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In 1962, in Los Angeles, Calvin Webber, a genius scientist who was afraid of a nuclear holocaust built a fallout shelter for himself and his pregnant wife, Helen. After seeing a debate between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev on tv, Calvin sent their guests home and went down to the shelter where they can be safe. Meanwhile, an airplane crashed down the Webber house. The lock went off sealing the couple inside.

As the lock was set for thirty years, the couple, believing that the crash was brought by the nuclear bomb, lived inside the shelter which was stocked with food and supplies good for thirty five years. Shortly after they were locked, Helen went into labor and gave birth to Adam.

Adam who grew up tutored by his genius father was also taught social graces, dancing, self defense and even skating. He turned into an intelligent and refined but naive man. Thirty five years after being sealed, Calvin and Helen were full of anticipation when the lock finally opened. Calvin, wearing a suit to protect himself from radiation, went up the surface and was dismayed to find his backyard and neighborhood completely altered. He came back and made a decision that they were going to stay in the shelter for good. Helen disagreed and they had an argument. Calvin had a heart attack and was put to bed. Helen, though apprehensive, sent Adam up to buy more supplies.

Adam packed a suitcase and bringing his father’s collection of classic baseball cards and stock certificates, went up the surface for the first time in his life. He was overwhelmed to see the sky and disgusted when he saw the Adult Bookstore his father warned him about. He rode the bus in search of a grocery store and frightened the man beside him with his endless chatter.

When Adam finally found a grocery store, he panicked when he realized he did not know where he came from, and that he was actually lost in the city. He also found out that the money his mother gave was not money. He rode the bus again and tried to find his way back. He found the Adult Bookstore, but before he was able to retrace his steps, he saw a shop buying baseball cards. The shop owner offered him $500 for his entire collection, but Eve, an employee interfered telling him that one card alone was worth $6000. She was fired.

Adam followed Eve on her way out and offered her one of his baseball cards if she would take him to the Holiday Inn. Eve agreed. The following morning, Eve came to give him back the card because she felt guilty. Adam offered her money if she would help him buy all the supplies he needed. Eve agreed and they had a deal.

Eve’s gay-friend Troy was suspicious of Adam at first. When Eve pretended to be a psychic and said that Adam was from Alaska, Troy asked him various information about the state which Adam answered accurately. Troy even checked out from his computer the capital of Alaska to verify Adam’s answer and Adam was amazed to learn that Troy had a computer at home.

Troy, then, took Adam shopping for new clothes. But he was excited most about his rollerblades. He tried them on and skated at the park and was again overwhelmed, which amused both Troy and Eve, when he saw the beach.

Troy taught Adam how to dance YMCA and took him to a baseball game. Adam also experienced, for the first time, to stay under the rain. Then, Eve took him to bar to look for a wife. Adam was introduced to other people. Eve was, again, amazed and irritated when Adam talked with another girl in French and more so when he danced on the floor with two girls. Eve felt so irritated she went with her ex-boyfriend Cliff for a drink. Cliff was about to hit Adam but Adam proved to be able to defend himself. Eve walked out and left Adam with Troy in the bar. When Troy came home alone, Eve got mad when she learned Adam went home with another woman. She went out to get him but hurt herself when Adam materialized beside her car.

Adam tended to her wound. Eve realized she was attracted to Adam and Adam said he liked Eve and they kissed. Then, Adam told him about the fallout shelter his father built and how he was born there and lived there all his life. But when he expressed his desire to take Eve down to the shelter, she got scared and sent him to the hotel.

The following day Adam found the Adult Bookstore while he was driving with Troy. He was so excited to tell Eve about his discovery. When he arrived at her house, however, she was with Dr. Nina Aron from a medical institution. Dr. Aron invited Adam to go with her. Adam politely refused and asked if he could just go home. Dr. Aron turned down his request. Adam pretended to go with Dr. Aron but ran away as soon as they were out of the house. Before finally escaping, Adam gave Eve one of his baseball cards to pay his bills.

Eve felt so guilty for having Adam admitted to an institution. Together with Troy, she went to Adam’s room to the Holiday Inn to settle his bill and found the rest of his baseball cards, his stock certificates and his toothpaste which was manufactured in 1962. Eve realized Adam was for real. Meanwhile, Adam was able to find his way back to the shelter. With the help of Archbishop Melker, who took Adam to be ‘God the Son’, Adam went back up for the rest of the supplies.

Eve and Troy went to the Adult Bookstore assuming that the shelter was underneath. Tired and disappointed, they went back to the car. While looking out of the window, Eve saw Adam as he walked away from the pay phone to leave a message on Eve’s answering machine. Eve called his name and Adam turned around. She ran to his arms. They embraced and kissed.

Calvin and Helen were overjoyed when Adam came back to the shelter with Eve. Adam gave Calvin a strict instruction to lock the shelter for two months and asked that Calvin trust him without asking for explanation. Adam had a house built on the surface for his parents. It looked just like their house down the shelter. After two months, he took his parents up. He told his father what really happened and that there was no nuclear holocaust.

Helen was happy with her new home while Calvin measured the land apparently for another fallout shelter.

That was eighteen years ago. Looking at my daughter now, all the fear and all the pain vanished and are replaced by a feeling of accomplishment that only I would get to feel.

For this Mother’s Day, I received an online greetings from my eldest daughter via Facebook, an emotional letter from my second daughter and a wet kiss from my son, just all I need to tell me I’m doing a fair job raising them.

Happy Mother’s Day!

On my last year in college, I became friends with Rico* a second year Political Science student who apparently intended to go to Law School and be a lawyer someday. I learned later that he was of a big and powerful clan in the northern part of the country.

Before I finally graduated, I noticed his closeness with one of our older friends, Gail*. A smart, practical and amiable girl whom everyone, including me, liked. I didn’t notice anything special about them. He looked like an inexperienced overly-excited apprentice waiting for her, the mentor’s, every word. I completely forgot them as soon as I was out of the university.

After two years, however, I crossed paths with Rico again. He seemed so excited to see me. He asked me if I have Gail’s number and I was glad to give it to him. After a week, I received a call from Rico. He was.. sad. I asked him what it was about and he told me their story.

He told me that they had a one-night physical affair and that he didn’t know he would fall in love with Gail after that. Though I already knew the answer, I asked him if it was really possible. He said they only made love once but they talked about anything and everything, and that he could be himself when he was with Gail. He said everything she said about life was true. And most importantly, Gail was unlike any other girl he met in that she didn’t have any expectations, she didn’t ask for commitment and faithfulness and loyalty but in a very short time they were together, she made him feel special.

I said that was very nice, but asked him why he was sad. He said he asked me Gail’s number hoping to ask her out, to court her properly and offer her the love he has felt for her for a couple of years now. But Gail refused him politely. She told him how special he had been to her and if he had found her sooner maybe there was still a chance for them. She said sorry and told him she was getting married in two days time.

I can no longer remember what I said to Rico to make him feel better. What I remember is how hurt I was for the two of them..

*not real names

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Hua Mulan was the daughter of Hua Hu, a former soldier of the Northern Wei dynasty. One day, an announcement was made mustering soldiers to fight off the Rouran invaders. To prevent her sickly father from going off to another war, Mulan took her father’s armor and took his place.

In camp, Mulan was recognized by her childhood friend, Xiahou, who promised to keep her real identity a secret. Mulan met new friends including an officer, Wentai. That night the commander’s nephew got irritated with one of the soldiers because he was weeping. The commander’s nephew was about to beat the soldier when Xiahou tried to stop him. Before the commander’s nephew laid his hands on Xiahou, Mulan beat him and his friends. Wentai was obviously impressed with Mulan.

The following night, Mulan went to take a bath in a hot spring but was surprised to find Wentai. Wentai, however, did not recognize her but learned that she was a woman and that she has a scar on the back of his hand. The following day, Wentai started to searched for someone with a scar on the back of the hand, but before he discovered who it was, the outraged commander called on all of the soldiers. He was looking for the thief who stole his nephew’s pendant. He ordered all the soldiers to strip naked. Unable to do so, Mulan admitted to stealing the pendant. When Wentai saw her scar, he knew she did not steal the pendant. Mulan was scheduled for execution the following day.

The following day, the Rourans attacked them. Wentai freed Mulan so she could escape. Instead of escaping, however, Mulan wore his uniform and came back to the battlefield. She killed the Rouran general and they won the battle. Since the commander was also killed, Wentai was promoted as commander while Mulan became his sub-commander.

Wentai and Mulan won several more battles and were both promoted as generals. But when some of Mulan’s friends were killed in battle, she told Wentai she did not want to fight anymore but Wentai kept on urging her. One time, however, Wentai and his men were ambushed, so Mulan left her men to help him. Wentai was dismayed at her for leaving her men. When they came back, most of Mulan’s men were killed and their supplies were taken by the Rourans.

Mulan felt guilty, she did not want to go to battle anymore. So, Wentai decided to let her stay for once. It was then that Wentai was wounded. Xiahou came back and gave Mulan Wentai’s dog tag. Mulan went into deep despair over losing Wentai. she neglected her men and did not want to fight anymore until Xiahou talked her out of her despair.

With Wentai’s dog tag hanging down her belt, Mulan faced her men and assumed her responsibilities as general. While her men were cheering for Mulan, a wounded man in one of the tents sat up and cheered for her. It was Wentai. He was not killed. He let Mulan believed he was killed in his desire to cut her emotional ties with him and her other friends.

Mulan had more triumphs in battle proving she was a mighty and able general.

Meanwhile, the Rouran Danyu, the Master of the Grasslands, was killed by his son Mendu who gathered two hundred thousand men to go to war against the Wei dynasty. Mulan suggested a strategy that would require all the troops to work together. The commander-in-chief approved of the strategy so Mulan left right away.

As planned, Mulan prepared to fight against the Rourans. When they won the battle, she led her men to the canyon to wait for the reinforcement from the commander-in-chief. As they were retreating to the canyon, however, they were hit by a sandstorm. When the sand cleared up, Wentai got up and searched for Mulan. Mulan got emotional to see Wentai alive, thought she knew he was not dead. Wentai caught her when she fell weak because of her wounds. Xiahou, together with the others helped Mulan escaped by facing the Rourans.

When they reached the canyon, Mulan learned that there were no supplies waiting for them as agreed. Wentai had to pull out the arrow protruding from Mulan’s chest and sterilize it with hot knife. Then, he tended to Mulan while she was delirious, weak and feverish. Wentai cut his wrist to drip blood on Mulan’s lips. When Mulan felt well enough to stand, she prepared to fight to death.

But Wentai walked forward and revealed himself to be a prince. She offered himself to Mendu in exchange of Mulan and her men’s safety. Mulan set off alone. She disguised herself as a Rouran soldier. She convinced the Rouran princess to help her kill Mendu and save Wentai. The princess was willing to help her put an end to the war.

Mulan killed Wendu and came back from the war as a triumphant general. She revealed her identity but was forgiven by the emperor nonetheless. She only wished to come home. Wentai, on the other hand, was married to the Rouran princess.

Wentai paid Mulan a visit and asked her to run away with him but Mulan refused explaining the need to sacrifice for their country. Wentai understood and sadly left.

When I went home in the province a few weeks ago, I heard a story that saddened me. For one, it really was an unfortunate event and second, it should not have taken place at all.

The story had it that two brothers, Larry and Lito*, lived beside each other’s house. Their wives were not in good terms but were apparently forced to live side by side. One day, Larry’s goose got loose and wandered around Lito’s yard and left goose dung.

Enraged, Lito’s wife ran towards Larry’s wife and said impolite things. Before long, they were engaged in a heated argument. The argument turned into a fist fight when the brothers got themselves involved. As if that wasn’t enough, Lito aimed at Larry and shot him. It was Larry’s wife who took the bullet intended for her husband and she died.

I felt sad that things like this happen. That a brother would aim a gun at his brother, accidentally kill his sister-in-law and deprive his nieces and nephews of a mother, all because of goose dung.

Sometimes living with your spouse can be difficult and living beside your extended family even worse. But we have to make allowances and try to settle our differences for the plain and simple reason that.. it’s for the best.

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Giselle is from the fairy tale land of Andalasia. As she was about to marry Prince Edward, she was sent by the prince’s stepmother, Queen Narissa, disguised as a hag, to the real word, the Earth, where there is no happily ever after.

Lost and confused, Giselle searched for Edward and the palace. Finding a billboard of a palace, Giselle climbed up ‘The Palace’ casino. Meanwhile, divorce lawyer, Robert Phillip, and his daughter, Morgan, were going home when they saw a lady about to fall down from the billboard of the ‘The Palace.’ Morgan ran out of the taxi and Robert followed her just in time to catch Giselle from falling.

At Morgan’s request, Robert took Giselle home with them where the lady fell asleep on the couch. When Giselle woke up, despite her different surroundings, she resumed her daily chores and cleaned up the house with the help of urban animals. Woken by the noise, Morgan came out of the room and saw the animals, she woke Robert and they threw the animals out of the apartment.

Robert heard Giselle taking a shower in the bathroom. He was knocked down by pigeons and fell down pulling Giselle under him just in time for his fiancee Nancy to come in. Nancy saw Robert on top of Giselle and assumed that something was going on between them. She walked out of the house.

Robert took Giselle with him at the office and asked his secretary, Sam, to help Giselle go home. Sam’s efforts, however, was in vain. Robert took Giselle to Central Park and gave her money so she could go home but Giselle gave it to an old woman who swore she saw Price Edward at the bus that morning. The prince went after her, with the chipmunk Pip,  through the well she fell into

Dismayed by her naivete, Robert went back to Giselle and explained to her how Nancy misinterpreted what she saw that morning. Giselle helped Robert express his feelings to Nancy by asking birds to take a basket of flowers and ticket to the ‘King and Queen’s Ball.’ Robert was surprised when Nancy called him on his cellphone to thank him for the apples.

Meanwhile, Queen Narissa’s henchman, Nathaniel, was holding Prince Edward unawares of Giselle’s location. The henchman, given three apples to poison Giselle, disguised as a vendor and gave Giselle a caramel apple for free. The apple was inadvertently thrown by Giselle in her enthusiasm while singing, thus Nathaniel’s first attempt failed.

That night, Robert took Giselle and Morgan to dinner. Nathaniel, disguised as a waiter, served Giselle a poisoned apple martini. Pip, the chipmunk, however, thwarted the attempt by knocking down the drink. As Prince Edward was watching television, he saw Giselle being interviewed and with the street name he saw on TV as his clue, he went on searching for her.

Meanwhile, Robert got irritated with Giselle’s optimism over Edward’s finding her that they had a petty argument leading to Giselle’s finding out how it feels to be angry and human. The following day, Edward actually found Giselle and asked her to go home with him to Andalasia. Giselle was not as overjoyed as she expected to be. She asked Edward to go on a date, apparently to prolong her stay in the real world, before returning to Andalasia. The prince agreed.

Before the end of the day, Giselle expressed her desire to attend the ‘King and Queen’s Ball.’ Edward agreed to go if Giselle would promise to go home after the ball. She agreed. Giselle, then, went to Morgan for help because she had nothing to wear to the ball. Morgan took out the credit card Robert gave her for emergency and took Giselle shopping for clothes and to have her face and hair fixed.

At the ball, Robert and Giselle danced and realized their attraction with each other. After dancing with Robert, Giselle was hurt to see Nancy at his arms, an emotion unfamiliar to her. Queen Narissa, disguised as a hag, materialized beside her and gave her a poisoned apple to end the pain she was feeling.

Giselle accepted the apple, took a bite and fell on the floor, dead, with only true love’s first kiss to wake her up before midnight, otherwise, she would not be brought back to life. Naturally, Edward kissed her but she remained unconscious. Nancy, realizing what happened, urged Robert to kiss her. Robert did and Giselle woke up which signifies that it was Robert, not Edward, who was Giselle’s true love.

Queen Narissa, determined to have her own ending to the story, transformed into a dragon, snatched Robert and she crawled up the Woolworth Building. Giselle followed to save Robert. After Giselle and Robert were saved, Edward took Nancy to Andalasia and got married there and had a happy ending.

Giselle stayed in the real world with Robert and Morgan.

My daughter, Mika, received a wallet from her godmother a few years back and she just fell in love with it. When she was young, I used to buy hello kitty stuff for her. Apparently, however, she did not realize then that all girls love it. Only when she grew a little older and could already choose for herself which things she liked to have did she actually appreciate the things I bought for her.

When I was in sixth grade, my classroom adviser was a spinster in her early 40s. She was my brother’s adviser in sixth grade and my sister, Liz’s as well. She was one nice lady, warm as a mother but as strict as one.

She used to live in her cozy little house with her widowed mother. The house was spotlessly clean, smelled like newly washed clothes and adorned with handmade arts and crafts. I was fortunate enough to be invited there a couple of times. I wasn’t one of her favorites because I believe she didn’t have one, but she surely was very nice to me and to my other classmates.

So we always do to nice people, I wished her, first and foremost, a husband.

That year, she trained for a declamation contest. It was in the district level which meant that I was to compete against representatives from other schools. Fortunately, I won. I nearly lost, though, to a pretty lass from another school, also a sixth grader, and, I learned later, the daughter of one of the teachers there. I never forgot her.

After three years, I heard a marvelous news. My sixth grade teacher got married! I was so happy for her. But I was stunned when I learned that she married the newly widowed teacher in another school who was the father of the girl who nearly beat me in the declamation contest. I felt, somehow.. betrayed. I have no reason to feel that way, of course, so I just focused on being happy for her.

And I was right to be happy, because I learned that the couple used to be sweethearts when they were young. For some reasons, the guy married someone else and my teacher didn’t marry at all. When the guy got widowed, he married her the moment it was appropriate to do so.

It was my first glimpse of what true love really means.