Under the Walnut Tree

When I was younger, I used to have an incessant flair for the dramatic. I won a childhood talent search by my declamation piece (complete with faux-laurel leaves and robe) “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…” from Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar (Act 3, Scene 2). I also escorted a childhood friend (euphemism for a pesky neighbor) when her family forced her against her will to join the Little Miss Philippines contest in a noontime TV show (Eat Bulaga). I appeared once (or is that twice, or thrice) in the now defunct show FLAMES, with the then young Claudine Barretto and Bojo Molina. And had some little TV (extra) appearances every now and then. (Flames Image Courtesy of ABS-CBN.com).

I wanted to pursue show business then, but as years passed by, I recognized that I do not need to appear in one (movie, TV show, etc.) to be one. As my horizons widened and I became exposed to one too many shows, I started associating myself to the characters in the show, and watched as if they’re filming my life (just kidding).

The following shows, and the characters portrayed, are listed below.

Legally Blonde
This summer go blonde!


Oh how could I forget one of the most influential movies in my life (hehe). That was me right there (in pink). When I first saw this movie, swear to God, I told myself that I will be just like Elle Woods. Not because of the pink stuffs or the blonde-ish associations, but because I wanted to make a huge difference in the lives of people around me. I wanted her determination, her intelligence, her spunk, her convictions (and her dog, too) that one must not judge with what one only sees.


Legally Blonde Images: Source: http://movies.yahoo.com. Image courtesy of MGM. Photo by Tracy Bennett.

Most memorable line:

Warner: You got into Harvard Law?
Elle: What? Like, it's hard?

Mean Girls
Welcome to the girl world.


This movie is girl world in its finest. And that was me, right there (2nd from the left on the picture below). I love this movie because you can relate to it in one way or the other, and you can identify with the main characters in their best and worst traits. Maybe from your experiences from backstabbing people around you, or a petty jealousy for a man you have a crush on—you couldn’t help but say “that was so me.” (And yes, I admit, I’m a catty, bitchy person in high school).


Mean Girls Images: Source: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808529211/photo/520459

Most memorable line:

Gretchen: I'm sorry that people are so jealous of me... but I can't help it that I'm so popular.

Sex and the City


It was Carrie’s manner of writing that largely influenced my style of writing when I was just a novice writer (click here or here). Dating disasters, emotional issues, sexual dilemmas and concerns— everything is tackled by this superbly written, witty, show. Haven’t we all had our Sex and the City moments with our friends/lovers in the past? This show has been, and will remain as one of the most loved and cherished show for generations to come.


Sex and the City Images courtesy of HBO.com

Most memorable quotes:

Carrie: Maybe our mistakes are what make our fate. Without them, what would shape our lives? Perhaps if we never veered off course, we wouldn't fall in love, or have babies, or be who we are. After all, seasons change. So do cities. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart.

and

Carrie: Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous.

Scrubs


This TV series inspired me to take up Nursing and be the best Nurse that I can be. Scrubs evolves on the personal and professional lives of the characters working at the Sacred Heart Hospital, including the nurses, and the then interns, now attending physicians, and their superiors and subordinates. The best thing about this series is that events are portrayed very realistically, with an emotional touch and a sensitive comedic undertone. (This is one show where nurses are portrayed acceptably and satisfactorily, with a great sense of sensitivity and pride for the work that they do).

When I was starting out on my hospital duty, it seems as if the events I watch on this series are what are really happening in the wards. Loss of a loved one, the knowledge of a life-changing diagnosis, bioethical dilemmas, patients touching your life—everything are all true ingredients of a hospital life. JD shows the imperfectability of a medical professional as a person—always in the crossroad of indecision, a mature individual with a core of immaturity, imprisoned by his limited nature, capable of rational and logical thinking but can become irrational and illogical at times, and is an irreplaceable being.


Scrubs Images Courtesy of Scrubs, NBC.com

Most Memorable Lines:

Dr. Kelso: Nothing in this world that’s worth having comes easy

and

JD: So they say that 1 out of every 3 patients admitted to this place will die here. But some days the odds are worse than that. And on days like that I guess the best that you can hope for is that you take something from it. Anything. Anything at all. Even if it’s just taking the time to lie on the grass and think about all the things you still have left to do.

Grey’s Anatomy


Need I say more? When I first watched this show, I was left with two choices: (1) pursue a career in medicine, or (2) pursue a career in medicine. Unfortunately for me at that time, I was not able to take the NMATs, no Med School will ever process my applications, and I don’t have the energy to study again and be back to the classrooms after the board exams drained my heart and soul.

This show has the making of a masterpiece—a superb ensemble of characters (all of them have personal and professional issues worthy of a long storyline), almost true-to-life portrayal of medical conditions in its totality, and a touch of humanness in every episode that caresses your inner soul and moves your spirit.


Grey's Anatomy Images Courtesy of Grey's Anatomy ABC.com

(Some of the) Most Memorable lines:

Meredith Grey: At some point you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out; they fence you in. Life is messy, that's how we're made. So you can waste your life drawing lines or you can live your life crossing them. But there are some lines that are way too dangerous to cross. Here's what I know. If you're willing to take the chance, the view from the other side is spectacular.

and

Meredith Grey: The early bird catches the worm; a stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we haven't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to ‘seize the day'. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore, until we finally understand for ourselves like Benjamin Franklin meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping. And that even the biggest failure, even the worst most intractable mistake beats the hell out of never trying.


***


There you go. Those are but few of the shows that influenced the present me. In a life that’s full of turmoil, inconsistencies, contradiction and unpredictability, one could feel solace in the fact that somewhere in this universe, someone shares with our experience—good or otherwise—all in a parallel universe.

***

The posted images are copyrights of their respective owners and the author does not, in any way, claims the ownership of the aforementioned images. The original links are posted respectively for reference.