HABLA ESPANOL?

Finally I was able to visit the Institute after unintentionally delaying the plan for such a long time. I really want to learn another language since it will be advantageous for me especially I have plans of working abroad and Spanish is the second widely spoken language in the world as per the newspaper that I read few months back. Besides I know it's not a hard language to master since a number of Tagalog words have the same meaning and pronunciation as the Spanish language since my country was once conquered and ruled by Spain for more than 400 hundred years ago. Wow! Now I'm talking about history here! Also, learning a second (or third- after English or fourth if I'm going to consider the Chinese course I took) language is nothing new to me since I started studying Chinese since kindergarten 'til high school although the difference of then and now is that before it was mandated by my parents, my Father particularly since he knew it'll be beneficial for us to learn the language 'coz it's being used in businesses also so that we will be able to continue learning the culture of our Chinese grandfather(deceased) and learn his language.We basically grew up in a Chinese community, to start with we live in a compound owned by a distant Chinese relative and since they're the traditional ones, I got exposed to the culture even more - praying with incense sticks, offering food to the dead loved ones especially on their birthdays, burning paper money at the cemetery during all soul's day and even during the deceased loved ones' birthdays so they have something to spend on in the after-life. I remember there's no Sunday during my growing up years that we don't watch Jackie Chan or a Chinese martial arts movie in Beta max (wow! that will show how old I am he he he - I don't care anyways! ) or in a movie house with my beloved Lola Siote(deceased). Well, moving on.....

So, this afternoon I went to Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural Centre , to inquire about the schedule of their Spanish classes. I arrived at the Institute 15 minutes before closing time - whew! (at least I was able to make it) and I got brochures and leaflets and found out that there's a free cinema showing at 6 that same day and so I waited. But I went up to the library first to check their books and see the place.. I just love the library and the feeling of being surrounded by books... it feels very intellectual ( ha! ha! ha!) not to mention comfortable, cool and cozy too.
I was looking for the cd of Silvio Rodriguez, but can't find it...I'll just ask the librarian next time.

The library closes at 5pm so I went down already few minutes before they close and just waited for the movie theatre to open. I stayed at the reception area and sat in the sofa there with the rest of the people who are also waiting for the movie just like me. Then this guy next to me tried to make small talk and I was not really in the mood to mingle, besides he's not my type (he! he! he! bad girl!). Also what turned me off is that he's trying to be cool when in fact he's not! I just answered him with a yes or a no coz I dont want to be rude. Worst is he sat next to me when we were inside the cinema, but then again he asked politely if it's ok., I said yes coz I just want to be polite, I know he's just being friendly anyways... it's just me who didn't like to be nice that day.

I wasn't able to enjoy the movie that much because the quality of the film was not good.The Spanish personnel from the Institute who gave a small introduction forewarned us that since it's an old film (1984), the copy that they have is not as good as a new one but he still hoped we would enjoy watching it and true enough it's not visually appetizing and appealing. I can still follow the story because of the subtitles but then again most of the time, I didn't look at the screen coz it hurt my eyes, it was that bad at times. I was planning to leave the theatre but then again, I decided to finish the movie.It was an experience anyways!

The movie was entitled "ULTIMAS TARDES CON TERESA"(Last Afternoons with Teresa).It's about two people with different social status who's worlds met thru the maid of Teresa, a rich university student who got interested and seduced by the revolutionary cause. The other character is a guy named Manolo, a motorcycle thief who wants to get away from his hard knock life.For me, it's like a typical pinoy movie but the difference is the two don't end up together unlike most pinoy love stories who always have a happy ending.

I'm so looking forward to watch more Spanish films every Saturday. As a matter of fact, I'm going to make it a habit to go to the Institute every Saturday and stay for hours in their library and study the language on my own while waiting for my sked. Also I am looking forward to attend their event next Saturday.It's a whole day Open House and they will be celebrating the International Book Day... "hmmmm books" (ala Homer Simpsons he! he! he!)