Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Kubrador (a review)

o ha! nag-review sad ko ;)

Neways, this article was published in TF last Saturday (?), limot ko. Basta, if you have time, watch this movie. It's tagalog, but it's good.

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"Kubrador" takes you to a rough (literally and figuratively saying) yet smooth-sailing journey of a life of a typical Filipino. The setting is very Filipino. The script is. And everything else about the film.

As Amelita/Amy, aptly played by veteran actress Gina Pareño, takes her daily rounds in her community as she collects (hence the title "Kubrador") bets of jueteng, she also takes us to our very own surroundings. Jueteng, for those who do not know of it yet, is an illegal numbers game played in most parts of the country. Apparently, this same game caused the early exit of Joseph "Erap" Estrada from his presidential seat.

Now, as Amy, already middle-aged with an evident sign of failing health, works her way through a maze of her neighborhood's dwellings, she meets different kinds of people: the gossip-mongers, the kids playing along the street, the men busy caressing their roosters, among many common sights seen only in poor communities. These are the same sights many of us have lived through, or for the fortunate ones have seen only in television or in movies.

And while we see Amy collects bets from her neighbors, she does not actually condone illegal gambling. Amy, just like most of us, only wants to earn, and earn that (illegal) way is all she can afford to do. She knows the consequences of her acts: getting caught by the authorities and be fined a lot more than what she earns in a month or even in a year. The same with most of us Pinoys, we always take the risks no matter what the consequences are. Not that we love challenges, there are just very few options (if none at all) in life, or we die of starvation. But then again, Amy always gets through with it all, unscathed and free. Call it lucky, I call it survival, though, the hard way. Well, that could be part of living the Filipino way, as according to Pareño, in an interview with the press before the premiere showing of the film, Filipinos are simple people, they make do with what little things they have, and they are virtually happy with it.

This flick is reality. That is despite of its "odd" cinematography that reminds you of The Blair Witch Project (no, this is not about witches. I'm talking of the motion sickness you get from watching it). But then again, Jeffry Jetturian (the director) does not let you move your eyes from the screen for too long. The film is even entertaining in its own way. Joel Jover, the script writer, did not make quotable quotes here, he just borrowed the lines we use everyday. Like in that scene when Amy is crying over the death of her neighbor's grandson (she remembers her own son, who she lost early on), and when she suddenly remembers the words "grief" and "death" (which apparently have number combinations: 13 and 47, respectively) she immediately takes her pen and paper and writes the number combination: 13 for "grief" and 47 for "death." That got the audience laughing. I mean, we easily forget that we are supposed to be grieving.

Amy, in her daily journey, also takes us to another reality: the "buayas" all over us. Jueteng lords giving payolas to the public officials and even to the church. Nothing's new, in fact, we have already learned to face that fact. Or have ignored it as we are very busy with our respective lives making both ends meet. But, let's leave politics (discussing it is not my job here), and focus on this critically-acclaimed movie, that actually earned the Cebuano audience's approval, as manifested by their standing ovation when the end credit rolled to end that premier showing last Monday night in SM Cinema 1.

Sad to say, the theater was only half-filled. There is no Judy Ann Santos nor any of the hot showbiz love teams in this movie, as "Kubrador" stars ONLY Gina Pareño, who represents the Filipinos.

I tell you, this film definitely hits home.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Oh!

Pluto Loses Status as a planet

My oh my...

Monday, August 21, 2006

This is How I Think, What Do You Think?

Last Sunday, while my friend was shopping for pants, etc (she badly needs a change of her entire wardrobe as she is getting really big. dah! patuyang man padako!) and while I was almost bored to death to this endless browsing of clothes and more clothes, I went to a rack of T-shirts. At my back was this friend, and I told her, without looking at her direction, if she saw a T-shirt with "I Think I'm a Boy" imprint. "What?!!" And I repeated my question, and she laughed. Without looking at her direction again, (cause I was sooo busy reading funny quotes imprinted on those shirts, I asked her if she thinks so...And *tsug!* she hit me with that pair of shorts she was holding. "You think so?" I asked again, and another "tsug!" Darn, I was only asking!

This friend would really not believe me. The next day, I went out with her again, and everytime my full attention would be focused on the rows of T-shirts she would then ask me if I was looking for that "I Think I'm a boy" imprint. You bet. But at least, this time there was no more brutality involved. I think, she's a boy, too. Wahahaha!

---

And later that day, I found out from this friend, that my ma thinks I was drunk for two consecutive nights. My ma actually asked this friend's ma if we went out together and drank beer or whatever during these nights. Of course, we did not! We never go out on weekdays. We don't have a night life, we simply don't have a life!

Well, it's just logical for my mother to think that way (HA!) cause for those nights I was vomiting big time. No joke. And let us give thanks to hyperacidity for that.

I can never tell her I had (have) that stupid hyperacidity, or she would kill me. Or there would be so many restrictions, like, no coke, no juice, no nothing. Aw, I'm never good at following house rules, well continue.. And everyone of them tantamounts to no life at all. And I've no life already, I just can't endure killing something that is already dead. That's multiple murder!

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Anyway, to keep me on my toes, I watched "Kubrador" and was touched (bec it was for free-premier screening e, and it was really good). It's about a jueteng bet collector, aptly played by Gina Pareño. Review of this movie will be posted here after it shall have been published in TF.

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And finally, I'm done with my delayed post, and my non-sense talk. Have a nice day, will you.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

look who's tallking

They always talk, and when they do, I feel like kissing them :D

Em-em: Ma, why man bad mag-boyfriend?
Ma ni Em-em: Ha?!!!

(na-crazy intawn ang inahan, 4-years-old pa kaha ning iyang anak. NYAHAHA)

--

Third (my friend's 3-year old son) talking to our limping neighbor.

Third: What mana kuya? (he was referring to the walking stick this neighbor was using)

Kuya: Sungkod.

Third: Nganong nagsungkod man ka nga di man ka tiguwang???

Kuya: Kay sakit man ilakaw akong tiil.

Third: Why man sakit?

Kuya: Kay nayayay man.

Third: Why man ka nayayay?

Kuya: Nahug man sa barko.

Third: Gadanghag diay ka kuya?

Chorus: WAHAHAHAHA

---

Me: Third, naa ko'y ipailala nimo.

Third: Sexy teh?

Me: *shocked*

(and I showed him Apyang's picture from my phone)

Third: Ngee, bata pa man na!

Me: (no comment)

(BTW, Apyang is a 2-year-old niece of Phoebe, and she's got loads of amusing stories to tell, di pa lang siya kibaw mo-blog)

---

And for this weekened treat, I watched My Super Ex-Girlfriend.



Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson

It's funny! The bed scenes. The shark. Great! The bed scenes should not be missed. And, I suggest, you get hold of your pustisos :D

Thanks ya! ;)

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

weekend madness

Last weekend I watched movies AT HOME. That's the only thing I look forward to in a "rest day." Just don’t have the time in the cinemas, so busy leading a stressful life. I just so love this life, it’s not that expensive.



I picked Munich, a three-hour story of a 1972 kidnap and murder incident perpetuated by 11 Israelis. Based on real events, this movie by Steven Spielberg is very long. I can never make sense right now because I am just so tired and sleepy. That scene with the naked woman who bleeds to death is just so bloody.




Hostel is bloodier. Boobs galore jud ni. And it’s got more violence more than you can imagine. This film makes Hitler a toddler. But then again, there is always this reason that keeps you from pressing the stop button of your remote control, it’s Jay Hernandez. He is so damn yummy. He deserves a space here actually...



The cutie Jay






Dark Water

Jennifer Connelly

As usual I was expecting to get scared away, but was not. But the hell, the story is good. I love the little girl, she's soooo adorable :)






Ring Around The Rosie

Duh! Way ayo salidaa, kas kuryente!





Corpse Bride

Johnny Depp

It's cute. I love it :)

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And oh, I'm feeling unfit today, hyperacidity struck again last night, got a tummy prob this morning, and I'm currently at work. Where is the love?!!!!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

the mingming is finally here, and she speaks fluent french, lupig ko

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Mao kini ang among bag-ong anak! :P anak bitaw ni ni wengkat, but ingun man siya unsay iya amo sad, di amo nasad ni si mingming. naa diay ni siya'y blog, see, anak lagi namo! go and visit her here btw, she's diona mae, 2 months, and according to the biological mom, she can sing baah baah black sheep. ako ni tudloan og "ang tigulang..." ug mga mugna ni Budoy.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

on a night so divine, i could not rest

(from that one restless night. posted on a restless afternoon. here's the story. read it. it's informative. it's from me.)

It’s past 12 in the morning, there’s some sort of storm outside, and I am still wide awake! It’s not definitely because of the coffee I had this afternoon cause that was several hours ago, and the several bottles of water I took after it had no doubt killed its effects (as if it still affects me!). It must be the coke! I wasn’t supposed to have one tonight because I sill have this colds, and unlike some people (yep, there are really some)-- who are already immune to hyperacidity brought about by this softdrink—I can easily get hyperaciditized (if there’s ever such a term). The reason why I always have in my bag antacid tablets. And so because coke was so irresistible I got hyperaciditized. And I can’t sleep, I’m barely hanging on. Here I am, I’m into pieces…hehe…if you recognize, that’s Kelly Clarson’s Here I Am song lyrics.

Oh darn! Singing that song doesn’t even soothe me, the Omega pain killer/liniment had even lost its healing trick on me. I had wished moments ago when I applied it to my tummy, the otot would come out na. It did, but the pain is still here. More than three hours ago, sensing that hyperacidity was on its way, I took one of my two antacid tablets. I was still uneasy, so I took the other one just a few minutes ago. I’m praying (waaaah..) I’d be okay now ‘cause I badly need my sleep.

I tried closing my eyes, but the eyelids just kept fluttering no matter how much I tried to keep them shut, first by covering them with a hanky, and just shutting em with such force to the point of hurting my eyeballs! But it seems like they have a mind of their own that they don’t want to cover my tired eyes just yet. Is my system having a strike on me? Good luck!

Hyperacidity can be blamed to coke or to the skipping of meals (I don’t break fast, and take lunch at past 1), and the fluttering eyelids…? Stress, perhaps.

We just discussed stress recently. A few days ago Jasmin Uy, who had the luxury to visit her doctor, was told that dandruff can be linked to stress. That was a total surprise, really. I am also infected by it, and I blamed it to my shampoo-Ivory, which I just changed to head & shoulders (ha! Free promo) but for the past two weeks that I have been using it I still feel the itch in my scalp. Don’t worry, no toilet scenarios here.

Anyway, so stress can also cause dandruff. The itching on my scalp can be because I’m stressed. I’m always stressed out, so that could be it.

Very recently, too, Wengkat also shared stress-related information she got from the internet. That twitching under our eyes, she said, is also because of stress. I experience that too. Well, the three of us actually. OMG! The pain is still herrrre, gggrrrr…

So what else is associated with stress? Insomnia? Oh!

It’s past 4am-August 9, I’ve been in and out of my room, the storm is gone, and I’m still wide awake. It is such a wonderful morning, I want to start a ghost-hunting spree!

I need a gun!

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Someone murdered Selena's song!!!

For the first time in over a month I woke up really late, past 11am. Waking up early in the morning (before 9) is such a major thing, but lately I've changed that habit (I refuse to say it's bad coz it's not) to accomodate other things, and to have plenty of waking hours (I used to average 10 hours of sleep in a day) to do so many things in life while I'm young (oh yeah, I'm lying). So, that unevitable change has to happen. For over a month now I am alive before the clock hits 9.

This morning, however, I woke up so late that it shocked me. It's probably because of the sinusitis drug that I took before going to bed. It's got in it anti-hestamine or some ingredient that makes the taker real drowsy. Or because I slept at past 2am. So it's fair enough that I was up past my new normal waking hour.

It would have been a normal day, a Saturday with no office to stop by for news hording (oh!) and so much more good reasons to celebrate such a sun shiny and FREE day, had Rachelle Ann Go not murdered Selena's Dreaming of You song. I heard the song from our neighbor's karaoke or whatever sound system they have there, and I paused (nanghimota pa ko ani) to the familiar voice singing Selena's original song. That was the first time I heard that other version of that "sacred" song, I don't know when it was first out in the airwaves (I''ve no more access to FM station these days except when I'm in a V-hire or taxi). And I was sad and mad altogether. Go did a bad job in this song, she was murdering it with her "screams." I've nothing against this singer, she's actually good, but if she can't do any better for the already very good version of Selena why bother reviving the song? For what?!

--

This is my new favorite movie



IMELDA

Ghad, how I love it. I was hynotized, spellbound, mesmerized, and entranced (all the same, but heck). I don't know if I'm a fan of Imelda. I'm fascinated with everything about her, her mysterious self, her insanity, her diamonds, and the way she talks. Well, if it's fanaticism, fine.

Friday, August 04, 2006

you found me not

I'm kind of fascinated with this song that everytime it's played in my ipod (of course, with my control) i kind of just sit there and be lost in space. It's the melody or the musical quality, that's sooo comforting because as you scroll down the lyrics and you know me, you will surely not believe I fall for it because someone has found me already. Well, here's that song, hasta ang singer (giapil na lang nako).

"You Found Me"

Is this a dream?
If it is
Please don't wake me from this high
I've become comfortably numb
Until you opened up my eyes
To what it's like
When everything's right
I can't believe

You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
You found me

So, here we are
That's pretty far
When you think of where we've been
No going back
I'm fading out
All that has faded me within
You're by my side
Now everything's fine
I can't believe

You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
You found me

And I was hiding
'Til you came along
And showed me where I belong
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know?
How did you know?

You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me

(You found me)
(When no one else was lookin')
You found me
(How did you know just where I would be?)
You broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
The good and the bad
And the things in between
You found me
You found me