Pointless Sunday Post...

I like Sundays.

In fact, i have reason to believe that most people in general like Sundays.

"...[on Sundays] Everything seems to stand still, like they did in every one of those Sundays you spent as a child…"

Way, way back... And i mean waaaaaay back... one of the things that marked Sundays was tuning in to the Mellow Touch (at frequency 94.7 DWLL, FM) and catching pretty much the same bunch of songs that one heard the weekend before that, and the weekend before that, and so on... This usually comprised of love songs and soft-rock country songs like those by Michael Johnson, Jim Croce, Neil Young, to name the merest tip of the iceberg... this was all topped off by the weekend station ID, which was comprised of a voice-over by the then sole speaking DJ of the Mellow Touch, some guy named Ernie Fresnido, over the instrumental theme song of “The Young and the Restless,” more properly referred to as “Nadia’s Theme.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzGe5IDOF1E

nope… no voice-over on that link up there… but for those who know what I’m talking about, then I’m sure the tune will bring back memories…

Weekends in Metro Manila are particularly drifty for me… As weekdays get more and more stressful and the rat-race just keeps getting tighter and faster in the city, a mall-less Sunday seems to provide a bit of a time-rewinding respite. Everything seems to stand still, like they did in every one of those Sundays you spent as a child… And the only thing you want to notice is how there seems to be a couple of extra lines on yours and your spouse’s face while you smile at each other, while driving through the loose traffic of Roxas Boulevard…

To top off the memory stroll, we had lunch along J.Nakpil Street, at the recently-relocated Korean Village in Malate and I noticed a sticker of the long-defunct Far East Bank on the door of Casa Armas right across the Korean resto… Some of you may remember Far East Bank's famous battle cry "Yes, we can!" As many know, Far East Bank was bought by Ayala's BPI arm... But if you're a lucky BPI customer, maybe you will find yourself being served by former Far East people, who have retained the friendly "yes, we can" culture of their former company. Ask around, try and compare... There's a reason why Far East Bank became one of the biggest banks of its time.

Yes, I know… aren’t there enough Koreans all over the place? Why patronize a Korean establishment? But for those who know, Korean Village is for many people their first taste of Korean food, and Manileños respect many of the first Korean settlers in the country. We just wish they can help control many of their unruly countrymen from the recent influx…

‘catch you later…

...and these are the guys watching over our safety and welfare.

The police and the local governments have yet again reminded me why they are the last people to call for concerns on public health and safety...

As I write this, I am still stopping myself from sneezing my Chinese nose off from all the dust the store gathered, because some idiot politician decided to arrive in style at the Panagbenga Festival Kick-Off parade in a fucking PNP helicopter by landing it smack in the middle of town at Burnham Park's football field...

I'm guessing the politician, who I won't name because I cannot ascertain who he/she was is so stupid that he/she didn't consider the possibility that a chopper landing in the middle of a dusty football field with throngs of people watching a pathetic parade will send storms of dust flying for almost half a mile around... and there are a lot of children, too... think about that... it's not like the government provides real health insurance, and not some excuse called PhilHealth...

What's funnier is that the PNP's airforce didn't even bother telling stupid-arriving-in-stye-politician about the effects of landing a chopper in the middle of a populated park... no wonder planes are crashing all over the place and killing people... and yes, these are the people who are watching over our safety and well-being...

Don't you just adore the Philippine government...?

'catch you later...

CD Review: Gino Padilla (Let Me Be The One)... He's Back... (again)

Gino Padilla is back... (again)

The guy, whose strongest claim to global fame is singing on stage with Tina Turner (remember her, guys?) in a Pepsi commercial way back in the late 80's has a new album out on the shelves since very late last year. Titled “Let Me Be The One,” power singer Gino Padilla, through Viva-Vicor, offers his take on 14 classic and not-so-classic Pinoy radio fare spanning over three decades back.

Immediate standouts are immortal guilty pleasures of every music lover, the Cecile Azarcon-penned “Even If,” the Joey Albert-immortalized “Million Miles Away,” and Odette Quesada’s “To Love Again.”

"...amusing to note that the majority of the songs... were originally done by female singers... [as] testament to [Gino's] vocal range..."

Naturally, as an avid OPM lover of a musical age gone by, I have my immediate favorites off Gino’s song selection such as the ones I mentioned above. But one rather interesting surprise was him digging up Junior’s jukebox staple “But If You Leave Me” from the late 70’s (am I right? Anyone correct me if I’m wrong…). The original version remains on my playlist as a reminder of simpler times, but this tear-jerking new version does it justice.

Production values are more than decent. But considering the vocal caliber that the album is working with, almost any accompaniment can sound good. As a matter of fact, try to give a listen to Gino’s version of the once-overplayed “If” of one-hit wonder Nelson del Castillo. Another gem of songwriting is Jimmy Bondoc’s mega-hit “Let Me Be The One,” which also happens to be the album’s title. Despite the fact that everyone’s final memory of that poor song is the singer-songwriter’s constant howling like a constipated kitten through a 12-minute stretch of the song, credit to how well-written the song really is must be given to Bondoc, as evidenced by the this new clean rendition by Gino Padilla.

It’s also amusing to note that the majority of the songs Gino tackled were originally done by female singers. Further testament to his vocal range. Although some of the lyrics ended up being either too soft for a guy, or sometimes just downright odd and misplaced, as when he sang the Freestyle original “So Slow.” I mean, no self-respecting hetero-sexual guy will ask a woman to ease up and turn down a chance to do the nasty… c’mon…

The time for balladeers seems to be on a minor upswing lately, and it’s not only that a voice like Gino Padilla deserves to the recorded and heard again, but music lovers like me deserve to get more quality stuff such as this album, despite the obvious fact that the tracks are remakes. Am still on the look-out for a copy of Gino’s prior release, the Sharon Cuneta-produced “Hand of Time,” which I believe contains a few new originals.

The whole laid back groove of the album is okay, but doesn’t really fire one up. Nonetheless, if one enjoys good, clean singing, where the singer successfully connects with the listener on an emotional level, then this album deserves a spot on everyone’s player. For a few tidbits off the album, click on the video below…

Support [good] Filipino music! ‘catch you all later…

Eulogy for Jennifer: Goodbye to a Baby...

Everybody thinks their dog is special from the rest of the canine world.

And the thing is, they’re all correct.

And just like every well-loved dog, Jennifer was special to us from the rest of them. In fact, canine or what, Malou and i never really considered Jennifer and the rest of her cohorts as pets. But yes, clichéd as it may sound, they were our children.

She was born last September of 2001. The last child of their line, before Malou and i decided that it was time to neuter the males to stop them from turning our little home (a.k.a. 39 sq.m. apartment) into a veritable farm. A huge batch of poisonous Pedigree dog food later, the tragic passing of Soda, Joey, JM, Marge (yes, there was Marge the poodle, before Marge the baby), and Joni, it was now Jennifer’s turn to throw in the towel... with only their 12-year old father, Stolich to survive them...

"...That space in our hearts we saved for Margaret, [Jennifer] tried to fill in every way that she could..."

Jennifer was extra special to me, because she was the only one who was born after Malou and I were married. Thus, she was the one i came home to from the moment she saw the light of day, to that one wistful moment when i can only wish i can imagine her smiling at us one last time, thanking us for the love, and the life she lived with us. We referred to her as “Baby Jennifer,” because while all of them were our children, of them all she was our baby.

In those drifty years between declaring that our honeymoon was over, and the happy-weepy day that brought us Margaret, Jennifer was unabashedly the star among our 4-legged children. She knew it, acted it, and demanded of us and our time the way she knew she had a right to. A baby in practically every sense of the word. That space in our hearts we saved for Margaret, she tried to fill in every way that she could. We knew it, felt it, and somehow she knew that we knew.

* * * * * * *

One day, I had a lump in my throat since i woke up... The smell of Jennifer's breath and discharge, which were indicative of what truly bad shape what was left of her kidneys were in, were smelling sharper than ever... She had suddenly already started vomiting, and refused to eat... I knew it wasn't going to be much longer...

Malou and Marge brought Jennifer and the others to the Makati Dog & Cat Hospital hoping that grooming and some dental work might take some pain off her and get her eating again. But her body's breakdown was already accelerating at a pace we never saw before. When we went to visit Jennifer on the morning of Vergil's wedding, she had already pee-ed on herself, and her weakened jaw totally gave during tooth extraction.

She was in bad shape. A mere shadow of her once-beautiful and zest-filled self. And she made no qualms about showing us her discomfort. She didn’t even bother acknowledging our presence.

Seeing her broke Malou’s and my heart so bad...

And we made one of the most painful decisions we ever made together and gave Jennifer the gift of taking away her pain, ending her suffering, and setting her free while the memories of her beautiful life were still fresh enough to be among her final thoughts.

"...A decision like the one we just made for
someone we hold so dear is usually filled with
maybes..."

I did notice that when Dr. Binogon came in with the blue syringe, Jennifer held her head high in that proud, beautiful way she always did in her prime. As though wanting to walk into the coming darkness with her soul as proud and beautiful as it had been in life on the earth that we know.

Then she peacefully set her head down and closed her eyes one final time.

The day was January 20, 2010.

* * * * * * *

The thing about moments like these is that one is almost always left to imagine whatever it is the dog is feeling and/or thinking. We like to imagine that maybe they’re quietly saying goodbye. We choose to not consider thinking that maybe they were wordlessly begging for one last chance to see the sun and breathe the air. But there does come that time when we guess in our hearts that maybe there are ways they wouldn’t choose to live. A decision like the one we just made for someone we hold so dear is usually filled with maybes.

But we know we did the kindest thing she would have wanted. And there will never be a “maybe” for how much we will always love her.

Not too long ago, when one of Jennifer’s older siblings passed away also from complications of renal failure, i asked Malou through misty eyes futilely, pointlessly, heartbrokenly, almost stupidly... why they (our four-legged children) always went before we did...

And in her matter-of-fact way of wisdom, she replied: “...because if we went before they did, then no one would take care of them.”

Strangely undeniable and oddly comforting. Malou always had a knack for things like that. Still hurts though... and Jennifer will always be a testament to how someone so small could leave a void so big.

‘catch you later...

it's a good time for www.nomorelonelynights.com

Ugly women of the world rejoice!

China will save you from a lifetime of loneliness!

(...as long as you're willing to live with tea-stained teeth, once a week showers, and 24/7 snorting and spitting...)

Check out the link...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100111/hl_afp/chinapopulationmenmarriage

The world knows how China has always favored boys over girls, which probably explains the trafficking of little Chinese girls to childless couples from all over the world...  at least some families have chosen to dispose of the poor girls in the most humane way... but don't get me started on the forced abortions of other infant girls...

So based on the yahoo link above (whose photo i am also liberally borrowing), unless China starts importing 10 million girls, the chauvinistic Chinese elders behind the "kill-the-girls-movement" Mao Zedong probably started will only have themselves to blame if they find the mainland overrun with 10 million Chinese faggots who have tired of looking for pussy that they have resorted to sodomy.

i am strongly considering capitalizing on this by creating http://www.nomorelonelynights.com/ which will send ugly women to China when those poor lonely mainlanders pay me a fee...

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes (Too Elementary, My Dear Watson...)

Let me get a few important things out of the way first... Bob Downey is a demi-god.
There. Now that that’s been said... let’s move forward...

The wifey and i just came home from catching a screening of the former-Mr.Madonna-directed “Sherlock Holmes,” starring the aforementioned Robert Downey, Jr. as the title character backed up more than effectively by the very capable Jude Law as the loyal Dr. Watson.

"...Law comes in nice and steady through the movie, [and] exponentially adds to the dimension... [but] Downey just totally owns everything..."

I must confess that for all my pretension of being a neo-literati of some sort, i have never, ever laid my hands on a volume of Mr. Holmes’ exploits, whether by the great Arthur Conan Doyle, or anyone else for that matter. In fact, my introduction to the concept of Sherlock was the hapless Muppet “Sherlock Hemlock” in Jim Henson’s Muppet Show (or was it Sesame Street?). So for what it’s worth, i have almost nothing to base my assumptions on as to how supposedly loyal the characterizations are. I WAS, however, at least waiting for the supposedly classic “...elementary, my dear Watson...” which i didn’t get... i wasn’t surprised at not seeing the scenes where Downey repeatedly peered through a magnifying glass...

i’ll say this again... Downey is a demi-god... whew...

But while i seriously, honestly enjoyed watching the obvious chemistry between Downey and Law, i cannot say that i enjoyed “Sherlock.” Because while Jude Law, as good an actor as he is provides an excellently sardonic counterpoint to Downey’s nonchalant, swashbuckling genius... Downey, who has exhibited his chameleon-like talents in numerous movies such as “Chaplin,” to a lesser degree “Zodiac,” and my personal favourite, “Heart and Souls,” seems to have gotten lazy this time. Either that, or Director Guy Ritchie seems to think that since Downey’s “Iron Man” was such a joomungous hit that he might as well turn in an action movie starring Iron Man, and take out the armor to stop the guys at Marvel, whose sad asses have been bought by the sadder asses at Disney from suing his much, much sadder ass...

While Jude Law comes in nice and steady through the movie, exponentially adds to the dimension already delivered by Downey, and Rachel McAdams is fetching as ever, Downey just totally owns everything. Even the scenes where Downey is absent leave the viewer just wondering when he will turn up next.

Given the potentially cerebral nature of the central character, i was half-hoping for a more psycho-thriller piece. Instead, Mr.i-screwed-madonna-like-a-thousand-other-guys Ritchie delivers a slightly generic buddy-movie action flick, which fails to maximize the potential of its two leads. And i’m almost tempted to imagine Ritchie having snuck into David Shore’s office and stole a script for “House,” then reworked it by replacing Hugh Laurie with Downey, and Robert Sean Leonard with Law, then just threw in a few excerpts from rejected James Bond scripts... then, voila... “Sherlock Holmes!”

But i’ll say this again... Downey is a demi-god...

‘catch you later...

swat... swat...

Someone is trying to pry off the band-aid i laboriously slapped on... this has got to stop... good thing i haven’t tired of swatting the fingers off... but still...

Hope to NOT catch anyone later...

midweek weekend...

One of the things i like about a smaller, and arguably much more laid back town is that it can take as little as 5 minutes to grab a cab (when one is too lazy to drive) and chill out at the house for brief spell.
Throw in a camera, a stroll through the park on the way back to the store, and we're looking at around an hour of stolen weekend smack in the middle of Thursday...

'catch you later...

good morning, world... 010710

Not feeling particularly negative this morning. Quite positive, in fact... but i just felt like having Adam Lambert’s heart-wretchingly screeching disaster soundtrack “Time for Miracles” as my first song for the day, oddly followed by Acoustic Alchemy’s now-classic “Playing for Time” from the critically-acclaimed “Back on the Case.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUXuG8Q_I-I&feature=PlayList&p=B9EF886159136B26&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=90

Absolutely no connection in the fact that both songs have the word “time” in them... the above link is to a youtube post of a live performance in their Sta. Lucia concert, which i have on dvd. I’ll be honest in the fact i find Miles Gilderdale’s attempt at covering for percussionist Mario Argandoña’s vocal adlibs quite awkward... must be something unsettling about a balding Englishman singing falsetto...

Just got a message from the wifey that Marge is kind of spaced out with her cold... damn January weather... left photo shows her in the La Trinidad store "getting busy."

While i’m watching from a 5-hour ride away, Maverick is all systems go. Lost a small pitch, but working on the big ones we already won late last year... smells like a good year... 'hope i'm not speaking too soon... not stopping in looking for the gravy... can't wait to get back into the Maverick action... be back there in a few more days...

Hope Marge feels better later in the day...

‘catch you later...

welcome back...

Firstly, from the wifey, Marge and myself, a happy new year to all of you and welcome back to BROKEN RECORD.

The handful of you who actually visit this place from time to time will most likely be wondering where i went, what happened, and most importantly, why i shut BROKEN RECORD down for a while.

The reasons are much too sticky for me to thresh out. Just imagine a big plate of fresh, un-sauced spaghetti that was cooked with too little oil, and that got landed on by steamed rice, and this guy has been trying to pick out the rice grains, and untangle the pile without breaking the noodles...

THAT sticky...

Still picking... but getting there...

But yes, i saw the blue-skinned “AVATAR,” which incidentally might have been inspired by James Cameron’s weed-laced dream of sex-starved Smurfs that finally went through a steroid-loaded puberty... also caught Jim Carrey’s “CHRISTMAS CAROL” (on 3D!), and was suddenly struck with nostalgia for the old stop-motion Christmas movies they used to show on RPN Channel 9 (remember the one with the elf who wanted to be a dentist and said that the abominable snowman was only really mean because he had a toothache...?)... saw Roland Emmerich’s expectedly plotless “2010,” and actually enjoyed it because my life felt like it was on the brink of a disaster at that time... i also found myself both laughing and crying at the same time over the list of movie offerings at the Manila Film Festival.

My love for supporting local music also means i will be buying Gino Padilla’s (yes, he’s back) offering of OPM remakes (it’s still Gino Padilla), and Side A’s new disc (too bad they lost Joey Benin...), as well. Both on old-fashioned CD’s at the next opportunity i find myself in a record bar. More on these two much later...

For what it’s worth... i’m back...

And no, the roller coaster still hasn’t stopped running. I must admit to getting dizzy from time to time, but i’m holding on to the rails, and am far from throwing up, much less giving up. It slows down from time to time anyways...

Will also be starting a blog where i’ll toss all my poetic corniness and save the idiots who visit this one from the ants and cockroaches i’ll be sending up their pants and their spines, respectively. For your dose of chunky bittersweet molasses sprinkled with a truckload of rotten corn, please click on “greek verses the world” on the blogroll to the right...

'catch you later...!

Brian May on the Piped-In...

I'm back on board one of those buses-trying desperately to be an airplane... Brian May is howling in the background about how "too much love will kill you..." (how appropriate...), and i'm seated beside some dude who's sporting an amish beard that makes my sparse kung-fu goatee look like a case study on testosterone deficiency...

I'm on my way up days ahead of schedule to give someone some much-needed space... Thankfully, tonight's exit was relatively graceful... Have a good feeling this time-out will do good...

Will miss the wife’s hugs and Marge's giggles though...

On the upside, Maverick seems to be doing alright despite my zombiefied state of mind and the almost total eradication of my EQ level... The guys are pulling through for me... Great...
Now let's see if the late great George Harrison's right about getting one's mind set on something, then giving it plenty of precious time...

'catch you later...

Dante on Gloria Macapagal Arroyo...

Dante Alighieri can now officially give Nostredamus a run for his precognitive money.

I’ve just re-browsed through wikipedia’s entry on Dante’s Divine Comedy, and glossed over the various circles of hell he described. For the uneducated, they are as follows:

1. First Circle (Limbo) – where the Philippines is under Gloria’s administration.
2. Second Circle (Lust) – paging Nani Perez...
3. Third Circle (Gluttony) – Le Cirque, anyone...?
4. Fourth Circle (Avarice) – i don’t even know where to start with this one...
5. Fifth Circle (Wrath & Sloth) – there’s a long list of how Gloria handles her political opponents...
6. Sixth Circle (Heresy) – her every move is an act against all that is holy...
7. Seventh Circle (Violence) – ooh... Maguindanao on da nooz!!
8. Eighth Circle (Fraud) – ‘nuff said!!!
9. Ninth Circle (Treason) – in Gloria’s world, bullshit is spelled SONA.

Upon my recollection of some of the most interesting TV coverage and newspaper headlines, it would seem to suggest that Dante Alighieri had already predicted the existence of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as far back as the 13th century.


I know that at this point, shooting at Gloria is no longer a rare form of recreation for anyone with half a working brain and some spare time. Truth be told, i’ve actually gotten tired of writing about Gloria’s endless habit of shitting on everybody who lives in this country. Just the effort of trying to cover every dubious act, every blatant display of greed and corruption might take more than 7 dedicated days in a week...

But this latest one takes the cake.

Gloria’s puppies say that she will not sever her “friendly” ties with the Ampatuans. This, after so much buzz all over the place connecting the Ampatuans to the Maguindanao massacre. It is a not uncommon saying that one can “know someone by knowing who their friends are...”

So, let’s put two and two together and we will know (again) what Gloria is...

So despite the bludgeoning her administration and her reputation have taken of late, it seems that Gloria truly does not care for what Filipinos think of her. And while big money players can keep talking about how the economy supposedly seems to be looking up. There is no tangible evidence that the greater public is honestly living better lives. Quite the contrary, actually... So she can’t keep saying that her ends justify her awful means. So it just means that she just plain doesn’t care for us at all.

And she’s the president.

And we’re all in hell.

Let me live each day with you,
___________as though it were our last.
Bleeding from the pain
___________and lies of days that passed.

But bleeding with hope as well.
Hope against the tide,
___________that ebbs, that flows, that crashes
________through every dream that lives inside.

But let me love you one more day,
__________And yet one more after this.
And every day i live, i’ll live to beg,
For one more touch,
____________for one more kiss.

And where forever has never been
__________further away from here as now,
See me, hear me...
_______as over and over i repeat this vow...

I would plead, i would bleed
___________and I would give to you,
Everything that’s left of me,
___________all my life, and all i knew...

To wait and wake on that
_____one misty morning a forever away,
To live through what we had
_______Even for one more final day.

1108pm
11/27/09

image by xymonau (Dez Pain) sxc.hu

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE: COMDDAP Expo Manila 2009

23 years, and a long line of pretenders to the throne later, the one, the only, true major IT event in the country is back and bigger than ever!


On December 3 to 6, 2009... visit the SMX for MAXIMUM EXPOSURE: COMDDAP Manila Expo 2009.


Featuring some of the biggest names in IT, communications and technology, COMDDAP(Computer Manufacturers, Distributors, and Dealers Association of the Philippines) stages the most important ICT event in the country.


Get one-time only special deals and offers from brands and companies like AOC, Canon, Envision, Epson, Seagate, MSI, Western Digital, and many more! Avail of event-only discounts and bundles for branded hardware and licensed software.


Look into the blossoming of local brains and talent at the Open Pinoy Solutions (OPS) section, where COMDDAP opens doors and nurtures pure Pinjoy ingenuity... Can't choose between printer brands? Then come over and catch the all-new Printer Shootout, where various brands are pitted on equal ground to determine the best model for your specific needs... LCD and Projector Shootouts will see various brands toe to toe, and graded objectively by no less than you, IT-user!

...and to top it all off, daily raffles give you a chance to win a host of IT goodies on site.
There's no better deal than this!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=132183371773&ref=search&sid=592673211.1749790471..1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


COMDDAP EXPO MANILA 2009 will be the biggest one-stop shop ICT products and Services in the Philippines. The show is the 49th exhibition organized by the association. Last year. over 35 ICT companies showcased their wares and services to over 20,000 visitor/attendees. Onsite sales reached over 10 million pesos. Join the other ICT industry names as the put their best in the greatest ICT show in the metropolis

Maja is Back in the Limelight... in the wrong way...

The wife and i caught the last two seconds of the promotional trailer for my imaginary ex Maja Salvador’s supposedly “steamy” new prime time soap “Nagsimula sa Puso.”

And this exchange followed:

“Jasper, syota mo, ‘daring’ na...”

“hmm...”kkkkkkkkkkkkk

“handa ka na pakulong...”

“21 na kaya yan... legal...”

“gago, ako magpapakulong sa yo...”

* * * * * * * * * *

So the irresponsible gods-that-be at ABS-CBN have made my Maja Salvador a loaf of stale bread in their overloaded, underutilized talent stable. And after a few very minor roles, “she-who-was-once-perfect-even-without-a-cleavage” is now hopping around town promoting her new show while baring... a cleavage.

So the “tweetums” thing supposedly hasn’t been working for my Maja, but that only means the idiots at ABS don’t know how to do their jobs right? Like better writers, better marketing strategies, a notch of restraint from overusing only selected artists from their overflowing pool... the whole skin thing is a short-cut that Ms. Golangco 2.0 Ms. Salvador does not deserve considering her massive talent and beauty. No other “massive-nesses” are required for her to get the proper level of attention from her adoring, worshipping fans. It’s you guys in ABS that never gave her an honest shot with solid roles.

The only thing you guys are good at is getting rising talent nurtured by GMA, and turning their careers into the dairy equivalent of 5-year old yoghurt...

And please don’t get me started on the implants “other enhancements” Her Former Maja-ness may have been forced to do to her once-perfect self... if this is Her Maja-ness growing up, then no wonder i’d rather remain a retard...

Hmm... i smell coffee... time to wake up... this fantasy’s no longer worth it...

‘catch you later...

one day...

And one day, in that one darkest hour you’ve ever known,
When the world floats namelessly around you and alone,
A rabbit’s hole will come whispering to you in the shade,
“come in here, there is a home for you that we have made.”

You’d take a peek and wonder if perhaps at last,
This is the one last escape you need from the future and the past.
And through the walls, the echoes of the world linger on.
You would still hear the birds, but they’re ever gone...

And through the coldness you find yourself deep within,
You’d almost think that maybe this is after all one way to win.
For the tears have finally ended, and the screams so far away,
And the same voices whisper playfully all throughout the day...

But no, no... no, no, no... this is not the way it must be,
The sweet emptiness is comforting but must not consume me,
And while my arms flail against the velvet veil upon my eyes,
I would force the tears back out and howl to the skies.

I would chase the sun, and I would give up, only to keep trying,
And every fiber of me will no longer be weak, lost and dying.
Give me a speck of dust for each lonely brick I will build,
And give me rain to replant the trees on the meadow I’ve tilled.

And maybe that day will come soon, when all the doubt
That was ever felt will yield to the rain and be washed out.
Then life will be only be better with every lesson learned,
And we can run into the sun, knowing that forever has returned.


7:24pm
10/10/09

Movie Review: In My Life (Big Apple, Big Stars, Small Movie)

The choice came down to a movie that starred a comedienne used to be known for doing impressions of Vilma Santos, or, after a long while... Vilma Santos.

White-hot funny-girl Eugene Domingo top-bills “Kimmy & Dora.” The comedy is enjoying very good word of mouth, in addition to Eugene’s reputation and/or penchant for lighting up any movie scene she’s in. But we opted for the Vilma vehicle “In My Life.”

For one thing, the wife was partly curious about the inevitable travelogue-ishness of the movie, “In My Life,” which was set in New York. It didn’t hurt that it had “Ate Vi,” who has been absent from the silver screen for quite some time now, and my infant daughter’s crush, ABS-CBN cash cow John Lloyd Cruz. And in a bit of pseudo stunt-casting, we also get Luis (formerly known as “Lucky”) Manzano playing Ate Vi’s son, and resident gay love interest for John Lloyd. Yep, they’re a gay couple in the movie.

"...there’s grit and nails all over the scene whenever [Vilma is] there..."

So in the movie, Vilma is “Shirley Templo” (methinks the joke in the character name will be wasted on many of the audience), a separated lady being convinced to sell an old house officially bequeathed to her by her late father-in-law. Knowing this, she buys herself a plane ticket (on a librarian’s salary) to see her gay son in New York, and forces herself upon his life. The writers do their hardest to show that Luis, who plays Vilma’s son, Mark is the busiest man on their side of the planet. But for the most part, Mark (a.k.a. “Lucky”) just succeeds in looking constipated most of the time.

Speaking of constipated, Vilma Santos seems to have over-acted in this movie... there’s grit and nails all over the scene whenever she’s there. Even if grit and nails aren’t necessary for the supposed scene. The forced comedy of some parts were obviously... forced.

John Lloyd Cruz plays Noel, Mark’s hard-working, multiple-job-holding illegal immigrant (a.k.a. TNT), gay lover. Noel holds many jobs, from limo driver, to housekeeper, to Vilma’s nanny. All of which seems to indicate that he’s everyone’s favourite sucker (no gay pun intended).

Despite being her most constant companion, Shirley somehow still finds it in herself to think ill of Noel. The character of Noel, who is portrayed with such natural earnestness by Cruz, that one can’t help but think that Shirley is a schizo-case who should be thrown back to the third-world country where she belongs. We later find out that Mark is suffering from Stage 1 colon cancer. And Noel is such a sucker (again, no pun intended) that he does not tell Shirley of her son’s illness just because selfsame son told him not to.

Many unexpected things happen (yes, honestly unexpected), and the characters are put in the typical Pinoy movie mandatory situations where every sentence has been designed to be spoken with grit and tears even if it seems absolutely unnecessary.

There are many instances in the movie that require a suspension of disbelief. And one has to keep reminding one’s self that considering the absolutely royal pedigree of the lead cast, along with the location shot, surely Star Cinema will pull out all the stops to produce a very tight story. Something worthy of Ate Vi’s long-awaited visit to movie-making.

"...why do our movies make heroes of illegal immigrants, who are technically felons...?"

But no, the plot’s integrity is spongy at best. I’m guessing they didn’t find enough brand sponsors to pay for better writers...

Such as, why would a glamorous-looking intelligent Filipina woman who owns an American passport stick to a job as a librarian in what looks like a public school? How come such a well-read woman (a librarian!) suddenly switches off her brain and behaves like an uncultured idiot upon stepping on U.S. soil? How come she can’t keep a steady job? Does the movie indicate that the quality of Filipinos in our local academe is of such poor quality that one cannot even hold a simple job as a waitress in the U.S. of A? And why does Tirso (a.k.a. “Pip”) Cruz III, who made a cameo, look like an endorser for Botox, smiling like someone who let Hannibal Lecter have his brains for dessert?

... and why do our movies make heroes of illegal immigrants, who are technically felons in the U.S.? all the while improperly illustrating the sad “convenience marriage” practices of our countrymen in foreign soil.

These are questions begging to be answered... But probably not by die-hard “Vilmanians.”

Luis has his moments, but will benefit from acting classes. Ate Vi has nothing left to prove, but seems to think that over-acting can make up for weak points in the script... John Lloyd... was honestly excellent. What’s admirable about the guy as an actor is that he understands that being emotional in a movie doesn’t always mean you have to start screaming at your co-stars and turning on the waterworks. He has a great gift for emotional nuances, a concept which seems to be alien to many “artistas.” And such elements make his acting that much more realistic and impactful.

Considering that the local cineplexes have been lacking in major label local productions lately, “In My Life” (or even “Kimmy & Dora”) deserves a look. If only to support a local movie industry that is not only on life support, but probably even a zombie struggling out of a morgue.

And while the movie did not leave a lasting impression on me (and probably the wife), at least i did not feel totally robbed when we walked out of the cinema.

‘Catch you later... (and catch a local movie today...)

To reintroduce a classic Pinoy talent to the culturally stupid... Jun Polistico... Mr. Golden Voice

As a young, budding music lover, I was told by our nanny that back in the day, that every entertainer in the country had to have a tag that identified them with a foreign act.

For example:

VST & Co. = the Bee Gees /Earth Wind & Fire of the Philippines; the Boyfriends = also the Bee Gees; Jose Mari Chan = the Cliff Richard of the Philippines; (my favorite) Claire dela Fuente = the Karen Carpenter of the Philippines... the list goes on... Jun Polistico's supposed bit was that he was the Frank Sinatra /Johnny Mathis of the Philippines.

At that time, I didn't give a crap.

Then came 1992, and a remake of Sharon Cuneta's classic suicide anthem "Sana'y Walang Na'ng Wakas" was delivered on the airwaves by a male voice whose phrasing had a tinge of... Johnny Mathis... and totally owned the song.

After several years of typing his name on limewire and coming up with absolutely nothing, I have relented and have bought a compilation CD that Viva Records has just made available containing Jun Polistico's (a.k.a. Mr Golden Voice's) badass version of this Willy Cruz-penned wrist-slasher.

Ripped copy above with lousy compressed audio for anyone to enjoy.

'catch you later...

Popularity vs. Productivity: The Long Weekends of Doom

It’s amazing how it seems to take forever for congressmen, senators and the rest of the politicians to pass laws and pretend to address social issues in the country. But it seems so easy to declare one new unwarranted holiday after another.

In Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s desperate attempt at trying to zombie-fy her deader-than-a-door-knob popularity level, she has been declaring holidays left and right. Of course, that’s as long as there is a big potential bloc vote involved.

Early last night, i was just informed that there would be no work on Monday. And the sadness of it is that i only had until Wednesday in Manila for the week until i have to go up and do some store stuff. So in one fell swoop, Gloria just took away 33% of my Manila workweek. And for what?

Truth be told, I am a fan of the Iglesia ni Cristo. I love how organized they are, I love the architecture of the temples/churches and all, and I have nothing but respect for the guys who are keeping that thing going and going strong. But having said that, i do not think it is justified to declare Monday a holiday just because one of their leaders will be buried that day. Nothing against the late Eraño Manalo, but he isn’t even the founder.

What about the many meetings of many professionals who have things stacked up on Monday? What about the entire week’s schedule that have all been pushed back? What about make or break deals that could have been made this Monday?

What about employees who have no-work-no-pay deals? They lost another day of work on their paychecks.

The list goes on...

And all because Little Gloria Arroyo wants to desperately kiss some major Iglesia ass. Tsk tsk...
On September 21, we will be observing another new Holiday that Gloria created. That of the official end of Ramadan. Generally speaking, Muslims will feast on that day. And yes, so Gloria. But oh, we forget... she feasts everyday...

For now...

My condolences to all my Iglesia friends...

‘catch you later...

Letters to Prez Glow (#4): WHATTAMOM!!!

Dear Madam Gloria...

I am writing you to congratulate you regarding the results of the recent interview of your beloved son, Mikey Arroyo with Mareng Winnie Monsod and the politically proper Arnold “Igan” Clavio.

There is nothing more rewarding than a politician who has shown himself all naked and baring his very soul on national TV. It doesn’t matter whether or not it was his intention to be so transparent, or if he was just too dumb to even lie competently.

But I commend him for his patience and absolute restraint from going all Neanderthal on Mareng Winnie, who was having a field day with him and his pea-sized brain. You have taught him such, Madame President that I believe that he will grow up with a whole rolodex of revenge methods for political enemies just like you do.

Just like the way you took away Madame Corazon Aquino’s security detail. Totally classy.

You are truly a wonderful mom to Mikey. Imagine, having a son so stupid and still manage to give him a government post. You are truly spending a lot of money and pulling so many strings to do this. Bravo, mom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ_rC-wnqFI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q0JKzpjh_o&feature=related

Cheers and i hope enjoy the long weekend you have once again created...

Nagmamahal at nabibilib...

New-youtube-addict-because-of-mikey