It's really rewarding and nostalgic when I go through the mess in my drawers and cabinets. All those pieces of paper give me memories to treasure, ideas to cultivate, and works of literature that makes me hug them all like a paper puppy--
Wait, what am I saying?! I'm getting mushy from all this paper. Would somebody get me a shredder?
Whoa, Rai just woke up. Sorry 'bout that rude interval (and that stupid, gayish garbage of a starting phrase, thanks to YoGabba Gabba). Now, back to Rowan style....
As I was saying before I was unceremoniously interrupted ("you deserve it, you idiot, you!"), I went through my bookshelves and drawers in an attempt to search for lost ideas that I had when I was creating variuos write-ups for various stories. And whaddaya know? I found this essay wedged inside my copy of 7 Essentials to Highly Effective Teens. (I might have edited some parts of it to include my wants right now.)
Everybody knows Florence Ryan Rayos, or more known as Rowan Xavier Zurich. Ryan has won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2019 for "exuding an entirely different outlook for fantasy fiction", and his famous works, the "Farrelion: A Legacy" series,"Lycanthropy", "The Reddest Rose", "Deathly Still", and " When Sleighs Break Down" are always bestsellers. He is dubbed as the "Modern Mark Twain" and "Prince of Fantasy Novels". He did all this before he even reached 40.
Ryan was born in February 28, 1993, in Trinidad, Las Pinas, Philippines. His parents are Nestor Florente and Billma Rayos. He is the first-born of the three children. His two sisters are Nessel Cyra and Holly Marie.
Ryan showed signs of maturity even at a young age. He was, according to his parents, a very voracious reader. Ryan was always trying to read his mother's Physical Therapy books. This later contributed to his perfection of speech.
Ryan started school at 3 years old. He was accelerated to prep school, skipping kindergarten. At Grade 4, he transferred schools. He had a lot of trouble in Math. Ryan then went to Atheneum Amcan Academy for high school.
It was here where he met his two co-authors and bestfriends, Kevon and Brandon Hartwig. They helped him become who he is today. They also were the first ones to read the poem "Lunar Wolf". He also met Kiarra Vallido, whom he based Kiarra, one of the protagonists in "Farrellion: A Legacy", on.
After graduation in high school, Ryan had to say goodbye to Kevon and Brandon, because they were going to the US. Ryan enrolled in the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, where he took up BS Development Communication.
In college, he wrote the first book of "Farrellion: A Legacy", "First Formation" . It was, as he said, a grueling feat, as he had to balance schoolwork and writing the novel. Surprised his friends were when he graduated Summa Cumlaude of their batch, and managed to get "Farrellion: A Legacy" published.
After college, he moved to the US and got a job at Fox News as a field reporter. His career as a writer, though, blossomed sooner than his career as a reporter. "First Formation" became a bestseller in the US and the Philippines and was awarded a Palanca.
In the US, he got to meet Miley Ray Cyrus, the famous musical and acting prodigy. The two became very close, and Ryan began to write "The Reddest Rose" for her. He recalls that those periods, the ones when he was writing the book with her, were "the most wonderfully magical and most magically wonderful times of his young life". He also got back with the Hartwig Brothers and created the Hartwig-Rayos Association for the Most Creatively Intelligent People (HRAMCIP).
He realized then that being a writer is what he meant to do. He returned to the Philippines and took a teaching job in Ateneo de Manila University. In this period, he was able to write the second book of "Farrellion: A Legacy", "Farrellian Genealogy".
He was able to finish writing the whole "Farrellion: A Legacy" series in 10 years. By that time, he was 30 and already famous. Scholastic Inc. offered to publish the "Farrellion: A Legacy" series.
He contributes his success to his positive thinking. He claims that he visualized himself like this when he was younger, and embedded the image in himself, believing that it will come true. Well, what do you know? It did!
Well, what do you think? I did this essay in 4th year English class, when Ms. D introduced us to "The Secret" (you might be familiar with the book by Rhonda Byrnes). She wanted us to visualize ourselves in the future and create an autobiography.
It's weird how we can really mold our destiny. Like what Virgil from the movie "Minutemen" said, "we live in a world where every minute can make or break a person's future." Imagine what possibilities can happen...
Anyway, I guess I'll stop here. I gotta brainstorm on my Farrellion novel if I want to finish it in college.
COMING UP IN MY NEXT POST: A pseudo-movie review on "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"!
An all new "A Frustrated Writer + A Blog = Mayhem" starts now.
From:
About me: I'm Rowan Xavier Zurich. Oh come on, that's just a pseudonym, don't worry. I won't place my real name on cyberspace. I am a smart, philosophy-interested boy. I use my blog as a deposit for my thoughts and ideas when I can't fit them in my head. Sometimes, I use it for telling my stories (I'm a writer). Feel free to dawdle mindlessly into my own thoughts! Haha!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Rowan in the House! -take 2
About that last post...
I was about to write about what happened to me last Friday, but I went to play badminton. I rather regretted it, because I had an idea outburst then, and I was eager to post. Ideas rarely flow readily from my mind to be typed. It's amazing what a continuous stream of Hanna Montana and Disney songs do to me...
Speaking of Disney, I guess you're all familiar with Cory in the House?
The Disney channel original series, Cory In The House!
I watch that on Fridays, but I didn't see it last Friday because...
...I was in The Philippine's House myself.Well, okay, I was in the Philippine President's House, the Malacanang (I can't find the enye character here..).
Here I am, in President Quezon's old chair, which President Marcos also used when he declared martial law. Wow, I look good as a dictator. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!My dad's office had an idea of going on tour on the Malacanang Palace. We did go around the place, led by our tour guide. The Palace, actually, is not only the home of the President (in fact, I learned that not all Presidents lived there. The law says that Presidents can live there if they wanted to. There are only three Presidents I know so far who didn't live here: Aquino, Ramos, and Estrada) but also a museum, a monument filled with memoirs left by past presidents and our history's prominent figures. Here, fill your curiosity with these pics.
Does this window look familiar? Maybe to the young 'uns, not so much, but this window was where the Marcos family was last seen before they left for the US in the aftermath of People Power 1. Mind you, it looked creepy in real life.
This dude looks rather insignificant at first, but wait 'till you read the name of this bearded Portuguese. Can ya read it? It's on the top left. Oh, alright, it says Hernando De Magallanes. That was his Spanish name, I think. He's known to us Filipinos as the famous expeditioner Ferdinand Magellan, the guy who discovered the Philippines. He also proved that the world is round.
Now, who's that handsome dude (I mean't the picture, dolt)? If you really tried to see that name on the picture, you'll read Cristoval Colon. Yeah, you'll be asking "who's this fruitcake?" Well, the world better knows him as Christopher Columbus, the dude who discovered part of America. He actually landed in America when he thought he was in India. Weird, huh?
Here you see me sitting on a 100-year old chair. There are four of these chairs in this room. Actually, it doesn't look old at all.
Check out these old pieces of paper. These are the first blueprints of the Malacanang. Too bad they're inside a glass case facing the sunlight, 'cause I can't take a pic clearly. See the Spanish design in it, though? Oh, and inside the Malacanang complex, all the houses look Spanish-made. It's like stepping into a portal back to the past (wow, it sounds like a movie promotion).
Check out this bust of former Prez Fidel V. Ramos. Looks lifelike, eh? My sisters think it's freaky. I think it's an amazingly brilliant piece of sculpture (it's just a piece, since it's not whole).Those pics were inside the museum. Now check out the formal halls inside the residencial area itself.
Wait, here is a picture of us in front of the legendary Pasig River. It looks normal in this picture, but if you see it in real life, it's depressing. I mean, we've had about 11 presidents live in the Malacanang, but no one has ordered to clean it up. The smell was unbelievable. Our tour guide said that this part, to smell the unbeareable stench of the Pasig River, was the highlight of our tour. And to think that it's happening in the President's backyard.
This is us in the Heroes Hall. It's below the Rizal Hall, where the big occasions happens. This hall was for semi-formal events. Can't really say much about it, 'cause there's nothing much to say about it.
Now here's me, standing on the stage in the Rizal Hall. It's really cold in there, because the President was there at that moment, having a meeting with the press or something. We actually just sneaked in to get the best of the tour.
So that's my Malacanang escapade. I can now say that I've been in the Malacanang.
Whoa! That was long. It's awesome what a stream of Hanna Montana songs can do to me and my creativity and desire to post.
And now my fingers hurt.
Rowan in the House!
Wow, I'm so inspired to make a post!
....too bad I can't even start. I'll update this when I'm done with my doings.
....too bad I can't even start. I'll update this when I'm done with my doings.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Children are the most logical people in the world
Whoa. What just happened? I think some wizard used a Time-Turner, and that's the reason I feel I'm experiencing deja-vu.
Well, whaddaya know? I'm officially a UP Maroon now! I just enrolled last Friday. I got my class cards, my schedule, and I have my own block now (whatever a block really is, 'cause I can't understand what it really is).
So, I'm all set for my first day in college. Just have to go to the campus tour on June 15. I don't want to get lost over there. The campus is BIG.
Now, on to the topic.
I was watching an episode of Hanna Montana the other day (I keep missing most episodes these days because of my hectic schedule) about Miley trying to keep her secret from her new boyfriend, Jake Ryan, even though the dude's so honest with her. So she's so guilty, that when she read to a class of 2nd graders a story about honesty, she got ambushed by the children's questions.
Children. They are so innocent (well, at least most are) and carefree. They're young, so no one expects so much from them. Technically, under these conditions, they think more of solving problems than complaining about it. They can give you the most obvious answer to a simple question. They're so obvious and simple that we tend to overlook it.
Take the 2nd graders in the Hanna Montana episode I discussed. They asked Hanna if she ever lied, and she was trying to explain how she's put into pressure and is forced to tell lies, so the children deduced that she lies willingly. That's the only answer there is, but Hanna's just making it more complicated. See?
Do you know the story about the Gordian knot? It's about a king named Gordius. He is king of a part of Asia. He tied an intricate knot and declared that the one who could untie it would be the ruler of the whole Asian territory. As it is, Alexander the Great found out about this and went to Gordius. He attempted to untie it, but when he thought that it was impossible to untie it, he cut it with his sword. Gordius and the other people were shocked, because it was so simple, and yet it seemed like Alexander cheated. However, Alexander had too many soldiers for Gordius to argue. Take note that Alexander was younger than 30, which can rather be considered young!
Why is it that older people are less logical than toddlers and kids? It's unfeasible that the weight of their responsibilities is making them throw reason to the winds. That's just scary. That just means that the more responsibilities, the less ability to analyze critically. It just doesn't add up.
I think that children seem to have more logic because they are presented with less things to ake into consideration. Like in algebra, the more variables you consider, the harder it is to solve things. If you work only with x, chances are you will be able to solve the problem easily. But if you solve an algebraic equation with variables x, y, z, a, b, c, or more.
Okay, so maybe the "more responsibility" theory is rather similar, but in essence, they are entirely different things.
I think I've written enough for one night.
Well, whaddaya know? I'm officially a UP Maroon now! I just enrolled last Friday. I got my class cards, my schedule, and I have my own block now (whatever a block really is, 'cause I can't understand what it really is).
So, I'm all set for my first day in college. Just have to go to the campus tour on June 15. I don't want to get lost over there. The campus is BIG.
Now, on to the topic.
I was watching an episode of Hanna Montana the other day (I keep missing most episodes these days because of my hectic schedule) about Miley trying to keep her secret from her new boyfriend, Jake Ryan, even though the dude's so honest with her. So she's so guilty, that when she read to a class of 2nd graders a story about honesty, she got ambushed by the children's questions.
Children. They are so innocent (well, at least most are) and carefree. They're young, so no one expects so much from them. Technically, under these conditions, they think more of solving problems than complaining about it. They can give you the most obvious answer to a simple question. They're so obvious and simple that we tend to overlook it.
Take the 2nd graders in the Hanna Montana episode I discussed. They asked Hanna if she ever lied, and she was trying to explain how she's put into pressure and is forced to tell lies, so the children deduced that she lies willingly. That's the only answer there is, but Hanna's just making it more complicated. See?
Do you know the story about the Gordian knot? It's about a king named Gordius. He is king of a part of Asia. He tied an intricate knot and declared that the one who could untie it would be the ruler of the whole Asian territory. As it is, Alexander the Great found out about this and went to Gordius. He attempted to untie it, but when he thought that it was impossible to untie it, he cut it with his sword. Gordius and the other people were shocked, because it was so simple, and yet it seemed like Alexander cheated. However, Alexander had too many soldiers for Gordius to argue. Take note that Alexander was younger than 30, which can rather be considered young!
Why is it that older people are less logical than toddlers and kids? It's unfeasible that the weight of their responsibilities is making them throw reason to the winds. That's just scary. That just means that the more responsibilities, the less ability to analyze critically. It just doesn't add up.
I think that children seem to have more logic because they are presented with less things to ake into consideration. Like in algebra, the more variables you consider, the harder it is to solve things. If you work only with x, chances are you will be able to solve the problem easily. But if you solve an algebraic equation with variables x, y, z, a, b, c, or more.
Okay, so maybe the "more responsibility" theory is rather similar, but in essence, they are entirely different things.
I think I've written enough for one night.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Of schedules and Malkou The Dreadmaster
Whoo! I just came home from badminton. I must say, I'm getting better.
...I think...
I was bloghopping just now when, while looking around her blog, I read Danna's post about how fast summer is flying and how her days seem to follow a certain schedule. She seems bored by how time flies so fast.
Well, whaddaya know? I feel the same way about my days. I really do follow a schedule. It's very easy to follow it. Before this week, here's my sked:
WEEKDAYS (i don't have a schedule for weekends):
some early time in the morning - Waking Up, take a bath, and other morning rituals
8 or 9 am - breakfast
9 to 12 am - I do something (mostly cleaning my room or the house)
12 (sometimes earlier) - lunch
afternoon until 4 or 5 pm - playing PS2 with miggy and nikkoli
4 or 5 pm - we all go to play badminton with Tchako at the nearby badmin court
late (sometimes early) in the evening - come home, take a bath, and go to sleep
I usually try to get home before 9 pm because I want to watch Hanna Montana, but sometimes I lose track of time.
Now, Nikkoli had me update my schedule. He and Tchakosky wanted me to play basketball in the morning (veeeeeeerrrryyyy early, to be almost exact) every M-W-F.
...I think...
I was bloghopping just now when, while looking around her blog, I read Danna's post about how fast summer is flying and how her days seem to follow a certain schedule. She seems bored by how time flies so fast.
Well, whaddaya know? I feel the same way about my days. I really do follow a schedule. It's very easy to follow it. Before this week, here's my sked:
WEEKDAYS (i don't have a schedule for weekends):
some early time in the morning - Waking Up, take a bath, and other morning rituals
8 or 9 am - breakfast
9 to 12 am - I do something (mostly cleaning my room or the house)
12 (sometimes earlier) - lunch
afternoon until 4 or 5 pm - playing PS2 with miggy and nikkoli
4 or 5 pm - we all go to play badminton with Tchako at the nearby badmin court
late (sometimes early) in the evening - come home, take a bath, and go to sleep
I usually try to get home before 9 pm because I want to watch Hanna Montana, but sometimes I lose track of time.
Now, Nikkoli had me update my schedule. He and Tchakosky wanted me to play basketball in the morning (veeeeeeerrrryyyy early, to be almost exact) every M-W-F.
Yep, pretty repetitive. So it's no surprise that summer is speedy.
Oh yeah, writing Farrellion: A Legacy! is still kind of in hiatus. I just can't seem to get myself to write fantasy when I myself am fantasizing (it's obvious what I'm fantasizing about). However, there's an update.
I created a new character, Malkou. He's supposed to be an upset soul (he's not necessarily bad, but I can't say he's good either) who sided with the D'Goustax Empire in the story. He was summoned by Liduen Ersatz to be his "helper". He took the form of a stone (stone, not rock) giant. He's just like a chief evil minion, but we'll (and, by we, I mean you) find out if there's a heart in that soul.
Well, what a sneak peek. I think that's all for now I gonna go sleep...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Elementary reunion! Awesome it was!
I'm getting less sleep these days. Maybe it's too much sugar. SUGAR RUSH!!!!
Well, I'm an insomniac now. I can't (actually, I won't) sleep much because I'm too busy dwelling on daydreams again. "When will our eyes meet? When can I touch you? When will this strong yearning end? And when will I hold you again?" (that's a line from Barry Manilow's song "Weekend in New England", one of my favorite songs)
Oh, and because of those daydreams, I psyched myself (Kiarra said it's really faith) that I would meet Miley, she would fall in love with me, and we'll live happily ever after(yeah, Rowan, you are sooooo much of a realist)... what a very cheesy and cliche' storybook ending. Why don't princessesin storybooks lose all their riches and become beggars instead?
Anyway, last Friday, I went to my Grade 6 class reunion. I admit, I was really nervous to see my former classmates. Have you ever been real close to a group of people, then be separated from them for 4 years, then meet them once more? It's awkward, really.
[Actually, I've felt worse. Years ago (I can't remember how long it has been)I had a childhood bestfriend named Punggay (For the record, I didn't give her that nickname). We talked a lot, and I was her escort when she won the Little Miss La Naval pageant years ago. I'd say we were very close, but then she and her family moved to Bulacan. Now, after so many years, she moves here in Pasay, where I'm at. It's like she changed or I altered my perception. Imagine seeing a part of your entire childhood in front of you and not even being able to talk to her after a long time. I'll try and make a post about this another day]
So, I got to Las Pinas and went to my old school, Pamplona Elementary School Central. It's a public school, so that's why there are almost 70 students in one section. I used to know all of them, but 4 years can do a lot on your mind. Now, meeting them again, I felt alienated. Scared I was because I might not be able to remember their names.
Well, what was I scared about?! The party was awesome!!! We talked a lot, and we caught on each other. Too bad we were only about 21 (wait, Malaya came late, so we became 22). Here are some of them:
Leah (she's our class valedictorian. the party was at her house. I admit, she lost weight.)
Rachel (salutatorian in our batch. still spunky and really fierce (by fierce, I'm using fashion talk)
Reyanne (she's the one who told me where the party was. i almost didn't recognize her, had it not been for her friendster.)
Angelo (he is my bestfriend in elementary. we even had pet names for each other. I was Owl, he was Snake. Get It? Pet names?? Aww, forget it.)
Angelique (my crush in grade 6. she almost hadn't changed. parang si danna pa rin...pero she still talks to me naman.)
Rodney and Michael (my seatmates, which is unnatural, because there are supposed to be only two people per seat, and we were the only seatmate trio in class)
Ahh, I can't go on. MIND BLOCK!!!! Maybe it's due to that sugar rush...
Anyway, I guess I'll just continue the list in another time. When I remember how to get rid of mind block...
So, we had a blast. We really did miss each other. "To go back into one's past is shocking and unnerving, but for good or for bad matters on the nature of the memory." Weird. We actually wanted to have another reunion, but finding the place to party is so hard. I think we'll postpone this one...
Well, I'm an insomniac now. I can't (actually, I won't) sleep much because I'm too busy dwelling on daydreams again. "When will our eyes meet? When can I touch you? When will this strong yearning end? And when will I hold you again?" (that's a line from Barry Manilow's song "Weekend in New England", one of my favorite songs)
Oh, and because of those daydreams, I psyched myself (Kiarra said it's really faith) that I would meet Miley, she would fall in love with me, and we'll live happily ever after(yeah, Rowan, you are sooooo much of a realist)... what a very cheesy and cliche' storybook ending. Why don't princessesin storybooks lose all their riches and become beggars instead?
Anyway, last Friday, I went to my Grade 6 class reunion. I admit, I was really nervous to see my former classmates. Have you ever been real close to a group of people, then be separated from them for 4 years, then meet them once more? It's awkward, really.
[Actually, I've felt worse. Years ago (I can't remember how long it has been)I had a childhood bestfriend named Punggay (For the record, I didn't give her that nickname). We talked a lot, and I was her escort when she won the Little Miss La Naval pageant years ago. I'd say we were very close, but then she and her family moved to Bulacan. Now, after so many years, she moves here in Pasay, where I'm at. It's like she changed or I altered my perception. Imagine seeing a part of your entire childhood in front of you and not even being able to talk to her after a long time. I'll try and make a post about this another day]
So, I got to Las Pinas and went to my old school, Pamplona Elementary School Central. It's a public school, so that's why there are almost 70 students in one section. I used to know all of them, but 4 years can do a lot on your mind. Now, meeting them again, I felt alienated. Scared I was because I might not be able to remember their names.
Well, what was I scared about?! The party was awesome!!! We talked a lot, and we caught on each other. Too bad we were only about 21 (wait, Malaya came late, so we became 22). Here are some of them:
Leah (she's our class valedictorian. the party was at her house. I admit, she lost weight.)
Rachel (salutatorian in our batch. still spunky and really fierce (by fierce, I'm using fashion talk)
Reyanne (she's the one who told me where the party was. i almost didn't recognize her, had it not been for her friendster.)
Angelo (he is my bestfriend in elementary. we even had pet names for each other. I was Owl, he was Snake. Get It? Pet names?? Aww, forget it.)
Angelique (my crush in grade 6. she almost hadn't changed. parang si danna pa rin...pero she still talks to me naman.)
Rodney and Michael (my seatmates, which is unnatural, because there are supposed to be only two people per seat, and we were the only seatmate trio in class)
Ahh, I can't go on. MIND BLOCK!!!! Maybe it's due to that sugar rush...
Anyway, I guess I'll just continue the list in another time. When I remember how to get rid of mind block...
So, we had a blast. We really did miss each other. "To go back into one's past is shocking and unnerving, but for good or for bad matters on the nature of the memory." Weird. We actually wanted to have another reunion, but finding the place to party is so hard. I think we'll postpone this one...
---=^^=--
Darth Amelie tagged me.
So.......should I be scared?? I mean, she is a Sith Lord.
Just kidding, folks. Sheesh, what's a writer to do to get amusement these days?
So, 10 facts about me. Well, I'll put in these:
1. I'm dead afraid of heights, but I like depths (swimming pool deepness, ok?).
2. I think Trigonometry and Calculus are really easy (thanks to Sir Emboy!).
3. I like eating ampalaya.
4. The only online game I've really taken seriously is Neopets.
5. In my 5th grade, I fainted when I saw that my arm was broken.
6. I only watch scary movies in the morning. (actually, I avoid scary movies as much as possible)
7. My favourite movie is "Hitch".
8. I've never seen a ghost in person ever.
9. I am Rowan right now. I am Ryan's alter-ego. I do this blog, while Ryan takes a break in being the main consciousness of my body. While I and Ryan are good, we also have an evil alter-ego, Drakmun. He rarely shows up, but he does when I or Ryan feels frustrated or angry. You wouldn't wanna see him.
10. I LOVE (as in, you know, that love) Miley Cyrus. (hey, everyone knows that)
Well, there it is. Oh, and I tag Kuya Paul, Ket, Danna, oh, what the heck, all the people whose blog is on my linkages.