitions like Favorite New TV Drama for 2007 from the People’s Choice Award and nominated as Best New Television Program at the Golden Globe Awards. As the rest of its first season wraps up, more and more viewers world wide are hooked in superpower mania.

The main storyline for Heroes basically revolves around ordinary human beings facing different struggles and issues in their everyday life like a high school teenager trying to search for her own social identity, a young man trying to win the love of his brother and parents, a professor grieving to the death of his father. Ordinary issues which almost all of us can relate to. But with one great twist.

As each of the characters try to struggle and survive their own predicaments, each one of them discover something different among themselves. Each of them discovers that they have this super human abilities embedded in their genetic framework. This discovery brings forth more confusion and more mystery to their personalities.

The Comic Book Appeal

Heroes captivated the hearts of viewers because of its fast-paced plots and suspense thrilling twists. It was as if you were watching a comic book as each episode continues to unfold. The sudden turns in the story line makes the viewers think and wonder, what happens next? The need to answer that question makes the viewers stay glued to their television sets waiting for the next chapters to unveil.

The show has a great cast composed of young actors of different acting expertise. Milo Ventimiglia, who used to play the role of bad boy Jess in Gilmore girls, is back with his sleek moves as he plays Peter Petrelli who has the power to copy the abilities of others who comes in close contact with him. Hayden Panettiere, the rebellious girl from the movie Raising Helen, now plays the role of Claire Bennett who is a young cheerleader from Texas who has the power to regenerate and heal herself. Masi Oka, a Japanese graphic effects expert, plays the role of Hiro Nakamura who has the ability to bend the time and space continuum. Adrian Pasdar, a young pilot from Top Gun days, now plays the role of Nathan Petrelli who has the ability to fly and is Peter’s brother. Sendhil Ramamurthy plays the role of Mohinder Suresh, the professor who continues his father’s research about superhuman abilities and goes on a wild goose chase to find our Heroes and find answers for them.

The Heroes Experience

Heroes is really an awesome show with a great mix of science fiction, suspense, mystery, action and lots of human drama. This is what makes it stand out from other television series airing in the small screen. It’s ingenious combination of different genres appeals to different audiences who’s tired of watching the same formula show over and over again. The show had already folded up its first season with a bang. It will be back with season 2 on September and fans everywhere can’t wait for it to air. If you are still way behind the fever, dude, where have you been?

I remember a friend who was so in to Heroes and highly recommends us to watch it. According to him, Heroes is the reason why television was invented. After watching a marathon of its episode, I so totally agree. Heroes rocks!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND SCHOOL

113 Bern St. Green Park Village, Manggahan, Pasig City

I was browsing Friendster this week and I found an old familiar face – Charissa. Charissa was my classmate back in grade school. We were practically neighbors as we live in the same village. But we never get around into seeing each other. My grandparents don’t allow me to roam around the neighborhood. I guess the same case goes with her.

Memory Lane

Having seen Charissa and Donna, another grade school classmate, at Friendster brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. The days when I used to run after those guys who teases me because I’m fat. The days when I would carry around a rusty cutter threatening everyone who pisses me off (di ba, Michael?). The days when we would exchange ghost stories. Those were the days when we are pretty much convinced that our school was haunted. We even ended up ghost hunting after classes.

The days when I would ask everyone to sign up on my newly purchased slum book. I remember two of my guy classmates who ended up fighting and were sent to the principal’s office (di ba, Ellmann?). I remember spending hot afternoons at the Green Park Plaza to practice our foundation day presentation (from calisthenics, to folk dances, almost all kinds of dances courtesy of Ms. Austero). I remember when I used to steal away my seatmate’s book, pencil case, etc. just to piss him off (di ba, Mark Philip?). I remember the days when I threw a metal pencil case at my classmate because I was so mad at him for teasing me that I’m fat (di ba, Jeffriel?).

I remember Paul Capundan always gracing our programs with song number. Him and his wonderful voice. I remember Ellen Grace belting out Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston’s in school programs side by side Paul. I remember Carlo Agulto, our student council president since grade 5, delivering his speech every meeting de avance. I remember Ermie Ungab, Dondale Ortega and the gang menacing during class hours driving our teachers crazy.

Do you guys still remember the laundry lady at Lola’s house whose laundry area is just adjacent to our room? You guys sitting at the back row used to make ‘boso’ every time she washes her clothes. I remember Ellen Grace having a fight with Ermie and hitting him with a rattan stick. His head ended up bleeding and he was sent to the clinic for first aid. I could never forget April and Jeffriel’s bantering during classes.

I remember you all guys: Jeffriel Soria, Ellmann Cayetano, Carlo Agulto, Michael Gaviola, Plaridel Pascua, Ellen Grace Avilla, Charissa Navarro, Donna Bolanos, Jore Conol, Irish Domingo, Apple Agcoili, Karla Abcede, Kristine Bondoc, Rubenitz Flores (tama ba?), Mark Philip Dulay, Peter Dytioco, Jonathan Chavez, Ryan Polca, Raymante Francisco, Romualdo Bolanos, Glenn Gutierrez, Ricardo Torres, Ermie Ungab, Dondale Ortega, Joselle Fernandez, Roderick Cantorna, Paul Joseph Capundan, Richelle Rizate, Laarni Sumang, Pascanel Pascual (kilala niyo pa ba siya?), Evita (iyong classmate nating Australian na pinaiyak niyo), Kathrine Villaverde, Karen Coloma, Andrew Ablaza, Mark Benitez, Angela Cordoviz, John Paul Mamorno, etc. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned you all or if the surnames are still the same. But I do remember all of you.

Reunited

I read Paul’s testimonial to Charissa. I was touched he still remembers me. He mentioned that he hopes someday we could have a reunion and see each other again. I hope so too.

It’s just so sad that AWS doesn’t exist anymore. They have closed down the school a few years ago. I never get to know the exact reason why.

But seeing all my classmates now successful and happy brings me joy. I’ve seen most of them are now busy with their careers. Most of them are currently out of the country and are settles abroad. Most of them have already built their own families. Some are just planning on having theirs.

To your every endeavor, to our every success, to all the birthdays that I have missed, to homecomings and despididas, to newly weds and those who are planning to tie the knot, to all the wonderful things that have happened to all of us since the day we graduated in 1994… cheers! Kudos!

How long will it take you to say these two words? What will make you say it? And how are you gonna say it?

Nope. I’m not talking about wedding proposals. I’m talking about another stage in our lives. Moving on. Saying, “I quit!”

Something’s Gotta Give

At some point in our lives, we are faced with crossroads wherein we are often forced to make decisions. This is the time when we feel so tired about the regular routine and our heart yearns for something new. Whether in a relationship, or whether in our career, we are always looking for the one thing…growth.

The feeling of moving forward. The desire to take a relationship or a career to the next level. The desire to weather greater challenges and to achieve greater heights. How will you know the right time to look forward?

Feeling bored is an understatement. In a relationship, you always have this nagging feeling of emptiness. When his kiss doesn’t light up sparks anymore. Or her “I love you’s” sounds like an automated answering machine. Or when being with each other feels more like an obligation or a requirement and the excitement to see each other is all gone.

In a career, when waking up every morning is more like a chore. When going to work feels like going to the death chamber everyday. When your office table or cubicle looks more like a prison cell to you than a workstation. When it feels like your wearing chains tied on your feet every time you walk along your office hallways.

Parting Time

Saying goodbye or parting ways have never been easy. At least for me, it wasn’t. It is so hard to let go of something that have, no matter how much it pisses you, have been a part of your life. It is hard to let go of a routine you are so used to doing.

But at one point of another, we have to go. Saying, “I quit!” doesn’t always equate failure or having the incapability to survive. It often a sign of strength, of courage to move on…to move forward.

Change is inevitable. And oftentimes, it becomes the scariest moment of our lives. But the only thing constant in this world is change. It may not be that easy to deal with it, but sometimes, it is our only choice. That is, if we wanted to move forward.

Do not be afraid to embrace change. It is good. Take it positively and take things one day at a time. Sure there will be adjustments, but you’ll get used to it.

And when the time comes to say those two words, do it with grace and poise. Leave no room for animosity. Don’t burn any bridges. Because at some point in your journey, you could come across the same crossroad again.