improving upon the already improved upon

hollywood has this penchant for doing remakes of films, even of their own products of yore. while that works well for other projects, i don't quite get it for the others.

for instance, it worked well when sydney pollack remade the billy wilder film SABRINA with the classic audrey hepburn. watching the original 1950s film and the 1990s remake with julia ormond (whom we last saw in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON), i was happy about several narrative loopholes and nonplausible scenarios in the first one that were corrected and given better logic in the remake. and please, harrison ford is way dapper than humphrey bogart, camownaw!

latest example i saw of this is the batman remakes. but it was just too early to do remakes of that! the memory of all of tim burton's BATMAN films in the 1990s (and the subsequent sequels directed by others, like joel schumacher who did the most homoerotic version, i swear) are still fresh in my mind. so there's not enough gap for it, i think, to have chris nolan helm his THE DARK KNIGHT and BATMAN BEGINS chronicles. add to that that i am not too keen on christian bale as bruce wayne/batman -- he doesn't quite cut it. kulang pa ng 14 pogi points. but hey, i thoroughly enjoyed THE DARK KNIGHT because of nolan's filmic innovations, not because it was a batman flick and i was keen on seeing one this early in my life.

so for hollywood to announce another remake, that of TOMB RAIDER naman, na i really really really remember pa attending the premiere night / press preview (since i was the entertainment editor of a dyaryo pa when it was first shown) and being given the token tokens (press releases, movie still photos, and a tshirt (woot! i still have this!), sana naman e palampasin nila ang at least isang dekada man lang (or more, for more) bago sila gumawa ng remake. or bago nila gawan ng rehash daw ang whatever na ire-rehash nila dito, sabi nga sa balita.

but then, my point is, what's the point kung wala si ex-angelina my love sa remake? luz. it's like BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S without audrey hepburn. or GILDA without rita hayworth. or ALL ABOUT EVE without bette davis (can you imagine that being remade with, uh, er, say, julia roberts? ew.). yes, ormond had huge, huge, huge shoes to fill in that SABRINA remake. but she made the remake role her own, at bow ako sa kanya. love her.

teka, napanood mo ba ang mga pelikulang ito? luz ka kung hindi! classics ito.

so what i'm saying is, lara croft ain't lara croft kung di si angelina jolie ang title role. ang boobs niya ay ginawa ng diyos specifically for this role. bow.

read:


‘Lara Croft’ to return – without Jolie

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 08:33:00 01/29/2009

LOS ANGELES -- Lara Croft is set to return in a new movie based on the "Tomb Raider" video games but Angelina Jolie is unlikely to reprise her role as the gun-toting archeologist, reports said Wednesday.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, studio giant Warner Bros. is in the early stages of developing a third film in the franchise following movies in 2001 and 2003 derived from the 1996 video game.

However the report in the entertainment industry journal said Oscar-nominated actress Jolie was unlikely to return for the role.

The new project was expected to revamp the character of Croft, the report said, with the film bearing little resemblance to the earlier movies.

The first two "Tomb Raider" films grossed roughly $430 million worldwide.

LUZ!

redirecting randomness

kaya pala medyo parang ho-hum ang reaction ko sa chenelyns lately, sabi ng stars:

Taurus Horoscopes

(Apr 20 - May 20)

Saturday, Jan 31st, 2009 -- Although your long-term plans may have become more concrete over the past month, they might have slipped away as you moved closer to your goal. Now you are at another crossroads, so reset your compass and take a new bearing on your destination. Don't worry if you decide to head off in a slightly different direction from your previous one. You've learned a lot about yourself and your world, so be prepared to change your course, if necessary.

hm. dami naiisip. dami pinapaisip. dami kelangan isipin. para hindi ipisin. hehe.

basta.

plod on muna ang drama, tutal year of the ox naman. baka nga yun ang senyales. baka kelangang may mangyaring major every 12-year cycle ko sa earth. hm... let's see...

*

nga pala, every sunday na ang labas ng manila times column ko, appropriately grouped sa literary section nila. bet. dami changes doon lately. check it out na lang. yes, both sa dyaryong print pa rin at sa online siya lalabas.

*

repost ko lang to dito. sa fezbuk itey originally. masaya siyang exercise. masaya na rin ang comment exchange doon.

gawa ka rin. bilis!

okay, let's do this! 25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT LIBAYISKY

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “Notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)


My 25 Random Things:

1. i can spend hours in front of a computer. obvious ba facebook friends haller! heheh. whether online or off, maraming laman ang computer ko na puwedeng pagkaabalahan, lalo na ngayon! woot!

2. i can write better when i'm beside/in front of a window at may natatanaw na langit at lupa/greenery/scenery kahit gaano katiting. ewan ko kung bakit. hey, it works.

3. i love computer games, pero hindi yung mga masyadong bombastic type na rpg o multi-player chenelyns. wala ako actually tyaga sa ganoon kadetalyeng laro. although ironic, i love citybuilding games, the ones with missions and some kinda aliw graphics, like what impressions games-sierra used to do, with greek civilization/egyptian civ/middle chinese civ games. ay te sinisikatan ako ng araw at nilulubugan kakalaro ng city hehe.

4. i love playing trivia games. trivial pursuit, jeopardy, mga ganun, quiz show types. ewan lang. i am a geek like that. kaya sa timezone, makikita mo kong kinakarir ang super trivia games doon to win the jackpot tickets hehe. hey, nakakulimbat na ko ng enough tix to exchange for a stuff toy. odibah!

5. i don't like dozing off when traveling. i like to look out the window at the scenery kasi, sometimes taking photos, thanks to digicam technology. kahit gabi ang travel. in fact, mas gusto ko yun kasi i love looking at the night lights, see how humans could get creative (or not) in lighting up the dark night. hence, i like looking at neon signs, lighted signs, light fixtures, etc. sometimes i take pictures of these, plus any kind of lighting fixture that interests me. i have lots of photos of these na actually. yes, even during SLR days, in film, on photo paper!

6. i don't get bored. ever. kahit nakatunganga lang ako sa tabi waiting for whatever, kahit sa tingin mo e nabo-bore na ako, hindi ati. ewan kung bakit. i have this knack of entertaining myself with thoughts using things around me as inspiration. pramis. and of course laging muni-muni mode ang moda ng utak ko e. kahit ayaw ko na minsan.

7. i have a bookmark collection. informal naman ito, hindi yung tipong ilalagay ko sa clear plastic folderbook chenes para maprotektahan. wala, andiyan lang sila sa bottom shelf sa library ko.

8. i collect notebooks, the paper type. kaya pag nagta-travel, ito ang binibili ko sa iba't ibang parts ng earth para iuwi. eto ang nakakahon at nakatago para di alikabukin. kolekta lang, parang ayaw kong sulatan. but if i do, eventually, ginagawa ko silang journals.

9. i am a very patient person when dealing with people who want to learn something genuinely,

without just testing you/your knowledge or taunting you or mocking you. i guess that's why i went into teaching. and still surviving. for now.

10. i have little patience (or no sympathy at all) for arrogant people, people who think they already know everything hence you can't contribute something new to their (supposedly existing) body of knowledge, and people who think they know better about anything, even if you actually know better about something they think they know better than you. nalito ka na? hahahahahaha!

11. i have strange reading requirements. i read novels better during long trips, before going to bed, or chilling somewhere while waiting for something or just lounging around, like in a beach. i can't read short stories and creative nonfiction books the same way -- dapat ito sa sofa sa sala o sa couch sa library ko. academic readings i can only read while in a study table of sorts, preferably my dining table; i can't read them anywhere else. and i can't read anything academic or literary in my office. even if i tried. oh, and i read comics better in the john heheh. don't ask why. i don't know. it's just like that.

12. i take pictures of food, preferably close-ups. i like shooting anything in close-ups, actually. strange zooming to detail kumbaga. kaya i just love the macro lens i had before with my SLR. too bad my slr conked out na. :( i miss shooting on film, actually. iba pa rin ang richer image quality ng film granules over digital pixels. e-ver.

13. inggit ako sa mga taong may prubinsiya, the type na may dapat uuwian sila kapag holidays type, you know. unlike me na manila-born and bred na, kahit may province ang grandparents, wala na kasing roots doon to go back to that regularly e.

maybe that's why i like traveling out of manila, kahit saan. which brings me to...

14. i love traveling. if i could make a career out of it, i would. alas, i don't think i can. the taurus in me most times look for some place to root myself to e. e ganun eh. ewan.

15. i love eating grilled/barbecued stuff. anything, lalo na hayup heheh. sorry vegan friends, di ko talaga kaya isuko e. but i tried! semi-vegan dati, 2006, 6 months. it worked! but man, i miss my momma's mean medium rare steaks and her superb tinumis dish (nueva ecijan version of dinuguan - not that bloody and not masabaw) yum... so sorry. :P

16. i'm a purist when it comes to movies. i really like to watch them inside a moviehouse, not in front of a tv or even a projector-on-the-wall set-up. basta. may ganun.

17. everything i learned in dealing with people (PR, showbiz, plastikan, cautious, baragan, sindakan, suyuan, etc.) i learned in ma'm malou de guzman's acting class in college. man, it works, i tell you. take it from me, a former introvert from age 3-19. do i look introverted to you nowwwww???? heheh. :P

18. if given the chance, i would have wanted to dance professionally, as in for a living, o basta nagto-tour at nagpe-perform ng dances chenelyn, parang troupe or part of a musical stage play or some kind of dance group na naiimbitahan sa shows (puwera sa master showman ha hehe :P may tulugan ang nais ko). you know what i mean. as in, dig ko sanang mag-ballet at jazz when i was still young enough for that. alas, pop dancing in high school and some hiphop classes post-college lang ang na-keri ng lola mong gawin. plus of course disco dancing stuff. ganun.

19. if given the chance din, i would have wanted to do more sports pa sana when i was small. alas, di kineri ng lungs ko dahil hikain ako noon, so laging bench ang byuti ko, or excused because. luz! i would really have wanted to excel in martial arts, actually. kaya uber-dig ko ang arnis lessons namin dati nina fire (ehehehe, hint hint). i also wanted to play baseball since i was in high school. luz ang school namin, walang matinong sports program e. kaya ayan, nagbasa na lang ako ng nagbasa ng libro. at naging writer. nubah. laki tuloy pwet ko.

20. i prefer drinking chocolate milk than plain white milk.

21. i like sampling different cuisines. kahit cuisines within cuisines bet rin. street food lalo na. street food all over the world. syempre pipiktyuran ko rin sila.

22. i must have really been a gypsy in a past life (lives). ilang "readers" na ang nakakita nito e. gypsy na nomad na tumatawid somewhere in the Mediterranean areas of the world, na may elements ng things i like like violin (frustrated instrument to learn), greek / mediterranean / persian food (esp lamb! lamb dishes! i heart lamb), red wine, india, some egyptian things, greek mythology, and bellydancing.

therefore, i prefer couscous over rice. mas madali siyang lutuin actually. di ko pa naman itatakwil ang pagka-asian ko tho. i still like some dishes with rice. can you imagine adobo with couscous? luz.

23. in college, i used to eat carrots and drink orange juice for breakfast. i am not a big breakfast fan -- until nag-film production work na ako at naging necessity siya sa life. nowadays, hindi na ulit. but i like taking brunches.

24. i used to like wearing grey shirts. ngayon, pang-workout na lang sila. but before it was hip to wear black or all-black, i already preferred wearing black clothes. panahon pa na di pa pinapanganak ang mga "emo kids," before the "goth" label was also introduced.

25. i prefer writing in a white-text-on-black-background mode. hindi kasi ako nasisilaw sa ganito. ganito ang settings ng lahat ng computer ko. kaya aakalain mong nagco-code ako o parang may ginagawang techie stuff sa computer pero nagsusulat lang naman ako sa msword o openofc. at kapag naki-type ka sa computer ko, mapapagod mata mo kung di ka sanay sa ganito hehe. sorry.

o hah, karir itoh! sige, sumagot din kayo. kahit wala sa tag. go!

panira ng appetite ito

fine, di na ko kakain ng shawarma. talaga bagang "required chenes of women" ang highlight. kainiz.

lesson learned: huwag magbasa ng balita sa BBC. choz!

Study reveals 'shocking' kebabs

Doner kebabs sold in the UK contain "shocking" levels of salt, fat and calories, a survey has concluded.

Officers from 76 councils sampled 494 kebabs to test their nutritional value, during the Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors) study.

The average doner they tested contained almost 1,000 calories - half a woman's recommended daily intake.

Geoffrey Theobald, of Lacors, said: "The level of saturated fat and salt in some is a serious cause for concern."

He added that while they "would never consider kebabs part of a calorie-controlled diet" the true content of the average kebab was worrying.

Among the kebabs sampled - without salad or sauces - the average doner contained 98% of an adult's recommended daily salt and 148% of their daily saturated fat allowance.

the rest of the story is here.

goodnight!

Pinoy OFW fired for 'un-Australian toilet habits' - news.com.au

gosh, i just have to blog about this. so i emerge from my "thesis tuesdays" sked to post this. luz!

my high school classmate living in australia now was the one who forwarded this newsbit to us.

this newsbit reminds me of that incident in canada before, where a filipino-canadian grade schooler was reprimanded by school officials because he used a spoon to eat his lunch. the officials said he should learn how to use a fork and knife lang daw. luz!

eto ang tinatawag na napakalaking WADAPAK!

Click the news link, there's a photo of the dude there


Amador Bernabe fired for 'un-Australian toilet habits'
Townsville Bulletin
January 24, 2009 12:11pm

A MAN who uses water instead of toilet paper says he was sacked for his "un-Australian" toilet habits.

Amador Bernabe, 43, is a machine operator in Townsville on a working visa from the Philippines, the Townsville Bulletin reports.

On Thursday, he claims his foreman followed him into the bathrooms questioning his toilet hygiene.

Mr Bernabe said his employer, Townsville Engineering Industries (TEI), sacked him yesterday for not going to the toilet the Australian way.

"I went to go to the toilet and I took a bottle of water when my foreman saw me and he said, 'you can't bring the water in there'," Mr Bernabe said.

The foreman followed Mr Bernabe into the toilet despite his protests.

"I said it's my personal hygiene. I didn't break any law, I didn't break any rules of the company, why can't I do this, and he said he would report me to the manager.

The next day, Mr Bernabe says he was called into the manager's office.

"He asked me what had happened and I explained to him and he said if I didn't follow the Australian way I would be immediately terminated and I said 'sir, then you better terminate me'."

The move has angered union bosses and politicians on the Australia Day weekend.

Australian Manufacturing Worker's Union state organiser Rick Finch said the incident was shocking.

"I think it is atrocious, an invasion of a person's rights and cultural beliefs," he said.

"If it wasn't so disgusting it would almost be laughable."

Greens spokeswoman Jenny Stirling praised Mr Bernabe for standing up for his rights.

"I commend the man for standing up for himself and I encourage the employer to have further talks with the union and the employee and I am sure commonsense will prevail," she said.

"I would like to see how Australians feel when they go to Europe where in places they don't have toilet paper."

TEI could not be reached for comment.

kung hei fat choy! and other ox musings

tama ba spelling? i am a water ox, born a taurus. tama, masungay ang taong ito sa akin. in more ways than one hehe. let's see what happens. sabi sa ibang reading, hindi bet ang water sign-born sa taong ito dahil earth year siya, like last year. pero ox naman e, at ox ako, so i dunno what that entails. let's see.

positive again, palagay ko. now na nalalaman ko nang unti-unti nang tinatadyakan ng tadhana ang mga lumalapastangan sa aking puri, nagpapasalamat ako sa kalawakan sa pagbabalot sa akin ng magandang karma bilang balabal sa masasamang elemento sa tabi-tabi.

curious? eto ang sinasabi ng stars na magaganap:

Year of the Ox Prediction

Jan. 26, 2009 - Feb. 13, 2010

by Stephanie Dempsey

The Year of the Earth Ox evokes stability and dependability. The Ox is a practical work animal, while the Earth element is steady and firm. Together, they create a kind of plodding energy that can be exasperating. Still, progress will be made in 2009; it will occur in slow, barely perceptible increments. If you stay patient and keep your nose to the grindstone, you will make the most of this ponderous energy.

Oxen place great emphasis on authority and tradition. Therefore, 2009 will lay an especially heavy burden on world leaders. Government officials, CEOs and community organizers will be expected to correct society's ills. If they slack off, they'll be thrown by the wayside. Substance is always favored over style in the Year of the Ox.

Money in the Year of the Ox

2009 promises to be a time of financial restraint, too. The Earth element places great emphasis on the material plane. Saving will be more important than spending. Everyone will be tightening their belts -- even those who are flush with cash. Businesses that work to keep their clients, present materials in a timely manner and provide excellent customer service will survive, while companies that take an indifferent approach to their clientele will fall to ruin. There's no room for slackers in an Ox year, especially as far as commerce is concerned.

Practical tradesmen like plumbers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics may do especially well this year, because the Earth Ox prizes foundations. Anyone involved in strengthening and improving foundations is sure to profit in 2009. Teachers, engineers, farmers, nurses, dentists, doctors, politicians and technicians are also in for a good year, as the Earth Ox favors long-term investments in people and structures. Creative professionals may have a lean year in 2009. Actors, journalists, writers, models and dancers will have to work extra hard to find jobs, as such work seems superfluous to the ultra-practical Earth Ox.

Home improvement projects are highly favored this year. If you don't have the funds to hire a professional, try tackling jobs yourself. You can accomplish miracles with the help of how-to books. Earth Ox years are wonderful for acquiring hands-on skills.

Love in the Year of the Ox

With regard to romance, the Year of the Earth Ox is time to get serious. The Ox doesn't favor careless flings -- remember, this animal favors work over play. In fact, playing fast and loose with somebody's heart could get in you in deep trouble. This is a fabulous year to get engaged or married, provided you're with someone you love. If you're not ready to make a commitment to a casual love interest, you're better off breaking up. Hold out for real thing -- a relationship that will withstand poverty, illness and any other challenges that lie ahead.

Fashions will be more subdued this year; darker colors, durable fabrics and sturdy shoes will be the norm. This will be in keeping with the somber, serious energy of the Earth Ox. As far as travel is concerned, opt for beautiful nature spots as opposed to crowded urban areas. Being in the presence of trees, mountains and lakes can be tremendously relaxing in 2009. Remember, the Ox is a grazing animal, and fares best in wide, open spaces.

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

winner ba? click on the link to find out your own sign's readings.

the last time we had an ox year was 1997, and that was indeed an unforgettable year for me. i was 24, working in showbiz, and about to make two huge transitions in my life -- leaving showbiz for the literary world, and leaving heterosexuality.

a scriptwriter friend clipped this news item in a newspaper about some call for manuscripts for a UP National Writers Workshop thingie. i had no idea what that meant, but seeing that that entailed staying in baguio for two whole weeks for free with a stipend attracted me to it. so since the workshop didn't accept screenplays -- and i was that, a scriptwriter -- i thought of collecting some poetry i wrote over the years, since poetry was accepted.

to ensure that i had higher chances of getting in, i also submitted two short stories in filipino. the first one was easy -- i just turned to my short script vault and transformed my original undergraduate thesis script into a short story. that was SI TOTOY SA GUBAT NG DIWATA, an environmental film about and for children. for the second story, i had a hard time. but one night, as i was about to sleep, an idea came to me, and i grabbed my pen and paper and immediately scribbled it down. it was about a woman who committed suicide, and was talking to her best friend about her habilins as a ghost na. but on second reading, i decided to make it postmodern--even before learning what the heck postmodernism meant--by making it sound as if the woman was talking to someone but in reality, she was talking to herself. the image i had in my head was that of someone playing chess with herself, while all along, she is watching the chess game between herself and herself. get it? this visual was somehow inspired by the music video of alanis morissette for IRONIC where she is the driver and the three other passengers in the car are also her. parang ganun. youtube it if you don't know what i'm talking about.

so anyway, that short story became SI JOE COOL KASI, and my second entry to the workshop in baguio. needless to say, yes, i got in. they loved the stories, and i met really good writer friends in the workshop which i still treat as friends to this very day. that was march to april, i think. 1997.

and later that year, september to be exact, those two stories won for me my two palanca awards. both third place. and that gave me the courage to continue on with creative writing. the following year, i resigned from my office and applied for a masters degree in creative writing.

and yeah, about heterosexuality. i came into that baguio workshop a heterosexual, and came out a homosexual. and, like the indigo girls said, that was the beginning of the rest of my life! chos.

so now, here we are.

totoo for me ang sinabi ni jeanette winterson: what you risk reveals what you value. and those two things i risked in my life to attain -- creative writing and lesbianism -- are now the two things i value the most in my life. so happy ito.

sabi nga sa taas, tiyaga, slow and steady, building strong foundations, and reaping the rewards later on. bet lang. patience is a virtue kumbaga. at eto na nga yun.

saya!

let's see what happens this year.

ox na ox!

bongga ang banat ni barack!

i was hesitant at first to really support yet another male for the presidency of the young but surprisingly most influential country in the world. i really rooted for hillary because i believe she is a woman who has the smarts to understand women's needs for real, unlike some president there in malacanang pretending to be pro-women and pro-poor and pro-people. pupu niya kainin niya!

but reading this news item about barack lifting that stupid global gag rule made my morning. a toast of barakong kape for barack!

if you're not aware of it, the global gag rule (also known as the mexican gag rule kasi sa isang convention chenes sa mexico pinirmahan ito 8 years ago or so), prohibits US funding agencies to give funding to those healthcare agencies/groups that included artificial family planning, lalo na abortion, sa kanilang health services. si gagong george bush ang nag-enact nito na kinagalit ng lahat ng kawomenan lang naman worldwide.

ano implication nito sa atin? simple -- kaya si former manila mayor lito atienza e tinanggal lahat ng libreng condoms and birth control pills na pinamimigay sa poor sa mga barangay health care services sa kalakhang maynila. libre ito, oo, puwede ka humingi sa barangay ng libreng condom at pills kung mahirap ka at gago ang asawa mong nire-rape ka gabi-gabi dahil duty mo daw na kangkangin ka niya nang walang protection, dedma na kung taon-taon for the past 13 years e nabubuntis at nanganganak ka at 13 na ang anak niyo, and counting.

oo, maraming gago sa mundo.

kaya pareng obama, i love you na. YES WE CAN, KANO!

wheeeeeeee! this might mean the total success of the RH bill na! putangina, now na!!!!!!!!

hm, sana lang hindi ko kamag-anak ang cantor na mentioned dun sa newsbit no. haggard siya. republican! pwe! pwe pwe pwe pwe pwe!

mahaba-haba pa ang artikulo pero click the link na lang to read the full story.


Obama overturns ban on abortion funding

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 08:26:00 01/24/2009

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama on Friday overturned an eight-year ban on US government funding for family planning organizations which carry out or facilitate abortions overseas, a White House official said.

Obama signed an executive order cancelling the restrictions, on the third full day of his presidency, spokesman Bill Burton said.

With the restrictions lifted, more "healthcare entities can receive US funds for family planning and reach a bigger pool of women," Tait Sye, a spokesman for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) told Agence France-Presse.

The so-called "global gag rule" cut off US funding to overseas family planning clinics which provide any abortion services whatsoever, from the operation itself to counseling, referrals or post-abortion services.

First introduced by Republican president Ronald Reagan in 1984, it has been repeatedly overturned by Democratic administrations and then reintroduced by the Republicans.

Obama's action overturned the orders of president George W. Bush, who when he came into office in 2001 immediately froze funds to many family planning groups working overseas.

Anti-abortion and anti-conservative groups had previously condemned Obama for the move, but liberal groups welcomed the decision.

According to Population Action International (PAI), the gag rule resulted in funds being cut off to family planning clinics in 29 countries, including Lesotho, a tiny southern African country which has been ravaged by AIDS.

Tod Preston, vice president of PAI, called the lifting of the gag rule "an important step to save women’s lives around the world.

"Family planning should not be a political issue; it’s about basic health care and well-being for women and children," Preston said in a statement.

But anti-abortion groups were up in arms and vowed to fight the move.

Conservative lawmakers also slammed the move. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said it was "counter to our nation’s interests," while House Republican Whip Eric Cantor called it "a divisive action."

Cantor said he was "saddened by this decision and the lives that will be lost because of it."

Abortion is a hot-button issue in the United States, pitting pro-life conservative groups against more liberal, pro-choice Americans who back a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.

A 1973 decision by the Supreme Court legalized abortion and gave the United States some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the world.

According to a poll conducted by Gallup in May, more than a quarter of Americans (28 percent) believe abortion should be legal under any circumstances, while 17 percent back a total ban on abortion.

A majority of Americans -- 54 percent -- think abortion should be allowed under certain circumstances, the poll showed.

moving on is a way of life: a friendster chronicle

friendster was fun during its inception. but the birth of newer social networking sites gave it a run for its money. no matter. being original or perhaps a pioneer is no reason to stay with it. life goes on, and we move on with it.

no, i'm not deleting my friendster account. i'm just going to trim it a bit.

when i first signed up for it, it was june 2003. i was working for isis international manila, and they had 24/7 internet connection, being an international feminist media NGO -- comes with the work, and the territory, much like networking. that was the time we first tried this thing called friendster, and it was addicting, much like how facebook is addicting to pinoys these days. but i have to admit, facebook is better.

regardless of the updates in features and cute and techy stuff, it's rather taxing to put it all in there. so i just let it sit there for people to find and connect to.

of course, as years moved on, i added small stuff and revisions to the ABOUT ME section, the latest being this:

• About Me:
  

  i like watching films (good or bad, it's always nice to talk about them with friends), listening to good music (preferably live performances), sampling great food from all over the world, except those with ginger. i love to dance and i'm glad i had occasional outlets before such as latin/hiphop aerobics and bellydancing (but i miss these sessions now because, dahil sa globalisasyon, our bellydancing teacher fled to hong kong to work in disneyland bummer). i also miss disco/club dancing so just feel free to pull me to an exclusive party or any het-oriented place with good dance music because i regret not doing that lately and i wanna change that. i enjoy the solitary confinement of being a writer, but i do seek out person-to-person communication (still the best for me), preferably over coffee, tea or alcohol. and i love to discover new places, travel with friends and kindred spirits. and yes, i am a lesbian feminist but i don't consider myself a wannabe man. i'm what they call a 'lipstick dyke' although i've already shun make-up since this new decade began. but that can still change... (the make-up, i mean. the sexuality is there to remain, and there to define me). however, people say i look androgynous lately in a [code name] cutie butchie kind of way hehe (must be the clothes), but i don't mind. patience is a virtue for me, and i think siddharta got things right, so i'm trying to take cues from there. taurus here, born in the year of the ox...does that tell you something? :P latest incarnation is as a film school teacher so kelangan bang maging kagalang-galang na ako dine? idontthinkso. :) sabi nga ni maricel soriano noong 80s sa show niya, "i am what i am, i am my own special creation." tama ba? :P wala lang. oo nga pala, paminsan-minsan nagdidirek ako ng video and tv stuff pero saka ko na lang ikukuwento sa yo.

it's strange how an ABOUT ME entry could trace transitions and phases in one's life...

but the WHO I WANT TO MEET section never changed:

• Who I Want to Meet:
  

  er, those who want to meet me? make contact. it's an awful waste of space if you don't. if you want to talk, listen, be heard, have fun, play around without the hassles and drama queen modes, then tara!
  
  everyone is welcome as long as you are not a racist, ageist, classist, elitist, xenophobic, sexist, homophobic, moralistic, bigoted, back-stabbing, insensitive, idiotic, assholic, full-of-yourself, religious-text-wielding fool

because it still stands up to this day.

some favorites changed and some remain.

• Schools (Other):

  university of the philippines diliman quezon city philippines asia planet earth solar system milky way

• Affiliations:
  

  up sappho society, task force pride, isis international manila, university of the philippines film institute, gma7

• Hobbies and Interests:
  

  literature, creative writing, films, photography, chillout music, good food, great company of smart women and mature men, queer issues and concerns, lesbian-themed stuff on earth and out there in the cosmos and everywhere else, and reconnecting with kindred spirits

• Favorite Books:
  

  lots, but carl sagan's CONTACT is up there as well as gabriel garcia marquez' ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE, toni morrison's BELOVED and jeanette winterson's THE PASSION as well as all her other works, some works of virginia woolf and all works of douglas coupland especially LIFE AFTER GOD, classic lesbian novel RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE by rita mae brown, DOGEATERS by fil-am writer jessica hagedorn

• Favorite Movies:
  

  lots, but CONTACT and GIRL INTERRUPTED come to mind and everything with JODIE FOSTER and ANGELINA JOLIE in leads/second leads and a bunch of european films and movie musicals and lgbt indie flicks like GO FISH

• Favorite Music:
  

  OSTs, chillout/lounge music, also triphop to a certain extent, not so much the loud music, latin beats, old school jazz/blues, alternative poprock, putumayo world music collections, TORI AMOS, INDIGO GIRLS, BILLIE HOLLIDAY, and a lot of women singer-songwriters both local and foreign like alanis, suzanne vega, natalie merchant, dido at iba iba pa

• Favorite TV Shows:
  

  THE L WORD!!!!!!!! (it's cool! it's hot!), queer as folk (labs ko pa rin mga badingers dito pero sorry, the L.A. L-word gels rock!), csi orig/csi ny, the apprentice (life lessons learned here: saksakan sa likod blues and all that jazz - don'tcha love it?) and yes aaminin ko na smallville kasi mukhang bading si clark hihihi...

but the occupation stayed the same.

• Occupation:
  

  observer of life or in layperson's terms: writer

up to this day.

it's just strange because some indonesian person cut a huge portion of my ABOUT ME and pasted it in his/her own site. and it's like a porn site. weird. so this is one reason why i'm trimming it.

friendster is effective advertising, that's why i'm keeping it. other than that, you'll see me here in multiply and on facebook most times.

snip snip.

Attention Film 200 advisees ko

I will be available for consultation by Wednesday na, after class (4pm onwards) this coming week. I'm at the office on Thursday and Friday din, usually after lunchtime until late afternoon/early evening.

I won't be able to check emails after this post, so text me for anything urgent (although I won't be able to meet up with you din until Wednesday). Email me na lang any updates so I could check them before you consult, especially script revisions.

Salamat.

you should know when to quit...

...or when to leave something alone.

yes, hollywood, i'm talking to you!

don't do this:


Jackie Chan eyed in 'Karate Kid' remake
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 06:13:00 01/15/2009

LOS ANGELES -- Kung fu movie legend Jackie Chan is being lined up for a role in a remake of the hit 1984 film "The Karate Kid," entertainment industry press reported Wednesday.

Daily Variety reported that Hong Kong star Chan, 54, was in final negotiations for the part of the elderly guru who teaches karate to a young boy, played by Jaden Smith, the son of Hollywood icon Will Smith.

The original "Karate Kid" starred Ralph Macchio as a youngster who learns to defend himself from bullies by learning martial arts from an eccentric mentor, played by the late American-Japanese actor Pat Morita.

Morita, who earned a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his performance as Mr Miyagi, died in 2005 aged 73.

The film spawned two sequels starring Macchio and Morita, as well as a fourth installment in 1994 "The Next Karate Kid," starring future best actress Oscar-winner Hilary Swank.

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

i grew up watching underdog ralph macchio take on the white trash karate boys of the 80s. i rooted for him, naturally, and this genre interested me because i was also some sort of a karate kid in my lanky preteen years -- well, almost. took some lessons from a neighborhood guy, and that's about it (but picked it up in later years and learned some moves from a shaolin dude, some lang. and arnis nga pala.). pero relate pa rin ako sa kanya. hilary swank also did this, as it said in the report. at sobrang natuwa ako noon because i loved the karate kid films and it was about right to create one with a girl in it - umabot din ang "gender equality" sa genre na ito (and no, RED SONJA doesn't count, kahit andun si karate fil-am boi ernie reyes jr). di ko nga maalalang si hilary pala yun. iba ang dating niya dun. but i still rooted for her, of course. finally, a karate girl!

and i don't think not even another martial arts favorite of mine, jackie chan, could hold a candle to pat morita's cinematic presence. iba siya, ati. it's like having vhong navarro do a tony ferrer spy agent remake of those 70s films. ultimate fail yun.

oh wait, he did that. agent x44 ba? well, like i said, ultimate fail...

si wengweng na lang i-remake niyo. ewan kung sino artista. any ideas? heehee... :P at huwag i-volunteer si mahal (o si mura ba?) heheh.

ang lamig!

ano ne?

i am all too very super uber duper happy for my former ex, kate winslet, heheh, (former na nga, ex pa!) for winning at the golden globe awards kahapon.

yes, she had me at HEAVENLY CREATURES (with uber-director peter jackson of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy -- and this is a lesbian-themed film ha!). and okay, i permitted her to be in TITANIC (without her, ultimate fail in cheeziness ang film na yun) with leo dicaprio. pero by the time she made ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, break na kami heheh. :P

happiness! magaling na aktres like her deserve to win. except, i cannot quite fathom what the news wires insinuated with this passage...

--------------------
Winslet, Fey shine at Golden Globes
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Associated Press
First Posted 01:28:00 01/13/2009

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA— Kate Winslet won two awards all on her own—best dramatic actress for “Revolutionary Road” and supporting actress for “The Reader”—at Sunday’s Golden Globes.

Winslet, who has previously been nominated five times without winning at both the Globes and Oscars, won for her role as a woman in a crumbling marriage in “Revolutionary Road” and as a former Nazi concentration camp guard in “The Reader.”

Directed by Winslet’s husband, Sam Mendes, “Revolutionary Road” reunited the actress with her “Titanic” costar Leonardo DiCaprio.

To DiCaprio, Winslet gushed: “I’ve loved you for 13 years and your performance in this film is nothing short of spectacular.” To Mendes, she added: “Thank you for directing this film, babe, and thank you for killing us every single day and really enjoying us actually being in such horrific pain.”

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

the rest of that news story is here.

pero teka, um, "Kate Winslet won two awards all on her own?" bakit, kelangan ba may katulong siya sa pagkapanalo ng award niya? ano to, "take it, take it" episode ni miss mauritius viveka babajee with the help of lolit solis???

if you're too young to remember that, ask your lolas, titas or nanays. i'm sure it's also catalogued somewhere in cyberspace, so google away heheh.

kalurkey.

other than that, bonjour! at manood kayo ng kidlat tahimik retrospective sa UPFI bernal gallery (upfilminstitute.multiply.com) kung feel niyo ang indie counterculture chuva moda, at ng THE THANK YOU GIRLS sa robinson's indiesine (calling all vaklers and beckys! atak mga kafatid! happiness itey!) kung feel niyo ng laugh trip while deciphering visayan gay lingo (may subtitles naman). if you miss that, minus 10,000 points kayo sa life.

go!

and on that note, magandang tuldok ang sabi ng stars sa akin today...

Taurus Horoscopes

(Apr 20 - May 20)

Tuesday, Jan 13th, 2009 -- Finding a sustainable pace enables you to win the race today, but you have to avoid the trap of thinking that others are judging you. It's not the quality of your work that concerns you; you might feel that someone wants you to work faster. But now you must find the courage to stand up for yourself and let everyone know that you are doing the best you can. Luckily, they will eventually see how productive you re

ally are when you deliver the goods.

deliver is right! malapit na heheh.

touched lang ako sa friendsheeps kahapon, after a weird meeting at work. napapag-usapan ang pagtatapos ng aking kasalukuyang pagsusulat. at talagang nakaabang na ang eat-out pigout to celebrate this! hehe. yes, complete with world cuisine choice, venue, date and time! kakaiba. haylabyu prendz.

yun nga lang, may conflict dahil mag-e-eskapo ako with another friendsheep long lost na magka-comebacking mode that week. heheh. so pushed back a bit lang ang pigout fiesta. :)

nakakatuwa to be surrounded by likeminded individuals a t this day and age, no? i miss the other likeminded indivs tuloy jan na di nagpaparamdam... heheh basta you know who you all are :) char!

always sad to hear of these things...

sad.

----------------------
Band vocalist succumbs to brain aneurysm
By Pocholo Concepcion
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:59:00 01/11/2009

Filed Under: death notices, Music

MANILA, Philippines—A female band vocalist succumbed to brain aneurysm Saturday.

Annabel Bosch, lead singer of such bands as Tropical Depression, Elektrikcoolaid, Spy and Analog, passed away 10 days after she was rushed to the Makati Medical Center. On New Year’s Eve, Bosch complained of a severe headache and was vomiting before she was brought to the Makati hospital.

Doctors diagnosed brain aneurysm and recommended immediate surgery. Bosch slipped into a coma after the operation and never recovered. She died early Saturday morning in a hospital private room. She was 32.

Bosch is survived by her husband Jamie Wilson and daughter, Mishka.

Bosch was well loved by the local rock community for her friendliness and generosity. Dozens of bands joined at least six benefit gigs to raise funds for her hospital expenses while she was confined.

Bosch was a niece of counterculture figure Pepito Bosch, whose ancestral house in Pasay City was a creative refuge of bands such as Cocojam and Jun Lopito. This influenced Bosch to train her sights on a musical career. When she was in high school, Bosch was already a regular at the original Club Dredd along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

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

jammed with her once, when i was still hanging out with a group of all-female musician friends. we were invited to play in an event by female students in likha diwa in UP. her poetry group, romancing venus, was also there as guests, and she jammed with us, singing one of my favorite songs of all time, "time after time," which was actually part of our repertoire. she was cool. she looked mellower. unlike before.

that was the last encounter, the first being during the late 90s, when malate was still da bomb for us and my kahenerasyon, as i always hung out with my friends at the verve room, when the verve room was still da bomb and the only place that played triphop music at that time, which we all liked to dance to, instead of the warehouse raves and the techno blah music in other places where people went to get high on e. we just wanted to get high with dancing. the verve room was it. and no, i never touched e. not for me.

her elektrikoolaid kabanda, hank, was verve's ubercool bartender, whom i befriended at that time, because my gay friend and i were always there. yes, cruising; he was our pimp. hank used to alert me whenever there were "bi" girls there (but his tips were all blah hehe, serves me right to listen to a het guy's gay tips. laos.). and i used to see anabel, her husband to be jamie, monique's bro, hitting on, um, people, and others there, hanging out. and all over. we had common friends and were introduced several times. and that was it.

well, nothing much, really. siguro nanghihinayang lang ako dahil bata pa siya, and it's too early to go. man. she's just 32. and of course, nakakatakot din, dahil hindi nalalayo ang edad niya sa edad ko.

well, sabagay, iba naman ang tinahak niya sa buhay niya...

still, sad pa rin.

that i always heed

kuya tigerwoods

reminder to self from the stars:

Taurus Horoscopes

(Apr 20 - May 20)

Saturday, Jan 10th, 2009 -- You would be wise to take some time off today and give yourself the gift of rest and relaxation. No matter how busy you may be, you can withdraw for a while by pulling within the privacy of your home or heading out for a personal retreat without anyone knowing where you are going. Remember, it's not about how long you are gone; it's about the quality of time you are willing to create.

go! always happy to oblige :)

especially need this these days, lalo na't napapaligiran tayo ng kapraningan.

last wednesday, as i was about to leave for class, i felt a t errible headache, at the usual suspect ang painful area sa may eye socket near the sinuses. of course sinusitis-related ito, so decided to take meds to see if it goes away. pero napaisip din ako. not worth it na to go out and risk it, unlike before na after meds, larga agad/ulit. iba na talaga ang panahon, at ang katawan.

syempre praning ako dahil sa nangyari kay anabel bosch. aneurysm ba naman tumama sa yo, ano panama mo dun? mahirap. and then yesterday naman, si may bayot naman, heart attack. ano ba! what's with rock stars these days? huwag niyo kami hawaan ng kapraningan sa health. well, too late...

i sincerely hope those two women recover. i know they will. nakaka-off lang dahil malapit sa edad ko ang mga karakter na to, at ganyan na ang nangyayari sa kanila. hm...

kaya interesting for me panoorin kagabi yung THE CURIOUS CAS E OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. makes you think about life, our temporality regarding mortality, and enjoying whatever comes in between slices of life. review later.

well, bottomline: always be happy, and enjoy. no amount of stress is worth it. pera lang yan. trabaho lang yan. aanhin mo ang payroll kung patay ka na o nasa coma ka? morbid thought, but it's a good reality check nonetheless.

agree?

stripey

Manila Times article "Pride in the name of fashion: Markati Palazzo’s edgewear"

since i updated my cv yesterday, i trawled through the net to look for the things i published last year. and since i've been meaning to archive them here anyway, i'll post most of what i found here, mostly my column pieces na di ko pa pala na-u-upload dito, among other articles.

so this means i'll be reposting some old stuff here, at slight marami-rami sila. bear with me folks. salamat.

***

this one i wrote when i covered the launch of Radar Pridewear in the general Markati Palazzo section launch of The Podium in ortigas.

had i known that the lifestyle editor of manila times had photo coverage problems, i should have brought a stringer with me to cover this event cum fashion show. well, that's what did na since then. ayoko lang na ako ang photographer din at writer (like i did before during my early freelance years) kasi haggard na siya.

radar pridewear is the only openly out lesbian apparel store (yes, kahit ang tindahan, may sexual orientation heheh) in the country, and i am proud of it and its owners, friends tin and rebie. pero hindi naman dahil magsusuot ka ng damit nila e lesbyana ka na rin. unisex nga ang karamihan sa fashions, kung tutuusin, kaya open to all ito. nga lang, wag tayong sabay magsuot nito sa UP, ha. baka akalain ng mga tao e kakanta tayo sa kung saan man heheh.

o sya. tama na ang side chika.

original post here.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Pride in the name of fashion

Markati Palazzo’s edgewear

By Libay Linsangan Cantor, Contributor Early this month, The Podium Mall at Ortigas proudly opened their brand new section called Markati Palazzo, Metro Manila’s newest fashion address. The cozy cul-de-sac type area at one end of the fourth floor is the new location of new fashion apparel and accessories shops created and run by all-Filipino designers and entrepreneurs. Rare fashion finds and stylish target marketing characterize what Markati Palazzo is all about. And when we say fashion, it doesn’t mean your usual off-the-runway type clothes sold at exorbitant prices, with designs that you’re not sure you really want to wear at the office or in a party. This new fashion address breaks those awful truths and non-aesthetic impressions. As the name suggests, the area is a lodging place hosting current trends and innovative styles—a “market,” if you will, where goods are displayed within rows of stores (palazzo is Italian for rows of buildings/apartment flats). The stores in the area are Bobon by Puey Quinones, Hot Pink Lingerie, Limb, Navarro, Radar Pridewear, Laura, Rugged Door, Stella, Central, Wisdom and V. A rundown of the shops would give ideas to achieve this goal: Bobon carries unique semi-formal style gowns with playful prints and long-sleeved polos for men with hand-painted designs. Puey definitely puts the “hot” in haute couture. Lingerie lovers will definitely love what Hot Pink has in store for them. Flash the words lace, see-through, red, black, silk, satin and sexy in your mind, and you get the idea of what their store seduces to offer. The people behind the seduction is Kaye and Carlo Garcia. For those who want to take their fashion style more out of the limb, so to speak, Limb embodies that out-of-the-box appeal in their apparel, where clunky cool accessories and crazy prints give extra color to colorful personalities. The avant-garde RTW designs are by Dimple Lim. Stella carries several trendy day-clothes for those who want to jazz up their usual office garb. They can choose designs from Louis Claparols, Eric de los Santos and Maud. Navarro (by Tina Navarro of Ilaya Couture fame) and Central (by Hazel Santos and Catherine Cavilte) also serve this purpose, with the former carrying not just apparel but colorful bags from Tinsley. Casual daily wear is what Rugged Door (by Jeffrey Rogador) and Wisdom (by Gail Angeles) specialize in, with designs for men and women who want to reinvent the word “smart casual” in a more intelligent and trendier fashion. Laura focuses more on jewelry, watches, bags and even home accessories with designs that span interests among various generations. Young and old alike could use the elegance and the trendy style of the jewelries, necklaces and other accessories they carry. The person behind the style is Laura de Guzman. Meanwhile, V (by Jane Mendoza) flaunts their ruffles and frills in their fashion outfits that any bona fide young (or young at heart) kikay would proudly wear. And when it comes to being proud, perhaps Radar Pridewear embodies a unique kind of pride in Markati Palazzo, as they are the first store in the country to openly target the lesbian community with their shirts, tank tops and polo creations. Yes, for the first time, a store creates apparel designed for women who love women. Making waves At Radar, there are shirts that carry designs pertaining obviously to the lesbian life and lifestyle, such as “Baby D” or “Barbie with a buzz cut” and several designs inspired by the popular US cable TV show about lesbians called The L Word. They also have a somewhat cowboy and/or military-inspired designs of jackets and polos. But not to alienate the non-lesbian female crowd, Radar also has cool and hip shirt designs that anybody could wear, sans Sapphic slogans. Their general design concept carries the philosophy of creating masculine-type designs that compliment the female form. And depending on the woman who would wear it, their fashion sense is adaptable to send differing messages—as androgynously hot, beautifully bi-curious, flirtatiously hetero or pointblank seductive. In the end, the wearer makes the greatest fashion statement which Radar compliments. Definitely, at Markati Palazzo, the young and young-at-heart are invited to discover their own style—and a myriad of fashion finds awaits all.

Manila Times column for 09 January 2009 "100 years, 100 books"

original post here.

THE SCRIBE VIBE
By Libay Linsangan Cantor
100 years, 100 books

The University of the Philippines celebrated its centennial year last 2008. Countless events were lined up and held. Books were also part of the celebration, courtesy of UP Press.

On December 12, 2008, UP Press awarded 100 books they published that received the special “branding” of the 100 Centennial Publications distinction. These are previously published titles that a special board deemed apt to receive such a distinction, primarily due to its contribution in a specific field of study. Thus, honored were literally 100 books from nine different categories (social science, humanities, science, fiction, non-fiction, plays, poetry, literary criticism and literary anthology.

It was very enjoyable to browse through the selections, as UP Press re-launched most of the titles with new book covers, of course bearing the special “UP Press Centennial Publications” imprint. Some titles were unfortunately not reprinted for several reasons, especially those that were printed decades ago. Yes, some books honored were originally published as far back as 1973.

Most of the authors (at least those who are still living) were physically present in the ceremonies. For avowed booklovers, it was a treat seeing them and mingling with them. Professor Emeritus Dr. Damiana Eugenio, for instance, received warm accolades as her famous and thorough seven-series Philippine Folk Literature series were awarded. Interestingly enough, this series, composed of thoroughly researched and compiled material on folk literature (from the epics, folktales, legends, myths, riddles and proverbs) is the most popular and sought-after titles of UP Press. I couldn’t agree more; each volume is an enjoyable read, rich in details and versions of tales from north to south of the country, and very interesting if one is into folklore of any kind. It’s for the young and old alike.

Authors whose books were included in this centennial list are all impressive and well respected in their respective fields. Examples are National Artists NVM Gonzalez, Bienvenido Lumbera, Francisco Arcellana and Rio Alma; respected historians Renato Constantino, Onofre Corpuz and Teodoro Agoncillo; award-winning dramatists Nicolas Pichay, the late Rene Villanueva and Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio; literary bigwigs such as fictionist/creative nonfiction writer Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, poets Ricardo de Ungria, Gemino Abad and J. Neil Garcia, fictionists Jose Dalisay Jr., Jun Cruz Reyes and Vim Nadera, among others.

Head on to UP Press bookstore at Balay Kalinaw in the Diliman campus to browse through these centennial titles. To own some is an investment worth taking, I assure you.

Comments? Suggestions? E-mail libay.scribevibe@gmail.com.

muni-muni morning

sa personal journal ko lang dapat ito, pero parang keri na ring i-share.

-------



9.03a

rainy cloudy mornings like these remind me of when I was small in project 4.

ito yung mga panahong may pasok at as usual, tinatamad akong gumising dahil antok pa ako, at ang gagawin ni lola e kukuha ng basang bimpo at pupunasan ako at bibihisan kahit kalahati ng katawan ko e tulog pa. Walang ligo, pag-uwi na lang from school.

Tapos pag naka-uniform na ako, magmumukmok akong maghihintay sa sala o a may labas ng schoolbus na jeep naman talaga dahil service jeep lang siyang for rent, tapos matutuwa ako kapag in-announce sa AM radio na walang pasok ang mga bata, elementary high school at kolehiyo.

Dali-dali kong huhubarin ang sapatos, medyas, uniform at ihahagis ito sa kung saan man puwedeng ihagis, at magbibihis ng sando o tshirt at shorts pambahay. Saka maglalaro ng jackstones, magco-coloring book o manonood ng cartoons sa TV kung meron nang ume-ere. Tapos hihintayin ko na lang ang katulong o ang lola namin na sumigaw ng “kakain na” ng tanghalian.

Habang hinihintay, makikipag-unahan naman ako sa kanilang kumuha ng ice candy o yelo para ihatid sa mga bumibili sa gate. Susubukan kong humingi rin ng chocolate ice candy kay lola pero pagagalitan niya ako at sasabihing “malamig ang panahon, umuulan na nga, mag-i-ice candy ka pa!” so babalik na lang ako sa kung anuman ang ginagawa ko, hanggang sa ipapalipat na ni lola ang TV sa kung saan mang channel naroon ang Student Canteen o Eat Bulaga kapag lampas alas-onse na. Kapag umere na ang mga palabas na ito, mag-e-expect na ako dahil pamaya-maya lang, meron nang sisigaw ng “kakain na!” at tatakbo ako sa aking designated seat sa mesa, sa right side corner ni lola na siya namang nasa dulo ng mesa, at katapat ko sa mesa si lolo, habang nasa kanan ko ang isa kong tita at nasa kabilang dulo ang bunso kong tita.

Gagayahin ko si lolo sa pag-upo sa mesa na nakatungtong ang kanang paa sa silya para ang tuhod niya ay naka-usli at nakapatong doon ang kanang braso ng kanang kamay na pinanggagamit niya sa pagkain, dahil hindi siya mahilig mag-kubyertos, pero pagagalitan ako ng tita ko sa tabi ko at sasabihing hindi proper way iyon ng pagkain ng isang dalaga. Seven years old lang ako nito ha.

-------

now you know what i'm thinking of every time i stare out into the window to look at the buhos ng ulan sa labas... well, at least one of the thoughts.

dugong: hay, sarap lang sa bahay 'pag umuulan, no?

yucky: oo nga e...

dugong: masarap kasi panalo 'yung view natin, 'no?

yucky: true ka jan 'te.




yucky: hindi siya gloomy sa feeling, ever.

dugong: korak. winner.

oso: pst, hoy kayo, lagi niyo na lang ako iniiwan sa mga chenelyn...

oso: sama ko...

who wants to watch this with me?

the restaging of ZSA ZSA ZATURNNAH ZE MUSICAL.

yes, gumagawa ulit siya ng sequel sa komiks. yehey!

sunday target ko, feb 8 or 15.

got this from tuxqs' blog and carlo's blog as well:

Here is the schedule for the re-staging:

Feb 6, 13 (Fri) 8PM
Feb 7, 14 (Sat) 3PM & 8PM
Feb 8, 15 (Sun) 3PM & 8PM

Mar 6 (Fri) 8PM
Mar 7 (Sat) 3PM & 8PM
Mar 8 (Sun) 3PM & 8PM

Ticket prices: P500, P600 and P700
Venue: Aurelio Tolentino Theater (Little Theater) CCP Complex

Reservation of tickets will start next week, so call Tanghalang Pilipino or CCP. 832-1125 loc. 1620 to 1621
Direct Line 832-3661

Or you can contact Lorelei through 09285518645

from Carlo Vergara's blogsite:

"Wow. I got in touch with Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) and they said that almost all 15 shows have already been bought by show buyers who will be selling the tickets. This means that there's not one single dealer of tickets."

Attention Film 151 Directing students

Here is our assignment:

1. Write an analysis paper on the movie you watched earlier (CHINATOWN).
Focus on the following aspects:
-- Describe the characterization and character development of
the protagonist.
-- Narrate the importance/relevance of the supporting character(s) to the
protagonist and the whole story, in general.
-- What can you say about the plot development? Give sample scenes to
illustrate your points.
-- Comment on the pacing of the story.
-- What do you think is the motivation of the director for making the film
the way he did? Elaborate on your points. Give sample scenes
if necessary.

2. This assignment is to be submitted on the designated day of our submission.

3. Next meeting, we will meet for a lecture right after all of you conclude your
report on directors, particularly Filipino directors.

4. For any clarifications, email me or message me here. Thanks.

thoughts arrive like butterflies

oh wow. now this is news to me! got this from my fezbuk fanpeyj of the band.

tamang-tama, nawala ang cassette ko nito e. CASSETTE PARE! i am a child of the nineties, what can i say? and aylavet!

sana yung vs. album din shet. my pearl jam fave song of all time is there: "daughter." punyetah!

eddie vedder rocks!

i miss the '90s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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PEARL JAM ANNOUNCES THE REISSUE OF BAND’S DEBUT ALBUM, TEN

Today at 12:10pm

PEARL JAM ANNOUNCES THE REISSUE OF BAND’S DEBUT ALBUM, TEN:
FOUR SPECIAL EDITION PACKAGES IN STORES MARCH 24, 2009
TEN CLUB PRE-SALE OF SUPER DELUXE BOX SET BEGINS NOW

Album extras include:
Remaster of original Ten album + remix by producer Brendan O’Brien •
DVD of previously unreleased 1992 Pearl Jam MTV Unplugged performance with 5.1 surround sound audio remix • LP of the band’s 1992 “Drop in the Park” concert • Replica of Pearl Jam three-song demo cassette with Eddie Vedder’s original vocal dubs • Recreation of Eddie Vedder composition notebook • Never before seen memorabilia • Bonus tracks and more.

Ten, the debut album that sold 12 million copies and introduced the world to Pearl Jam in 1991, will be reissued in four (4) new and expanded editions. Pre-orders of the Super Deluxe Edition begin today, through the Ten Club at PearlJam.com. All four editions will be available for purchase on March 24, 2009. The reissue of Ten serves as the launch of a planned two-year catalogue re-release campaign leading up to the band’s 20th anniversary in 2011.

Each Ten package will include two versions of the album: the remastered version of the original album PLUS an accompanying remixed version done by the band’s long-time producer, Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Audioslave). Details on specific extras for each of the four packages are listed below.

“The band loved the original mix of Ten, but were also interested in what it would sound like if I were to deconstruct and remix it,” says producer Brendan O’Brien. “The original Ten sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that. After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original – giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound.”

TEN RE-DESIGN
Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament, who served as the art director for the original Ten packaging, reprised his role for the reissues collaborating with designer, Andy Fischer, of Cameron Crowe’s Vinyl Films (Into the Wild soundtrack LP, Vanilla Sky soundtrack LP, Harold and Maude anniversary edition soundtrack LP).

"The goal was to assemble the ultimate fan-piece,” explains Fischer. “Something Pearl Jam lovers could pore over as they experience an indelible record all over again, in an entirely new way."

“The original concept was about really being together as a group and entering into the world of music as a true band...a sort of all-for-one deal,” says Jeff Ament. “There were some elements of the original Ten artwork that didn't turn out the way we had hoped, due to time constraints. With this reissue, we’ve been able to take our time and invest resources into making the design the way we had originally intended.”

REPLICA OF PEARL JAM 3-SONG DEMO CASSETTE IN SUPER DELUXE EDITION
In the process of digging through his archives for this project, Ament came across an old cassette marked “Momma-Son” – the fabled original Pearl Jam demo tape featuring the first recorded versions of “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps.” Ament and guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready had recorded instrumental tracks of these songs to help solicit a singer for their newly formed band. Mutual friend - and then Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer - Jack Irons suggested they send the tape down to San Diego surfer and little-known singer Eddie Vedder.

Completely inspired by what he heard from these musicians that he then only knew by name, Vedder quickly wrote lyrics, put these vocals to the music tracks and shipped the tape back to Seattle. Upon hearing how Vedder had transformed the songs, Ament, Gossard and McCready asked him to come up to Seattle so they could meet and have an official “tryout” together. Shortly thereafter, Pearl Jam was born. (A replica of the “Momma-Son” cassette will be included in the Super Deluxe Edition of Ten.)

Jeff Ament describes the experience of re-visiting that tape with singer Eddie Vedder:
“I think the first time that Ed or I had opened any of those boxes was a few weeks ago. I knew that the original ‘Momma-Son’ cassette was somewhere, but I hadn’t listened to it in 17, 18, 19 years. It was cool to sit down and play it for the first time with Ed and see his reaction. And to find that 90% of it stayed exactly the same as what ended up on the record. A lot of elements were identical. There was some energy flying around at that point even from 1,300 miles away from Seattle to San Diego.”

THE FOUR EDITIONS OF TEN: ALBUM EXTRAS PER PACKAGE

1. Legacy Edition (2-disc set in mini-LP style slipcase):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· Re-designed packaging

2. Deluxe Edition (2-disc set plus DVD specially designed hardbound package):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· DVD of Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 MTV Unplugged performance including never before seen bonus performance of “Oceans” with 5.1 surround sound audio remix

3. Vinyl Collection (2-LP set)
· LP 1: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl
· LP 2: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl and remixed by Brendan O’Brien

4. Super Deluxe Edition (2-disc set plus DVD, 4 LPs and replica cassette in linen-covered, slip-cased clamshell box):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· DVD of Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 MTV Unplugged performance including never before seen bonus performance of “Oceans” with 5.1 surround sound audio remix
· LP 1: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl
· LP 2: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl and remixed by Brendan O’Brien
· LP 3 & 4: Drop in the Park – Live at Magnuson Park in Seattle on September 20, 1992 (audio mixed by Brendan O’Brien)
· Cassette: replica of original “Momma-Son” Pearl Jam demo cassette featuring “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps”
· Package also includes an Eddie Vedder-style composition notebook filled with replica personal notes, images and mementos from the collections of Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament, a vellum envelope with replicated era-specific ephemera from Pearl Jam’s early work and a two-sided print commemorating the Drop in the Park concert.