May 2007

Flickr Updates
Mon, 14 May 2007 12:58:00 GMT

Last April 27, the Spindependence firedancing competition was held in Greenbelt 3, organized by Planet Zips, the leading community for zips firedancing.  My favorite performances were from friend Tsok, who did a cool upbeat performance using House music, and this girl who did an Enya interpretation.  They won third and second place, respectively.

I watched the event with photographer Project Manila where we saw other Flickr members covering the event.  After the competition, we moved to Xaymaca to meet other graphic designers for some beer and Brownman Revival.

Click here for more pictures.

My brother Doms graduated Computer Science from the University of the Philippines last April 21, while my brother Oliver will graduate in a few days from the UP College of Medicine.  My sister Angeli is now the only student, and (unfortunately) the only one from Ateneo.  Hehe!

I must admit I was a bit moved during Dominic’s college graduation in the UP theatre.  One reason was we both came from the same college, and the college valedictorian in their batch finished ECE, which was my undergraduate degree.  The videos and the speeches of the ceremony made me very nostalgic, and I’m proud to say I survived the most difficult department of the most difficult college in the university (naks).  It’s just weird that I didn’t feel this during my own graduation N years ago.  I was probably very excited then, which gave no room for nostalgic emotions.  Another reason was that Doms is not only my brother, but is also one of my closest friends and my current roommate.  We share the same circle of friends, and soon he’ll be working in my previous company, where good friend Shelley currently works.  Aside from being nostalgic, I also felt really proud that day.

Click here for more pictures of the graduation weekend.

 

Last May 5 was the opening of Santo-Santohan, Leeroy’s new solo exhibit at The Boston Gallery.  It was last year when college friends and I spent the holy week in Zambales, to visit Leeroy’s first major exhibit in Casa San Miguel.  The guy has gone a really long way, who just graduated cum laude in UP Fine Arts, major in Painting, though his forte is really in sculpture.

College friends Nana, Skeeter, and Peewee were there in the opening, and I invited college roommate Bob who came with Nei.  I also invited celebrity bloggers Ferdz and Rick, who also brought another blogger, Eky.  It was the first time that I met Ferdz and Eky, and the event somehow turned into an EB of bloggers.  Hehe.

Click here for more pictures of the exhibit opening.

 

During my last year in college, I shared an apartment with my brother and few friends, where we had a neighbor named Ramram, a very adorable and hyperactive 4 year old.  We would carry and swing him around, and he would scream as if he’s enjoying a fast rollercoaster ride.  Kids can really add a different glow to the most mundane of days.

Now, I’m lucky to live in an apartment surrounded by two cute babies.  Noel and Phoebe are cousins who live doors away from my current place.  Phoebe’s dad Timmy is one of my kainuman in the compound and source for House DVDs, while Noel’s dad Maxi is my source for updated Heroes episodes and will soon take me to one of his Airsoft tournaments.  My brother Doms, who’s a big fan of war movies (has seen Private Ryan a hundred times, and has DVD and VHS copies of the film) is planning to get into the hobby himself and will probably buy equipment soon with his first salary.

Noel and Phoebe are both two year olds who always brighten up the mood of the neighborhood.  I would get a regular kiss every time I leave for work, and there was one time when Noel cried because he wanted to come with me.  I wonder when I’ll be getting a baby for myself.  Hehe.

Click here for more pictures of Noel and Phoebe.

 

The clothing line of Pakners Rey and Skeeter had its launch last April 19 at the Habi Home, Serendra.  Pakshirt, the statement shirt brand that was successfully introduced in the last UP Fair, with the lines “Pakshirt” and “Pakshirt ka rin,” now offers new designs and hipper statements.  The country series is now available, which shows a flag of a country in front, and a funny statement at the back.

Sample statements are:  Tama ako, tama ikaw, pero MALAYSIA.  Para hindi makatakas si Bantay, ITALY.  Oh shit, oh God, OMAN.  Let’s just be FRANCE.  Etc.  Do visit Serendra and check out Pakshirt.

Click here for more pictures of the Pakshirt Launch.

 

I spent the recent Labor Day long weekend in Baguio City alone.  I worked and lived in this city for more than a year, and having a nostalgic trip alone was the perfect way to spend the weekend.  Former officemate Benedick offered his entire basement, which has a different entrance from his house.  I met his wife Judy and baby Clive (yep, from Clive Owen) for the first time, and we got to trade gigabytes of music and videos during my stay.  When I was still working for Texas Instruments, Benedick and I were the ultimate source of mp3s in the entire company.

I also got to meet Kenny, one of the very few remaining product engineers in our batch, since most of us already moved out of the company and are now based in Singapore.  I also met up with Juvy, the wife of Paolo, one of those who are now in Singapore, and got to see their baby boy Nico for the first time.  I also had a long night catching up with Sunshine, one of my closest friends in Baguio, who is a very talented acoustic singer in the city.

To complete my Baguio trip, I had breakfast in Café by the Ruins, visited my favorite Starbucks branch in Camp John Hay, had a Don Henrico’s meal (the first Don Hen is in Baguio), and took a walk in Session Road, which I used to do at the end of a long day when I was still living in the cold mountain.  I just miss and love everything about Baguio.

Click here for more pictures of my Baguio trip.

 

I had a mini reunion with laboratory mates from the university last May 7.  Ramil, who’s in his yearly visit in the country, treated Shelley, Reghz, and me for dinner at Teriyaki Boy Katipunan.  Later we moved to Bed Room Eastwood where we had some strong cocktails, and reminisced the good old college days.  Nerd as this may sound, half the time we were talking about signal processing, electronics, and the technicalities of photography.  The four of us are alumni of the EEE Department, and were all student affiliates of the UP Digital Signal Processing laboratory.  It really felt cool to be surrounded by great minds again!  Hehe.

Reghz and Ramil are working in the same software company, while Shelley and I used to work for the same IT company, before I moved to my current work.  I didn’t bring my camera that night, which was okay since it would look inferior compared to Shelley’s new IS camera and Ramil’s DSLR.  Hehe.  Ramil and Shelley posted some pictures in their Flickr accounts, though Ramil posted them in private mode.

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Blog-city announced that they will no longer offer free hosting by the end of the year.  If I can’t afford to pay for this blog, my Flickr account will probably be the only website that I’ll be maintaining.  I just don’t think I will have the energy to make a new blog and do the tedious work of transferring all my entries.  I’m still hoping blog-city soon changes its mind though, or someone sponsors me 45$ per year so I can keep this blog.  Anyone?  Hehe.
 
Four babies was mentioned, and the word nostalgic was used four times in this blog entry.  Good day everyone!

April 2007

Caliraya Lake
Mon, 02 Apr 2007 03:29:00 GMT

I had a quick summer starter with friends Jerry, Abi, Shelwin, and Van, at a surf camp in Caliraya Lake over the weekend.  I was hesitant of joining the gang at first because of many reasons: I failed to pick-up my sleeping bag from Metropole; I just got sick a few days earlier; I have an upcoming Camarines outing for the holy week; etc.  Good thing I still decided to go, and had one of the most exciting and at the same time most relaxing weekends in recent memory.

Most of the time was spent on frisbee, with tips and new techniques from pro-player Jerry, fresh from bagging major awards in the last frisbee tournament in Metro Manila.  Throwing and catching disc could be really addicting, and nothing gave a more outdoor feel than playing in an open field, with kite-surfers and windsurfers in the background.

A small part in the afternoon was spent trying out windsurfing, which was a really difficult activity.  A heavy sail and strong winds would require so much arm power and leg balance, that a few inches worth of water travel would already bring me to loud happy cheering.  With the natural high the wind and the speed were giving, I’m guessing soon, maybe I could pursue this hobby.

Grilling of food was so much easier since helpers and equipment were readily available, and a sari-sari store was nearby in case we’d run out of beer.  Our instant inihaw menu included tilapia, tomatoes, and liempo, which was just perfect for the atmosphere.  And while the metro was suffering the summer heat at night, we were enjoying the cold fresh breeze of the lake, with a bright moon to complement.  By sunrise I forced myself to wake up, hoping to get good pictures, but unfortunately the area was not a good site for both sunrise and sunset.

Only those doing water sports were familiar with the campsite, that’s why the area was never crowded, and meeting everyone in a friendly place with such few people was expected.  The most interesting were Verge, Van’s windsurfing trainer and equipment owner (Van’s windsurfing was the reason why the trip was organized in the first place), and Jay, the kite-surfer who later joined us in frisbee.  Hobbyists in the area were either successful doctors (in their 50’s or 60’s) or businessmen (those who actually own their businesses), which was just a valid observation, since hobbies with real expensive equipment could only be done by filthy rich professionals.  Since I already turned down the UP Intarmed program 9 years ago, that means my only chance of pursuing hobbies like windsurfing would be the latter.  But for now, my new cheap hobby of frisbee is enough.

By Sunday afternoon, Metropole already delivered my sleeping bag, and I was finishing a book, trying to ignore some sunburn pains on my back.

Click here for more pictures.

Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur
Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:36:00 GMT

click here for more caramoan pictures

I spent the long weekend in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, a peninsula rich of clear waters, long stretches of white beaches, and lots of great islands which we explored for three days (4th day was spent in Naga, killing time in their spa and coffee shops).  I would love to write about my great vacation and brag about my dark tan (hahaha!), but there are just too many pictures to upload in my flickr account (including pics from my friends’ cameras), and of course relatively a lot of work to catch up with after the long break, not giving me time to write and organize my thoughts about the trip.

Anyhow, check my flickr site for more pictures in bigger sizes, that is, after I get to upload all of them.  Hehe.  Have a good day everyone!!
 

Grindhouse – this year’s Kill Bill and Sin City
Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:34:00 GMT

For 2007, only two movies entered the Top 250 Movies of All Time in IMDB so far.  First is the visual orgasm that was 300, and next is Grindhouse, the new collaboration of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez.  Their last joint work was the recreation of Frank Miller’s Sin City, where Tarantino directed only a specific sequence, while Rodriguez directed the rest of the film.  This time, the brilliant duo made a two-in-one thriller, which is also a tribute to the B-movie slasher genre, as can be easily seen in the movie posters.  The two movies have fake trailers in between, just to further recreate the feel of two different movies shown in one cinema (which by the way is still the setup of cinemas in my home city, where the second film is called the “double”).

TV stars on big screen: Federico of Six Feet Under and Sayid of Lost

Kurt Russell as the crazy driver and serial killer

The first feature is Planet Terror by Robert Rodriguez, an action film about zombies breaking loose in a planet similar to earth, whose cast is led by Rose McGowan.  Planet Terror also stars Bruce Willis, and actors from two popular television series, Freddy Rodriguez of Six Feet Under and Naveen Andrews of Lost.  Quentin Tarantino’s share is Death Proof, which stars Kurt Russell as a stuntman who kills young women on the road.  The film also stars Rosario Dawson and Eli Roth, the director of the famous B-movie series Hostel (produced by Tarantino).  Robert Rodriguez is the only film director with two trilogies in his credentials – Desperado and, er, Spy Kids – while Tarantino is famous for noir cult films, such as Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and the Season 5 finale episode of CSI, where George Eads was burried alive.

With the creative concept of Grindhouse, the plotlines, the promised gore, and of course the directors, I’ll be the first one lining up when this one starts showing in local cinemas.
  

January 2007

Last Hurrah of 2006
Thu, 04 Jan 2007 07:52:00 GMT<!–DATA[

Whitewater rafting.  A mixed group of my college and high school friends including my siblings went rafting along the rivers of Cagayan de Oro (bordering Bukidnon) the day after Christmas.  More than four hot hours was spent on 14 wild rapids, snake watching, cave trekking, floating in cave waters, and the “ceremonial” cliff jumping in the end.  View more rafting pictures here.

  

Three waterfalls.  Every holidays I go home to Iligan, known in this country as the City of Waterfalls, but it was still in high school when I last visited the waterfalls of the area.  Good thing my College friend Dianne spent a few days in Iligan; we were able to spend a day touring three major waterfalls with other friends.  We visited the historical Maria Cristina Falls, which was only showing half of the entire waterfalls.  The whole waterfalls can only be seen during weekends at specific hours of the day.  We had lunch on a huge rock near Mimbalot Falls, finishing the city’s famous lechon.  Then we went down the very long and tiring flight of stairs to Tinago Falls, swam in the deep blue waters, entered the cave behind the falls, and climbed the same flight of stairs, draining a day’s worth of energy.  Good thing Novy’s grandfather owns a beach resort; we had our dinner and few rounds of beer during sundown.

Mount Agad-agad. It was the idea of high school and college buddy Ronald to climb the highest peak of Iligan, which was one thing I wanted to do since my first and last climb in Mt. Agad-agad was also in high school. I thought it would be easier the second time, but the rain in the previous day caused the climbing part to be difficult because of the slippery trail. The hiking and climbing lasted for less than two hours, and it’s surprising that they already have a mini-park at the peak. After the climb we went for a swim in the spring pools of Timoga, perfect for our stressed muscles.

Aquamarine Park. My family also visited our lola in Ozamiz City, and had lunch in the recently developed Aquamarine Park in Misamis Occidental, just a couple of towns away from Ozamiz. The food was not extraordinary, but the place was very relaxing. Strong winds and clear blue sea. We weren’t able to visit the Dolphin Island because we all wanted to return to Iligan at the end of the day. There’s just too many movies and House episodes to catch up; spending a night away from home was not an option. Hehe.

That was my vacation, plus the badminton games with my family and with high school friends, the usual inuman and catching up with high school (and even elementary!) friends, and a few family gatherings.  More pics to be uploaded in my flickr site.

Now, it’s back to Manila, and back to the real world. Have a great and happy year ahead!!

  
Another iPhone entry
Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:56:00 GMT

It’s already been over a week since Steve Jobs made his keynote and introduced the new Apple iPhone, but technophiles can’t seem to get enough of the unreleased gadget, making news, blog entries, and reviews every day.  Like most iPod fanatics, I was impressed with the product, but given that it doesn’t have 3G capabilities, I’d rather find a decent 3G phone and keep using my 30gig iPod.  I even think that if Palm Treo releases a 3G version, it would be the perfect phone, IMHO.  But then, it’s really too early to judge, when in fact only New York Times had the chance to actually hold the prototype (for barely an hour), while the rest of the world was only basing sentiments on written specs and other reviews, which are also based on, well, written specs.

Before the actual design of the iPhone was unveiled, this is how the iPhone looks like in the minds of fashion designers, Apple engineers, and iPod enthusiasts.

   
Concept iPhones: taken from the Apple Lounge website

Now a little digression.  After a minor hangover from Peewee’s despidida for her one month vacation in India, I just stayed in bed Saturday morning after a quick fix of hotdog and cheese omelet (I like putting cheese in almost all food I prepare especially omelet, hehe).  And after boringly organizing computer files, I was able to check the most played tracks in my iPod and Winamp.  (I still prefer Winamp over iTunes when using the computer).  Here’s how the summary looks:

1. Delicate – Damien Rice
2. 41 – Dave Matthews Band
3. Sexy Love – Ne-yo
4. Always on you side – Sheryl Crow and Sting
5. Here I Am (Kaskade Remix) – David Morales
6. High and Dry – Jamie Cullum
7. How To Save A Life – The Fray
8. Too Little Too Late – Jojo
9. Don’t Panic – Coldplay
10. Irreplaceable – Beyonce
11. Steppin’ Out – Kaskade
12. New York City – Norah Jones and Peter Malick
13. Home – Michael Bublé
14. Love On The Run – Chicane
15. I’m Not Missing You – Stacie Orrico
16. Slow Dancing In A Burning Room – John Mayer
17. No Ordinary Morning – Chicane
18. Because The Night – 10,000 Maniacs
19. The Beautiful Ones – Mariah Carey
20. Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
21. Pink Martini – Stephané Pompougnac
22. Oo – Up Dharma Down
23. Put Your Records On – Corinne Bailey Rae
24. La Vie En Rose – Louis Armstrong
25. Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson

Classic favorites like Damien Rice, Dave Matthews, and Coldplay always seem to make their way to my ears, but I must admit current faves like Too Little Too Late and Irreplaceable are a bit overplayed recently.  Kaskade and Chicane made their way because when I’m in a party mood, I listen to House music, ergo, I listen to them every day.  And lastly, the tearjerker Always on your Side, the theme of my 2006, must be very overplayed last year.  Thankfully though, I think I already left that song (and year) behind.  And since I got a copy of Norah Jones’s new album Not Too Late, I’m guessing some tracks in the album will be in that list soon.  As a matter of fact I’m already beginning to like Wake Me Up and The Sun Doesn’t Like You.

Howell, I just don’t think my passion for music (and gadgets) will ever die.  Hehe.  A great week ahead!
  
2007 Australian Open
Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:52:00 GMT
 

 

Serena Williams and Marat Safin were my initial bets for this year’s Aussie Open – both champs in 2005, both unseeded in 2007.  Marat succeeded in reaching 3rd round, but lost to America’s comeback kid Andy Roddick.  Serena on the other hand was on a lucky streak, not having to meet Svetlana Kuznetsova and defending champion Amelie Mauresmo, almost securing her slot in the semis since both women in her half of the draws made early upsets.  She beat top seeds Nadia Petrova, Jelena Jankovic, and Nicole Vaidisova, and met up with Maria Sharapova in the finals Saturday.  It was their second final match since Wimbledon 2004, and just the same, it was a noisy game since both players are loud court groaners.  But unlike the Wimby, Serena won this time.

Nothing much has changed in men’s tennis after the exit of the greatest Andre Agassi.  Federer is still unbeatable, and broke Roddick’s hopes in a lopsided semis match, with Andy scoring zero in the 2nd set, losing to straight sets.  In fact it personally didn’t matter who would win in the other semis, since both Haas and Gonzalez are Open final virgins, and I’m 99% sure Fed could break any virgin’s dreams.  Federer seems stronger than ever, not losing to a single set in the entire tourney.  Roger got his 3rd Aussie Open title, and 10th grand slam title.
 

December 2006

December Updates
Thu, 14 Dec 2006 02:20:00 GMT
 

 
 

When I brought my mom and sister during the opening night of A Walk Back In Time in Intramuros last month, I told myself I should watch the semi-interactive theatre performance again, and definitely bring my camera.  Last Friday several college friends and I were able to experience yet another crash course on Philippine History in the perspective of Manila (specifically Intramuros), and as always Tanghalang Pilipino never fails to amaze audience with great production and world class talent.  Friend Skyzx was perfect as Sisa (who actually had fans around her after the play!), who later transformed into Inang Bayan during the closing sequence.  It’s always interesting to know that this country is so rich in culture and talent, but then disheartening that not everyone has the access, or is interested in the first place.  I believe A Walk Back In Time still has one or two more weekend runs in Intramuros, and it’s highly recommended to all (including non Filipinos).  And it’s shown for free!  (Next year I plan to catch their rerun of the very funny Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Musical, and the theatre version of Sionil Jose’s The Pretenders)

 

Last week I was able to catch the gig of brilliant friend Johnoy, the Dave Matthews of the country, in Fresca Bar (which during our long gone college days was still known as Tapika Bar).  It’s always great reminiscing to good old times with the music of Oasis, Hootie and the Blowfish, Goo Goo Dolls, Dave Matthews Band (of course!), and the more recent ones from Coldplay and Jeff Buckley.  Plugging: Catch Johnoy and some of the talented artists in the Pinoy rock scene in the once in a blue moon Beatles Night on December 18 in 70s Bistro.  It’s a night every audiophile in the metro shouldn’t miss.

 
 

Last Tuesday Hewlett-Packard had its Carnival-themed company Christmas party in Le Pavillon.  The hall was filled with booths of dirty ice cream, buffet food, and Nachos, all for free; and of course there’s the overflowing faucets of beer in one corner.  (French practice: Nous allons au Pavillon a Mardi, et nous maungons la glace et Nachos.  Haha!)  Some of my teammates and I chose to avoid the crowd and the expected long program and stayed in the lobby, where we got to enjoy our booze and smoke.  I wasn’t really planning on attending the party because it was a weeknight, but then the major prizes in the Christmas raffle really caught my attention (plasma TV, 80gig ipod, etc).  Sadly I didn’t get to bring home any of the major prizes, and instead got myself a new non-stick frying pan.  Not bad, hehe.

 

Last night I had my Christmas dinner with my circle from my previous company in Sherbee’s new Ortigas condo.  It’s always fun hanging out with great friends, and I’m glad we still keep in touch even after I left my old company.  And for our kris kringle, another item is scratched off in my Christmas wish list: a new pair of swimming goggles!  Thanks Julie!  (I got Abi the new Incubus CD and a spa gift certificate)

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Next week I’ll be flying home with my sister for the holidays.  I’m planning to visit my father’s hometown alone in South Cotabato, which sadly may not push through since my Titas think I may not be able to return to Iligan for Christmas on time; they say bus rides could be really terrible.  Tsk.  I’m still hoping I can go though, since I miss my Aunt Shirley so much, and I’ve never traveled to my father’s place by myself.After Christmas, I’m going whiteriver rafting with high school friends in Cagayan de Oro!  I’m so excited for this, especially that my college friend and dormate Dianne will join us (all the way from Baguio!), and will stay with my family for a few days before the New Year.  The itinerary of her first visit to Iligan City includes visit to the famous waterfalls and spring pools, and I just love touring people in my home city.  I can’t wait!It’s just few days before Christmas.  Happy Holidays everyone!!
   
     
      
Best Music of 2006

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:59:00 GMT

In 2004 I made a list of my favorite albums and singles of the year and for 2005 I made a quick list of my favorite albums.  This year, there are six albums that became personal favorites.  If you haven’t bought gifts for friends or for yourselves this Christmas, I highly recommend any of these.

Continuum by John Mayer
A definite first in the list is John Mayer’s new studio album since 2003’s Heavier Things.  Many may argue that Mayer’s first album Room For Squares is still his best work, but I personally think Continuum is just as great, or even better.  Room For Squares was the perfect shower companion which makes me sing my lungs out line after line of any track on the album; Continuum on the other hand is a less sing-able and more mature and personal take on Mayer’s music, and much more endearing.  Of course we still hear the signature upbeat sound of his guitars, but the theme is the selling point of the record.  Mayer sings “when you’re dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part”, which could probably be the saddest line in the history of breakup songs.  Continuum is also my bet for Album of the Year in the Grammy’s this year.  Favorites in the album are Heart of Life, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, Waiting on the World to Change, In Repair, and I Don’t Trust Myself (In Loving You).  Catch the two part season 7 opening of CSI Vegas, where John Mayer guested as himself and performed two tracks from the album.  (Digression: because of too many good TV shows right now – with Gregory House leading the pack – I wasn’t able to catch up with CSI and forgot how great the show is.  It definitely still is noir TV at its finest.  Thank you Shelley for the updated episodes!)

Chariot by Gavin DeGraw
This album was actually released more than a year ago, but I only got to hear the entire album this year, thanks to my college editor Egai.  This album is like Continuum but in Prozac, no wonder Bo Bice and Elliot Yamin used one of his songs in American Idol.  (Another TV related digression: I think 2006 is the worst year for Idol.  When I was expecting a Chris-Elliot finale, we were given a trying hard pretty face and a dancing old guy, hehe!)  This album is definitely going down in the history of alternative music.  Favorite tracks in the album are Belief, Overrated, Meaning, Just Friends, Nice To Meet You, and More Than Anyone.  Last year Degraw performed with John Mayer in a charity concert, with Andre Agassi as a major supporter and guest.  Man, that charity show would have been perfect for me!

Fragmented by Up Dharma Down
The first of two OPM artists in this list is Up Dharma Down.  The NU Rock awards Best New Artist is one unique act, whose sound is a creative mix of funky jazz and soulful alternative.  Around midyear I was so into their music, that I watched one of their intimate gigs and watched them perform in the MTV Pilipinas Awards, not to mention that both were during weeknights.  Favorite tracks are June, Pag-agos, Layag, and Oo.

The Powder Room Stories by Skarlet
Who would’ve thought that the reincarnate of Ella Fitzgerald is a Filipina?  Formerly the vocalist of the ska band Put3ska, and the reggae band Brownbeat All Stars, Skarlet is one hell of a terrific artist, whose talent really belongs to the jazz genre.  Her first solo record The Powder Room Stories is a perfect album of Big Band and vocal jazz.  Forget those Bossa artists who keep popping everywhere, this is what real vocal jazz is all about.  The opening track alone can transport you to the set of the Chicago musical, and her rendition of One Way Ticket to the Blues is one of the best I’ve heard.  Notable tracks are Anguish, a ballad she wrote for the guitarist of Color It Red after his 10 year old daughter succumbed to cancer, and Babae Ka, the only Tagalog song in the album.  Favorites are the upbeat Birdy Bop and Call Me, which on a first impression gave a Diana Krall feel.  Official release of Skarlet’s album will be on February 2007.

Corinne Bailey Rae by Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne is nominated for three of the four major Grammy Awards for this year, and I’m really hoping she’ll get the Best New Artist trophy.  Even the great John Mayer is a big fan, and writes about Rae in his blog.  Corinne’s first album is one masterpiece of relaxing soul music.  Favorites are Trouble Sleeping, Put Your Records On, Like A Star, and Call Me When You Get This.

In My Own Words by Ne-yo
I’ve never loved an entire RnB album since TLC’s Crazysexycool, and Ne-yo’s freshman work is definitely the bomb of 2006.  (Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake would be runners up in the bomb category this year.)  Modern rhythm and blues may always be associated with shallow lyrics, and this one is no exception, but it’s the sound that makes RnB what it is.  Danceable beat, hip mood, and funky melody.  In My Own Words is a prime example in that heap, and a big winner at that.  Favorites are Sexy Love, It Just Ain’t Right, and Get Down Like That.

See the 2006 Grammy Nominees here.

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Personally, 2006 was a great year for pop culture, travel, and career.  The general “theme” of my year may that be of nursing a broken heart, but the rollercoaster ride of emotions could just be worth it.  Initially, I forcibly enjoyed music, movies, theatre, and TV this year.  I climbed the peak of Mount Pulag, partied in the beaches of Galera and Boracay, and discovered different islands in Zambales, Batangas, and the Visayas, partially thinking that all these travels will speed up the healing time.  I moved to a new company, which by far is the best company I’ve worked for.  In the end, I realized I still genuinely enjoyed the year, despite the said “theme”.  2006 was a blast, and I can’t wait to conquer 2007.I’m now home in Iligan City for the holidays.  If in Manila I barely have time to watch all the movies I want to watch, meet all the friends I want to meet, or finish all the things at work, my life here is an exact contrast.  I have all the time in the world, and I even have to look for things to do.  Almost everything is also prepared for – a clean house, delicious meals, and laundry I need not pay.  I know this is normal to many people, but not to someone who’s been away from home since college.  This afternoon I played badminton with my dad, brother, and sister, in the gym of my dad’s company and after the game we were enjoying native chicken Tinola at home, which during the morning was still a live chicken that our maid bought.  Earlier at lunch we had fish, shells, and Bulalo.  If there’s one thing I always miss in Iligan, it’s the food, since everything is fresh, and there’s seafood everywhere.  Good thing I still have more than a week to enjoy all these, along with a Sedaris book to finish (this guy is hilarious!) and as always a bunch of DVDs to watch (saw the Japanese film Battle Royale last night – great and gory!).

Hoping everyone is enjoying their holidays as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
  

October 2006

Sepoc Island and Eagle Point Resort, Batangas
Wed, 25 Oct 2006 05:47:00 GMT

 
 

more pictures here

2006 Offsite, October 20-21
Hewlett-Packard Philippines
Applications Development and Solutions Integration
 
  
Buko ni Shelley

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 02:58:00 GMT

buko break with missyosigirl after a photography session in baywalk
taken April this year

September 2006

Oh, Sandra Oh
Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:59:00 GMT

In the world of acting, seldom does it happen when both the character and the actress are deeply admired. And Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang is just that, and definitely one of the hottest thing on TV today (at least for me, I’m still in the middle of Season 2, postponing the series after being blown away by Gregory House and Prison Break).

Without Yang, Grey’s Anatomy would seem like Melrose Place in scrubs. Don’t get me wrong, I think the show is actually good – multidimensional characters, well made script, and excellent drama. The soliloquies of Meredith Grey may border between cliché and profound, but the writers simply pull it off episode after episode. (Of course, nothing beats the depth of the narration of the alien mini-series Taken)

If there’s one thing I like least about the series, it’s when Dr. Grey’s character turns mushy and squeamish, and reminds me of the feeble Susan Myers of Desperate Housewives. Good thing Cristina Yang is there to save the day, ergo, to save the show.

Her sarcasm brings the series to a totally different dimension. Brutal yet witty remarks, and all out sincere humour. Now I understand why my favorite characters are the sarcastic ones: think of Chandler Bing (FRIENDS), Miranda Hobbes (Sex and the City), Claire Fisher (Six Feet Under), Daria (Daria), Jessica Zafra (real life), and my newly discovered king of sarcasm, Gregory House (House MD). They simply add intellect to the drama or humor, and give the show a great sense of unpredictability. Oh, Sarcasm Oh.

CRISTINA: Oh, it’s like candy, but with blood, which is so much better

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Quickies:

• Kubrador was one powerful film, but more than anything it was a political and social statement. A film full of creative symbolisms, it’s definitely one of Jetturian’s greatest works, along with the infamous Tuhog.
   
• US Open is now in its semifinals. Agassi ended his historical run with a teary 3rd round exit; Nadal had the biggest upset, just when fans thought the 2006 saga that was the Nadal-Federer rivalry will continue in New York; and the grand slam was a season of strong comebacks – Safin, Serena, Hewitt, and the most anticipated Andy Roddick.
   
• Tomorrow will be my final exam for my French class. I can’t wait to finish this and move on to the next level. Even if it means adjustment in the budget because of the tuition, this language is simply worth it. J’aime la langue de francois. As they say, c’est la vie!

Happy weekend everyone!
  
  
Last Quarter Movie Preview
Tue, 19 Sep 2006 08:34:00 GMT

I have to say that the recent summer season for movies was disappointing.  I can’t pick a single favorite, compared to last year when we were loaded with lots of great goodies, with Batman Begins and Sin City leading the pack.  Good thing the last quarter of this year promises exciting new films.  Note that every year, almost all of the Oscar hopefuls are released during this period.

Here’s a list of 20 upcoming films to be released commercially in the last quarter of 2006:

The Departed (director Martin Scorsese, Leonardo de Caprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson).  It’s good to know that the Metro Manila screening for The Departed opens simultaneously with North America.  I’m excited to see this film primarily because of three reasons.  One, Jack Nicholson is being handled by Scorsese for the first time.  Two, this is the first Scorsese film adapted from an Asian film (Infernal Affairs).  And three, Scorsese hasn’t got any Oscar despite dozens of really great films (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Aviator, and my fave Scorsese film Goodfellas), and I’m hoping this one could be it (though critics are saying the chances are really slim).

The Queen (director Stephen Frears, Helen Mirren).  After the best actress win in the Venice Film Festival, critics are saying that Ms. Mirren is very eligible for the Academy Best Actress this year for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II.  It’s also fascinating to know that early this year, the same actress portrayed Queen Elizabeth I in a television mini-series.  And since Stephen Frears made one of my all time favorite films (High Fidelity), this one should be a spectacle.

Sunshine (director Danny Boyle, Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans).  Cillian Murphy stars in a futuristic tale about astronauts sent to space to re-ignite a dying sun.  Sunshine is the new sci-fi movie from suspense filmmaker Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, The Beach).

Flags of our Fathers (director Clint Eastwood, Ryan Phillippe).  From outer space (Space Cowboys) to the boxing ring (Million Dollar Baby), the drama films of Clint Eastwood practically take place anywhere.  This time, it’s the World War II.  Let’s see how versatile this director can be, and if he can bring the Western style in the front line.

The Prestige (director Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, Michael Cane).  I’d have to say Chris Nolan is the most promising among this generation’s rising directors.  Memento is one of my all time favorites, and last year’s Batman Begins was undoubtedly the most celebrated film of the franchise.  Bale and Jackman star as magicians whose rivalry turned into serious murders.  Nolan must’ve enjoyed working with Caine and Bale since they were casted in The Prestige and the upcoming Batman sequel.  As imdb wrote for The Prestige, “it feels kind of like Wolverine dropped in to visit Batman.”

Marie Antoinette (director Sofia Copola, Kirsten Dunst).  An acquaintance once told me that every time Sofia Copola makes a film, the film becomes her.  It’s as if the film is celebrated solely because it’s from Sofia.  I haven’t seen The Virgin Suicides (though I bought the book), but I truly enjoyed Lost In Translation.  I just loved the portrayal of midlife crisis in the film, and the main characters’ dead air was just utterly convincing.  And now, with a figure such as Marie Antionette, I don’t think this film could be any Sofia at all.  Kirsten Dunst plays the famous queen of France.

Babel (director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal).  I’m guessing Babel is no different from Inarritu’s previous works, 21 Grams and Amorres Perros, where three different stories are connected by a single accident.  I love the tragedy, the drama, and the raw treatment in both films, and I’m expecting a lot from Babel, especially that Cate Blanchett is in it.

Volver (director Pedro Almodovar, Penelope Cruz).  Already shown in the Cannes Film Festival, this is Almodovar’s follow up to his engaging and pulled-off yet narcissistic Bad Education.  After seeing his great works All About My Mother and Talk To Her, expect another quasi-political feministic movie.

A Good Year (director Ridley Scott, Russel Crowe).  Ridley Scott may be popular because of his huge films (Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven, Black Hawk Down), but he’s also an effective storyteller of human drama (Matchstick Men, Hannibal).  After the award winning Gladiator, Ridley Scott joins forces once again with the talented Russell Crowe.  Crowe stars as an Englishman who inherits a vineyard from his uncle, only to realize that the daughter of his uncle returned from nowhere.

Casino Royale (director Martin Campbell, Daniel Craig, Judie Dench).  I can’t wait to watch this film after the controversial casting of Daniel Craig as the new 007 agent, and especially after the worst James Bond film ever, Die Another Day.  I have always been a fan of James Bond, but Die Another Die just destroyed the franchise.

The Fountain (director Darren Aronofsky, Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz).  A time traveling movie about a brave man’s quest for saving the woman he loves, The Fountain is Aronofsky’s film after the really captivating Requiem for a Dream.  Expect another poignant drama, and like Requiem, hopefully this one also gets a really powerful musical score.

Déjà Vu (director Tony Scott, Denzel Washington, Jim Caviezel).  Brothers Ridley and Tony each have a film this season.  Between the brothers, Ridley may be the more profound filmmaker, but definitely Tony is the cooler one.  After the successful Man on Fire, Denzel Washington and Tony Scott team up once again in a time bending thriller.

Bug (director William Friedkin, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr.).  William Friedkin has always been famous for films that involve mind games (The Exorcist, Rules of Engagement, The Hunted).  Bug is a psychological movie about a war veteran and a lady in hiding, set inside an isolated motel room.

The Nativity Story (Keisha Castle Hughes).  If Passion of the Christ is to Lent, then The Nativity Story is to Advent.  Featuring the youngest Oscar Best Actress nominee Keisha Castle Hughes (Whale Rider), this movie should be timely for the season.  Hopefully it will deliver.

Apocalypto (director Mel Gibson).  Speaking of Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto is Mel Gibson’s follow up to the best selling independent film.  It’s a historical epic about the Maya kingdom, in which the film was also done in the Maya language.

The Good German (director Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett).  Good thing Soderbergh had enough fun after Ocean’s 11 and Ocean’s 12, and is now back to serious business.  George Clooney plays an American journalist looking for his mistress, played by my favorite actress Cate Blanchett.  The movie is set in Berlin after the world war.  (It’s just confusing that another film is aptly titled The Good Shepherd, making us think of German Shepherd.)

The Holiday (director Nancy Myers, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law).  After Something’s Gotta Give, expect another feel good movie from Nancy Myers.  The Holiday is about two women from different sides of the world who happen to have the same man problems.

Breaking and Entering (director Anthony Minghella, Jude Law).  Breaking and Entering is a coming of age film about a young architect played by Jude Law.  Minghella was the one who introduced Jude Law to the spotlight in The Talented Mr. Ripley, another all time favorite.

The Good Shepherd (director Robert de Niro, Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Joe Pesci).  The movie is about the evolution of the CIA, told by a founding officer played by Damon.  This will be Joe Pesci’s first film appearance after Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998.

Children of Men (director Alfonso Cuaron, Julianne Moore, Clive Owen).  Along with Babel, this is my most anticipated movie this season.  Children of Men was already screened in the recent Venice Film Festival, and has received good reviews.  First reason I wanna watch this film is Alfonso Cuaron.  Next is Julianne Moore.  And third is the make-or-break futuristic plot: the humans can no longer procreate, until a woman suddenly becomes pregnant, which may or may not give scientists the explanation to the biological mystery.

Reference: my all time favorite films as of August 2005

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Many movies in the list might be shown in the Philippines in 2007, since some of them will only be in limited release in North America this year.  I just hope I get to see them before the awards season, and hopefully with minimal disappointment.  So, which ones do you plan to watch?
       
  
Five Islands, One Weekend

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:20:00 GMT

Five Islands, One Weekend.  Last week I took two days off from work to spend a long weekend in Visayas.  The trip started ala Amazing Race, since we only had 20 minutes for the Dumaguete ferry trip from the airport arrival in Tagbilaran.  Checking in our bags was not an option, so I had to stealthily wrap my cologne and fix my bag pre-xray to make sure the system saw it in top view (and the bottle wouldn’t look like a bottle).  The 4-day island hopping was perfect, which included five Visayas islands: Bohol, Negros (Dumaguete), south of Cebu, Sumilon Island, and Siquijor.  It was a weekend of connecting trips, clear waters, excellent food, and of course great company.

Sumilon Island.  The visit to the Bluewater Island Resort was very worth it; the sea trip alone was memorable since we had the resort ferry all for ourselves.  The high class resort is the island itself, which is developed by a Japanese realty company.  The infinity jacuzzi is now my favorite jacuzzi moment, overtaking the one in Linden Suites overlooking Ortigas.  The island boasts of food by a world renowned chef, shifting white sand, woods great for trekking, a mangrove lake for kayaking, an infinity pool, and clear blue waters.

Siquijor Island.  Thanks to Jesselle for the free accommodation in Princess Bulakna, a promising resort which formally opens next year.  The resort has modern artsy cottages, a three-level infinity pool (which was 3-week old when we got there), and a very rich landscape.  We might return next year when the resort opens its diving site, and hopefully when all the construction and landscaping are complete.  The mystical island is famous for caves, witchcraft, and historical churches, and reminds me of Camiguin because of its size, accessibility, and unspoiled nature.  Siquijor is definitely a must visit place!

more pictures in my flickr account.
  

April 2006

Mount Pulag
Sun, 09 Apr 2006 13:31:00 GMT
 

  
Last March 25-26, I conquered Mount Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon (2,941 meters according to Team Everest) with my friends in Baguio.  The climb ended the weeklong celebration of my 25th Birthday.

Enjoy the coming 3-day work week everyone!  And enjoy the long weekend ahead!  😉

 

Holy Week in Zambales
Tue, 18 Apr 2006 15:59:00 GMT

Last weekend a few friends and I explored the beaches of Zambales, which was such a perfect way to spend the holy week.  The trip was tiring because of all the Lenten traffic, but the whole experience was worth every penny and every drop of sweat.  The weather and the waters were fantastic, and the company was even so much greater!
 

Casa San Miguel.  Future national artist Leeroy New was busy with his last minute sculpturing when we arrived in Casa San Miguel.  The casa was indeed a haven for artists and musicians, complete with all the studios, galleries, and theatre.  It’s also the home of the Bolipata resthouse, one of the most ingenuous and artistic houses in this side of the world.  Leeroy’s exhibit was actually the reason why the trip was organized in the first place.
 

Capones Island.  Fifteen minutes from the shores of Pundaquit is the Capones Island, which was one perfect spot for the sunset, with all the huge boulders and clear water.  By crucifixion time we were pitching the tent, and until sundown we were resting on the sands of the island.  It was low tide when we got there, so a few of us were able to “walk” to the neighboring small island, which was even barer, and more spectacular to the eyes because of the flocking birds and the corals.  The scene was picture perfect, if only I had a waterproof camera to carry.  Surprisingly, that small island was said to be called Camera Island.
 

Art Exhibit.  It was a real delight to be surrounded by budding artists and musicians during the exhibit.  Leeroy’s works were in the middle of the gallery, while the paintings of other artists surrounded the hall.  The Bolipata resthouse fronting the gallery was also open for viewing during the exhibit.  Digression: if you’ve been around UP Campus in Diliman, you may have seen some of Leeroy’s murals all over the university.  They’re the spermatozoid-like creatures painted stealthily on waiting sheds and walls, which for some time had a cult following and was even featured in a graphic magazine.
 

Anawangan Cove.  On the second day we went to a semi private cove.  The 45 minute bangka ride was full of great sights, and approaching the cove one can actually see the caves, the great white sand, and the green pine trees.  It was really amazing to know that something as grand as the Zambales coves could exist in this country and yet be unknown to many.  The beach was perfect for swimming, and the rest of the afternoon was spent reading, sleeping, and chatting; for hours we virtually owned the cove!
 

The week that ended.  Thanks to the great waters and unpopulated beaches of Zambales, the holy weekend was more than memorable.  It was simply the apt getaway for the season.  By Sunday night in Manila, we were having our Easter dinner with grilled chicken and baticolon barbecue – great food to end the great weekend!
 
 
More pictures to be posted in my flickr account.
 

5 Days In Boracay
Sat, 29 Apr 2006 15:59:00 GMT
 

More pictures of the 5-day getaway to be posted in my flickr account.

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!
 

November 2005

Lazy Blog Entry
Sun, 06 Nov 2005 05:30:00 GMT

Once again, I’m feeling sorry for this blog for having only one entry in the previous month. I have had a lot of instances when I could have updated this blog, but unfortunately there’s completely nothing to write about. And if ever a moment comes when there’s something worth blogging, I stop the minute I sit in front of the desktop, either because I’m too tired to write or simply because I wanted to do something else. Thus, the pathetic blog with once-a-month entries.

movies

I was recently able to watch a couple of local films, The 40-year Old Virgin, and the sneak preview of Flightplan. Ilusyon was one of the neatest Filipino films that I’ve seen. The Cinemanila entry has a good story with dozens of artistic and philosophical undertones, making it very unique for a Filipino film. But I still don’t understand why a lot of critics rave for Yul Servo’s acting when I only see it as plain and mediocre. Masahista was great in using parallelism in its storytelling (even if the subject of prostitution and poverty isn’t new at all in Filipino films) and offered really good acting, but I can’t imagine how they consumed the 4M budget for a film that doesn’t seem really expensive. Ben, the production designer of the movie, told me much of the budget went to post-production. Even though there were a lot of tidy scenes and complicated editing, the visuals were honestly hard to appreciate since the movie was just converted from digital format for commercial release, and evidences of video compression can still be seen. I didn’t exactly find The 40-year Old Virgin funny, but it was enjoyable enough. I especially enjoyed the Kelly Clarkson joke, and Steve Carell was effective in portraying a loser with so many dead airs in the character, though he’s still far from being a Jim Carrey. And Flightplan was surprisingly entertaining. I just have one negative comment on the feasibility of the “plan”, which I can’t mention since it would be a spoiler, but I absolutely enjoyed the movie.

ang pokpok ng ohio

More than a week ago I also got to watch the CCP performance of Ang Pokpok ng Ohio. It’s about three unfortunate people and the dramas of their lives during one night in a corner of a busy metropolis. Irma Adlawan is truly a talented actress, and honestly I have to say it was the first intimate play that really moved me. The play was a fine adaptation; all three actors were terrific and the script was simply brilliant. And again, thanks for complimentary tickets.

company sportsfest

As for work, I’m the captain for one of the teams in the company sportsfest which will start this month. This should be fun since our sportsfest has lots of events which even includes modified sports, but then I also surmise that some days in the next few months will really be stressful. As they say, fun and stress always go together!

music

I’m currently enjoying the Unplugged album of Alicia Keys, and the 10-year anniversary acoustic version of Jagged Little Pill of Alanis Morissette. I also can’t get enough of Coldplay’s Fix You and James Blunt’s You’re Beautiful.

crush
 

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grace is gone
 

Last night I was able to watch the first Dave Matthews Band Night in 70’s Bistro. I just think Dave Matthews Band is one of the best bands, and probably the best band to come out in the 90’s. And no other OPM act can cover DMB songs the way Bridge does. The poetry and the orgasmic beat were very much alive last night, as if Dave Matthews himself was singing onstage. Unfortunately my friend Rastem left the band to move to China with his other band Coffeebreak Island. He used to play the sax for both Radioactive Sago Project and Bridge. Oh well, so much for free entrance fees.

long weekends

My two long weekends were rather insignificant. For a week now I’m alone in the house because one housemate is in China for training, another housemate went home to his province, and my brother is in vacation for the semestral break. And to complement my being alone, I got a bad flu. So pretty much I had no choice but to stay home, and there was just so much room for lying around and watching marathons (I realized CSI:NY could be a better show than Vegas). No badminton, no tennis, no jogging. I wasn’t able to watch the Cinemanila. And I even had to cancel on the Galera trip my officemates and I were planning. But then again, I’m thankful I got to rest and save money.

Now I’m flu-free. The long weekends are over. And anytime today or tomorrow, one of my housemates and my brother will be back in the apartment. In other words, it’s back to the real world once again.

Have a good week ahead!