Book Title: Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins 2

Part 2

Picture 1-  “May the Odds be ever in your favour.” Effie Trinket took part on the Reaping Day of the tributes of District 12 for the 74^th Hunger Games. It is one of my favourite parts of the novel because it shows how fate messes with Katniss and Peeta.

Picture No. 2- Katniss did her best to please the Gamemakers with her extravagant talent of doing the bow and arrow. It could have turned into passive showcase until Katniss did an unexpected thing--- shooting the apple from the Gamemaker’s food.

Picture No. 3- This picture displays Katniss’ genius. With Rue’s help, she transformed the Tracker Jacker’s hive into a deadly bomb that killed and injured some of the tributes that are chasing after her.

Book Title: Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins 1

Book Title: Hunger Games by Suzzane Collins                                                                    December 6, 2013

Part 1:

Hunger Games doesn’t only encompass about the tragic life story of each District and how they were able to live their lives amidst the Capitol’s cruelty. It is a story of love, bravery and being still even the odds aren’t in favour. I sympathize with Katniss’ life miseries. At the very young age, she ran as the family’s breadwinner, hunting at the woods for their survival. I admire her noble love for her sister as she courageously volunteered as the District 12’s girl tribute for the 74^th Hunger Games. She is a genious! Katniss was able to grasp the compassion of the people and the favour of fate enabling herself alive throughout the Games. Capitol’s power was put into question revealing the spirit of rebellion after an attempt of eating some poisonous berries with his fate-crossed lover, Peeta.

Along with, there are still questions that puzzle me. I wonder why the author, Suzzane Collins precisely named her novel, Hunger Games? I deemed the story did not merely focus on the complex living of the people and their desperate action to assist themselves from famishing to death. Also, the Gamemakers announced that there could be two victors provided that they came from the same district, yet they withhold it once and stuck with the rules again, what for? I would also like to ask if what could have happen if Katniss and Peeta really ate those poisonous berries. Would the Capitol take outrageous actions for having the first Hunger Games without a Victor? Would Katniss’ family and district be sentenced to hammer?

With Katniss’ courage, I think that her victory won’t lead her to a harmonious life instead, it will just serve as an ignition for another chaos, another fire that could burn their enemies even their own selves. Her being a “victor” will function to another drastic story. Katniss’ affection for Peeta is partly visible but was only hindered because of the Games yet, the denial will surely outgrow into a deeper one.

Conversely, I am a fan of Harry Potter and I learned some of his experiences significant to Katniss’. He was raised in a Muggle Family at Privet Drive as a normal boy living in a normal world surrounded by normal people yet, when he entered the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he was a clandestined superstar. Amidst his melancholic life, he aided himself to reach victory in proving that goodness prevails always. Harry’s adversities showcase the same of Katniss, her courage to screw her fate and keeping the value of virtuousness amidst the call for survival.

I could also connect the same story of warmth with the experience of my Chemistry teacher. When he was still child, he faced an experience he could never forget. In concert with his mother and a few, they met an accident, a truck was about to hit them. His mother shrewdly pushed him making him the only survivor. This story reminds me of the Hunger Games, because Katniss cared for sister Prim. Her sacrifice dealt goodness among herself and the people around her.

As a whole, Hunger Games, in one way or another, taught me to value life, be appreciative to what I have and be strong to face life’s difficulties. I may not have the bow and arrows to arm me yet I possess the strength that could brawl the dilemmas that hinders me to unleash the “victor” spirit within myself.

THE VERY TIME WE GIVE UP: A Reflection on the Movie, ABAKADA…INA

“When you do nothing you feel unoverwhelmed and powerless, but when you get involved, you will feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing that you are working to make things better.” This adage from an anonymous person suits the action in accepting the challenge and the consequences one could experience by doing nothing instead.  Estella played three significant roles--- a good mother, a wife, and a daughter-in-law. Though she was able to take part of her jobs yet there are some circumstances that manifested her failure of once edifying herself. She disappointed to conquer her fears and pursue her education. Estella only gave up once yet fate dictated the costs of her tomorrow. Indeed, fear is a hurdle for someone to becoming his/her own better version. 

The society ordained education as a requisite for one to succeed in life. Though it doesn’t speak as a general truth yet it massively influences a person in all aspect. Through education, one could acquire knowledge that is a requirement to become a productive individual that suits to perform in this competitive world. On the other hand, people who went to school learn how to behave properly and the likes. It only reveals that Estella, as a representation of all must indulge in education. Like other choices, road to success is like roaring ocean yet if we are courageous to sail the waves, there is a bountiful island that surely waits. As she grew up, the consequences she encountered broaden. From a simple problem of understanding letters to marrying early and even losing her children’s interest, chaos appeared.

If we look into a deeper perspective, we need education to cope up with our problems and purposes yet it does not only stop there. Education doesn’t only offer promises, a prosperous life, good career and etc. Life offers a lot of choices and possibilities for us to indulge and taste its sweetness yet, if we know to ourselves that we are limited and incapable, sense of completion somehow diminishes. Estella acknowledged her debility and as what had been showed, she found ways to deal with it. Little by little she conquered her fear, reading every letter she sees and even attending the classes of her youngest daughter. Her hunger for education is very visible. Thus, it contests us that for those who are enabling of educating him/herself must put full efforts in realizing the vital aspirations. Maybe it’s too late yet, her determination moved mountains.

Estella may be looked as a person with nothing to be proud of yet she is an embodiment of a real person. She proved that education comes always with humility. Often she is criticized by people around her yet she enables to stand still. This conveys that, even the most educated, intelligent person could never be appreciated if he/she doesn’t know how to show love. In totality, she might be a person that all considered as an illiterate, fool yet she was more than sufficient of wisdom. Her experiences bear that education is an opportunity to make one’s life ameliorate. Education is a wealth that no one could take, it is our pride. It shapes our mental and personal intelligence about matters.

Truly, life’s fulfillment doesn't depend on the quantity of information that we know. It is the unending showcase of concern, forgiveness and modesty to every person that is near in our hearts. We should learn from the mistakes of our past. Never surrender. The most genuine learning could never be taught nor found in books. All we need is to take a pause and confer what is inside our hearts.