Musings of a Cluttered Mind

Life on nowadays

2009-11-28T10:03:00.000+08:00

I haven't posted anything for months cause I was always too busy catching up with everything . But then I've come to realize that I have to live my life at my own pace and not following others. I simply can't keep up that both my mind and body are finally giving up; I can't get a full night's sleep and and my body is already giving signs of fatigue.

Haiz! Life of an adult can sometimes be really cumbersome. I do wish often that I was back into my teens and all I have to worry about are exams and homework. I guess I need to go back to reading and writing again to clear my mind and calm my weary soul.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Kung Ibig Mo Akong Makilala

2009-07-12T22:08:00.001+08:00

I was introduced to this poem back in my days in La Salle. It is one of my favourites.

Kung Ibig Mo Akong Makilala

by Ruth Elynia Mabanglo

Kung ibig mo akong makilala,
lampasan mo ang guhit ng mahugis na balat,
ang titig kong dagat—
yumayapos nang mahigpit sa bawat saglit
ng kahapon ko’t bukas.

Kung ibig mo akong makilala
sunduin mo ako sa himlayang dilim
at sa madlang pagsukol ng inunang hilahil,
ibangon ako at saka palayain.

Isang pag-ibig na lipos ng lingap,
tahanang malaya sa pangamba at sumbat
may suhay ng tuwa’t ang kaluwalhatia’y
walang takda—
ialay mo lahat ito sa akin
kung mahal mo ako’t ibig kilalanin.

Kung ibig mo akong kilalanin,
sisirin mo ako hanggang buto,
liparin mo ako hanggang utak,
umilanlang ka hanggang kaluluwa—
hubad ako roon: mula ulo hanggang paa.

Do I dazzle you?

2009-05-04T23:12:00.005+08:00

Twilight... I was first introduced into this vampire-romance novel by my sister when I went back home to Manila more than a year ago because she's graduating from college. I saw this huge hard bound book with an apple on the cover. I read the small synopsis at the back and realizing that it's about vampires, I was intrigued: I love Anne Rice's vampire chronicles. My sister said the book is good but she can't find the time to finish it. I tried to read the first chapter but the hectic schedule prevented me from even finishing the second page.

Last October when podcasters from MuggleCast kept on babbling about Twilight, my interest was again piqued. The release date of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was moved and its original release date of 21st Nov was given to this Twilight movie adaptation. Since there's no more new Harry Potter book to look forward to, I decided to pick-up this series of books - it's just four anyway and is already completed. So I went to Borders and got all the four books: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Because I haven't read in such a long time, I read voraciously one book at a time. Here's what I thought of the series...

It is really just for young adults. Even though people have labelled it as the next Harry Potter, it is was out of the HP league. Tolkien's Middle-earth is complex; Rowling's wizarding world is intruiging and purely magical; Stephanie Meyer's story is just Sweet Dreams - Sweet Valley High - type with mythical creatures. I felt like I was back in my teen years while reading Twilight: girl goes to a new school, meets a cute mysterious boy, boy talks to her, asks her out, and then they dated exclusively. There were even passages that describes what they are both wearing on one date and the girl commented that their colours complimented! Harry mooned over Cho and his "monster" beneath his chest roared when he saw Ginny kissing Dean, but that's all you'll get from HP.

As the books progressed, I guess the author also developed more writing skills as the dialogues become richer, some red-herrings were introduced and there are some foreshadowing. But for someone who's been a sleuth during the Harry Potter saga, they were just peanuts. Conflict in each book are really shallow, and considering that this is a vampire novel, there isn't much bloodshed. Rice's vampire novels are sexy and gory and Meyer's are all PG - Breaking Dawn tried to go PG-13 though, but that's as far as it could go. The final confrontation in the very last book was bland - one would thought that this might match the Final Battle at Hogwarts but all the characters did were stand on each side and talked. No heartbreaking moments such as when Sirius died or when Dumbledore died or when Harry died... oops!

Chasing rainbows

2009-04-28T22:27:00.002+08:00

They say that there's a pot of gold at every rainbow's end. After thirty-five years of seeing rainbows I still have yet to get a glimpse of the effing pot. Is life cruel or man can't really just be satisfied? I'm tired of following those beautiful flitting butterflies which I can't grasp... and of buying TOTO tickets as I don't have the luck of hitting the jackpot.

I guess it is time to let go and let the rain come. Maybe then I could get see the beauty of spring.

Welcome back!

2009-04-27T00:23:00.002+08:00

After years of not posting anything... anything at all; hopefully, I am back to blogging.

What has happened for the past two years? A lot of weight gained... another book series read and finished... and moved to our very own flat. Yes, a new living space might have triggered this new urge to go back to blogging: a little peace and quiet time sitting on my balcony...

Nothing much to say for now, but there are an awful lot topics running through my head. I also got a lot of things on my "to do" list and first thing is to learn how revamp this website's layout. It looks like crap!

Harry's End

2007-08-25T21:24:00.001+08:00

One month after the release of the very last Harry Potter book, “The Deathly Hallows”, here’s what I think of the final installment on the very famous series. If you have read my earlier entries regarding all things Harry Potter, you can deduce that I am not a fan of the Harry-Ginny pairing, and even though their relationship had been sealed after Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup on Harry’s sixth year over what could have been “several sunlit days,” I still don’t think they belong together. No, I am not sour-graping, nor am I one of those fans that think “Harry should marry me”, I just think that Harry deserves a far better witch than Ginny. Enough of the relationships babble, maybe on my next post, but this time let’s get on with the more important plot points.

This is the last book, a lot of loose ends left after six books had to be tied into one tight knot, but then again - come to think of it – should they really need to be closed? It is sometimes good story-telling when some things were left hanging, giving readers something to think about – opening a whole new world of possibilities that could only prosper in their very own imaginations.

At the end of book six, “The Half-Blood Prince,” readers were left mourning over Dumbledore’s death and a lot of loathing for Severus Snape, who killed the old wizard with Harry as the witness and some Death Eaters. It was such a terrible loss for the wizarding world at the very height of war against Lord Voldemort. What a despicable act to ‘’murder’’ the greatest wizard of modern times, Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, Chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards and Order of Merlin, First Class. But in most stories, the old and wise ‘’mentors‘’ tend to die even before the final battle commences: think of Gandalf falling at the depths of Moria in ‘’The Fellowship of the Ring’’ or of Brom dying so early in Eragon. When a lot of people are in the ‘’Snape is a very bad man’’ camp, I am more in the ‘’Snape is Dumbledore’s man’’ camp. He may have killed the old man (yes, he is definitely dead) with Avada Kedavra (the Killing Curse), but I believed then that there’s more to it than meets the eye. Just like Harry, I trusted Dumbledore; even if Harry don’t meet eye to eye with the old man regarding Snape, I still trust Dumbledore that the slimy git is ‘’now no more a Death Eater’’ than the Headmaster.

The final book opens with the complex and still mysterious Severus Snape, and the first chapter further enflames the hearts of those ‘’Snape is bad’’ fans. In this chapter, we also witness how cruel and twisted are the views of Lord Voldemort. We got our first death, though we know nothing much of this person but that she was a Hogwarts professor for Muggle Studies. “Nagini, dinner,” this is definitely no longer a children’s book.

I love Albus Dumbledore, as I have said before, and by the second chapter doubts of

Don’t you hate the Dursleys? Well, we got another and final chapter with them; this is the first chapter that made me cry. I had never imagined that Dudley’s lines could ever make me cry but when he said ‘’I don’t think you’re a waste of space,’’ I bawled. I am expecting something from Aunt Petunia here, as much as Harry, but there was nothing; although more words from her would make this a much sappy opener. This chapter is funny and melancholic at the same time and I loved it when Harry looked around the house at Number 4 Privet Drive one last time, and memories of his miserable youth were recalled.

When I saw the chapter title ‘’Seven Potters’’ from the spoilers four or five days before the official release, I thought that we’d learn about Harry’s ancestry; I was definitely mistaken. This is a chapter when merged with the next, would make the filmmakers dance with glee; it’s an action-packed sequence with a lot of special effects. Harry, multiplied by seven with the help of polyjuice potion, and members of the Order of the Phoenix were chased by Death Eaters. It’s a pursuit on broomsticks, thestrals, and a flying motorcycle, and of wizards firing curses and hexes as each other. Lovely! Harry won over Lord Voldemort. Yey! The only sad news on this one is that we lost Hedwig (Harry’s pet owl) and the consummate warrior, Mad-eye Moody. Aww! I cried again.

Albus Dumbledore died and he left quite a few things for his favourite students: Harry, Ron and Hermione; such odd gifts but you’ll know they have uses in the end. Bill and Fleur got married and we now witness what the wedding is like in the wizarding world: fantastic! Viktor Krum is back just to let Harry know what is the meaning of the symbol that Luna’s father was wearing; but I love his line ‘’ Vot is the point of being an international Quidditch player if all the good-looking girls are taken?’’ Chaos ensued at the wedding and the story was further propelled to set sailing, which let us back to Grimmauld Place and learned of what had become of the real locket that was supposed to be the reason Harry and Dumbledore went to the cave that fateful night on Harry’s sixth year. We also discover here who R.A.B was and hear of Kreacher’s sad tale. Sob! Sob! More Sob! Okay, I bawled my eyes out reading the house-elf’s story. Here’s another one-liner from Ron that lightened up the mood: ‘’Overkill, mate.’’

Did you love Dolores Umbridge in the fifth book? We met her one more time in this final tome - though a very brief one. She still is that despicable 6!+c#. From a heist at the Ministry of Magic we followed our hero as he hides in the forest with his friends. This part really dragged on and I started to get impatient the same way as Ron did. And at this point plot holes are starting to stack up. They finally got the real locket (one of the Horcruxes) and Harry, Ron and Hermione took turns wearing them; and it affects their personality (hmm… didn’t that remind you of the ‘’One Ring’’?).

And then I got the twist I was hoping for since book four: Ron left. He left the two in their hiding place to go home because he can’t stand being left out when Harry and Hermione start to make plans. He abandoned them in their quest to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Yey! Ron is going to turn a weasel, but I was wrong… again: two chapters later he’s back and played the hero by saving Harry’s life. So, Ron becomes the hero and saves Harry and destroyed the locket, but pulling Godric Gryffindor’s sword from the icy water is just too Arthurian for me. Harry and Hermione went to Godric’s Hollow to go back and see where it all began. Harry visits his parents’ graves and, yes, I cried in this chapter as Harry cries. Let me just quote here one of my favourite passages: ‘’The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents’ mouldering remains lay beneath snow and stone, indifferent, unknowing. And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face, and what was the point in wiping them off, or pretending? He let them fall, his lips pressed hard together, looking down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the last of Lily and James lay, bones now, surely, or dust, not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near, his heart still beating, alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing, at this moment, that he was sleeping under the snow with them.’’

Harry meets a new character in Luna Lovegood’s father, who is as eccentric as his daughter, and fans are introduced to this whole new thing called the ‘’Deathly Hallows’’. The three hallows are all together different banana from the horcruxes and they pose another dilemma for our hero. These three things, if possessed by one person, will make him the master of death, which is what, as Harry thought, he greatly needs to defeat Voldemort. He later learns that he already had the two in his possession and Voldemort is tracking down the very last one, the Elder Wand.

What the heck is this Elder Wand? According to legend, this very old wand is considered to be unbeatable and anyone who wields it cannot be defeated in a duel; due to this characteristic, the wand has left a bloody trail in wizarding history. Some people thought that you have to kill the present owner of the wand not become the new master of the wand, but little was it known that killing was not needed and you only have to defeat or disarm the owner to get the wand’s allegiance. This is where it becomes murky and hard to decipher for fans. Anyway, we will learn here about Dumbledore’s triumph over Grindelwald and has transpired after the famous duel. So did Harry got the Elder Wand? Oh yeah, he did. He got its allegiance through accident: on some kind of rumble between two kids.

In book three, when Harry ‘’saved’’ Peter Pettigrew from being murdered by his friends, Dumbledore mentioned of the life-debt Wormtail owes to Harry and it might be of use in the end; didn’t that remind you of Gandalf talking to Frodo of the mercy given by Bilbo to Gollum? The question is did it happen? Did Pettigrew pay-off his life-debt? Fans all thought of it unfolding in a grand way, like Wormtail standing in front of Harry to block a Killing Curse, although in the book, that was not the case. Wormtail died in his own hands, literally; remember that in the fourth book he was given a silver hand by his master when he voluntarily cut-off the original one to serve as ‘’ingredient’’ in the potion that would give Voldemort a body. This silver hand acted on its own accord when Pettigrew made a slight hesitation when he was about to throttle Harry.

What becomes of Dobby the house-elf? Harry’s biggest fan and very willing helper, Dobby died saving Harry’s life one more time. This is the part where I cried a lot; from the moment Harry saw the silver dagger on Dobby’s chest, when the elf said his last words ‘’Harry… Potter…’’, when Harry dug the grave with the use of a spade and without magic, the eulogy given by Luna, to the marker Harry made saying ‘’Dobby, a free elf’’.

Hagrid said that it would be crazy to rob Gringotts bank and Harry, Ron and Hermione actually tried and succeeded. It was a suspenseful and funny sequence and finished off with them flying on top of a dragon. From this on everything went of a faster pace. We go back to Hogwarts and meet everybody there including Percy! His return was funny and touching and that sent me again on another crying binge.

Severus Snape was the most mystifying and ambiguous character and only towards the do we get to learn of his true colors; I’m right! I can’t believe that the theory I have been following was correct: Snape was and still is in love with Lily. I knew that there was more to that chapter in the fifth book, ‘’Snape’s Worst Memory’’ than just being turned upside down and having your dirty knickers being shown to the rest of the school. And when Snape’s dying words to Harry were ‘’Look…at…me…’’ and the green eyes found the black, I wept liked a child. It say’s so much why JK Rowling kept on saying that Harry’s eyes were every important and why that added scene in the third film between Lupin and Harry at the bridge made the author almost gasped in surprise.

I knew the final battle will be at Hogwarts, this is the place where Harry and Voldemort both felt at home, and as what Harry thought in his final hours - and what could be one of the best lines in the book and makes me shed tears every time I read them - ‘’Hogwarts was the first and best home he had known. He and Voldemort and Snape, the abandoned boys, had all found here…’’ The Dark Forest was featured again in this final battle, and this leads us back to the first encounter between Harry and Voldemort on Harry’s first year in school. One centaur helped Harry escaped then and the other centaurs were furious with this because they thought that had meddled with what was written in the stars. Harry deduced then that he was supposed to have died that night in Voldemort’s hands only that it was prevented by Firenze. Ronan and Bane were right only that they got the wrong time; Harry indeed died at the Forest, sacrificing himself for the lives of others. ‘’The Forest Again’’ was the chapter that JK Rowling broke down after writing, and I knew why while was reading it. After all the years of hardships Harry has to go through, and here he was walking to his death with impressions of his parents, Sirius and Lupin by his side. ‘’You’ve been so brave,’’ his mom told him and his dad said, ’’We are… so proud of you.’’ I howled and almost died with Harry.

Religious critics could be eating their words now after this final book. Harry’s story is heartrending and tragic; it may have been littered with magic but there are an awful lot of religious themes addressed in the entire series. I’m not gonna say more here; I will deal with the other characters and their journey, more especially with Neville, in another post. Finally, Harry got what he wanted when he looked at the Mirror of Erised back on his first year: a family.

Charge, charge, charge!

2007-07-31T18:26:00.000+08:00

Do you still remember the time when you made credit card payments buying some item from a department store, and the cashier would take out this huge contraption wherein they will put your card, some-kind of carbonated receipt and run through a little device that would capture the embossed card number and your name? We called this "plantsa". Back in those days, to check if yours is a "hot" card - reported stolen or missing by the cardholder - the cashier will bring out a list and check the numbers. The cashier would then call the card issuer (bank) to get authorization for the transaction and jot down the authorization number in the receipt. Gone are those days.

Counters now have this little device connected to a network through a leased line; the card's magnetic strip will be swiped in this device's reader and the stored info such as the card number, expiry date and cardholder's name. The info from this little black strip would then be sent over to the network and routed to the card issuer for authorization. The card issuer would then send a response whether to approve the transaction or reject it; all of these is done in a matter of seconds. After approval and printing of the receipt through the thermal printer, the cardholder would just need to sign it. If the cashier is so diligent, she would check the signature against what's on the back of the card, but then again they are no signature experts.

With the fast evolution of technology, credit cards payments are again changing. We now have this so called "Pay by Touch". With this new technology, your fingerprint acts as a means of biometric authentication when you make purchases, so you no longer need to swipe your card. All you need to do is place you finger on a sensor at the point of payment, and the electronic wallet that stores your personal information and credit card details will retrieved and evaluated. Of course, you need to enrol for biometric payment to enjoy this new convenience as your bank doesn't ask for fingerprints when you applied for a card. This facility is quite secured - even better than just comparing signatures - as your fingerprint is unique, which meant only you can access your credit card. Unless, of course, somebody cuts off your finger and uses it to make purchases. That is such a disturbing sight!

Aside from the "Pay by Touch," VISA introduced the payWave facility. No signature, no swipe, no fingers to put into a device, all you need to do is wave your card on the new reader and your good to go. This isn't the safest facility as the person standing next to you on the payment queue could just grabbed your arm carrying your wallet and wave it on the reader to pay for his purchases.

With so many fraudulent transactions done everyday with the use of credit cards, I guess the best thing to impede such scams is with the use of "Pay by Touch". Because aside from your fingerprint you also need to key-in a personal search number, which is also unique. So if somebody really did cut off your right finger, he still couldn't continue with the transaction if he doesn't know your personal search number. What happens if you no longer have your right index finger? There's still your left to use. But if you lost all your digits, I'm not sure if you could use your toes.

Road to Deathly Hallows

2007-07-22T11:30:00.000+08:00

16/Jul - five days to go before the release of the last Harry Potter book and I still haven't finished re-reading the Half-Blood Prince. Herman is too busy looking for places we could visit over the weekend. He kept on asking me for ideas, but I wouldn't give any for I wasn't interested on going to some trip on a Harry Potter book weekend release. I just kept on telling him that I have to get my book first before we can go.

17/Jul - Herman still can't find any good place to go, so he finally gave in and decided that it is indeed going to be a Harry Potter weekend. I searched the net and found news that some prat scanned the actual book and posted it online. And so, I have seen the complete-chapter title list and the first chapter.

19/Jul - I went to Borders and bought a big red book. After paying up, I asked the cashier what time they're going to open up on Saturday (21st Jul); I knew about the 5am affair they have planned and sent out invitations with. She replied that they'll only open at 5, and I asked further whether they are going to close up Friday night. She gave me a surprised looked and said, "Of course, we have to prepare for the 5am Harry Potter release." I hated to prod some more for there's quite a lot on queue; but previously for the Half-Blood Prince release, they didn't closed up Friday night and they showed HP movies and people could browse through their stock of books.

21/Jul 4:30am - my alarm clock chimed and I'm didn't even pressed the snooze button. I washed up and put on my Slytherin shirt
4:45am - there's some early showers as I hailed the cab
5:00am - I arrived at Wheelock Place and found that there's a long queue already. I joined the end of the line, far from the main entrance, actually I'm quite near the back entrance.
5:05am - people wearing black robes, witch's hat on their head walked up and down the line
5:30am - the line is moving and Luna Lovegood passed by
6:10am - I'm near the main entrance and I could see what's going on inside but can't hear anything for Borders didn't sent up speakers outside the Wheelock Place.
6:20am - Is that Hagrid? He looks so small
6:22am - Oh, a Ringwraight! Wait! That's Lord of the Rings; it's a Dementor.
6:35am - contestants for the dress-up contest were presented. The guy who pretends to be Snape really looks like a slimy git.
6:40am - somebody received a big cheque for $10,000. Dang! I didn't win.
6:45am - Mad-Eye Moody is using a camera taking a picture of someone who looked like Harry; that looked hilarious.
6:50am - people just little outside the main entrance have already stood-up and prepared for the actual release time.
6:58am - Border's staff are already waiting for their cue at the cashier's counter those inside the stock room are ready to open the boxes
7:00am - the host said to the microphone that only 1 minute is left
10 seconds before 7:01am – the crowd began the countdown
7:01am - the crowd cheered as they finally showed the very first book coming out to the counter
7:30am - I'm inside the Wheelock Place but still far from the bookstore. Some pompous kids who got their books early, stopped in front of those still on queue and read the epilogue a little bit loud. I'm glad that I couldn't hear them; others had to resort to covering their ears
7:55am - what a long wait on the queue that is barely moving. I have finally stepped into the Border's main door
8:05am - it's my turn to the cashier to FINALLY get my copy!
8:15am - I hailed a cab carrying my Border's bag and breakfast from Burger King. I opened the book and read the first few pages.
8:40am - I've finally changed and went to one corner in the house to start my marathon read.

22/Jul 1:00am - I'm almost at the end but it took me quite a long time to finish for I was bawling at almost every end of a paragraph – at every sad or beautiful line.
2:00 - I have finally read the very last line of the book and cried some more.
10:30am - after a long sleep, I got up to give myself a bath. Yes, I didn't go to the shower the previous day. When I need to go to the toilet, I brought the book with me. And there, just as the water kissed my face, I broke down; things that happened to the characters flashed before my eyes and tears joined the showers cleansing me off my grime.

Going Potty over Potter

2007-07-17T22:56:00.001+08:00

July 2007 is Harry Potter month. Why? Because I said so. Actually, it's because Warner Bros and JK Rowling decided it to be. Order of the Phoenix (the fifth Harry Potter film) was released last July 11, and the very last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be released on July 21st. You could hardly imagine the mania this is causing the Potterworld; me included.

I have booked my movie tickets more than a week before the film release, and, yes, I watched it on its first day. As for the book, I pre-ordered three months in advance, winning over much zealousness and praying hard for the virtue of restraint. I don't want to appear too loony and pre-order even before the book title was released. Yes, pre-ordering at Amazon.com started one year ago. Even after Jo Rowling announced the book title over at her site last December, I still kept my patience, telling myself to wait for the announcement of the release date. February arrived together with a simple and subtle news at jkrowling.com that it's coming out on the morning of July 21. Now I wouldn't look like such an eager-beaver loony fan ordering a book without a title or a release date hankering at the Borders counter.

I've seen the fifth movie and I'm still one-third through the sixth book (Half-Blood Prince). I only got three days left! I'm in a state of panic and excitement. I want to search the internet for more news that usually crop-up preceding the release but I have to finish my re-reads. Oh don't ask me how many times I've read Philosopher's Stone (the first book); it's lots.

Vacation at the Highlands

2007-05-10T21:48:00.000+08:00

To get away from the heat and some occasional rains in Singapore, we went to the Malaysian highlands last week for a short vacation. We spent two nights in Cameron Highlands and one night in Genting.

These two highland resorts are both at different ends of a spectrum. Though they are both sitted on top of mountains that would mean having a cold weather, Cameron brings you back to nature while Genting is all glitter and blitz with casinos and theme parks.

For pictures of this trip to here and some images here.

CheapCards

2007-04-23T23:07:00.000+08:00

The group of Filipinos working in IT at our office usually pitched in to come up with a special gift and a card for the one celebrating his/her birthday. We have noticed lately that there's hardly any new funny cards that we could find in Singapore - wish there's a huge National Bookstore here. Twice we have actually used the same card for two different persons at two different years. So we have set up a new trend: we'll make personalized cards, which we call CheapCards. And since April is birthday month for Herman and I, here's what we got.

Eragon the movie

2007-03-29T10:37:00.000+08:00

I just bought the DVD of Eragon and seen a few of the featurettes, and all I can say is that I'm totally disappointed. No wonder the film did not made it big in the blockbuster. The filmmakers butchered a material that could go somewhere near the stellar heights of The Lord of the Rings. The Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini could be miles away from the grandeur of JRR Tolkien's Middle-Earth, but its simplicity could be of a big help in transforming the book into the film medium, something of which Peter Jackson and his team had to struggle with.

Eragon is a simple coming of age story with a fantasyland at its backdrop. The story's characters are not that many, but then they were even reduced in the film. I'm not sure if the writer of the screenplay, the producers and the director have even read the book front and back; they could have just read clip notes or the story's outline. They may have thought that this trilogy is just all about Eragon; but in truth, it is the rise of a new generation of Dragon Riders, not just of Eragon but also of the other two who have yet to come.

The length of the film is only one hour and thirty-seven minutes; short… too short for the first part of what could have been an epic trilogy. When I heard the director's commentary on why he had to delete some scenes, I almost threw the remote control to our TV set, but then it's not worth destroying our new 32'' LCD tv. I even called the screenplay writer an ''idiot'' when he mentioned that while writing the script he had a talk with Paolini himself about what's going to happen in the next two books, yet he somehow failed to put the essential dynamics in the first that are crucial in the next two films.

This is the director's first directorial film, and you can clearly see he had paid more attention to the effects than to the story and character development. He said he had to leave out scenes that would give some pause and prolong the delay to the ultimate battle at the end – a battle that lasted for less than ten minutes. He was so excited to show the battle that would showcase a flying dragon emitting fire and battling another flying being – a scene that was shot in the dark hiding the much anticipated special effects.

Elves have pointed ears and dwarves are smaller than men. That's how they are presented in the book and in almost all books published in the same genre, but the filmmakers had this stupid idea of trying to stir away from the norm and change them. The elves here only have long, flowing hair and dressed differently from humans, and a dwarf can stand shoulder to shoulder with a man. Ridiculous!

I could go on and on and point out every mistake they have done in making this film and of crucial sub-plots they have altered, but it would just be exhausting much more exhilarating than watching the film. I'm just glad I didn't spent more by buying code 1 and opted for the code 3 instead; the fun thing is there's a Tagalog subtitle.

Yen posted this from her O2 Xda Atom

Not of dungeons but of dragons

2007-03-19T22:32:00.000+08:00

Ever since I have heard of this new book hitting the bestsellers list written by a new and very young author in 2003 I wanted to read it, but then other books got in the way and I have never dared to pick it up from the book shop. Come 2005 and after the July hoopla of the 6th Harry Potter book, the sequel of this book came out, still I just looked at the cover and never had the courage to bring the first and second book to the counter. Last quarter of the 2006 came and the movie adaptation of the first book was released, I'm not sure why I still wasn't enticed, I still didn't buy the book and didn't watched the movie.

After months and months of not reading any fictional book at all, I finally felt this hunger to read. The hunger to read about stories that will take me away to such a foreign place where things happen that would seem impossible in the real world; I'm in dire need of escape. So finally, I picked up the book Eragon; immersed myself into it and loved it. After finishing the first one, I got the second Eldest and even fell in love with the story more. The Inheritance Trilogy, a three-part story where these two books are part of, is written by Christopher Paolini. The third book has not come out yet, neither its supposed to be title was ever announced or the publishing date, and so I wait.

This is a story of the second rise of dragon riders in a fantasy land very reminiscent of Middle-Earth of The Lord of the Rings, where elves and dwarves live together with humans, of vile creatures such as Urgals (more like orcs but more intelligent), of Ra'zac mounted on a winged creature terrorizing the land (similar to Ringwraiths but not quite), and with a feared mad-man Galbatorix (may not be as comparable to Sauron, but close to). The Inheritance Trilogy is not as complicated as The Lord of the Rings and some of the parts are very much like Star Wars, but still it is an engaging story to read, considering that this was first conceptualized by a young boy still in his teens.

Now that the DVD is coming out, maybe I should get myself a copy, but I wouldn't keep my hopes up as book fans didn't like the movie adaptation.

Bangkok Express

2007-02-12T19:00:00.000+08:00

Herman and I went to Bangkok last weekend with some friends from Maybank. I left the office early Friday night to catch our flight out of Singapore. By 12:45pm (Singapore time) we have already checked in our hotel and dumped our things and went out to get a look at the night market. But to our disappointment most of the stores are already closing, even the food stalls. So we went back to our hotel rooms tired and hungry. Herman, however, checked if he could get some room service; surprised that the hotel meals aren't that expensive, he ordered his tom yam soup and stir fried shrimp.

Breakfast buffet wasn't that bad either, and so our "amazing race" tour began. Going to Bangkok is like going home to Manila; walking down one street in Bangkok could make you feel like you're in Sta. Mesa; traffic may be terrible and is comparable what we have in Metro Manila. Tourists were warned of possible pickpockets in crowded areas, but if you've lived in Manila, it was no herculean task. We went to their temples and saw the buddas; while I was busy taking pictures, Herman was making himself busy by checking all the food sold in the stalls.

Everything is quite cheap; we took the cab to go around the city and fares normally rage between 60 to 80 baht, which is around 3 to 4 singapore $. I love the food! Thais and Filipinos almost have the same taste in food, although they like their food with a lot more chili. Shopping, shopping, shopping. Bangkok is the best place for a good bargain; but better train yourself in haggling.

Our expedition was so much fun; from buying an over-priced ice cream from a street vendor, taking a cab to a place the driver doesn't know, to haggling too low that the vendor told us to go home. After two hectic days, we're back in Singapore by Sunday 11:30pm. We want to do it again... We'll definitely do it again.

umiPIG's day out

2007-02-08T00:01:00.000+08:00

Hello, Banker! Is it a deal or no deal?

As the year of the porker comes, let me great you a smokin' good natal day! Don't forget that you have every right to make a complete pig of yourself. May you have more blessings for this new year.

Do you know who this young man is?

2007-02-07T21:41:00.000+08:00

What a great physique! I remember him as a boy, who had donned those famous black-rimmed round glasses; the lucky boy chosen among thousands to be "the boy who lived". This is our Harry Potter beneath the Hogwarts' black robes and those loose shirts and jumpers.

The first time I saw this picture (click the pic to see it in its full glory) I could not believe my eyes, and then I saw a few more from the same photo shoot and I was sold: he really had grown into such a fine ~~flesh of meat~~ young man. Those photos are not for the latest Harry Potter film but for the promos of a stage play Equus.

Daniel Radcliffe is one lucky kid; when child stars begin to fade when they enter the awkward age of teen hood, Dan's career flourished instead. With this play about a troubled young man getting his kicks with horses, Dan is establishing himself as a real actor and not just some lucky pretty young thing.

Are you ready for the Deathly Hallows?

2007-02-05T21:20:00.000+08:00

Do you know where you're going to be at the early morn' of 21st July and what you're going to be doing that exact time? I do. It's not like I have a crystal ball and had a glimpse of the beyond nor do I have a time travelling machine that brought me to the future. This is all due to the news that came out February 1st that rocked the fandom which I am proud to say I am a part of.

The last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is coming out on that early Saturday morning, as announced inconspicuously at the official JK Rowling website. I remember last December when a week before Christmas I checked that site everyday in anticipation of a surprise gift from Jo. And when that "door" opened, I was so overwhelmed seeing the title of the very last book after so many tries.

So on 21st July before 7 am, I'll be on queue just a little outside Borders at Orchard Road. If you're a Harry Potter movie fan, you'll be in for a treat a week before that when the fifth film releases on 13th July.

Now, time to visit Borders and pre-order the book.

Order of the Phoenix

2006-11-22T00:39:00.000+08:00

The teaser trailer of the latest Harry Potter film is here!

Snap!

2006-11-03T18:51:00.000+08:00

When one gets older, does he stop playing with toys? I think not; the toys actually become more lavish and pretty expensive: remote-controlled cars that run on gas, aeroplanes that look exactly like the real thing, and every small gadget that innovators could think of to make our lives easier and be mobile. My Dad is one whom you may call a techno-geek; he's the type whom you would usually in an electronics store, partly maybe because he was an engineer. I think I got that trait from him, even though I'm a girl I get excited over the thought of a new appliance to put to the test, never-minding that connecting wires could be trivial.

My dad likes photography as well and he likes taking candid pictures of me and my younger brother - like when I hurt my ankle with his teeth. I remember his Canon manual camera, which has a crank to wind the film. If he was alive today, he probably has his own iPod and listens to it on his way to work, a PDA phone on his pocket, and a digital slr camera to carry around during his trips (business or leisure).

I haven't posted for quite sometime because I've been busy playing with my latest toy, something that I have been itching to buy since three years back: a Canon 30D. So wait for the new pics.

Yen Penus-Santos
posted this from her O2 Xda Atom

Little things

2006-10-08T00:38:00.000+08:00

Life can full of little surprises
* like getting an SMS from my one of my Mom's oldest friends back home saying that she and her daughter Ate Malou will be dropping by at Singapore after a holiday trip in Bangkok
* or getting a "variable" way bigger that you have expected
* or getting an "E" in an exam which you thought you'll surely get a "T" (troll)

Breakaway

2006-09-22T16:34:00.000+08:00

Today is the last day I will be sitting beside Mr. Stinky aka Mr. Fart Machine. This weekend the first phase of the renovation in Maybank Ang Mo Kio will commence and it's our side that must start the packing and movement to a temporary working place on Monday. One week after that I will be sitting in my new cubicle far from Mr. Scratch.

posted from her O2 Xda Atom

My desk all cleaned-up and ready to be dismantled.

Things to do if I won a BMW car

2006-09-22T10:30:00.000+08:00

If ever I would receive a call telling me that I have won a brand new BMW car, here's the list of things I would do:

1. I'd make sure that the call was not a hoax. If it is then I'd forget about the rest on this list.
2. Since it is the real deal, I would arrange for the day to claim the prize.
3. I'd go to the church and sponsor a thanksgiving mass.
4. I'd start looking for the current market price of the car that I have won.
5. I would look for a car agent who could sell my brand new car without COE at a great deal. Yes, I'd sell it for I don't know how to drive and neither does Herman.
6. I'd start taking driving lessons.
7. Once it is sold, I'd go looking for a cheaper car and buy it.
8. The rest of the sales from the BMW I would use to pay-up some debts and maybe pay our condo in Mandaluyong in full.
9. And of course, treat friends for some luxurious meals.
10. Give out the latest iPod Nanos to my Filipino officemates for Christmas.
11. Donate a Mac Powerbook to be the major prize in our office Christmas party.

Isn't it nice just thinking about it? But then again I'm not the one who won a brand new car. I'd just have to wait for an iPod nano this Christmas and hope that I'd be lucky enough to win that Powerbook.

Keep on wishing. Keep on dreaming.

JOLOGS

2006-09-15T19:15:00.000+08:00

I've been reading of this newly opened food joint at Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road. Its opening was advertised at the Pinoy IT Group in Singapore and days after, people were already lauding about the great tasting food they are offering - it belongs to the Calle Real Group, how could it go amiss. The food menu was not as elaborate as that of Cafe Real, but they are a great treat for those who are simply out to run errands at LP.

So I told my Filipino colleagues at work that we ought to give this place a try; afterall, we too had trekked all the way to Millenia Walk from our Ang Mo Kio office when they opened a Calle Real at Food Junction more than three years ago. Luckily we already heard that we can call up before going there to make a reservation and even order the food so that when we get there the food are ready. Even under heavy rain and slow traffic jam, their small place is packed with working Filipinos out for their usual Friday lunchbreak.

I tried the Tapsilog and fell in love with it; it only costs S$6 including a free flow of drinks. Herman loved the ensalada included in the meal and the sago gulaman has the right sweetness. I could definitely recommend Jologs: far cheaper and tastes way better than GP, maybe slightly expensive than the grub at Kabayan but it's of a different league when it comes to the taste.

Posted from O2 Xda Atom thru SunSurf Mobile

Bugger!

2006-09-09T21:40:00.000+08:00

I so hate Yahoo! Mail today. After days of trying and re-trying to set-up my yahoo account on my new PDA phone, I finally went to their site to get some help. Little did I know that their POP service is only available to Yahoo! Mail Plus subscribers; this was originally free but they disabled this access to their free account last April 2002. Gmail, however, offers free POP3 access and I've enabled that one a long time ago.

So, yes, I am now accessing my Gmail account in my O2 wherever I go - or when I could get a GPRS connection or Wi-fi. If you don't have a gmail account yet, let me know I still have lots of invites to spare.

There are no better cosmetics than a severe temperance and purity, modesty and humility, a gracious temper and calmness of spirit

2006-09-05T23:18:00.000+08:00

Herman and I passed by the cosmetics section of Seiyu at Bugis Junction a week ago on our way to the Cold Storage, a grocery shop. He made a remark that got me miffed for awhile; he asked me why women bother to put-on some make-up when they look the same anyway. I am not sure where to put the blame on whether it is a man thing or simply because he can sometimes be oblivious and can't see past those foundations. I pity now those who spend fifteen or thirty minutes in front of the mirror going thru those compact make-ups, eye shadows, mascaras, eyeliners, lip liners, lipsticks, and blushers; I never thought that all those hard work can be for naught.

Back when I was still working in the Philippines, I put on make-up when I go to the office; but when I moved to Singapore I got lazy and decided to give my skin a rest. So I just go to work with nothing on my face except the needed moisturiser; it did wonders to my skin for it is a little bit sensitive. As time moved on I finally added wearing a Lancome's Juicy Tubes ultra shiny lip gloss and a few months later I bought a Hermes Rouge lipstick. So for a year those are all I have inside my "kikay" pouch. Last June, a couple of weeks before we went back to the Philippines for a vacation, I stopped by the cosmetics section at Paragon and thought of buying a compact make-up for me to use when I attend those wedding ceremonies I have to be present in.

With much thought on my sensitive skin, I decided to shy away from the previous brands I had used, but then those brands I haven't tried before are the most expensive ones. After checking-out all the other products I decided to buy the Lancome foundation and loose powder with my eyes closed as they swipe my ATM card burning a minute hole on it and me praying that they would work on my skin and not cause any breakouts.

Well, thank heavens it did work for my sensitive skin and I am now loving this brand; I even bought a mascara even if the Shiseido one is way cheaper. Now, I wear make-up again to work because I have to use those costly things I bought for they will be worthless in a year. And guess what comment I got from a Filipino guy colleague, he said there's something different with my eyebrows (he actually meant eyelashes) and that I might have done some kind of hocus-pocus.

Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity

2006-08-31T18:48:00.000+08:00

Teacher's Day is celebrated in Singapore far different from the way we celebrate it in the Philippines. Back when I was a kid at school, I remember that we only give small tokens - personally made cards or cut-out flowers done in an artistic way or if Mom and Dad are a bit richer, probably a chocolate bar - on that special day and classes go on. In here, it is or school holiday and teachers are given more lavish gifts; Josh gave his teachers boxes of specially made brownies - definitely not done by me, of course.

Now that Josh is attending real school - he's in nursery - I am learning quite a lot about this country's educational system. If you think that a Nursery class is such a breeze, I tell you now that it is not that easy both for the child and the parents. Things that were taught in school have to re-inforced at home. He really needs to learn his letters and numbers at this age else he'd be left behind; whilst in the Phillipines, you can attend Primary 1 (or Grade 1) without going through that kindergarten stage; the kid might need to do some catching-up but he will definitely survive.

Singapore has a higher standard of education but it is both taxing to the child and the parents; I have seen it in my officemates and friends, not to mention how hard it is to get admitted in some of the schools you might have in mind. Just to enter Primary 1 is a tedious process; they have different tiers for admittance and each tier has its own number quota, so what schools normally do is balloting or giving out queue numbers at a specific date; so if you did not make it to the quota, tough luck find another school. School year starts in January and as early as June parents of incoming Primary 1 students are already busy scouting for the best schools; some even go ealier than that by voluteering at their desired school in order to get a priority slot.

I remember when I was on my Junior year in high school and we moved from Mindoro to Palawan, my Mom and I went to the Palawan State College's high shool office in the morning to ask if I can transfer to their school and later that afternoon I already attended my first class in that new campus. As for Josh, who will start his K1 next year, I am going to start looking for the best Catholic school. I actually want him to go to La Salle but it's quite far from our place, else we move house.

Bargains aren't really cheap

2006-08-28T23:22:00.000+08:00

There's a huge reason why I don't shop at Sim Lim Square - a six storey building housing stores selling IT products. The place is so vast with different stores selling almost the same products. The first time you'll step inside this place, you'll be overwhelmed by the orderly chaos of people moving around jumping from one store to another and of hecklers giving away flyers.

Since the redemption centre for the O2 speaker, which I got for free when I bought my Atom, is in this building I had no other choice but to wade through throngs of people looking for a good deal. After redeeming my speaker, I looked around the store for a good case for my PDA phone; I saw one leather case and another hard case. I liked the hard one and asked the store help for the price; she said it costs $49. I went to the next store as Herman was looking around as well; they have the same leather case and that silicone cover that makes your gadget look like it's wearing a very thick condom.

I asked him to come with me back to the old store as I am really poor at haggling. The previous store help was gone so we asked another and got a lower price of $45. Thinking that we got a good bargain and since the store is an authorized 02 dealer, we bought the pretty looking case. After a few minutes of window shopping, we finally decided to leave, but only after checking what's on sale at the ground floor. Well, to my dismay I saw that the case I just bought at the 5th floor is being sold at the lower floor for only $35!

I went home downhearted yet still ecstatic that I found the best looking case I could find. I simply promised myself that I'll buy another one in pink and I'll make sure that I'll buy at the ground floor.

Dream come true

2006-08-27T12:42:00.000+08:00

One of my biggest dreams had come true and that is to own a PDA phone; not just any PDA phone but an O2 Xda Atom. After two years of making do with my Nokia 6230, I had finally bidden it goodbye and gave it its needed rest.

I haven't read a technical manual in such a long time - probably since my very first hand phone - but this time I had to read it front and back; it was quite amusing nonetheless. Three days since I got this new gadget, I am finally getting the hang of it.

Now I can write my entries while watching TFC in our living room far from our PC or while being bored at a children's party. That is why more entries are coming. Yes, I am making this entry on my new ATOM.

Idol Material

2006-08-19T21:08:00.000+08:00

Since TFC is not airing the new show Philippine Idol, Filipinos outside of the country are very thankful to that there's youtube.com and some zealous fans willing to record each show's episode. The auditions are over and I've seen them all.

Watching my countrymen go through the tedious audition - and quite a frightening one, considering that it is the Mr. Ryan Cayabyab on the other side on the room - I've come to really appreciate the vast raw talent of the Filipino people. There were those usual jerks or jesters who are either tone deaf or simply just full of themselves, but in the midst of it all are pure gems. Some were even good yet they didn't made the cut or were given the golden ticket.

After seeing those three episodes (auditions for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), I couldn't wait for what's to happen next, and even more hate what Singapore Idol offers. Those who were rejected in the Philippine Idol auditions could kick each of the finalists' butts in Singapore Idol. Just hearing what the judges had to say on these two shows illustrate the difference in the level of talent that they could pluck out from this international hit franchise. In the Philippine Idol, they are looking for someone whose voice is developed; in Singapore, on the other hand, they are looking for someone whom they can develop.

Pinoys rock! Bigtime.

Sleuthing

2006-08-18T23:05:00.000+08:00

JK Rowling treated Harry Potter fans with some good stuff for the past few weeks. She had revealed some answers to other puzzling stuff, such as whether Dumbledore is really dead (he's not going to pull a Gandalf) or what Hermione would see in the mirror of Irised. What I am particularly interested in was what she said about Petunia, who is Harry's aunt, that there is a little more to her than meets the eye.

So many theories had come up on how the series would end or how Harry would finally defeat Voldemort, like what Jo said no one had guessed it yet. I would like to make a guess - wild as it may be - about Voldemort's downfall. It has been discussed that the "power the Dark Lord knows not", which is love - something that Harry has a lot of - is the key to it all and that Harry would die by sacrificing himself all because of that love. Some even suggested that it could be Ginny, Harry's current ex-girlfriend, who would sacrifice and block that Avada Kedavra curse, just like what Lily, Harry's mother, did the first time. Fans of Snape are banging up on the idea that it would be the hero's former Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who would save the day and die for Harry. Tragic Harry/Hermione shippers think that it would be Harry's girl best friend who has a huge inclination of dying for the hero just to prove that it is Harry whom Hermione loves the most and not Ron.

My theory is going to play on some replies JK Rowling gave in some of her interviews. She said that Harry's eyes are going to play a crucial role in the series and that there is something more to it with Petunia, and that we would learn them a lot more in the last book. Harry's eyes already did wonders in the Half-Blood Prince with Slughorn, and I bet that the second person to be affected by it would be his aunt. Jo mentioned sometime ago that there's someone who would discover his or her magical abilities at a later stage, and I think there is a good chance that that person is from the Dursleys.

After all these years of abusing Harry, I am leaning more on Petunia finding redemption. She'd see her sister through his eyes and that this love of family would kick in and that she'd do the same thing her sister did: die for Harry.

Why am I posting this? Because I want some proof that I thought of it before the seventh book is released and even before they might think of it in Pottercast's canon conundrum.

Maybank's Le Crescendo

2006-08-11T22:54:00.000+08:00

Here are some of the pinoys working in Maybank Singapore:

The dinner and dance was great fun! Even though I didn't win, three members in our table did; Ernie even won the 2nd price: 32" LCD TV.

More pics here.

Clothes Horse

2006-08-04T23:38:00.000+08:00

What is it with girls and balls? I am not pertaining to the round things that bounce or to the ones in a man's crotch; what I want to talk about is that grand party where people dress up and mingle, and partake in such a luxurious frivolity. We are going to have a dinner and dance in our company this Saturday and I can't help but wonder about the different outlook between genders on this coming affair.

Men are more laidback and are just coming because of the great food and of the chances of winning in the lucky draw. Women, on the other hand, are just as excited about the grub and of the prizes, but it is their look for the night that plagues their mind for the past week or so – what to wear, what type of make-up and hairstyle, the kind of shoes, the jewellery, to go to the beauty salon or do-it-yourself; the list seem to be endless.

Sometimes I just wished I hadn't signed-up to join this party, but then again the girly itch kicks in and I'm off to the mall to buy all the things I'd ever need to glam up.

Harry Birthday!

2006-07-31T09:07:00.000+08:00

Happy birthday to one of my favourite fictional characters: Harry Potter.

And to his creator JK Rowling, Happy Birthday too!

Dumbledore is Dead

2006-07-25T22:50:00.000+08:00

Where were you on July 16 of last year? Do you even remember what you were doing at six o'clock in the morning (Singapore/Philippine time)? Probably still swimming in sleep land and snoring through your ass; but for me, I can still remember it very clearly like it was just yesterday. I was then on a queue to buy some book; it was no ordinary book, all right, by my standards that is.

July 16 2005 was a media-frenzy day in the world of publication, and I can't believe I was part of it, and a year after the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, here comes the paperback copy. For those who like reading paperbacks, now's your time to catch-up on what happened to Harry on his sixth year (I don't know how you were able to sustain your curiosity). Bloomsbury edition (UK) was released last month (23 June), but the American edition (Scholastic) will be due today (25 July).

Spare me your comfortable shoes

2006-07-23T23:57:00.000+08:00

Two dozen and ten years have gone
Since I first woke up and set
My tiny little feet to take the small steps
That would lead to life's every adventure.

I've walked on cement, on gravel, and on asphalt
Waddled in the mud
Touched the sand with my bare feet
Felt the freshly mowed grass
Crumple under me weight.

The beat made my feet dance
To an exhilarating tune
And each slow step swaying to a lullaby
Decelerated my thumping heart.

They said life is a journey
And my feet are already killing me
Yet I still have thousands of miles to go
Before I sleep.

The battle within

2006-07-13T22:26:00.000+08:00

When Superman returned, Spiderman's teaser trailer came out. And if you haven't seen it, check it here.

It is awesome! Story-wise, I'd bet it's even better than the second movie; Peter Parker's superhero is the most complex character - even better than Batman, and far from the goody-two shoes Clark Kent. For the first two films, each had one villain, but this time around, it is going to be three, which is pretty much a handful for our friendly neighborhood Spiderman and not to mention the new girl that could keep him and MJ apart.

Gastronomic Adventures

2006-07-11T03:32:00.000+08:00

I went back to the beloved Philippines last June 18 since my last visit of more than two years ago. It was a breeze trip - I wouldn't even call it a vacation - two weeks of a hectic schedule of attending weddings and shuttling between Gapan, Nueva Ecija and Las Piñas City. Having The Filipino Channel (TFC) in our cable in Singapore has prepared me to what to expect of life in Manila. I was no longer surprised of the many changes that have happened since I last left. Though I am now as impatient as a Singaporean taxi driver stuck in a slow flow of traffic, and that I got scared whenever there are brave pedestrians crossing the street when there are a lot of cars rushing through or that cars are swerving in the midst of huge buses in the busy street of EDSA.

When I first stepped inside an SM mall, I nearly drooled after seeing all the food stalls selling different kinds of grub you could think off at such low prices. I bought a box of brownies from Brownies Unlimited for as low as S$4, which I'm pretty sure that in Singapore could only afford you a slice of a decent brownie. Dieting be damned, I ate slices of pizza with pork ham - the real meat lovers heaven (no Halal in the Philippines, baby); in Singapore, you'll have to make do with turkey ham. Josh became acquainted with Jollibee, which he probably taught was a toy store, for he was only interested with the toy in a Kiddie meal. Nothing really compares to the joy of eating chicken with gravy be it from Jollibee, KFC or Kenny Rogers Roasters; Singaporeans haven't even heard of chicken with gravy - a nation wherein they have stickers at food courts telling the customers to ask for less gravy in their food (health conscious pricks!).

Here are just a few peeves: Jollibee no longer use disposables when you dine in their stores (yikes!) and that the spaghetti is not as good as before; servings at Kenny Rogers are so small and the food tastes different. Herman was even surprised when they gave him the half-slab of ribs he ordered; it looked like an over-sized hamburger patty. Though they now offer other flavours for muffins, the size has gotten smaller and the original corn muffin tastes different (but nothing beats the bad taste of muffins in Malaysia). Kenny Rogers Singapore maintained the quality and that theirs is what I'd say value for money (especially if it's a Pinoy doing his OJT who's filling up your plate), except that they don't have gravy for my chicken; a fried chicken that's great with ketchup would only come from Max.

Though your dollars could still go a long way back home, prices of primary commodities have risen to atmospheric heights. It's no wonder that most of them are sold in sachets: coffee, oil, sugar, cheese, butter, shampoo, detergent and softener. A serving of a pasta dish in Sbarro is almost of the same price in Pastamania, but my sister recommends their Chicago’s Deep-dish pizza highly.

After seeing commercials aired on TV, I've come to realize that just watching a local channel could introduce you to the type of people in that country. In Philippine television, you'll see a barrage of shampoo, toothpaste, detergent, soap, and mobile phone provider's commercials; in Singapore, on the other hand, you'll see lots of commercials on slimming, spas and of new models of hand phones. From these commercials, you can conclude that Filipinos are very meticulous with their personal hygiene and are SMS (text) crazy: with just 15 pesos a day, you can have unlimited text (doesn't matter whether your phone's model is already five years older). Singaporeans are very much fuzzy with how they look (forget about taking a bath everyday long as you weigh less than 50 kg); mobile phone providers only give subscribers 300 to 500 free messages a month for people still enjoy talking through the Bluetooth ear piece of their latest model phones.

Happy birthday, Daddy!

2006-07-10T22:38:00.000+08:00

My Dad would have turned 60 today had he not left us early. We miss you, Dad. I hope you're having a great time today.

Man of Krypton

2006-07-10T22:14:00.000+08:00

I said I only love two superheroes, and I'd still keep that count at that. Superman Returns was awesome! Thanks to the oh-so-chiselled look of Bandon Routh that made me believe that Superman can truly exist and emerge straight out of the pages of a comic book. Forgive my girly gushes but this demi-God from planet Krypton is one hot alien; I wouldn't mind seeing four or five more Superman movies with him donning the cape.

The first time I saw the new Man of Steel was on the above pic. And I am so sorry that I wasn't impressed then; for the photograph doesn't look nice at all. It made him look short, and that the new colour was disturbing, the "S" sign was too small, and that the codpiece was obscenely protruding. But after a few minutes of seeing him on screen as Clark Kent, I'm sold.

Bryan Singer made the right choice in getting an unknown and thank heavens that the idea of casting Nicolas Cage as Superman fizzled. Superman Returns picked-up the story from where Superman II left off, and I'm glad it did, because the third and fourth films by Christopher Reeves looked like B-movies. I have not been following the story in the comic books, but I could tell that this film did not follow that storyline. I could only hope that they would tackle "the death of a friend" in the next movie - they put Superman in a coma for Chrisssake!

The characters in this film are interesting except for Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane. She looked pretty much blank - devoid of any expression; five years of Superman's absence robbed this lady of some spunk. Kevin Spacey could never go wrong as Lex Luthor; he's a very gifted actor that can make one quiver with just his voice. No wonder James Marsden's Cyclops died early in X-men: The Last Stand, because he had to do a lot of hero stuff in this film. With the lame Lois Lane we are getting, I wouldn't mind her ending up with Marden's Richard White.

'Til your legs flew off

2006-06-10T12:06:00.000+08:00

Josh is turning four this month and it could only mean one thing: World Cup season is here!

Sorry, been very busy this month, as we are going home to 'Pinas for some vacation.

When God hands you a gift, he also hands you a whip

2006-05-31T23:42:00.000+08:00

I have read the book The Da Vinci Code many years ago, thanks to a colleague at my new job, who noticed that I like books. He said why don't I try this author, who was just starting to get attention and that his latest book just joined the New York Times bestsellers list. So I gave in and he lent me this huge book titled 'The Da Vinci Code' (it was not yet printed in paperback then). I probably spent a couple of nights with not much sleep pouring over the riveting story; I searched the net over the Priory of Scion; I've downloaded pictures of Leonardo's paintings and frescoes -- even of Caravaggio; I googled the Holy Grail; but not for once was my religious belief shaken (I knew of Opus Dei when I was only a teen). I knew that Catholicism was founded in bloodshed -- it was but governed by men, and that man can falter. Did I for one bit believed that Mary Magdalene was a partner of Christ? No. For all we know she could just be one obsessive fan who stalked Jesus throughout his evangelization and claimed that she carries his child. It could happen; Jesus was a popular figure during his time; he is what some may call in our time: a pop idol.

So much for that, and now let's tackle the movie that is creating so much stir months before its release; the religious sector was clamouring for the followers of Christ not to watch the movie and that theatre owners not to show it on their cinemas. Protestations only attracted more attention and publicity led the movie to total blockbuster hit. I was looking forward to this movie adaptation after I read the book for the first time, as rumours were already spreading then that some Hollywood people had bought the rights. With so much hype surrounding the film, I went to the theatre with a lot of expectations and went home disappointed.

The Da Vinci Code was a work of fiction -- written with intrigues making Dan Brown's novel a religious conspiracy thriller; but when it was transported into another medium, it seemed to have lost its punch. It was a meticulous literal book-to-film translation. They struggled to cram everything from the book into this two and a half hour movie, leaving it both overstuffed and underwhelming. The filmmakers should have taken into consideration that this is a popular novel and that millions of people have read it at least once before going to the theatre, and that these same people compose most of their audience.

I know that there is much historical background that needs to be explained, but the film came out as far too talky and pretentious -- everything was explained twice. Filmmakers should follow the footsteps of Peter Jackson whenever they need to turn a book into a movie -- by using the language of film to tell the story: with images. Gandalf told much of the history of the ring in a long narrative dialogue, but we saw it in the beginning of the film with a voiceover not saying what we can obviously see in the images. I even winced when Sophie (Audrey Tatou) finally met her grandmother and the old woman said that she has so much to tell about their family; I felt like we were in for another five-minute monologue.

Tom Hanks depicted Robert Langdon as a wooden character and too reactive and contemplative to be a hero. Sophie Neveu, who was supposed to be a police cryptologist, didn't even break any codes except for the Fibonacci sequence. Captain Bezu Fache (Jean Reno) has no plausible reason (as shown in the movie) to believe Langdon to be the killer. Lt. Collet was reduced to just an ordinary cop when, in fact, he was the one to broke the case in the novel. And why must the viewer be subjected to Silas' (Paul Bettany), the angel of death albino-monk, self-flagellation more than once? The movie only got interesting when Ian McKellen finally appeared at Sir Leigh Teabing; here we saw an actor having fun with his character.

After all the broken codes and all the chasing through famous locations, it all boiled down on what you, as a viewer, believe. Ron Howard did not even dared to irk the Roman Catholic Church -- he played it safe; the book's theories were all thrown into the gutter, for the raving, lunatic Lord Teabing uttered them. I am not sure if Dan Brown is happy with the film, because it took away the book's little credibility and made the flaws more obvious. This is not the movie that could shake neither one’s faith nor the very foundation of mankind.

Judge me all you want, but keep the verdict to yourself

2006-05-23T23:54:00.000+08:00

I never thought that I could be a paranoid racist at a certain point in my life, but I did, and it just happened. Herman and I watched The Da Vinci Code last Sunday night at The Cathay, and there was an empty sit between us and another couple. Then came in a single guy of Arab descent (Pakistani or Sri Lankan, I'm pretty not sure) who confirmed to me the sit number right next to me; I concurred and he sat there; less than a minute later, he asked me if it was indeed the Da Vinci movie we were going to watch.

My mind started to whirl and crazy ideas popped into my head. This guy was watching the movie alone and he was carrying a backpack, which he placed neatly on his lap. I can't help but study his movements the entire movie; he looked pretty much like a suicide bomber to me (Herman shared the same fears). I've probably said a thousand prayers every time I saw him check the handphone in his shirt pocket. I kept racking my mind at which point in the movie would it be best to make a statement and set off the bomb. Towards the end, he was checking his handphone more often that, I think, irritated the other couple next to him, making the guy to tell him to shut it. Could he be eliciting the same fears with this couple as he does with us?

Right after the screen went black and the credits started to roll in, I pulled Herman up and went straight to the exit door (we were actually the first to get out). I knew I went a bit crazy, but by God! I really went through a huge deliberation inside my head. Like what Herman said, a single guy like him shouldn't get into a movie theatre carrying a backpack; the bag looked pretty much empty when he laid it on his lap, but why does he have to hold onto a roll of newspaper and not put it inside instead? He kept on checking his phone; is he waiting for a call or timing the movie, or could he simply got bored with all the lecturing in the film? I kept on telling myself that it's not gonna happen that night, not in Singapore, but then security in theatres can be lax; I haven't seen any guards in that building except at the ground floor by the car park entrance: it is possible.

We're still alive nevertheless; but my paranoia got heightened. I checked the exit doors inside the cinema while the movie was showing, which I normally do only when the movie has finished. I knew I'm not going to survive if it happens because, well, I'd be blown out to bits and pieces for I'm right next to the bag. I thought of things such as what's going to happen to my son, who would look after him if we're gone, would his godparents keep the promises they made during his baptism?

As the movie uncovers a conspiracy theory, I was cooking up one conspiracy theory myself. Anyways, I'm still whole and so are that bag and the man carrying it. All I can say is that watching The Da Vinci Code is one heck of an experience, but it's not something I could say about the film (and that's for another entry).

Getting sweet things in large quantities can't be difficult

2006-05-16T23:28:00.000+08:00

I know this is a bit late for Mother's day, but who cares? It is not like motherhood ends when Mother's day ends. Josh gave me something, which they did at school, for this special day; it was a paper-cut dress, which they coloured and painted on, and contains these words:

M -- is for the Many things she's given me
O -- is only that she's getting Older
T -- is for the tears she's shed
H -- is for Heart of gold
E -- is for her Eyes with love's light shining
R -- is Right and Right she'll always be

Josh may be rough with friends at times, but he can be the sweetest kid you'll ever find. Last Sunday, as I was changing his clothes, he said to me (without anyone coaxing him): "Hapi Mader's Day! I lab you, Mommy." I can't deny that I melted into a pile of goo; but that was just one of my moments with him that I will treasure forever.

Idleness is the devil's home for unprofitable, distracting musings

2006-05-12T22:49:00.000+08:00

If you're an analyst programmer like me, here are some tips for you in killing time at work when you don't have an Internet access. Things to do at work when you have really nothing to work on:
1. Clean up the mess you've in the development environment. Delete the objects you have created as back-ups during your testing. Objects already promoted for testing must also be removed from your development environment.
2. Clean up your spooled files. If you have saved reports that are almost a year old, take them out of the system; chances are you don't need them anymore and they're eating up space; better yet, delete them all: leave no evidence.
3. Clean you desk. Throw away all those scratch papers you have doodled on while doing your programming. File the documents (user requirements, technical specs, test results) for each project you have worked on.
4. Clean your hard disk of unnecessary files (mp3s, movies, episodes of Lost). If you have installed some freeware softwares that you rarely use, uninstall them; they could be the cause of the slow performance of your PC.
5. Organize your mailbox. Archive or delete old emails. Check out those emails with large attachments of dancing baby videos, you might have already gone tired of seeing them; now is the time to purge. Yes, that includes the dirty emails, chain emails, and jokes.
6. If your work table is now squeaky clean and your PC is running fine, read programming reference books (if you're that boring) or fire up the e-book copy of your favourite novel stored in your hard disk; and if you have enough brass, read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code in paperback to refresh your mind before watching the film.
7. Learn how to sleep with your eyes still open; while you're at it, try learning how to move the mouse while dozing off.

Espionage: a betrayal of trust

2006-05-08T23:26:00.000+08:00

I had a good doze of J.J. Abrams' last week; I've just seen M:I-3 and the latest Lost Season Two episode Two for the Road. Things are really going well for this guy: a blockbuster movie, the best show on television land, and Alias, which just returned with all-new episodes to close the season, with ratings hitting through the roof. Who is he? He was the creator of Felicity, Alias, and Lost, and the person Mr. Tom Cruise sought after to write and direct the third Mission Impossible film. There were even rumours spreading that he might work on the next Star Trek movie.

Tom Cruise never really came across to me as an outstanding actor; movie poster boy, maybe, but never an actor to be watched to act. I've seen most of his movies, and I look forward to all the Mission Impossible films all because of the action sequences and I loved the TV series back when I was a kid. I can say that this third instalment was the best among the three: espionage-wise; I guess this is all due to the J.J. Abrams connection. I'm not really sure if I've seen too much of the TV show Alias that I wasn't actually surprised with all the twists in the movie. I was even hatching more twists on my head while watching the film; I had this inkling that Ethan Hunt's new wife was a plant and I read too much in her eyes and actions (Irina Derevko, anyone?) -- maybe she is and we'll get to only see it in the next MI movie. When I saw Greg Grunberg at the engagement party, he was the one who thought Ethan Hunt was boring, I was actually expecting Michael Vaughn to pop in there. This guy, I think, is one of Abrams' favourite, for he appeared in all of his projects that I know of: Ben's flatmate in Felicity, Michael Vaughn's best friend in Alias, and the pilot of Oceanic Air's Flight 815 that got sucked out by a monster and was dropped dead on top of a tree in Lost.

This third MI movie really showed that Ethan Hunt is not some kind of a lone agent (with only Luther Strickell, played by Ving Rhames, on his side) and Mission Impossible is really a team operation: a government's black ops unit. My only peeve is that this film looks so much like Alias only with more elaborate action scenes but stops short of being better. Was it because character development is limited when it comes to a two-hour flick as opposed to a TV series aired one hour every week? Execution of missions in Alias were even better, though I love the Vatican stint; that thing that Zhen (Maggie Q) did in a red, sexy dress has been done my Sydney Bristow a hundred times and even sexier. They even tried to make a character like Marshall Flickman: the techie-guy who wanders off while talking about intellectual stuff and gives silly one-liners; but Flickman's still the best.

Sydney Bristow can kick Ethan Hunt's ass any day when it comes to espionage. Concealment and disguise is a big thing for spies, and Ethan falls flat on his face with them. He was not a convincing priest inside of Vatican; Michael Vaughn did better and even made a character confess her sins to him. Hunt wasn't a convincing Italian DHL delivery boy either; whenever he speaks a different language, you could tell right away that it wasn't his mother tongue; Sydney could make you believe that she's a Swedish national in Stockholm. Ethan Hunt is not the best agent out there -- even daddy spy Jack Bristow could kick his ass.

Speaking of Lost, if you're a fan of the show, you'll get a kick in the gut if you watch the film credits: look out for the Hanso Foundation.

Election: a one-day snapshot of transient mass delusions

2006-05-06T08:43:00.000+08:00

Today is major Election Day in Singapore; but there was not much fanfare or controversy surrounding to such a crucial date in this country's history. In some countries this is the turning point for their homeland's future; in this country state, however, it is just any other day -- more like voting for the class officers; I bet school politics would even be more exciting. The Presidential Election had passed without me even noticing it, because there was no one to contest the current one, so it was more of a walk-through.

I have never really paid much attention to the previous MP election, but after seeing the ad on TV on how to vote this next polling, it certainly grabbed my interest. The ad showed a sample ballot and how to fill it up; the surprising thing for me is that the voter only needs to put in a cross next to his choice. Choice of what you might ask. Not the candidate's name but the party name. Yes, they do party or block voting here. And, mind you, the ad finishes it off with the quote that voting is compulsory. Well, I thought that maybe they really needed to hear the voice of the people, for there really was not much Singaporean citizens; you also need to be twenty-two and above to vote here. What if you did not practised your right to vote? I heard you'd be asked to explain why you missed to exercise your right. Do you think he'd miss his Singapore shares in the following years?

Party voting wouldn't work in Philippine politics for those scoundrels change parties as often as they change mistresses. If one politician does not get his way in his current party, he'd cut off ties and join the other party who'd bend to his demands, or better yet, create his own party. Just think of a block wherein you have the best premium apple from the orchard mixed with a couple of rotten tomatoes, would you vote for that block against two green apples and an overripe chiku?

When eating an elephant take one bite at a time

2006-05-03T00:13:00.000+08:00

I use spoon and fork at the same time when I eat; if I ever go to Canada, or more importantly in Montreal, and eat in that way, I'd be called a pig because it is yucky and disgusting. I was led to an article last night that caused quite an uproar in the Filipino community in Canada; I'd say I was disturbed by it myself. A seven-year old kid of Filipino ancestry was punished several times by the school's lunch monitor and principal for what they would consider as inappropriate table habits; Luc Cagadoc was transferred to a table to sit by himself whenever he would eat with both spoon and fork instead of only using one utensil.

I would gladly point that this could root to one fact that the principal and the lunch monitor had never left their country or much so even their town and mingle with people of different races and cultures. "It is not the way you see people eat every day. I have never seen somebody eat with a spoon and a fork at the same time," the principal Normand Bergeron said. He further reiterated that he simply wants the students to eat intelligently. I pity this man, for if the time comes that he visits Thailand or Indonesia, he'd be eating with disgusting people. I know that for westerners, eating is mostly with fork and knife, but that is because rice was never a staple in their dinner tables. Try eating Nilagang Baka using only those utensils, and we'll see if it still is eating intelligently.

If to them pushing the food to fill a spoon with a fork is baffling, what would they think if they see a Chinese person hold chopsticks on his right and a soup spoon on his left; bet they did not know that Chinese people use spoon too. Try eating Young Chow Fried Rice only in chopsticks; chances are you'd feel like an idiot fumbling through each grain; that's not eating intelligently now would it? These two people from Luc's school need some cultural awakening, and be brought to eat with Arabs or Indians. Would they consider watching Indians eat Roti Prata and Briani rice with hands pure torture or of Arabs eating their kebabs lounging on a couch abominable?

Of course there are certain rules or decorum to be followed, but if a Canadian who had never used chopsticks in his life goes to a Chinese country and eat with the locals, he'd be given a fork by the host if he's having a hard time tackling these little sticks. The local people would laugh at this foreigner's antics but they would patiently teach him how to use the chopsticks, not set him aside on another table to eat on his own with his fork and knife and call him barbaric.

When you are dining with a demon, you got to have a long spoon. -- Navjot Singh Sidhu

Cleanliness in person, cleanliness in mind

2006-04-28T23:55:00.000+08:00

I went to a university where students don't wear uniform, which can be pretty rare in the Philippines; I loved it! It gave me a wonderful notion of being independent for once -- no more neatly pressed blouses or skirts as flat as a floorboard, and black shoes and white socks. School year usually starts in May and I could still go to school wearing summer clothes: shorts and a t-shirt; when the rainy season came, I'd avoid jeans for they can be quite heavy when they get soaked in the rain and cold on your legs; when the December chill came, I would cover myself in cardigans and the ever constant jeans (air-conditioning in the classrooms could be intolerable); when the summer heat begins to seep through your pores, then you'll thank for the air-conditioners, and bring out the shorts. I've never seen anyone wore anything weird in campus, only those wearing skimpy shorts -- way even before hotpants came around, as popularized by big-bummed JLo.

On my trip to the office this morning, I boarded the train alongside a college student whose outfit caught my attention: neon-orange peplumed shorts, black shirt, black socks covering the rest of her legs (was it a tights? I'm not sure), and sneakers with bright, green laces. I got another peeved with students here: they go to school untidy. Primary and secondary students don't wear black leather shoes, but white, unbranded sneakers, which are prone to dirt and rarely washed. Aside from the white blouses that don't look white enough, kids look like they just got out off bed -- unwashed hair and all; I guess they don't teach good grooming and decorum in school, for this fairly reflect even to some of my colleagues. Take my cubicle neighbour as a very good example: he reeks of body odour, had some patches of reddish thingies on his neck (I dare not to look for they are tell-tale evidences of poor hygiene), and he scratches himself all the time: whenever he is not typing anything on his keyboard, whichever part of his body: hair, neck, tummy, arms, legs -- even his butt (God forbid!); this scratching doesn't halt even while he is talking to his boss discussing some system issues and it will go on even after the boss is long gone; and don't let me go on about his farting. Locals have a penchant of doing gross things, which Filipinos find shouldn't be done in public view: farting (okay, if you really can't help it), picking noses.

Filipinos have this gesture whenever we have to go through the midst of people talking in the hallway or whenever we want to do an overtake: we stoop a little and place our hands (or it can be just one hand) in front and say, Excuse me. They don't do it here; they'll simply say, Ello! Ello! (Hello! Hello!) I'm sometimes tempted to say, Who do you want to speak to?

Love: too pliable, too yielding

2006-04-26T22:23:00.000+08:00

You found love; but why are there times that you can't freely breathe? You felt your love fading; he took your belief in love and handed them back to you, saying that he can't hold onto it forever. How does one say sorry, when you know that sorry can never be enough? It is damn near impossible to bring things back to the way they used to be; yet there are those who wish for them anyway.

Some goodbyes are final; this is one of them. Then you hear that sound: the sound of your heart breaking – the resonance is deafening, ringing to your ears, pounding on your chest. You left. You walk out of the door, for the dam is about to break. Your pace quickens. There it is… that other sound; the pieces… the pieces are beginning to crumble.

Quick! Be Quick! Hot tears… one step, two steps, three steps. You are running; running like you have never done before. You don't care where you are going. You just keep on running; you just need to get out of that place. You didn't bother to look what's around you. You can't be bothered to look.

It is raining; but you can't be sure if it is from the sky or simply on your head. You don't care. You run and run, like the devil was on your back catching up on you. You're at the edge of a forest and you stop. Now you can feel the hard rain falling on you face; and you cry. You are crying and unaware that you are. You are crying out all the sadness trapped inside of you. You are crying because the rain drowns your tears; you are howling for the wind blows them away. You can't feel the coldness in the air for you are much colder inside.

Nothing matters right now; there is only the anger, the sadness and the confusion clouding your heart. Soaking in the pouring rain, a hand touched your shoulder, making you twist your head and see who it is. "What's wrong?" your dearest friend says. He is soaking to the bones as you are. You wonder if he is always just a few steps behind; you don't know, for you never looked back. You did not care if he could see your tears; whether he heard your cries, it doesn't matter anymore. Nevertheless, he hugs you with all the warmth you'd ever need. "What's wrong?" he asks once more.

"Just hold me. Hold me," you say.

Then you realize out there in the pouring rain, clinging desperately to a friend, that love can be lost, but then it can be found again. All the ambiguities, all the complexities, all the pain of not knowing what went wrong are finally over. Despite of everything: home is here at last. You can have a life again.

Telling one's age is silly: you are as old as you feel

2006-04-25T00:25:00.000+08:00

Two hundred, eighty thousand, three hundred and twenty hours. How would one quantify his stay on earth?

With the number of cakes he sliced on his birth anniversaries,
the number of wrinkles on his forehead,
the thousand haircuts he had to go through,
the tons of food he consumed and wasted,
the number of times he disappointed his family and God,
the hundred celebrations he attended with his victories,
the number of times he faltered and stumbled,
the gallons of alcohol he drank,
the hundred thousands kisses he had given away,
the million miles he travelled,
the phone calls he made and received,
the number of fights he started and gotten into;
the hearts he had broken,
or how about the buckets of tears he shed,
the cackles of laughter that emanated from his throat,
the hundred confessions he said to a listening priest,
the mornings he rose to watch the sunrise,
the sunsets he shared with a friend,
the rose buds he plucked and smelled,
the number of people he helped,
the friends he made,
the lives he mended and enriched.

Had I lived my life? I don't know, if you'd ask me; maybe yes, maybe no – maybe for a few moments or a hundred days. Am I at a crossroad? Maybe I had already walked passed it or I haven't reached it yet, but I am planning of making one now, for there's no time to wait as the old adage of time is but fleeting rings in your head.

It's time to start living my life; I'll start writing my stories today.

You only live once...but if you live it right, once is enough

2006-04-05T23:51:00.000+08:00

To the special man in our life: Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

Josh's second term at school had already started; however, there are still more pictures taken during his first term you might not have seen.

Close Range: Wyoming Stories

2006-03-29T23:24:00.000+08:00

I just finished reading a book, which is a collection of short stories by Annie Proulx. It is a compendium of eleven tales of the hard lives of ranchers and country wives in Wyoming; yes, this includes the famous Brokeback Mountain, which was adapted into a film starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Close Range: Wyoming Stories is a great read and very interesting. Proulx has a certain knack for painting great imagery of a laid-back place that always play a huge part in each story. They are poetic, teeming with life, humorous and at times heart wrenching. Brokeback Mountain came in last in the collection - like a reward for staying - and reading the previous tales made one understand more of what kind of hard predicament Ennis and Jack were in.

I loved the movie, and after finally reading the story in print, I fully understand why Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana won the best adaptation at the recent Oscars. It was a 35-page story packed with emotions, and translated on screen as what the reader would imagine it to be. They kept the best lines in the book and added some more - something of which cannot be said on any Harry Potter adaptations.

Next stop: I'll buy the DVD. I'll take Jack's line to Ennis: "I wish I knew how to quit you. "

Order on the fifth

2006-03-26T23:19:00.000+08:00

Now that the official DVD of the Goblet of Fire is out, friends had asked me when the next Potter movie is coming out. Well, here is the news for The Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book adaptation: it should come out in the summer or spring of 2007. Production has already started and we should expect a teaser trailer by the end of the year.

If you have met new characters in the fourth film and loved the amazing dragon, the lake and the humongous maze, then brace for more. Harry's personality will turn a bit - teen angst. He is the CAPSLOCK Harry this time: petulant, dejected and left out.

Things to looks forward to:
1. The Dursleys will be back: big D and his gang; Dementors at Privet Drive; Harry's expulsion trial
2. Hermione and Ron getting their Prefect badges
3. Harry's anguish over Cedric's death. For all those Robert Pattinson (Cedric) fans, I heard that you'd see some of him in this fifth film; the Hufflepuff golden boy will appear in flashbacks (not as a ghost, I hope).
4. Harry's first kiss, and first date (yes, they should come in that order)
5. The Inquisitor Club (slimy Slytherin gits)
6. Grawp, Hagrid's younger 16-foot brother
7. Luna Lovegood (an eccentric fourth-year Ravenclaw who looks at Harry and Ron with dreamy eyes)
8. Ginny Weasley coming into the forefront (Bat-bogey hex)
9. Dumbledore's Army (a group of students led by Harry learning Defense Against the Dark Arts unbeknownst to the teachers); the Room of Requirement; fireworks mayhem
10. A new DADA teacher from hell: Dolores Jane Umbridge
11. The Order of the Phoenix (of course, the title wouldn't be quite right if they miss this out): Mad-eye Moody (the real one), Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shackelbolt, Nymphadora Tonks
12. Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Sirius Black and Kreacher (an abominable house-elf). Will we get to see the tapestry of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black? I hope so, for it figures largely in the sixth and seventh books.
13. The OWLs (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) - it's the magical world's O-levels
14. Harry's one-on-one Occlumency lessons with Snape. And, of course, Snape's Worst Memory: a pensive scene back when he and Harry's parents were still at Hogwarts (young James, Lily, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew were casted)
15. Nagini attacking Arthur Weasley
16. Dumbledore's arrest and spectacular escape (for book fans: Dawlish was casted so we should expect this scene)
17. The duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore, which should be awesome
18. Real battle between the good and bad wizards and witches (kiss ass!); someone falling into the veil: Sirius Black (oops!)
19. Bellatrix Lestrange: a Death Eater deep within the circle of the Dark Lord ("little bitty baby Potter")
20. The Prophesy that should be a kick in the gut for a cliff-hanger ending

Here are more parts in the book which has a huge chance of being left off, but would look good on the screen:
1. Hagrid and Madam Maxine going to the giants' lair (boring when Hagrid told this story, but a huge special effects feat on film)
2. Harry and the Weasley twins in a Quidditch scuffle that led them to be banned from playing anymore Quidditch
3. Thestrals: the invisible horse-like creatures that pull the carriages from the train station to the school. Harry and his friends will ride them to get to the Ministry of Magic
4. The Weasley twin's departure from Hogwarts; this should be awesome, but they have left out Peeves (a poltergeist that plays practical jokes on students: "GOT YOUR CONK!") in the previous movies.
5. Dobby the house-elf from Chamber of Secrets. We missed him in Goblet of Fire, and I'm pretty sure again this time, but he was the one who told Harry of the Room of Requirement (I hope they don't give that to Neville again)
6. Quidditch games (special effects cost a lot), but I do hope we'll get to see Ron's Keeper try-outs. How about the Seeker match-out between Cho Chang and Ginny Weasley? It's a great foreshadowing of Harry's love life
7. Harry and his friends meeting Neville visiting his parents at St. Mungos, a hospital for wizards (I'm really praying that they include this one; this is heartbreaking); crazy Gilderoy Lockhart (their teacher from Chamber of Secrets who lost his memory)
8. Firenze (the centaur who saved Harry in Philosopher's Stone) teaching them divination

The book was huge and there was so much going on that I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be able to pack into a two and a half-hour of film. Maybe they should start to consider extending it to three hours, fans wouldn't mind.

And oh, the sixth film should come hot on its heels (2008).

Pin Crasher

2006-03-21T21:25:00.000+08:00

That's the name of our team last Saturday; made up of Herman, April, Arlene and me. We didn't win but we weren't that bad either. We ranked 11th among 24 teams, and I ranked 13 for the female bowlers of 40 something; not a bad standing.

I really did well considering my scores during practice. I scored 144 and 145 for my first and last games (without the handicap). Not bad, huh? Oh, just so you know, it was a 9-pin tap game. Go figure that out.

An Englishman will burn his bed to catch a flea

2006-03-20T23:24:00.000+08:00

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot;
I know of no reason, why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."

That is a popular English rhyme often quoted on Guy Fawkes Night, in memory of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. And this is where the movie V for Vendetta begins. Guy Fawkes was a member of a group of Roman Catholic conspirators, who attempted to assassinate King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) and the members of both houses of the Parliament of England by blowing up the House of Lords (Palace of Westminster). Fawkes is largely responsible for the later stages of the plan’s execution, but they were, however, detected before its completion and were executed for treason and attempted murder.

Then we now move forward to the future of a totalitarian Britain, a time when the World War III has come and gone; a time when the United States of America is no longer in power, where everything was left in chaos. In order for England to prevail, the citizens became complacent under one law – a fascist state, where the government controls what people see on television, read in the papers, and when can they venture out in the streets.

"It is for their protection," as what the iron-fisted Chancellor Sutler (John Hurt) reminds the passive populace. He leads the single-party Norsefire that keeps control of the country through food shortages, suspended civil rights, secret police, a planned economy, and suppressing the nation's various political, ethnic and sexual minorities.

Then came V (Hugo Weaving), a knife-throwing, poetry-quoting caped crusader living like the Phantom of the Opera and hides behind the smiling mask of Guy Fawkes. He rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from being molested by the secret police and gained an ally. He is a terrorist and anarchist who started an elaborate, violent, and theatrical campaign to bring down the government by blowing up London landmarks. He then took over the government-controlled airwaves, to urge his fellow citizens to rise up against their tyrannical and oppressive government - telling them that they are all imprisoned and showed them the bars.

This is a story of a government who should be fearful of the people it governs and of a terrorist who can be called a hero. V for Vendetta is based on the ten-issue comic book written by Alan Moore (though he removed himself from the movie credits after being appalled with the script) and illustrated mostly by David Lloyd. The first-time director James McTeigue helmed the movie while the Wachowski brothers (Andy and Larry) of the Matrix fame wrote the screenplay.

The movie isn't a disaster as what other people may think. If people were bogged down by the pompous metaphysical mumbo-jumbo of the Matrix sequels, this movie with all its lofty philosophizing is very thought provoking. It focuses more on the characters than on exploding buildings and fight scenes. It is a movie with action, ideas and an uncanny vision of a possible future.

There's talk on this film about glamorizing terrorism and will strike to some as irresponsible or even treasonous, but I think it is a cheeky way to show that, indeed, one man's freedom fighter can be another man's terrorist. There surely is a certain seductiveness in the psychology of terrorism when you are sure you are on the right side; just think of the other movie Munich.

Quitters never win, and winners never quit, but those who never quit AND never win are idiots

2006-03-15T22:36:00.000+08:00

I went back to the alley, after five long years, to play four games of bowling yesterday. I'd say, I did quite good base on my expected average: 60. I know it's pretty low, but I'm really not that good at all in that sport. I did fair well with these scores: 65, 73, 72, and 84. Abysmal, but who cares? I did enjoy it.

After such a long time, why go back to it again? We were just preparing for the fun bowl on Saturday sponsored by the Maybank Club. Chances of winning for our team may be dim, but, hey they also give out awards for those with the lowest scores! I think I have a good fighting chance on that.

Money can't buy love, but it sure gets you a great bargaining position

2006-03-13T22:38:00.000+08:00

Can man ever have enough of everything? Will there come a time that he will stop and say, "Enough! This is too much. All I have is all I need. I'm happy now"? Is there a limit to man's thirst for knowledge, for power, and for wealth?

I had a conversation with a friend some time ago about readiness when it comes to marriage. Is financial stability a good gauge to know if you are ready for married life? I said, "Nope." It doesn't matter whether you have ten thousand dollars or one thousand pesos in the bank long as you are sure of each other and that the love that should bind you together is there.

Let me put it in another perspective. Think about the time when you were just earning 20 thousand pesos back in the Philippines in 1999, is it enough for your single lifestyle? Maybe just about enough to get you through a couple of gimik nights in a month. Somehow after two years you got an offer to work outside of the country and your salary almost quadruples. You were ecstatic; it's a huge difference from what you are making do with, and so you grabbed it.

Suddenly you realised that it wasn't really that huge at all, because in a foreign land you have to pay for all the bills this time - you're not living with Mom and Dad anymore. Yet you're not in the same situation you were in before; money isn't tight now: you can afford to buy more things and go clubbing once a week, and have enough money to store in the bank. Life is easy and without realising it your lifestyle changes: you need a higher paying job. The more money coming in, the more lax you are when it comes to spending. Before, you can take the bus, but now it's either your car or the cab.

So is ten thousand dollars in the bank enough savings to carry with you into marriage? If you're going to have a lavish wedding, I don't think it's enough to cover everything. Think, however, that the wedding isn't the whole of marriage but just the rite. People will say that love can't feed you or "Nakakain ba yang love na yan?" As long as the two of you are not going to live off as bums, things will work out right. Take it from me; I didn't have ten thousand dollars in the bank when I got married.

A man who follows his own wishes changes his attitude with time. Very soon he is not satisfied any more with the things he does. - Leo Tolstoy

News: the compelling realities all around us... that we are at a stage where we have trouble every day, we have bombs every day

2006-03-09T23:43:00.000+08:00

One reason why I don't watch the news at TFC is that it simply gets me in a bad mood. The news you'll see could dampen your spirits, surprise you or enrage you; most of the time, I am outraged. The pictures rolling in the news aren't the ones that could make you miss your country very much and want to go back to; they're the ones that invoke the thought "glad I'm not there anymore," which to me is pathetic.

I made a mistake yesterday when I watched another edition of TV Patrol World - not sure why, maybe there are no other decent shows to flip through. The news about unconstitutional detention of members of the House of Representatives simply went trough my right ear and off with the other; I've grown numbed with all the hullabaloos in Philippine politics - it's just plain dirty. I am one of those who agree with my favourite blogger Jay David in his prayer. If all sensible Filipinos say that prayer together, do you think it can happen?

The news about the protests of the street sweepers caught my attention though and got me fuming. These MMDA street sweepers are claiming that they have not received any salary increases for more than three years now, neither do they receive any benefits that are due them, and top it all off, they even have to shoulder the expenses in buying the equipments they need in cleaning the streets. An old woman, who had been working as a street sweeper for thirty years now, even have to borrow shoes from her colleagues, who had already finished their shifts, because it's a mandate that they need to wear the prescribed shoes while working; hers were already wrecked and they have not received their so-called clothing allowances since 2004.

These people are only earning five thousand pesoses in a month (that's US$100 to you old chap). They buy broomsticks worth 15 pesos daily, dustpan for 45 pesos every week, and a piece of sack everyday for 8 pesos (for dirt collection), just so they could do their job properly; they even have to buy the "Clorox" and cleaning powders. This is like asking a programmer to join your company but he has to bring his own computer and pay for his share of electric bills. A government official answered that MMDA no longer has a budget to cover the cleaning materials needed for the year. What kind of budgeting do the people in the Philippine government do? No wonder Metro Manila is still as dirty as the mud-slinging politicians governing our country.

Your friendly neighbour... Man in Black

2006-03-03T23:42:00.000+08:00

I've mentioned before that one of my two favourite superheroes is The Amazing Spider-man, and here's an update to the blockbuster movie franchise. I received this pic from the Sony Pictures (no, I don't have any connections with any of their people); I'm simply subscribed to the official Spider-man site that's why.

That picture isn't black and white; this merely confirms one of the villains our superhero has to face in the third movie - I've heard they're three. And whom that might be, you ask? It's Venom. There was a time when Peter Parker stumbled upon a black material that's alien from this Earth and he used it for a new suit (I guess he got tired of the red and blue ensemble or that MJ found it too tacky?) This alien thing affected his personality and tried to get into his system - more like the red stone for Superman, huh (I'm actually raking my brains here, not very sure). Peter somehow managed to take it out, but this biological thing possessed another being: Eddie Brock.

Mr. Brock, a journalist, is Peter's arch-nemesis at the Daily Bugle - more like Draco Malfoy for Harry Potter. I wonder what Venom would look like in the film; Topher Grace will be playing this part. But I have no fear when it comes to the Spider-man franchise; costumes are very close to what were drawn in the comic books - most of them villains and hero, anyway. That is one reason why I love the team who brought us the Spider-man movies: they tried to get as close to what we've read in the comic books. Spidey's suit is the coolest superhero costume I've ever seen in the movies. Why can't the Batman and Superman costume designers get it right? Batman with nipples or Superman with hipster briefs and a cape that isn't red enough, come on!

The other villain is the Sandman; now I wonder who might be the third one. Could it be Green Goblin with "Don't tell Harry" behind it? Well, it was hinted on the second film, but I've heard some rumours that he's going to be the Hobgoblin, which is kind of ridiculous because some guy named Kingsley is the Hobgoblin. I know that Norman Osborn is supposed to come back from the dead, but I know movies can't follow all the twists and turns of a comic book. The ending of the second film was perfect for the re-emergence of the Green Goblin.

I can't wait! But May 4, 2007 is still too far from where we are standing right now, I just have to contend with Superman in hipster briefs this summer. Darn!

If you can't fix it you've got to stand it.

2006-02-26T21:23:00.000+08:00

I just saw one of the best movies of 2005, and I can't help but sing my praises. Are you ready for Marlboro men who love men? Is Brokeback Mountain a groundbreaking gay cowboy movie? To say so is an insult to the filmmaker, writers and actors who shared their art to make this short story by E. Annie Proulx enter the Hollywood mainstream possible. It is just as any movies we have seen that deal with the mysterious ways of forbidden love (West Side Story; Romeo and Juliet); it just so happen that the star-crossed lovers are men.

Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), a pair of 19-year-old cowboys, met in Wyoming ranch country in 1963 to herd sheep in the Brokeback Mountain for the summer. These two rough-mannered, rough-spoken ranch hands have never heard of the term gay; men who would mightily resist a gay lifestyle or even the label homosexual. Theirs is a relationship that unfolded in the beautiful scenery of the countryside wilderness; it is a stifle cry to the vast emptiness of the blue sky over the mountains. Great love stories are about hurdling obstacles, and this one has a lot to spare: a lonely passion that has no place in their world.

As their campfire dies one biting cold night, which drove them to huddle together inside the tent, a sudden spark between Ennis and Jack flared into an undying flame: an intimacy that is explosive, graphic, candid and unapologetic. The morning after that fateful encounter, Ennis insisted, "I'm no queer," to which Jack added, "Me neither. A one-shot thing. Nobody's business but ours." But the passion did not die and that promise was forever forgotten.

Their blissful and liberating life in the mountain was cut short by an impending blizzard, forcing them to end their summer employment and separate ways. Their farewell is a simple "See you around," though you could clearly see them both torn up. Unaware that they had stumbled upon the greatest love their lives, they went off to the rest of their lives: Ennis marrying his sweetheart Alma (Michelle Williams), and Jack, moving to Texas and falling into a marriage with Lureen (Anne Hathaway), a rodeo rider with a well-to-do family; they thought that what happened on Brokeback Mountain was over.

Four years had passed and Ennis, who had settled in Wyoming, received a postcard from Jack saying the he would come for a visit. The instant their eyes set on each other, the suspended passion and longing exploded into a spontaneous kiss. That meeting began their one or twice "fishing trips" in the countryside alone together on which there's no fish caught. After a few stolen days of re-living their idyllic summer, they go back to hiding their love behind shaky façades of heterosexual domestic life numb.

Jack, being the showier character, the livelier wire, and who is more self-aware and self-accepting, urges that they forsake their marriages, set up ranch together and settle down. Ennis, the taciturn who only speaks however, haunted by a childhood memory of seeing a mutilated body of a rancher tortured and beaten to death for living with another man, dissuades the idea out of fear and shame, "This thing gets hold of us at the wrong time and wrong place and we're dead."

We read and watch millions of love stories; they come and go, but this one stays with you - not because it's homosexual, but because Ennis and Jack's story is so full of life and longing, and true romance.

Great story this may be, it could never reach its grandeur without the wonderful direction of Ang Lee, the superb adaptation of Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, the awesome cinematography of Rodrigo Prieto and the exceptional performances of the actors.

I've seen Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in previous films, but never had I thought of them as great actors - hunky heartthrobs, maybe - but this movie changed my mind: they made this angst-ridden love story tangible. Ledger as Ennis gave a powerful performance of a laconic Western man: the pain, the rage, his sense of longing and loss are for real. The disappointment of Gyllenhaal's soft and outspoken Jack is forever registered in his sad, expectant eyes. I love William's glum look, especially the look on her face when she discovered the affair (Oops! I gave out that one didn't I?) Hathaway made her character's turn into a robotic shell after years with Jack so convincingly that you (the audience) can't even tell if she has any idea about the relationship between her husband and his fishing buddy.

Are you ready for Marlboro men who love men? I am. After getting past that giggling fit on their first kiss I actually gushed over the intensity of their love's passion.

Catholics Rock!

2006-02-23T23:02:00.000+08:00

Do you love movies and TV shows? Are you a gamer? Do you have an MP3 player or an iPod? If your answer is at least 2 "yes" for the three questions, then maybe what I'm about to say will interest you. Have you heard of podcasting? I mentioned this in a previous post; I am so totally hooked with this latest revolution in the Internet world, as well as in the media industry.

You need not be a Catholic or a devout one to enjoy the podcasts offered by the Star Quest Podcast Network. I listen to the Daily Breakfast everyday on my way to work. Fr. Roderick touches on the latest current events, movies, TV shows, games, and yes, there's the Peculiar Bunch section, wherein he discusses some things Catholic that may boggle the mind of others. The Catholic Insider, which Fr. Roderick started last year, is now more concentrated on the sound-seeing tours. And, of course, there's the Secret Series: Harry Potter, Narnia and Star Wars; these series delve into the origins of the literature and find their relation to a Christian life. I subscribe to all these podcasts and even the PrayStation Portable.

Incidentally, Catholic Insider is celebrating its first year anniversary of podcasting.

To those who know the pain of valentines that never came

2006-02-14T22:11:00.000+08:00

Today is Valentine's day or what Jay Leno calls "Extortion Day!" So, instead of sending you all short messages let me greet you here.

May you find love - not just for today - but until the end of your days. Have a lovin' and sweet Valentine's Day.

Love can't be learned
Love isn't alms
Love isn't need
Love isn't completion
Love isn't just a feeling
Love defies reason
Love is beyond human comprehension.

The quote above is something I had put together some time ago from my readings; and the last line has some big resonance for me. A colleague told me today that love is overrated. The man's love, probably, because we tend to shift and change; being wholeheartedly in love all the time is next to impossible. God's love, however, is understated and often forgotten.

Keeping score

2006-02-13T22:45:00.000+08:00

I just updated the collection of Josh's pictures in school as his teacher has sent another batch photographs. Now we know what he won during their Chinese New Year programme: Best in Costume for the Nursery Level.

We attended a birthday party last weekend; Josh was brave enough to join the apple- eating contest when he actually has not eaten an apple, much so bite it himself. I know we tried to feed him an apple before but he never liked it then, and I'm pretty sure even up to now.

We must educate children as really perfect people worthy of the great future in which they will live. - Leo Tolstoy

Poverty is the load of some, and wealth is the load of others

2006-02-11T07:43:00.000+08:00

It has been said that God tests everyone: one with wealth, the other with poverty. For a rich man, it is a question whether he will extend his arm to help those in need; as for the poor man, whether he will endure his sufferings with no discontentment and filled with obedience.

How am I faring in this test? It is quite a hard one for I am neither too wealthy nor too poor. Okay, I don't belong to the impoverished lot; so, my task in this life is to help in whatever way I can. One doesn't need to be filthy rich to help, and here is one project that lends a hand to the needy in our country (Philippines) that I totally believe in: Gawad Kalinga. In this endeavour, the poorest of the poor are given chances for a better way of living and of giving back their own dignity. The slums are transformed into beautiful communities, and the poor people into productive and self-sufficient citizens.

Most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) all left our country to help alleviate the direness of the plight of our families. No matter how long we have stayed out of our country, we will always be Filipinos and "home" is one place we can never abandon. I call for you to partake in this undertaking to build a better country to go back to.

Bear the load of thy neighbor's poverty, and let him bear with thee the load of thy wealth. Thou lightenest thy load by lightening his. - St. Aurelius Augustine

It is difficult to restrain oneself from saying things that please one's listeners

2006-02-09T22:44:00.000+08:00

With the recent events such as the stampede at the Ultra or the outrage over some caricatures, I now wonder why people tend to find ways of putting the blame to others. Why is it that man relish in finding faults in his neighbours? Is it because pointing the finger at another makes one thinks that he isn't capable of committing such fault or blunder?

People behind the publications of the offending cartoons were hiding behind the mantra "freedom of the press"; it could be because they simply can't accept the fact that they were capable of religious bigotry. Those who were enraged by the caricatures were slamming that the western worlds are simply bigots; maybe they should stop and think for a while that they themselves had been dogmatic and alienated themselves from the world causing the distance between cultures wider and wider.

The unfortunate souls involved in that stampede that fateful Saturday at the Ultra are likewise, of course, passing the culpability to different sets of people: the event organizers, the show's producers, the show's host and co-entertainers, the stadium's security personnel, the government, poverty, and even the sloping pathway, which leads to the auditorium. Yes, all of them might have contributed to that regrettable day - even that damn steep pathway - but I challenge those who died (bless their soul), those have been injured and the lucky others in that crowd: to look at themselves and put that heavy burden in their hearts. They must accept the fact that their "little" shoving and pushing had cost seventy lives. No amount of organization or security could have prevented a mob inflamed by greed.

If I'm being a pompous ass, I'm sorry. I've just had enough of all the finger-pointing and of slinging-each-other-with-mud. It is time, for once, to stand-up and admit one's fault.

Stop blaming other people and you will fee what an alcoholic feels when he stops drinking, or what a smoker feels when he stops smoking. You will feel that you have relieved your soul. - Leo Tolstoy

iPodder

2006-02-08T00:01:00.000+08:00

To our Nokia phone collector, ascerbic, bitchin', cocky friend with a great big heart:

Happy Birthday, E-Jay!

A life without religion is a life of an animal

2006-02-07T23:36:00.000+08:00

Religious conflict is again at its height these days all because of a series of cartoons that were first published in a Danish newspaper. Muslims were outraged when their Prophet Mohammed was satirically depicted in a comic strip. I didn't know that their god isn't allowed to be illustrated in any type of art form – or maybe because I simply didn't know anything at all about other religions.

The Muslims are screaming blood; but is it really justifiable? I know that what the cartoonist did may be sacrilege to their religion, but why must the government suffer for the ignorance of its one or a handful of citizens? Can the Muslim community force one country, which gives freedom to the press, to penalize one person who did not commit any criminal act under their country's law? It was like Singapore asking the Philippine government to penalize Juan who had chewed boxes of gum in a public area in Manila.

What we need is religious tolerance and respect, and also a little respect to those people who can be quite uninformed. When the movie The Last Temptation of Christ came out, the Christian community were likewise furious. Christ was depicted in that movie in a humanized way, such as having carnal thoughts and desires, yet I never heard of news of Christians asking for the head of Martin Scorsese - ban the movie probably, but nothing radical as killing all Americans. The type of reaction from some of the people in the Muslim community that's being shown in the press is what's painting their religion in a bad light. Is it rooted in fanaticism or is that what's in their doctrine? And their outright cry (fatwa) for capital punishment is what making other people think that their religious dogma preaches savagery.

In the depth of all religions there flows the general, unifying truth: let Persians bear their taovids, Jews wear their caps, Christians bear their cross, Muslims bear their sickle - moon, but we have to remember that all these are only outer signs and the general essence of all religions is to love your neighbour, and that this is requested by Manuf, Zoroaster, Buddha, Moses, Socrates, Jesus, St. Paul, and Mohammed. - Morris Flugel

The public, with its mob yearning to be instructed, edified and pulled by the nose, demands certainties

2006-02-06T21:10:00.000+08:00

A terrible tragedy happened in Manila last Saturday. What could have been an afternoon of celebration for a famous game show's anniversary began with a stampede leaving 74 people dead and hundreds injured. People from other sides of the world may be questioning themselves why such a thing has happened simply over a TV game show. I, too, am quite perplexed to hear the news, but then understanding the Filipino psyche gives some light to what's behind such a pitiful incident.

More than two years ago (the last time I went home) - back when we don't have TFC here yet - I asked my relatives why the TV media is littered with game shows (even on primetime!). One said that it's the popular thing right now, as people's lives are getting harder and harder and that the promise of instant money is a welcome proposition to the impoverished public.

So who's to blame in this unfortunate occurrence? Is it the government, the TV station, the show's producers, or the stadium's authorities? I'd say, how about blaming those people involved in the stampede for once? They brought this upon themselves. I'm just too tired of hearing of putting the culpability to poverty in every aspect of sad happenings in our country; it's a lame excuse from a bunch of indolent people.

If Singaporeans are kiazu, some of our countrymen are even worst. Queuing up early is one thing, but jumping queues and roughing up is another; why must there be a need to rush things up? Is it poverty or purely just greed?

There is no such thing as getting easy money decently; quick bucks don't last. Here's something I got from the Praystation Portable this morning (a reading from St. Paul's letter to the Thessalonians): "Anyone who would not work, should not eat. We hear that some of you are unruly; not keeping busy but acting like busybodies. We enjoin all such and we urge them strongly in the Lord Jesus Christ, to earn the food they eat by working quietly. You must never grow weary of doing what is right."

I wonder when will our people understand that alleviating the plight of their lives doesn't depend solely on our government or on the charity of others. They better start looking at their own selves and ask: "why do let myself sunk this low?"

Metro Manila isn't the land of promise anymore or of milk and honey. It is time to go back to our lands – the lands, which have nurtured our ancestors long before the skyscrapers sprouted in that big city. Don't you think that your life tilling a small parch of land with your helpful carabao – things you had sold to buy tickets to go to that city – is far better off than a life in the city slums or sleeping beneath the bridge with ten families?

I felt pity for those seventy-four unfortunate souls. They have lost their dignity in the hope of getting a better life. Kids, too, have died in there; kids who should have been in school instead of queuing up for five days just to get inside that stadium and get a raffle ticket that could have brought them of $400 (if they're that lucky enough). I'd rather dole out my dollars to Gawad Kalinga than give them to those who say cheesy jokes. Winning ten thousand pesos might pay-off a family's house bills and feed them for half a month, but after that, what's next? They'd be back to that game show and try to win some more.

Passion is the mob of the man that commits a riot upon his reason. - William Penn

A new face

2006-02-05T03:37:00.000+08:00

To commemorate my 150th post, I did a complete makeover to this site's look. I do hope you like it. It's too girly (I know!) - far too different from the previous one. If I get tired of it, I might replace it with another.

As for the background picture, that's taken by a very good friend of mine, Marc Aviles, and used with permission.

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads

2006-02-04T22:40:00.000+08:00

Shoes, shoes, glorious shoes! Let it be Manolo Blahnik's, Jimmy Choo's, Nine West, Pretty Fit, Charles & Keith, or even Parisian, just what is it with women and shoes? Imelda Marcos is a name associated to one who has a huge collection of shoes – aside from the fact that she was once the driving force behind one powerful man. Can someone explain to me the passion between a woman and her sets of shoes?

I'm not the type of woman who has got to have a set of shoes that matches to the colour of her dress; all of my shoes are in black, aside from my sneakers (of course!). Before I got the sensible dark colours such as brown, blue - even green - and an occasional white, but I guess my preferences changed and so did my lifestyle. Gone were the days when I have to dress-up all girly off to a ball, and so my girly, twinkly, sexy pumps had to go. I no longer had to wear company uniforms and so those blues, greens and brown pumps flew off the window as well.

I don't have a large collection of shoes ' you can tell just from the range of colour that I buy. But still I go ga-ga when I see a style that captures my eye. The first thing you'll see me do when checking out shoes is look at the heels. They simply had to look great; no cheesy curves nor geeky ones. I don't like stilettos for they are such killers! A three-inch heel is fine with me, but I can’t seem to stand on a heel that's between 1 and 2 inches high (I simply don't like them). If it's got to be flat, it should be flat; no semi-flat (or whatever they call them). To top it all off: they should look great on every view; be it from the top, side, or back.

I was presented with a Victoria's Secret brochure filled with great looking shoes last week, and I lost some minutes of sleep tossing, turning thinking of those pumps. I simply have got to have those glorious boots. After so much consideration, I'm thinking of adding a few colours to my array of shoes; I better bring back some colour to my feet. Red. I never had red shoes. Maybe I should try one.

Shoes should match one's bag. Oh, bags! Women and their bags: that's another wonder.

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

2006-01-31T22:51:00.000+08:00

I know it's a bit late, but still... Happy Chinese New Year!

Ahh... I love this holiday here in Singapore, because it surely is a long one. We had a very long weekend and tomorrow is going to be a dreary day at work - for sure.

The picture shown above is Josh coming out from their school activity last Friday. Moms, Dads and Yayas weren't allowed inside their little theater (the glass dors were even covered with newspapers!) So we had to make do with the little pic we had taken when they were released. The gift he's carrying said "First Prize - Nursery"; we don't have any idea what's it for. We'll just wait for his teacher's email updates then. More of his school pics here.

We also went to Wild Wild Wet last Sunday just to fight boredom: most stores are pretty much close in here (no place to go to). We can't go out of the country for it's Herman's turn to support. Pics are available for viewing here.

It was great fun at work last Friday, too; managers gave away red packets (angpow) to staff who are brave enough to approach and greet them a happy new year. I got five packets. We had a little get together in the afternoon: pizza galore, lots of orange mandarins, knick-knacks, and beer. Beer at the workplace... only during Chinese New Year.

Man of Steel in Blue Tights

2006-01-25T22:59:00.000+08:00

There are two comic book superheroes I like the most: Superman and Spider-man. For Spider-man, I’ve even read the first issues of adventures over at Marvel. I wish I had asked my grand-uncle to let me have those comic books for they were just stacked in some dingy old wooden box with old magazines and newspapers. But alas! I lack the foresight that those old comic books are such gems. I like Superman because I’ve read the DC comic books, borrowed from friends, about him. And, of course, who could ever forget those Christopher Reeves films that brought the movie industry to whole new level in terms of special effects? When I’ve heard the news that Superman is going to die in comics, I huddled with my college friends just to see that funeral artwork. Man it was awesome!

After two great Spider-man movies (starring my favourite actor Tobey Maguire), we’ll again see the flight of the Man of Steel (or hunky alien) in Superman Returns. I’ve seen the trailer, and it’s brilliant. You’ll hear the familiar voice of Marlon Brando as Jor-El. I now wonder what they are going to tackle in this film. On the trailer, you’ll see that we’re going back to the time when the young Kal-El was discovered by the Kent’s after a meteor shower, and back when the young Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) discovers his supernatural abilities. Is it going to be similar to the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeves? The storyline from the official website doesn’t say so. It is pretty obvious that they took off from where the last film left off. Maybe after years of absence, superman got a facelift.

Bryan Singer, who brought us the first two great film adaptations of another set of comic book heroes The X-men, directed this new film; he opted not to direct the third instalment of the X-men franchise to give new life to the most beloved superhero. We’ll see an even prettier Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) and probably a nastier Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey).

Superman Returns opens on 30^th of June 2006.

Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find?

2006-01-23T22:13:00.000+08:00

Josh had been attending school for almost three weeks now, and there hasn’t been a day wherein I’m not worried that he might have done something naughty with his classmates. As of now, we already got two calls from his teacher.

He’s such an over-zealous boy, especially, because he doesn’t have many playmates at home except us, adults. So whenever he meets new kids, and takes a fancy over one kid, he could be quiet obsessive (or possessive) with this new friend. He’d follow wherever this kid would go to – even take the kid’s hand and drag her all around with him. And if this kid doesn’t listen to what he’s got to say (which is, in fact, incomprehensible), Josh would grab hold of this kid’s face to make her look at him. He’s annoying, isn’t he?

This is one problem his teacher normally encounters, and she sometimes had to separate the two: much to the annoyance of Josh and a relief to the other kid. Well, I told the teacher to give Josh sometime to get use to having a lot of kids around him and he’ll soon get over it (hopefully!).

Here are some pictures taken during his orientation day and some by his teacher during class.

Frozen

2006-01-21T23:16:00.000+08:00

It was always never easy; who ever said that is was? When the hour is upon you, and you felt the beauty all around you suddenly fades, you begin to numb. You begin to lose your place: everything passes you by.

You are at a place you know nothing about, without knowing how you got there. In silence, you screamed and laughed at the mystery of it all. You are broken and frozen in history. How could it have happened? You were stripped of the memories of yesterdays, but you know that they were all that you have.

And then you begin to question whether you are still real or but an illusion. You are getting colder.

Goblet of Fire in DVD

2006-01-12T23:34:00.000+08:00

I still haven’t seen Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in IMAX, yet news of the DVD release was already revealed. You can buy your copy starting March 7. Isn’t that fast? I guess they now release the DVD versions as fast as they could to curb the pirated copies made from the theater release.

Here’s the promo ad that you’ll soon see on your TV screens.

And if you don’t have the previous three movies, and want to start you collection, why don’t you try the years 1-4 box edition. It’s an 8-disc DVD set.

sweat is sexy, brawn is beautiful and a little dirt never hurt anyone

2006-01-10T22:41:00.000+08:00

Do you have a big bosom (tits, boobies, chest or knockers), a wafer-thin waist, and a pert bum? If you don’t have a job and would like to earn some dollars, Hooters Singapore is looking for you. I just saw an ad yesterday at the local paper and it caught my attention.

And, oh, last time I was in Hooters at Clark Quay, I think you also need to have skills with the hoola-hoop. You may want to check this out, too.

Best Movies of 2005

2006-01-08T13:34:00.000+08:00

Here’s the list of movies for 2005 that belong to the top ten list of Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper:

Out of the fifteen on the list, I’ve only seen one (King Kong). It wasn’t even on both lists nor did it made to the very top – a paltry eighth place. It could be because some of these films aren’t screened yet in the Singapore theatres or weren’t even allowed here at all. I, however, wanted to see The 40-Year-Old Virgin and A History of Violence, but my viewing partner doesn’t like the sound of their titles much.

I’d be on the lookout for these titles on our local theatre listings or checkout the DVD stores. Check them out yourself.

Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood. – Walt Disney

The battle between faith and reason

2006-01-05T23:16:00.000+08:00

I have finally finished The Chronicles of Narnia (all seven books) before 2005 ended. It was a slow read by my standards – even slower than reading Roald Dahl. All seven books are almost of the same length – just give or take a difference of ten to fifteen pages; but the book that probably took me ages to finish was The Silver Chair and I was surprisingly fast when I got to The Last Battle.

I like The Last Battle, aside from the fact that it’s the last book and it gives closure that there won’t be any more visits to Narnia, because of the kind of adversary the heroes faced – it’s all different since it was not magical and simply all about treachery. The ending was long and winding, of course, and can be such a bore to read – even lamer than The Lord of the Rings’ Many Partings chapter.

This C.S. Lewis classic series of books, I hope, shouldn’t be reduced to a mere allegory of the Bible – repackaged Biblical stories or the metaphorical children’s Bible. Though you could clearly see the imprints of the author’s Christian faith in his work, the events in the books are sometimes similar but not exactly the same as what one would read from the Holy Book; Lewis painted a wonderful world in Narnia.

I’ve heard that Disney has optioned this whole series to be made into a movie, but I’d doubt if they’d make all the seven books. Surely they’d follow the Pevensies and up on the list for movie adaptation is Prince Caspian. Boy, am I glad that’d be the last time we’ll get to see Susan, played by Anna Popplewell, (if they wouldn’t make The Horse and His Boy, wherein the kids only made cameos), because her character is so two-dimensional and even stiffly portrayed in the first movie.

So which books are going to look great on film? Prince Caspian on its own is a pretty lame story if told in the language of movies, but it would make one heck of an action-adventure film if combined with The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The Magician’s Nephew is important for the viewers to fully understand The Last Battle and give the viewers a few explanations and further understand who the White Witch Jadis is; but I doubt if the size of the book would be enough to make one compelling two-hour long movie. I’m not sure if combining The Silver Chair and The Last Battle would be a good idea, though the main heroes of these two books are Eustace Scrubb (cousin of the Pevensies) and Jill Pole (Eustace’s friend). Going to and out of Narnia causes the timetable to go out of whack, and combining the previous two books I’ve mentioned would further cause confusion with the viewers (though it was convincingly presented in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe). As for The Horse and His Boy, they could simply throw away this book and forget about it; this story didn’t affect much the entire story arc of Narnia.

What would have been better is that C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia should been approached in the same fashion that Peter Jackson and his team approached The Lord of the Rings. They should have taken the whole picture, chopped them into pieces that would make great films and one great movie series. I wouldn’t mind watching three-hours long movies showed with one-year intervals and I’d gladly buy the DVD box set of the extended versions. Now imagine if Disney approached Peter Jackson with this chronicles and Fran Walsh, together with Philippa Boyens, lifted the text from these books and made them into one whole big story. But that’s all we can do, imagine…

Peter Jackson makes film that tells great stories; hell, we even suspended our belief when we watched King Kong be lovey-dovey with Ann Darrow! If he can make us cry for the 25-foot ape, he can make us love Aslan, the lion, more.

The future comes one day at a time

2006-01-04T23:46:00.000+08:00

It’s a brand new year and this is my first post for 2006! To say that time flies so fast is kind of lame and so cliché or maybe passé; nevertheless, I’d still ponder on it.

My little boy Josh, who is forty-two months old now (three years and six months, in the usual reckoning), started his official school day today. He went to school yesterday, however, for the orientation: in his brand new uniform and shoes. I went with him (taking a day off from work) so that he could acclimate himself to the new environment he’s going to be in the next three years.

So, I woke him up early to get him ready for the day (all right, it was me who was excited). He was actually not keen on waking up before eight and would still love to snuggle a bit with his bottle of milk. I told him that he would go to school that day, and he replied, “I don’t want to go to school.” Just imagine the tugging we had to go through: I don’t want to take a bath; I don’t want to brush my teeth; I don’t want that duck shampoo. After his bath, brushing his teeth, cleaning his hair and me getting wet, he finally got excited over the taught of going to school. When he finally got his uniform on, he enthusiastically carried his bag containing his water bottle and towel.

When it was time for them (Nursery students) to line-up, he wouldn’t let go of my hand (luckily mummies are allowed that day). He further warmed up when they got inside the classroom and especially at the play area.

Josh just joined his nursery class, but before you know it he’ll be starting Primary 1 and I’d start worrying about PSLEs and GCSEs. For now, I do hope that he’ll learn his Chinese lessons and do well in class and praying to God that he doesn’t bully anyone.

Waking Moment

2005-12-31T22:58:00.000+08:00

Is one’s life only but a dream – a recurring nightmare that simply has no end? Don’t you just wish that there are certain moments in your life that you could just bring to a halt and re-do all over again with knowledge of disastrous effects if you make a certain choice? What if you experience a certain jolt and wake-up and realize that you’re still eighteen and haven’t finished college yet, when you could clearly remember that before you felt that jolt you were on your thirties? You have dreamt the next twelve years of your life.

Think for a moment what your life would have been if you made a different choice sometime in your past. Would you still end up in the same place or situation you are now? Would your life be better off or be more pathetic? Would you be just as fulfilled or be just as unsatisfied?

As for me, had I not accepted the job offering here in Singapore: I probably would have gone to another country, or maybe be also here in Singapore but arriving later than 2000, or I might still be single in the Philippines, not earning much and kicking myself for not accepting that offer or even daring to get out of the country. Here’s another one: had I chosen that company which is about to start the SAP application over the company that is about to start using AS/400, I probably am earning a lot more than what I am earning now. What would have become of me had I chosen to stop my studies after my Dad died? I probably am a huge disappointment to him and a humongous burden to my Mom.

Nevertheless, life has neither rewind buttons nor click wheels to hover your finger with; it’s in steady play mode which you couldn’t pause and only stops when you’re at the end of your road.

The New Year is up ahead. It’s about time to do some renewal (if you haven’t done so this Christmas).

I wish you all a prosperous new year!

Entering a new world through an old wardrobe

2005-12-27T23:28:00.000+08:00

My family watched the first instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, on Christmas day. I’ve been waiting for this film since I’ve heard the news that they’re shooting the first book on C.S. Lewis’ famous children’s book series. I have not read the books then, but after reading the sixth Harry Potter, Half-Blood Prince, I bought the compiled version of the Chronicles of Narnia.

In C. S. Lewis’ timeless adventure, we’ll see how the four Pevensie siblings stumble upon the magical world of Narnia, where animals talk and winter never ends, through an old wardrobe in a country home of an old professor. They would then meet Aslan, the untamed lion, whom the White Witch fears and revered by Narnians.

This is not a Lord of the Rings movie, as what the viewer might expect after seeing the fast-paced trailer with sweeping landscapes and great battle scenes. The world of Narnia was created wonderfully by Weta Studios with the same craftsmanship they did in the Lord of the Rings movies. The monsters or creatures under the witch’s wing are so ugly and some are even scarier than the Orcs. This army, however, reminded me so such of the Uruk-hais of Saruman and Sauron’s minions. Shooting this film in New Zealand made the over-all look like a copy of Peter Jackson’s films, even the final battle scene between the White Witch and the supporters of Aslan rang too much of the grandeur of what we have already seen in the Two Towers and The Return of the King. I wouldn’t be surprised if I see Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli running through those rocks and meet Eomer and his army.

The moviemakers might have been aiming for the splendour of the Lord of Rings, but one problem got really in the way in terms of the story. Whereas, Peter Jackson tried to re-tell the story of Tolkien for cinema, this movie of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was like an illustrated copy of the book – the dialogues were exactly lifted and the characters; it followed the book religiously; the film adaptation didn’t add anything new to the story itself. The only thing that you won’t see in the book was the first part – the war scene and at the train station – after seeing that, I thought that this was going to be a different experience from reading the book, but I was completely wrong; from then on, it was like the entire book was the movie’s script.

I know that the book is short and mainly aimed for kids; but targeting this movie as a kid’s movie was a huge mistake. The fan-base of this series of books aren’t kids anymore (they were first published after the second world war!). Presenting this in movie form was supposed to introduce this old series to whole new set of readers (like me); but this film didn’t do it’s job right. With the whole world of Narnia already laid out in the seven books, the filmmakers could have further expounded on that. Being a kid’s book, there isn’t much of a character development and that’s plain dull if you watch it on film. Like what I have said in my previous post (after reading the first five books), the four kids in this story are a bit superficial and bland and this showed up in the movie as well; the characters weren’t given any depth at all, even the White Witch Jadis (Tilda Swinton) and Aslan the lion.

The girl Georgie Henley, who portrayed Lucy Pevensie, was fantastic and showed so much promise as an actor. The other scenes, however, have no such drama. Edmund (Skandar Keynes) was supposed to be a fantastic character, because he was the only one in there who has changed, but the viewers couldn’t feel it. The coronation of the two Daughters of Eve and the two Sons of Adam as kings and queens of Narnia were so bland and impersonal and reminded me of the ending scene on the Phantom Menace (Star Wars Episode I). This was supposed to be the summit of the film and the turning point for the entire series; King Peter (William Moseley) of Cair Paravel will forever be mentioned with the same reverence as Aslan himself, but you don’t feel that. Speaking of Peter, I think this young actor is hot. I don’t know what is it with me and young, pretty boys.

Not that I totally abhor this film adaptation, there are good things that needs pointing out, too. The visuals are stunning almost as the same levels as in Lord of the Rings; the animation of computer-generated characters was seamlessly done – amazing (I like the beavers very much and the humour added to them – they even have more depth than the human characters!). I also liked the foreshadowing of the hunt for the white stag when Lucy was having tea with Mr. Tumnus.

Is the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe a biblical allegory? If you’re a Christian and have not seen the allusions to Jesus Christ in this film, I don’t know which version of the Bible you have been reading. Just wait for the Magician’s Nephew (if they ever plan of filming that); it will smack you in the face.

I’ve compared this film to the Lord of the Rings a lot, but – oh, well – the books then were also compared so many times. The authors, Lewis and Tolkien were very good friends and belong to a small society called the Inklings; Tolkien isn’t a big fan of Lewis storytelling style, and Lewis isn’t a huge Middle-Earth fan, either. These two series of books share fan-base, but I doubt if the fans of Peter Jackson’s films will turn out to be great fans of this Narnia film version.

The most wonderful time of the year

2005-12-24T17:11:00.000+08:00

The shopping malls are filled with busy shoppers; the stores are decorated with holiday trimmings; the carols could be heard all through out the centre; there are long lines at the payment counters – even at the gift wrapping counter; columns and columns of chocolates from around the world abound in the grocery section; it is that time of the year again when Christians celebrate the joyous holiday season of Christmas.

Is that all there is to it? Is Christmas just all about Santa Claus, trees with blinking lights, presents, hams, carols, feasts or crackers? I do hope that amidst the frenzy of the holiday rush we never forget the true meaning of Christmas – the heart of it all –, which is Christ.

So, when you pick-up that gift for a friend, say a prayer for that person; when you queue-up for gift wrapping, say a prayer for the person at that busy counter; when you receive a gift, say a prayer for the person who gave you one; when you partake in a feast, say a little prayer for the people who prepared the food. A single line of prayer – just a “thank you for a wonderful friend” or “bless their family, Lord” can go a long way.

Happy Christmas to everyone!

The King is Kong

2005-12-21T23:37:00.000+08:00

I have finally seen Peter Jackson’s latest film, King Kong. As for my take on how does this rate against all the other movies ever made, I’m a little mixed up: story wise, it’s great; the effects are brilliant; the characters are wonderful (so as the ape); the setting is awesome; but I’m not going to say, “it is the greatest movie ever!”

This is a story of man’s never-ending quest for mysteries – the insatiable thirst for the unknown – and his response to the revelation of an equivocal unknown. So, here is a movie director/producer, who has heard of an island that was uncharted and unexplored, carrying along his movie crew for a production of a film that has never been shot before; little did they knew that they were up for an adventure and scare of a lifetime.

This island was not actually unknown to some – only that only a handful survived to tell their tale. It’s a ferocious world that has to be sealed with walls and all I can say is that it is a lost world better than Jurassic Park’s sequel. The dense forestation is creepy and further enhanced by the creatures living within it.

The group of people in Weta Digital, who awed us with the fantastic special effects in Lord of the Rings, further up the ante in the science of the movie magic. The movie is visually awesome! I love the dinosaur stampede – reminiscent of the Mumakil attack in The Return of the King, but even better. The royal rumble between the big ape and the T-rexes was equally a feast in the eye of a movie person.

Each of the characters was great, and, most of all, the persona behind the 25-foot tall ape; though I can’t say they were correctly casted. I can accept Adrien Brody as a playwright; but as a hero who rescues the girl, I think not. Jack Black’s character is so devious but I simply can’t shake-off the image that he was Shallow Hal. Naomi Watts simply glowed on the screen as the damsel who cared for her captor. I take my hats off (if I ever wear a hat) to Andy Serkis, together with the graphic artists, who gave King Kong a personality. It was so believable; every twitch of his nose, every wrinkling of his brow, the opening of his huge mouth, the glint in his eyes, they are all realistic and so convincing, which made the audiences connect with this monster emotionally.

I only have one pet peeve with this movie: why must it be three hours long? There are scenes that could be shortened or parts that need not be included. I could sit through a three-hour-forty-five-minutes long Lord of the Rings or even a three-hour Harry Potter movie (which the producers dare not try to venture into) but three hours of a humongous ape (actually he wasn’t in the first thirty minutes) is such a stretch. I actually dozed off during that scene at the top of the Empire State building for probably a minute – twice. I hope we won’t get an extended version on the DVD (there are scenes in the trailer which were taken off the theatrical release), because if you watch it at home, you’ll probably go to sleep after King Kong was captured and never get to learn the ending.

This film, however, is the perfect example why we go to the movies: to see things we don't regularly see in real life for a small price of a single ticket.

Nothing happens by chance, my friend... No such thing as luck

2005-12-19T23:28:00.000+08:00

I’m not a person who has luck at raffle draws, except if it’s a draw wherein everybody wins – even in that, I don’t win the major prizes. When it comes to games, my team don’t normally win either. Last Saturday was a different day; an anomaly perhaps. I have never ever felt that lucky in my entire life.

It all started the Wednesday before that when I was busy reviewing the list of clues of all the codes used in our Kris Kringle. Every year (for three years now) in Maybank, for our exchange gifts we all have codes we keep dearly to ourselves. Each week, we give out a clue pertaining to our code together with a little gift to our babies; this clue, however, is broadcasted to everyone. The main aim is that during the revelation day, each one has a shot at guessing all the codes. This time, last Thursday was the dateline for the submission of our guesses. Whoever has the most correct answers win; if by chance that there’s a tie, the person who sent the answers earlier gets the prize. This is a high stake competition, for the main prize is an iPod (maybe not new, but is from a generous person who regularly updates his techno gears); so, the competition is fierce. Some codes can be easy to guess, while others are excruciatingly hard; aside from that, the selection list has bogus codes (8 out of 30). People, who have the time, gave gifts to their babies and therefore revealing that that code is a possible answer. Just imagine the pain that not all of them gave gifts? It’s a good thing for the receiver, because his code could never be on the radar of possible answers; most especially, if he gives hard clues.

It’s Wednesday and everyone is cramming to get their answers right. There are those who even formed alliances and shared to each other their take on each code – explaining each clue (even giving ridiculous reasons just so it could fit into the code). I was having a problem with three sets of clues because my list of possible answers is one code short; and I can’t think of any code that would fit to one set of clues. But lo and behold, one generous Mommy/Daddy gave a set of gifts to his/her baby on that fateful day (maybe just to spite that person); thus, revealing another code that was not on my list. From then on, I was able to match all the clues with their corresponding codes. In another twist of fate, one person approached me at the end of the day so that we could share answers. Luckily for me (unfortunately for him), he gave me his code (one of the hardest to identify). I actually have guessed it right but it was purely based on pure elimination (the only set of clues without any answer and the code without any corresponding clues). So, I went home that Wednesday night with a smile on my face (I didn’t reveal my code to anyone, of course) knowing full well that I got all the codes sitting neatly with their corresponding clues. All that was left to do was a few googling to confirm my answers. And so, at 2 am Thursday, I confidently sent my entry thru email to our game master.

You don’t know the sleuthing I have to go through just to get those codes right. I guess all the “reading between the lines” in the Harry Potter books helped. And sometimes being such a conniving bitch helps, too. I know my code could be guessed by elimination, but fate was on my side, for another set of clues can fairly point to my code as well. There are a few clues that can’t be explained, of course; but if you’ve got five or six clues out of twelve fitting in one code, it’s definitely a go. So what I did was hammer on that. I pretended that I don’t have a clue on who is Monsters, Inc (that’s my code) either; then stir them into that other set of clues and gave logical explanations on how they could fit into my code.

By Thursday afternoon, when all the entries got in, our Game Master released the set of bogus codes; from there, I was able to tell that I’m on the right track, and that that iPod is within my grasp. Then came the Saturday party, and little did I know that my winning streak was still on its high gear. On the first game of the day, I knew that I’m not gonna be raking any prizes except for that raffle draw where everyone wins and that Guess the Code contest (I may not win the grand prize, but there’s the second and third place to hope for). Wheels started turning again when I became part of the team that made a ridiculous Santa with a humongous head and looks like an elf and won. In the Taboo game, I know we were dreadful (I know I am); but having luck in my pocket, our opponent spouted taboo words like a whistling kettle and giving us points instead.

Then the ever awaited Game Ka Na Ba? started, and I knew then that I can never ever enter the big eight for you need to guess 1980s songs from lyrics given by the game master. I’m not good in music trivia – in any decade. I tried hard though to recall those years when I was but a young lad. The six slots were already filled and the game master blurted the lyrics of my favourite Michael Jackson ballad, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You. You guess it right, I got in. First category I picked is movies, and I named the six Bagets cast members out of eight possible answers. The second category was countries beginning with T (picked by the opponent); I only bid three, he said he could name four. I called his bid and knew right away that I’m out in the running when he named the first country that’s not on my easy list of countries. But by heavens! To my surprise he was only able to give three, and so I moved on up the ladder. Last and final challenge was to name the presidents of Singapore. I said I could only name one and was completely bluffing the whole time because I could not even recall the name of the current one – much more even pronounce it correctly; my opponent was even looking at a piece of Singapore dollar, where you can find the image and name of the first president. So when he said he could name two, I relented and surrendered all hope of ever winning the contest. Again, by goodness! He was only able to name one correct answer. So I won the other coveted iPod prize for that day.

The revelation of the codes came and my answers were confirmed that they were indeed all right. The third placer got one code wrong; then the game master announced that the second placer got the perfect score (I knew it was me for there were others who submitted their entries way ahead of me). But then it was another name that was called, so I got that other iPod again. Finally, the best in character costume, where I also won third place for the Mike Wazowski eye made by Josh’s nanny, Che-Che.

It was a huge horde and my family and I went home with a huge smile on our faces as Mike has.

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like? – Jean Cocteau

Every little thing she does is magic

2005-12-17T15:05:00.000+08:00

He’d seen her chomp her food, wiggle her nose, stroke her hair hundreds of time – even thousands; yet why is watching her now gives him such an overwhelming feeling? Everything she does now is permeated with greater meaning; every move is precious, accompanying a welling-up feeling inside him.

He wanted her. To grab her. Feel her. And taste her.

Then it ebbs away.

But then it wells up again whenever she chomps her food, or wiggles her nose or strokes her hair.

Don’t judge my brother; he is not a book

2005-12-14T23:58:00.000+08:00

I have seen the trailer of Peter Jackson’s latest film, King Kong; from it, I can’t really say that I’m excited to watch it. But, hey, like books we can’t simply judge a movie from its teasers; take The Village, for example: the trailer was great and it looked scary, but the entire film was a total disappointment. Nevertheless, I trust Peter Jackson, for he is one filmmaker who tells great stories (Lord of the Rings, people!). Trailers, however, could give viewers the wrong impressions. This film, in particular, has a trailer that is aiming to awe and shock the audiences about the monsters you’ll see in the film, the spectacular actions, and the splendid special effects; however, what is not shown in the heart and soul of the entire film: the character development.

Based on the premier showings of King Kong, critics are lauding that this is another box office hit and that the movie is great. This is not another monster movie or the big ape the king of the jungle either; there is more to the movie than that. It’s been said that the movie works in various levels: a lot of action, humour, best special effects, and most importantly, the relationship between the beauty and the beast is believable.

I have not seen the entire 1933 original version, though I’ve seen some bits of it; and now, I am wondering what Peter Jackson took from this favourite movie of his. I’m looking forward to the awesome gorilla brought to life by Andy Serkis and the special effects team who gave us the schizophrenic Gollum.

King Kong opens today.

The sky is falling!

2005-12-08T23:03:00.000+08:00

I watched the latest Disney animated film Chicken Little at the theater with my son, Josh. He became a fan after he saw that diminutive chick dance in its trailer during the Batman Begins showing. Since then, whenever it is shown on TV, he’ll try to dance with the chick, which is quite often, as most of the time our television is tuned-in to the Disney channel.

The movie starts off with the widespread panic Chicken Little caused when he mistakes a falling acorn for a piece of the sky. In the hopes of reviving his reputation from the embarrassing chaos he cause and winning back the respect of his father, the young ~~man~~ chicken joins the town’s baseball team. With a great deal of luck, Chicken Little led his team to victory and finally redeems himself. Happy times, however, don’t last for long, for he was hit again on the head by a piece of the sky. This time the sky is really falling! Enlisting the help of his friends: Runt of the Litter, Abby Mallard (aka Ugly Duckling), and Fish Out of Water, they tried to save the day without sending the town into a frenzy.

The film’s story is an outtake from the classic British children’s tale and was further twisted: what if the sky is really falling. This is the first attempt of Disney to produce a computer-generated animated feature without Pixar. It may have solid laughs that could amuse a small child, but hardly any humour aimed for grownups, which made Pixar’s The Incredibles and Dreamworks’ Shrek huge blockbuster hits – clicking effortlessly on all levels. One could sense how forced this movie is – trying for a universal appeal, which I believe made it fell flat on its face. Young kids may go giddy on the first two-thirds of the movie but would later turn freaked out when it changes into a junior War of the Worlds.

It still delivered the Disney essentials: comedy, adventure, and music; there are, however, only a few original songs in the soundtrack unlike most Disney animated features. The visuals are fantastic! It’s funny in some ways, but not something one would consider a classic to watch over and over in your DVD player. Could it because the story is just too simple or not a sturdy children’s tale that needs retelling?

Tackiness can go a long way

2005-12-06T23:19:00.000+08:00

How would you categorize a person who hates an artist but likes her songs? I don’t like Britney Spears voice because – need I explain it? – it’s not the greatest (not even the best – synthesized) out there. I like her as a performer, though; she’s a great dancer, got a nice face and nice bod (pre-marriage). I simply like her songs because they’ve got good melodies and are danceable and the videos may be tacky and raunchy, but, hey, they’re nice to look at.

So, is she an artist? For me, she isn’t; a performer or entertainer, maybe. As to acting, heaven forbid! I’m glad that Crossroads flunked in the box-office, because her acting was flat even in her videos.

My favourite Britney song is Overprotected, and I bet guys are closet fans of I’m a Slave 4 U; for who would find that bawdy video and hearing Ms. Spears give an orgasmic purr and saying “I’m a slave for you”?

It's only with great vulgarity that you can achieve real refinement, only out of bawdy that you can get tenderness. – Lawrence Durrell

Clipped wings

2005-12-05T22:14:00.000+08:00

Oh gee! Why would one feel so out of reach if he doesn’t have an Internet connection? Back in the days when they use typewriters in the office, people never felt that way. In my new job, I don’t have Internet access nor my email can send outside correspondences; so I felt like I am out of the loop. It’s not that I depend on the access at the workplace to connect to the World Wide Web – I have a connection at home – it’s just that, when at home I have to attend to other things that would require me to stay away from the PC station.

During the times that there isn’t any internet, did people ever felt they were out of touch, uninformed, or isolated? Well, there’s only the television then and the good-old telephone – it doesn’t even have to be a mobile one. Why then in this age, when most people have earbuds stuck in their ears with music blasting from their iPods, phones or PDAs not giving a damn of what goes around in their place, people care so much about having an internet connection so that they can connect with their friends from far flung places? Has the little world that surrounds them became so constricting, aloof, impersonal that the only way to feel is to connect with someone from a far off place?

Maybe in some instances, it is; but life here in my new job is light and the people are warm. Maybe in another week or so, I can soon be acclimated to this new change.

Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true. – Charles Dickens

Subscription is great!

2005-12-03T04:30:00.000+08:00

I included a new feature here: if you want to get a notification whenever I post a new entry, subscribe and be a part of my notification list! It's simple and easy. You can find it on the left side, right below the Half-Blood Prince book cover.

This way, you don't have go to my site everytime just to check if I posted anything. So join and be a part of the list!

Then came the princess

2005-12-03T03:20:00.000+08:00

Almost twenty years ago, my Mom surprised us with the news that she’s pregnant. I was a huge news because, well, my brother is ten and I’m already… Oh! You thought I’m going to divulge my age then so you could do your maths. All right, to spare you the calculation, I’m thirty-one, which makes me twelve around that time. Just imagine, a middle-aged couple with two kids entering their teens, and here comes another one. What a great shock! My brother and I never thought that we could have another sibling again.

When my Mom returned home to San Jose a week after giving birth in Quezon City Medical Center (we were all born there), we were so excited as we waited for them at the airport. I couldn’t believe that I have a baby sister – my very own breathing, little doll! And, of course, she became the darling of everyone.

My Mom gave her the name Renee Joyce. Renee was taken from my Dad’s old nickname, Rene; while Joyce because she’s born in December. She was supposed to have Nenee for her nickname, but my Mom changed her mind because I might turn into a Nene. My Dad lovingly calls her Poponggay (ask me not where he got that) or Pops or Pongay for short. We even named our pet parrots while we were staying in Puerto Princesa with endearing nicknames. But now, she’s either RJ or Buday (ask me not about this one, too).

Well, imagine now; she just turned nineteen yesterday. Our little girl has grown up. Gone was the tyke whom I would buy clothes from Cinderella and one who would wear the little costumes I had sewn and piece together. She’s a courageous young woman like my Mom; more than I am.

To RJ: You may not remember the times you have spent with Dad, you were barely five when he left; you’re always with him wherever he goes – always sitting on the front passenger’s seit of his car. He might be gone, but he’s with you all the time. Mom, Kuya Gie and I may not be there always, but Dad is and he’s just a whisper away. We love you.

Happy birthday!

Another birthday greeting

2005-12-02T14:50:00.000+08:00

Buday, Happy Birthday!

The best thing you've got going for you is individuality

2005-12-02T06:08:00.000+08:00

My new work has begun. The work area given to me isn’t the best, but heck! it’s far better than the slums we had to make do with in UOB. I just have to learn to adapt to the freakin’ ~~stinking~~ wonderful smell that emits from my cubicle mate. My PC is pretty fast – way, way faster than my old PC in FITAS team (Dell computer, Pentium 4, 256 RAM, 30Gb HD, Windows XP Prof), but the sad part is that I can’t customize my wallpaper and screensaver. Ugh! I can’t see my baby Potter. Now, I was thinking of putting my poster here if I can’t find a way to customize my desktop.

What do you think?

All greatness of character is dependent on individuality. The man who has no other existence than that which he partakes in common with all around him, will never have any other than an existence of mediocrity. – James F. Cooper

Midnight, and the clock strikes, then we pig out

2005-12-01T05:04:00.000+08:00

That’s that the Noche Buena, a traditional Filipino Christmas eve; misa de gallo comes first, of course. I love these midnight holiday feasts; I know that Christmas is twenty-four days far from now, and New Year is about a month, but I can’t help but start planning on what to put on our table during those coming overindulging moments.

I will again miss the Purefoods Fiesta hams, so the only way make-up for that is by ordering an even bigger ham from Cold Storage. I think they offer the best hams here in Singapore, aside from the preposterously priced hams from hotels. So I made a choice yesterday between these four good-looking, succulent, weight-gaining pieces of meat and placed my order. With that already set, I think I’m already halfway through my preparation – as they say in our country: “It’s not Christmas if you don't have a ham on your table.”

Somewhere in your career, your work changes

2005-11-30T23:02:00.000+08:00

I spent my last half-day in UOB last Monday (more than half a day, actually); it was a somber mood. Not that there was a bawling episode, I was simply too excited to face another chapter in my career life. Tomorrow, I’ll be starting on my new job; I’ve just heard from friends that my desk is waiting for me – completely cleaned by my boss.

As for my other friends who are thinking of changing companies, good luck on your attempt; I do hope it pushes through. To another who’s moving to another country, all my best wishes on your next adventure. Here’s what I leave to you from my good friend Jane Fonda:

If the career you have chosen has some unexpected inconvenience, console yourself by reflecting that no career is without them.

Christmas Begins

2005-11-28T10:47:00.000+08:00

Josh saw the Batman show in Raffles City, one of the malls here in Singapore, last weekend. So he’s pretty much in the Batman mood right now. He still got the Batman tattoo in his forearm, and pretty much says that he wants to see Batman every time he wakes up. Oh! And he even brought his little Batman figure in church.

Harry Potter lives in our house! Josh simply loves his Gryffindor jump suit that it is so hard to convince him to get out off it.

Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate

2005-11-25T23:58:00.000+08:00

When someone is about to leave work for another, why do they treat you like a fattened calf off for an execution? I’ve been treated to some hearty, succulent meals these past days because – well – I’m about to leave the company.

After two years and three months working in the Trade Finance team in the Business Solutions Department of UOB (United Overseas Bank), I’m off to go back to the previous company I worked with, Maybank. Why is that so? Call it whatever you want – expanding my horizons, career advancement – but, really, it all boils down to the fact that I got a better offer, and that I’ve had enough of the crappy people I deal with in my current job (not my Filipino colleagues though). I still have one more workday left, and I pretty hope I have turned over all the outstanding stuff I had been working on this past month (that’s for you, Santi *wink, wink, budge, nudge*).

Am I the first to leave the team? Nope, more like the third. It did wonders to my good friend Vincent; he’s gaining some weight now for the less stress he had to deal with at work – even if his work place is far from his home. Life is indeed great, huh, Enteng? However, I have no hopes of gaining weight, I am planning of losing them, actually. What, with all those free meals and the holidays coming, who hasn’t gained some additional pounds?

Ironic isn’t it that the title of this entry was lifted from the story of the Prodigal Son?

He Who Must Not Be Named

2005-11-24T23:57:00.000+08:00

Just who is this Dark Lord that’s terrorizing Harry’s life? We saw him living off as a parasite on the back of a professor’s head on Harry’s first year. In the Chamber of Secrets, all we saw was his sixteen-year old memory from a fifty year-old diary – is it just a memory? He’s been silent on Harry’s third year at Hogwarts; but, now, he has put the boy who lived under a terrible danger – an elaborate plot to finally kill the boy who hindered his rise to power.

Who is Tom Marvolo Riddle, the one who fashioned himself to be called Lord Voldemort? When do we finally get to really know him? Is he pure evil or just a poor boy gone bad? Oh, you’ll have to wait for the sixth film, but here are some quick facts. He is, indeed, a descendent of Salazar Slytherin (as he claimed in Chamber of Secrets). His mother, Merope Gaunt, is a witch, while his father (Tom Riddle) is a rich Muggle who abandoned his wife upon learning who she really is. The young Tom was raised in an orphanage in London after his mother died an hour after giving birth. According to Dumbledore, “he is one of the most brilliant students Hogwarts has ever seen."

For now, just be scared that he is finally back, and wait for his remarkable duel with Dumbledore on the fifth movie, Order of the Phoenix. See him here after his rebirth, and how fabulous Ralph Fiennes is.

Why is it such a big thing when Voldemort said that he could touch Harry now? Well, the young boy was protected by an old charm when his mother died to save his liFe (as explained by Dumbledore in Philosopher’s Stone). The blood of his mother, which runs through his veins, protects him – the same way that he has to stay with the Dursleys, for his Aunt Petunia, the only sister of Lily Evans, could protect Harry from the dark wizards. In taking the blood of his enemy (Harry’s), Voldemort is now sharing that same blood with Harry.

People have asked why is he so freakin’ after a young baby? Blame Trelawney – that hag professor of Divination whom you have met in Prisoner of Azkaban. She made her very first prophecy, and somebody overheard it and told Voldemort.

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ...
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ...
And the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.”

The sad thing is that Voldemort only heard of the first two lines.

Exorcism of Singapore

2005-11-23T23:08:00.000+08:00

Singapore is a country known for its strict rules and a heavy-hand in the enforcement of its laws. This is a country where one could be caned for drawing graffiti on the walls. A place where in 2001, it’s a big news that there was a total 4 murder crimes committed for the first quarter of that year, which is a huge jump from the previous year.

As the government try to loosen up, and as the economy have finally risen up from the slack brought about by SARS and Asia’s economic downturn, crime in the state seem to have risen as well. Did the times change the people?

It’s a common story to hear maids mistreated by their employers – not given enough food, not given any proper sleeping area, sexually harassed by their male employers, or even physically assaulted. To see in that news that an employer pimps her maid is a new and shocking story.

Murder crimes are even becoming more gruesome: victims’ bodies are chopped up and scattered all over the island; a child raped and stored inside a small box to rot.

The only saving grace in this country is that crimes don’t go unsolved and that the implementation of justice is fast.

Finding heaven in another world

2005-11-22T23:07:00.000+08:00

Life is full of second chances. You can leave behind a sad memory in your past and try to live a life anew. Old memories may haunt you, but the promise of a renewed tomorrow tides you over.
A very good friend took the plunge for another chance of finding love’s true happiness, and I truly hope that he finally finds it.

We pray that the home you will share has much joy and laughter, and be filled with a special kind of love that will last forever. Congratulations on your new life together.