Romeo and Juliet: A Tragic Play by William Shakespeare

Ah, Romeo and Juliet. The most famous love story in antiquity, and until now. The tragic story of two lovers, thwarted by a malign star, doomed to be born in feuding families, and to perish in love's unfair decision. 

In my perspective, I believe the play showed human emotions to a considerably fair degree, love's affliction of woes to the lovers, and unshakable faith. Though portrayed well, the flow of some scenes were abruptly halted, shifted on a polar side: largely comedy, then to a very tragic tone. Virginity and women are taken lightly, in contrast to today. Although, when nearing conclusion, a finer way was used for the readers/audience. Romeo's arrival at the tomb, was very crucial, and thus made the spectators sit at the edge of their seats. What if Romeo had come earlier? What if the truth was laid to Romeo without any hindrances? Would their very young, tragic love be saved at the last moments of the play? If it were me, I would still think their love would not survive, as love, defined throughout the time of learning, is woeful when bred of a young age. In one way or another, Shakespeare knows, their love must end in a tragic way, though he portrayed it as a love 'til death.

In a nutshell, the play was good. Not bad, and pretty good. The thoughts were expressed beautifully in metaphors, views on profound things were comically told, but the flow was bad (at least for me). I am always amused by the characters' conversations.

If ever the lovers' fate were to be in my whim, I would conclude it the other way around, whereas instead of people dying, I'd show the audience the harsh reality that people face nowadays. The unexpected turns of the real world, the awkwardness of situations, and the inevitability of sudden ends. Here goes everything:

Paris enters Juliet's tomb in secrecy with his page just outside, waiting by the passages to the tomb. 
He grieves for Juliet's supposed death, and then hears his page's warning. 
Paris hides in the dark.
Romeo goes inside the tomb and grieves for Juliet as well.
Paris reveals himself after a few moments, and they encounter.
"Why do you grieve for someone who doesn't deserve you? I am puzzled. Since when have you thought that you love my Juliet?"
Romeo, bested by grief, is drowned in nostalgia.
"Before I have met her, I have always thought that I would not ever love again. That is, until I was struck by Cupid's arrow by seeing Juliet. I have never thought once that I'd be in love again. Even having just seen her once, I have known, she is my true love; she gave me hope in life."
"Why does your love weigh more than mine for her? I know I love her much, but she does not see me. Why am I bested by someone of evil blood? I demand to know!"
Paris and Romeo fights.
Romeo, still struck by grief, is wounded and helpless.
"Why are you weak? Is your love as such?"
"Nay. I just want to join my love in death."
Paris is moved by Romeo's words.
"Why do you wish as much as your own death as well? Do you not wish to live for her?"
"I can never truly live without her. I am as much as dead right now."
"Ah! I cannot bear this!"
In the midst of their conversation, Juliet awakes. Each one of them in the tomb is taken aback.
It is Romeo who takes the first action in what seems like ages among them.
"My love! I thought you were dead! O, how much have I gone mad and despaired after learning you were dead!"
Juliet hugs Romeo back. She notices Paris.
"Romeo, bred from what is your wound? And why are you here, Paris? Did you battle?"
"Worry no more, Juliet. I wish not to kill Romeo any more, and more importantly, I wish your happiness. Once we get back to the city, I shall step back from our marriage. I will try to forget the pain I bear now and the pain I shall bear for always. But remember this well Juliet: I shall not stop loving you. I wish you the best, Romeo."
Romeo is surprised.
"What of you now, Paris?"
"I may go on a journey 'round here in Europe. I wish not to live here any more, though I might visit here at times."
Paris leaves, his eyes wet with tears.

After returning to the city, everyone is surprised of Juliet's living and walking body, with Romeo beside him, his clothes still stained with blood. Each house delighted. They took no more moment and took Romeo to the infirmary, where he was treated. Romeo enlightened each head of the house while Juliet sat beside him. They learnt of the truth, and each one was taken aback, including Juliet. Capulet and Montague both knew of their mistakes, and the consequences it had brought upon them. As such, they finally put an end to their seemingly endless conflict, and blessed their children's wedding. 
And Romeo and Juliet lived happily ever after.

As for Paris, he left Verona without a notice.

Diem de Patres

"Diem de Patres" rougly means "Day of Fathers", from what I recall from my small vocabulary of Latin words. I merely combined them, having no knowledge of their grammar rules and such, but it shall do.

The day when fathers are honored by any means.

Most people celebrate it in a feast, others by simply going out with their father's.

Either way, it all remains the same.

Back then, Father's Day was meant to complement the already-existing Mother's Day, and ever since has become a regular event to be held annually. History states that other than to have a rapport with Mother's Day, the said day had allegedly sprouted from a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd.

Sonora had a father, a Civil War veteran, who single-handedly raised his six children in Spokane YMCA. After hearing about the success obtained by Anna Jarvis with the promotion of Mother's Day, she told her pastors that fathers should have a similar holiday. And as such, ways have been created just for it to be official, some roads were destroyed in criticism but in the end, the holiday was pushed.

In our family, Ferdinand Peralta Lugtu is our governing body. The pillar of the house. The head of everything happening at home.
And so far, he had been a great teacher to the rest of our family.

With his seemingly boundless knowledge and wisdom, he can solve and give proper alternatives to problems that periodically arise, although at some cases he gives a rather humorous way to finish a problem.

He can have fun with us his children by effectively widening his likes to cover our own likes too. For instance, when he heard the bands we were listening to nowadays, he listens to them too, even putting their songs as his personal alarm tone. 


These things are just a generalization of what kind of a great father mine is, and probably will bore you if all the details were to be included. 

I almost forgot. He's the most handsome man (who I shall succeed at some other time) ever.
So in another summary, my father is:


easily, the greatest.

Happy Father's Day Dadi!
And also to all fathers out there, including my family's own, my grandfather and my uncles and my cousin!

An Excerpt from my Hero's Tale

Heroes. People that help. People that inspire.

In this vast world, such people are often in need. 

Well, the good thing is,

they're everywhere and

you can meet them right in your very house.

Heroes, as often characterized by a long age of dreaming, are people of superb qualities, standing out in the ordinary: they can be a fountain of wisdom and strength or a seed of hope in troubled times.
In my case, the man of all these things, is my father.

Ever since in my childhood, my father had been my model of greatness. One of the things that he has always had that amazes me until now, is his wide array of knowledge. 

He is my ultimate jack-of-all-trades man.

March 7, 1972, in a local hospital in Marinduque, my father came into existence by the name Ferdinand, a descendant of the Peralta and Lugtu clans, by my grandparents Alfredo and Maria Corazon. He grew up by the hands of the most time-trained people I have ever known, where he learned to become who he is now: a well-rounded person. He grew up learning to endure hard times, all the while tasting the fruits of their labor in their small, active farm. Even though his grades were incredibly high, he studied leisurely, and was well-known throughout his peers as a very smart and intelligent person, yet not having the privilege to be the valedictorian in their class. He also grew up being close to God, for their house was just a walk away from their church, and learned to sing and play music for Him. He grew up, absorbing all information and the fun in life, experienced difficulties and overcame them, and became a great person.

In short, he was amazingly molded throughout his childhood to his adulthood in being the best anyone can virtually be.


In almost all of our times together, I have asked him about a multitude of things, varying from the most senseless things to the utmost important ones, and almost every single one of them was answered. My boundless curiosity was always satiated. 

It was in him where I found the things I wanted to do.

Growing up, I have always been taught by him in various aspects of life, in academics, and in hobbies. He was the one who had taught me how to play basketball, play the guitar, play the piano, read, eat a lot, and learn a lot. He laid the foundations of my character today.
And in the times when he wasn't able to answer my questions, he'll tell me: "Now, now, you can always look for it. Just because I can't answer it, doesn't mean you should stop looking for your answer. Just read and read; you'll almost certainly find what you seek. Now for the other things, you'll just have to think the answer yourself." 

And in times when my hurdles are just too big for me, he trains my legs to just jump over them.

He doesn't teach me to escape my problems when they're too serious that it can change my life. He teaches me to how to overcome it. Although it may come only in simple hints, his words become more than enough to help me. He rarely helps me directly, and that's what I like about him. It means that he believes in me, and that he wants me to grow independent. If we weren't here bonded by blood, and by chance we met and he taught me, it'll be like having Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney, and Michael Jordan to teach me in just one person.

Heroes are known for a unique sense of capability to do things that may seem superior to others, and a great sense of responsibility. While perspective on heroes vary from person to person, I know the pattern goes for everyone: heroes are someone you look up with respect and value their existence. 
My heroes exceed what fingers can count, for there are many great people in the world that I respect.

But for me, there is only one man, who rose above in my life with great distinction, with mind brimming with knowledge and white-streaked hair as a relic of wisdom.

My father.