Manila Times column for 07 June 2009: "To be read and watched by (almost) all"

original post here.

plugging. for more!

dapat last week of may column ko ito pero nagkaroon nga ng tech glitch sila sa newsroom. so...

THE SCRIBE VIBE
By Libay Linsangan Cantor
To be read and watched by (almost) all

Ideally, writers would really want their books to be read by a lot of people, their screenplays or stage plays to be made into films or plays that will be watched by many. But by “a lot,” does that mean almost everybody in the planet or the country? That might be a hard feat to achieve no matter what type of writing you do.

Creative writers usually include universal themes in their writings, such as falling in love, heartbreak, betrayal, and all those things that have been used over and over in literature, film and TV melodramas. But in essence, writers ideally have a target audience to begin with when they write; it makes crafting the plot easier, and it is also challenging to discover what kind of story development/details will excite a particular audience.

This is the reason why I chose to decline writing for a TV show before called Lovely Day, which I eventually directed when the producers decided to remake it from a plain newsmagazine type to a hybrid of narrative fantasy-newsmagazine. The executive producer (or EP) proposed that since I was already directing the show, I should also try my hand at writing the main narrative script since it might be easier for me to direct what I wrote. I mulled over it and asked who the primary target audience of the show was. Her answer startled me: anyone from age 2 to 92. Wow, that’s a large scope to please in thirty minutes, nationwide! I don’t think a single narrative storyline will captivate that wide an age range at any given time. Nothing is that universal, not even love (or Pacquiao’s boxing matches). I mean, could a 5-year-old fathom love like how a 60-year-old would? I don’t think so. So as much as I wanted to go back to writing children’s or family-oriented TV shows, I declined.

Last month, I was offered to be the scriptwriter of a new show. Since the focus is clearer this time (with the EP clearly labeling it as a “children’s show”), I accepted. This time, the audience is clearer, as it is going to be aimed at preschool viewers, grade school students and everyone in between that age range. Of course it helps if parents and other relatives from other age ranges would watch it, but that’s just an added bonus. The show, called Happy Land, replaces Lovely Day in its Saturday morning time slot of 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at GMA7; it premiered yesterday.

The show is primarily educational in nature but with a mix of fantasy and reality narrative storylines in it. Let’s see just how wide an audience it will reach this time.

Comments? Suggestions? E-mail libay.scribevibe@gmail.com. She is also at libaycantor.multiply.com.

LDFG vs. Specter: Lovely Day ep I directed saturday morning

shameless plug, as always.

okay lang kung di niyo panoorin. buksan niyo lang ang tv sa ch7 at this time, then sleep again. it works sa ratings!

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please tune in to GMA7 this saturday morning at 9:30am and support this 30-minute program.
i directed this episode.

never mind the time in the photo. the show now airs at 9:30am, not 10am. Airing on February 28, 2009

LDFG vs. Specter

Airing on February 28, 2009
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

Softball

The all-girl team of the Muntinlupa Little League has really proven their worth in the game of softball: they just clinched the right to represent NCR in the coming National Games this April!

Hosts Bea Binene and Gabby Roxas will meet the team members and learn the basics of this sport from the coach herself! Coach Nina will teach the two kids how to throw the perfect pitch and strike a winning home run! Bea and Gabby will also meet the youngest member of the league: 10-year old Kevyn Ann Lacson, who has been playing softball since she was 6!

Photography

Click! Click! It seems like when it comes to taking beautiful pictures, there are no limits for the students of Kids Ahoy, the country’s only photography school for kids.

From pretty portraits to exciting action shots, kids learn the basics of taking pictures in Kids Ahoy. One of its A-students is Alon Severino, the son of broadcast journalist Howie Severino. Alon will teach Host Bea Binene how to frame shots properly and how to creatively capture memorable moments!

LDFG vs. Specter

The evil partnership of Raijin and the Professor has conceived another evil plan to take the powers of the LD Force: The Specter! The Specter is a ghoulish creature that could suck courage from people, and its main goal is to take the LD Force’s bravery! Both Raijin and the Professor hope that through Specter, the Ld Force will finally surrender their powers!

Will Specter succeed in sucking the courage of the team? How will Love, Bea, Gabby, and Jacob be able to deflect Specter’s power? Find out in Lovely Day Force of the Guardians this Saturday, 9:30 AM on GMA-7!





About the show:

LD Force of the Guardians is the first fantasy – magazine show in Philippine Public Affairs programming. Airing every Saturday at 10 am, the program is starred by Love Anover, Bea Binene, Gabby Roxas and Jacob Raterta.

Formerly known as Lovely Day, this weekly morning show has successfully evolved from a good news magazine show to a fantasy - educational family show, until it created its own genre in television dubbed as the “fanta-zine" – a program that delivers educational and useful information through an entertaining and exciting format.

THE NEW SEASON

In the new season, we will see the old Lovely Day Force transform into a stronger league of heroes, the Lovely Day Force of the Guardians.

The episodes that will be aired every week will be part of a series that will delve even deeper into the lives of Love, Bea, Gabby and Jacob and the new challenges that await them.

The new season will also introduce new characters that are bound to spice up your early Saturday viewing experience: Mimoy, the guru who will guide the four, and Raijin, the Lord of Lightning and the arch nemesis who heads a host of monster minions.

Each episode promises to give you a rollercoaster ride of drama, comedy, action and suspense that will surely keep you glued to the succeeding episodes.

THE NEW STORIES

The new LD will also bring you the latest and freshest stories for both male and female audiences, young and old alike. These segments will be smoothly interwoven with the fantasy narrative each week.

As Love, Bea, Gabby and Jacob explore their new powers and fight new battles, they will also bring you the latest information and interesting features on different topics.

In her weekly reports, Love gives you the latest on what’s happening around the metro. She looks into the newest breakthroughs and discoveries in and out of the Philippines. She also features inspiring stories of ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

Bea brings you the latest kikay scoop in beauty and fashion. She also checks out the hippest gadgets, cutest toys and coolest inventions that are in with the youth today.

Gabby scouts for the best restaurants and eating spots serving the most delicious dishes.

Jacob explores the popular and hidden wonders of the Philippines and of the world. He also features stories on how to take care of the environment, one of the LD Force of the Guardians’ most important missions.

THE AWARD-WINNING HISTORY

Lovely Day’s first episode aired on April 3, 2004. Back then, it was a magazine show that delivered the good news to the viewers’ homes to make their weekends lovely and happy.

A few months later, Lovely Day explored the fantasy genre to include the interests of a wider and younger audience. The program presented informative segments interwoven by a fantasy narrative.

The new format was well-received by the public and Lovely Day was able to maintain a loyal following every week.

In 2006, Lovely Day celebrated its second anniversary with an anime-inspired fantasy narrative introducing the new band of superheroes, the Lovely Day Force.

Although the format has changed over the years, Lovely Day’s aim stayed the same: to deliver educational information, to impart good values and to empower people to live lovely lives.

This was recognized by reputable award-giving bodies as Lovely Day received a number of awards and recognitions:
• Catholic Mass Media Awards, Best Children’s Show (2005)
• US Television and Film Festival Certificate of Excellence (2006)
• Anak TV Seal Awardee (2005, 2006 & 2007)

irony of ironies, and shameless pluggings

dito ko muna i-post ang weekly column ko. may shameless plugs kasi, at konting muni-muni.

ito munang column. original post here.

THE SCRIBE VIBE
By Libay Linsangan Cantor
The Relationship Anthology re-vibe

It’s no secret that writers pull bits and pieces of their lives and use that information as jumping off points to create something bigger, grander and oftentimes more poignant literary works than their original tidbit inspirations. But what if the literary work one was asked to write was about the life of the writer per se, particularly one important aspect of that life?

In January, Linda Panlilio, a former creative writing schoolmate, asked me to contribute a nonfiction piece for another broadsheet’s Valentine’s Day special section focusing on different types of relationships. She was tasked to be this special section’s editor. Being the “default local lesbian literary writer” of late, I have always been invited to submit works on lesbian lives —which I am just too happy to oblige. I wrote about my personal transitions from relationship to relationship, formulating a set of criteria in the end as to what I finally want out of a relationship with a woman. It ended with a happy note that I found those criteria in the person I was with at that time.

The special section was a hit. Panlilio said Karina Bolasco of Anvil Publishing was interested to do a book version, and asked us to expand on our original articles, which we did. However, when it was time for me to revise my material, I didn’t feel up to it. That was around June, the time when I was feeling that something was wrong in my relationship. Perhaps that was a sign given by my literary goddesses to be wary of what was to come in my love life—a heartbreak in August. As I was reeling from the break-up experience, I just left the fate of my unrevised essay to the hands of Panlilio and Bolasco, thinking that it was okay if they rejected it or not. Luckily, they didn’t.

Two months after the break-up, I suddenly find myself back in a relationship with someone new—a wonderful girl named Phia—plus I receive an announcement that the anthology is now called Belonging: Stories of Relationships to be launched on October 29 at Powerbooks Greenbelt 4 around 6 p.m.

I can’t even begin to count the dramatic ironies that will happen that day, as I will attend the launch with a new girlfriend to receive my copy featuring an old one.

Life is full of ironies, indeed.

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



kakaiba, ano? bungad yan nitong shameless plug na ito:

Anvil Publishing, Inc.
cordially invites you to the launching of

Belonging: Stories of Relationships

Edited by
Erlinda Enriquez Panlilio

Featuring essays by:
Myrna A. Adriano, Dean Francis Alfar, Joi Barrios, Libay Linsangan Cantor, Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz, Rina Jimenez David, Simeon Dumdum, Jr., Monina Delgado Enage & Rica Enage Villalon, Alya B. Honasan, Angelo “Sarge” R. Lacuesta, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Ed Maranan, Maria Cristina D. Olbes, Marily Ysip Orosa, Erlinda Enriquez Panlilio, Danton Remoto, Michael L. Tan, Edith L. Tiempo, Rowena Tiempo Torrevillas, Xin Mei and Alfred A. “Krip” Yuson.

Poems by:
Gemino H. Abad and Ricardo M. De Ungria

October 29, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Powerbooks , Greenbelt 4
Makati City

RSVP
Rho-ann Vinluan 6375141


"... a myriad of interpersonal relationships, as viewed, examined, described and appreciated by 23 authors."
- from the Introduction

if not for the book cover photo... haggard. tumbling. but well, nonetheless, no remorse. only... blah. ewan. i don't even have a word for it. and i'm a writer! imagine that.

notice the lgbt line-up of the anthology. happy!

puwedeng pumunta/sumama sa booklaunch. ano, tara?


*

pero nood muna kayo nito sa sabado ng umaga:

opo, ako na naman ang nagdirek nito. halloween special siya so you know what to expect.

sayang lang at di ko na-achieve dito ang dream sequence/shot ko na hallway mirror effect na nasa CONTACT (that scene na bata pa si ellie at tumatakbo sya sa hallway only to reveal na reflection sa mirror ito all along, thanks to ingenious cgi fx).

well, next time.

again, dedma sa oras sa pix. 9.30am na po ito ng umaga, sabado, kapuso network.

LDFG vs. EVIL REFLECTION

Airing on October 25, 2008
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

Kalabasa

At the Institute of Plant Breeding in UP Los Baños, Gabby discovers one important thing about his favorite squash: IT’S NOT A VEGETABLE, BUT A FRUIT! In his visit to the farm, he also learns more about the different kinds of squash and finds out that mouth-watering desserts could be prepared by just using this fleshy fruit. He gets to taste squash-flavored Pinoy sweets like maha blanca and kutsinta!

Gabby also learns how to make his own Jack-o-Lantern with the help of Mr. Rex Puentespina, using gigantic squash specially cultivated for this purpose. Jack-O-Lanterns are believed to repel bad spirits through the light it emits. Gabby tests his creative skills with Kuya Rex and carves out one big Jack-O- Lantern from a very plump pumpkin!

Halloween preparations

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without scary masks! To make her Halloween experience really scary, Ate Love Añover visits the studio of prosthetics expert Adrian Batoctoy and tries out his masks and prosthetic make-ups! With Kuya Adrian’s expertise, Love transforms herself into a terrifying zombie!

What is Halloween without the yummy Halloween food? With the help of Chef Mia Yan, host Bea Binene prepares cute Halloween treats like caramel apples, devilish eggs, and skull chocolate lollipops! They may look scary, but they’re definitely yummy!

LDFG vs. Evil Reflection

As the LD Force’s powers grow stronger, Raijin the Lord of Lightning continues to find ways to destroy them! This time, his evil spirit minion possesses an old mirror, and anyone who uses this evil mirror will be attacked by his own evil reflection!

What happens to the Guardians if Bea, Jacob, and Gabby are victimized by this evil mirror? Will Love be able to save them from the attacks of their own evil reflection? Find out this Saturday in Lovely Day Force of the Guardians, now airing at 9:30 in the morning on GMA-7.

---

Kalabasa

Sa Institute of Plant Breeding sa UP Los Baños, isang bagay ang matutuklasan ni Gabby tungkol sa kalabasa: isa pala itong… PRUTAS! Dito, makikita rin niya ang iba’t ibang uri ng kalabasa at ang mga katakam-takam na desserts na puwedeng gawin gamit ito, tulad ng maja blanca at kutsinta! Pero hindi lang pala pampalinaw ng mata ang kalabasa, dahil ang masarap na prutas, in na in din palang dekorasyon tuwing Halloween!

Kasama si Kuya Rex Puentespina, gagawa si Gabby ng kauna-unahan niyang Jack-O-Lantern! Gawa sa inukit na kalabasa at kandila, pinaniniwalaang proteksyon daw laban sa masasamang epsiritu ang ilaw mula sa mga Jack-O-Lantern. Cute kaya o nakakatakot ang gagawing Jack-O-Lantern ni Gabby?

Halloween preparations

Hindi lang mga nakakatakot na Halloween décor ang nagpapasaya at nagbibigay kulay tuwing Halloween, kundi pati mga maskara rin! Expert diyan si Kuya Adrian Batoctoy kaya naman bibisitahin siya ni Ate Love para makita ang mga gawa niyang maskara at prosthetic make-up. Sa tulong ng prosthetic expertise ni Kuya Adrian, si Ate Love, magiging isang zombie!

Pero ano ang Halloween party kung wala ang mga cute at masasarap na Halloween food? Ituturo ni Chef Mia Yan kay Bea kung paano gumawa ng caramel apple, devilish eggs, at skull chocolate lollipops na talaga naming magdadagdag ng kabusugan sa nakakatakot na kasiyahan!

LDFG vs. Evil Reflection

Ngayong panahon ng Todos Los Santos, gagamitin ni Raijin ang kanyang kapangyarihan para manakot at talunin ang Force of the Guardians! Isang lumang salamin ang sasapian ng alagad niyang masamang espiritu, at mabibiktima ng salaming ito ang sinumang haharap ditto dahil sa kanilang mga “evil reflection!"

Ano ang mangyayari kung mismong ang LD Force ang magiging biktima at aatakihin ng mga Evil Reflection nila? Paano sila sasagipin ni Ate Love kung lahat ng galaw nila’y tatapatan ng kanilang evil reflection? Abangan sa Lovely Day Force of the Guardians, ngayong Sabado, 9:30 ng umaga sa GMA-7.



ang saya-saya!

*

it's just funny how i am tasked to direct horror-focused episodes when in fact, i hate watching horror stuff, especially movies. my boss anne was able to articulate why earlier, during the shiftees exam chitchat we had. interesting ang theory niya. pag over-the-top horror daw, i can handle it because i know it's detached from reality ek, pero pag medyo psychological ang effect, di ko daw keri kasi it sticks in my psyche or something like that. i revealed kasi how i hate scary movies pero my favorite holiday is the american halloween. weird.

but i guess that's why i'm kinda effective as a horror director. i know how it is to get scared, and i know what scares the bejeezus out of peeps, so i know how to execute "scary." well, that's my theory. or see the ratings na lang ng eps na nadidirek ko heheh (uy, nagre-rate siya! or at least, lampaso kalaban pag horror-horror heheh).

pero kung horror lang naman, horror nga yung book cover ng anthology hahaha! malay ko bang gagamitin nila yung picture! shyet. zoom in on the righthand bottom corner to see what i'm talking about.

ewan.

i've half a mind not to promote the anthology, and the other half contemplates on posting the actual essay included in the book here in this blog, para wag na kayong bumili ng book hehe. this is the longer version of that inquirer article which came out last february.

yahyahyahyahyah. wotevah.

ano sa tingin niyo?

madali akong kausap.

PANOORIN SA SABADO: motorcyclist from hell, literal

opo, ako na naman po ang nagdirek nito. ang hirap niyang i-shoot ha. hay...

again, dedma sa oras sa photo. mas maaga na siya.

nood kayo. o buksan lang tv tas tulog ulit hehe.

LOVELY DAY
Force of the Guardians
Saturday 9:30-10am
GMA-7

"SPEED DEMON KNIGHT " episode
Airing on October 4, 2008
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

Speed stacking

Host Bea Binene witnesses a competition of wit and speed in a Speed Stacking event! Here, kids will race to complete cycles of stacking cups in a matter of seconds. Speed Stacking was invented by American Professor Wayne Godinet to amuse his students during class. Now, it has become a rising fad, and one of its avid fans in the Philippines is 10-year old Joshua Calidades, who can stack cups in under 10 seconds!

Meanwhile in a Rubik’s Cube-solving event, Bea meets kids who have the extraordinary talent of completing a Rubik’s cube! A Rubik’s cube is a mechanical cube puzzle that has its faces covered with 9-solid colored stickers. It uses a pivot mechanism that allows players to turn the faces independently and make them complete a solid color. Rubik’s cube has become so popular in the Philippines that even kids became avid fans like 6-year old JR Simbulan, who can complete the cube in less than a minute!

Karting

Meanwhile host Jacob Raterta gets dirty on the road as he attends a karting competition. Here, he meets champion racer Milo Rivera, who became champion at the Asian Karting Open at the age of thirteen! Through the help of Pia Boren, a racer and instructor from the Tuason Racing Team, Jacob gets to try karting.

In his visit to Richard Pacheco’s house, Jacob also finds out that cool race cars aren’t only found on the race track. Because Richard has a collection of more than sixty F1 model cars in his home and some of these models cost more than 10 thousand pesos! Part of his prized collection is a model of F1 idol Michael Schumacher and his winning Ferrari.

LDFG vs. Speed Demon Knight

Speed Demon Knight is a very powerful monster who was formed from the negative energies of car accidents and road mishaps. Using his flaming motorcycle with Demonic Strength and Demonic Speed, he aims to wreak more havoc on the streets! His speed is unbeatable, frightening and beating anyone who would dare to race with this him.

But this time, he’s the one making the challenge and takes the LD Force to a dangerous race! How will the LD Force outsmart and beat Speed Demon Knight? Can the power of the Guardians match Speed Demon Knight’s strength and speed?

gabby transforms into a motorcycle in this ep,
hence the need for the chroma green screen

bakit ang mahal magpunta sa tagaytay?

some thoughts lang before i sleep.

i got some email replies today about tariff chorvas sa iba't ibang places sa tagaytay. akala ko naman mas mura ng di hamak dahil ito ang iniisip kong alternative sa baguio trip sana. huwag ka. sky high. mas mainam pa atang mag-baguio na lang ang byuti ko. sobra lang!

what i want is a simple single-room occupancy chorva with a view of something nice, preferably the taal chorva or whatnot doon. eh ang mahal potah. yung mura, wala namang view. hay. hirap.

may alam ka ba? pachika nga. kainis...

hmp. baka baguio rin kalabasan ko nito if ever. arrrrr.

gusto ko na magsulaaaaaaaaat!

*

just came from a shoot today. buti na lang pala at na-move ang editing for the upcentennial chorva to tomorrow. kung hindi, libay lupaypay ang drama ko ngayon. lurlur to the max, mega-lotlot itey. hay. pero tiredness pa rin. the shoot involved moving vehicles kasi, notably motorcycles (yes, dalawa sila) and a van. heraf. pero excited din ako makita kasi we have a new sfx guy on board, and i like the way he works. okay naman. ma-discuss ang lolo. i like that. e dapat lang naman e!

*

lesson learned din: don't party in malate with lgbt peeps the night before a shoot hehe. leaves you with a few hours of sleep lang. owenu! fun fun fun lang sa bed kagabi e. i miss club dancing like that. been ages! well, weeks actually ehehehe.

launch ng invoice magazine kahapon. tumambling lang ang predominantly gay crowd when the lezpinay dancers came out and, er, did their thang. hahaha! funny ito! nalibugan ata ang mga bakla sa sayaw na pangbyaning. hehehe char.

hay... so many gay guys, so few of us... lagi naman e. as my former isis boss once said, napakaliit ng letter L sa lgbt sa events na ganito. well... sayang. kung may third dimension pa ngayon, hane? ang sasaya lang ng mga araw na yon...

oh well...

but i had fun last night. was with friends, and that's what matters. happy kami. dance dance. yebah! sa susunod ulit. next stop: government!

o yung mga nais sumama diyan ha, maghanda na kayo hehehe. choz. pride season is on its way na, kaya dadami na naman ang ganitong mga chevers.

it's yay to be gay!

PANOORIN SA SABADO: taong lobo naglayag sa lamesa ecopark!

e basta ganun ang drama! minus angel locsin hahaha!

watch na lang kayo. o kung ayaw niyo watch, open your tv to gma7 then sleep again hehehe. it helps in the ratings, men. :P oo ako nagdirek nito!

again, dedma sa time sa pictyur. 930a na po kami, sabado, kapuso network (gma7). LOVELY DAY!!! bago mag-KA-BLOG.

LDFG vs. Halimamaw

Airing on September 6, 2008
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

Tugak ng Pampanga

Pampanga is known as the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines" because of their mouth-watering dishes. But what makes Kapampangan cooking different from other Pinoy cuisines is their choice of ingredients! They can choose anything under the sun and turn it into savory cuisines. Even frogs!

Host Gabby Roxas tries to catch and cook frogs with Romy Martinez, a supplier of frogs to various restaurants in Pampanga. Because of the numerous rice fields in the province, several frog species have thrived in the area, giving farmers the opportunity to invent various dishes using this amphibian. There’s Betute Tugak or fried frog stuffed with ground pork, and the town’s specialty, Tinolang Palaka. Gabby gets to taste these succulent yet extremely exotic dishes this Saturday!

Puppet festival

Meanwhile, host Love Añover witnesses the first ever Philippine Puppetry Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines! Love gets the chance to see special presentations by puppeteers using Marionnettes or string puppets, and watch children’s stories unfold before her eyes through rod puppetry!

Love also meets Ony Carcamo, a professional ventriloquist. He has the ability to control his mouth and voice and make it seem like the puppet is really talking! With the help of Ony, Love tries her hand at ventriloquism. Will she be able to pass as a ventriloquist?!

LDFG vs. Halimamaw

A rumor is spreading: a monster is terrorizing a small town, hunting children and devouring their hearts with his sharp teeth! It’s the mission of the LD Force to find this monster and stop him from further scaring the town!

But how will the LD Force defeat the creature’s monstrous strength and speed if Bea is not with them? Will they have the courage to face Halimawmaw?

jan ka lang halimaawww

some behind the scenes at the pitik section of my multiply.

PANOORIN BUKAS: si mariang makiling naging dementor!!!

er, at least that's how i see it heheh. watch this ep. i directed it. bukas na ito! mas maaga: 9:30am na siya. umaga ha. sabado. gma7 kapuso network.

don't mind the photo's time. lumang pictorial na kasi yan e. 9:30, not 10.

LDFG vs. Luningning Praning-ning

Airing on August 30, 2008
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.

Toothpaste factory

Do you want to know what the secret is behind clean and sparkling white teeth? Host Love Anover finds out in her visit to a toothpaste factory!

Inside the factory, Love witnesses how the toothpaste’s ingredients are mixed together and placed inside their tubes! She even lends a hand to the workers by placing tubes of toothpaste inside their respective boxes! Love also gets the chance to see how the yummy kiddie flavors of toothpaste such as Bubblegum Pop and Cookies and Cream Ahoy are made.

All about hair

In this visit to a one-of-a kind salon for kids, Host Bea Binene turns her image like her favorite Barbie Doll! In Pink Salon by Barbie, kids can choose to look like a rockstar with the Barbie Diva hairstyle, or become like a princess with the Barbie Fairytopia hairstyle!

Bea’s quest for learning more about hair doesn’t stop in the salon. Bea visits the European Wig Factory to learn everything about hair and witness how wigs are made for all occasions! She also meets Tessa Prieto-Valdes, a celebrity who loves to wear all sorts of hair wigs!

LDFG vs. Luningning Praning-ning

With her super powerful Hilo-Hilo Sibat, Luningning Praning-ning terrorizes anyone who gets in her way, including the LD Force!

Luningning is a wood nymph who used to live in a lush forest, but because humans have turned her forest to a park, the plants and animals in that forest died! Luningning cursed this park by making people lose their way inside it! How will the LD Force lift Luningning’s curse in the park? Will they be able to unite and defeat Luningning if they themselves can’t find each other?

baka lumabas si luningning...hmm...

weekend watch: shows na andun ako :)

shameless self-plugs muna. :)

this saturday's episode of LOVELY DAY ay ako ang nagdirek. nood kayo. masaya siya, dahil outer space sci-fi siya at maaksyon, dalawang bagay na gusto ko sa isang show/film hehe. saturday morning 10am po ito. gma7. gising!

here's the pr from the website:

LDFG vs. Dex, Space Ninja Destructo and Ultragirl

Airing on May 24, 2008
Saturday, 10 a.m.


RC Cars

This Saturday, Ate Love witnesses a big race of small proportions as she goes to the 11th Tamiya Asia Cup, a speed race devoted to remote-controlled toy cars! In the race, Ate Love discovers that these radio controlled cars aren’t just toys, but mini versions of real cars! Race enthusiasts use gasoline to make these cars work and they even have their own service center for repairs and tune-ups! Join Love as she meets the RC car collectors and learns more about this fun-filled and exciting sport.

RC Planes and Boats

Meanwhile, Jacob becomes a captain for a day when he goes to Cavite and takes command of remote-controlled boats and planes!

Jacob meets hobbyists who collect RC ships, airplanes and helicopters and learns how to operate and take good care of these miniature models. Prices of these RC toys could reach more than a hundred thousand pesos each, but hobbyists say that the big amount of money that they spend on these collections is worth the fun and excitement that they get when they maneuver them on water and air!

LDFG vs. Dex, Space Ninja Desctructo & Ultragirl

The enemies of the LD Force are growing in numbers! A new foe arises this week as child genius Dex is possessed by a dark force to wreak havoc in the universe!

Using his Mind Remote Control, Dex manipulates the minds of his intergalactic friends, Space Ninja Destructo and Ultragirl, to do bad deeds and inflict chaos to our world.

Will the LD Force be able to defeat Dex’s dark powers and release the two alien visitors from his mind control?

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may behind the scenes pix na kinunan ang friend ko pero saka ko na ilagay pag nabigyan niya ko ng kopya :).

it was a hoot directing this ep because we shot it sa museo pambata, sa favorite section ko doon na tuklas science chenes na may moonrock. bilang meron akong ellie arroway mode hehe (jodie foster sa contact) e dun ako nag-concentrate mag-shoot sa moonrock area. masaya naman. tapos pinatalon-talon ko si ninja doon sa hagdanan etc na magaling namang nakunan ni kuya billy da camguy namin. maaksyon din na pinagtulungan naming i-choreo na fight scenes ni ninja, dahil isa siyang fight instructor in real life (na pinaarte na rin nila para tipid hehe).

don't forget to check out my manila times column today: i talk about the myth of writer's block.

at saka last week nga pala, sa column ko, sinagot ko yung isang infamous column ni blogger sassy lawyer na nakairita lang naman sa local literati at sa mga may katinuang pinoy na nakakaintindi na dapat e hindi natin nililigwak ang tagalog books natin. hay. misguided siyang tunay... pagkatapos ng maraming sumagot sa kanya tulad nina ian casocot at iba pa, saka pati pala si adrian cristobal ba? forgot, basta na-mention ito ni rio alma na may sumagot na ring iba, e may rebuttal ulit si sassy chorva, na slight misguided pa rin e... oh well... i guess she just doesn't get it. some people just don't, really...

anyway, here's ian's original post na nakapukaw ng atensyon ko sa isyu, at isang update niya about what others are saying, and then another one pa on the misguided rejoinder article, plus his last post on the issue na nasingit ako hehe. my former CW classmate, novelist ichi batacan, also wrote a very very very nice rebuttal about it, focusing on the dumbing down of teaching! hallelujah relate ako ditich! [EDIT: may latest sagot si sassy chuchu kahapon dito. grabeh, sobra na ang highest level of misguidednessssssssss...]

ang saya saya! who said philippine literary writers are a bunch of boring zombies? hehe.

ay, today nga rin pala, lumabas na ang feature article ko about the markati palazzo launch (pix nasa pitik section) na may special focus sa radar pridewear, our favorite apparel store of late (aside from uberfinds, pero saka ko na ire-reveal sa inyo yun, aangkinin ko muna for now heheheh).

ay isa pa pala! manood kayo sa qtv11 naman ng ANG PINAKA this sunday 6pm yata. the show features the topic "fabulous mamas turned papas" ek on women who played lesbians in philippine cinema ek. so syempre, lesbian+cinema=libay hehe. ganun ata lately ang formula na nakikita ko sa mga media chorvas ko na yan hehe. ininterbyu rin ang prof friend and fellow lez roselle pineda at saka si nonoy lauzon na katrabaho ko sa UPFilm Institute.

happy weekend! whew! daming chorva!

well, look who's back...on TV

that would be me. doing this. again.




parang summer job ko na lagi ang magdirek ng show na ito a. hm...

here's the official PR i lifted from the show's site.

"LDFG versus Takaw Mamaw"

Airing on April 19, 2008
Saturday, 10 a.m.

Kiddie Kitchen Camp

Do you want a summer activity that’s not just interesting but can also ease your hunger?

Love, Bea and Gabby joins the Kiddie Kitchen Camp, a summer workshop that teaches kids how to cook and bake! Here, Bea and Gabby, together with Ate Love will try their hand at cooking and learn how to make Nuggets & Cheese Fondue, Ham & Cheese Quesadillas and Toasty Apple Pie. Your appetite will surely be awakened by the tasty treats our little chefs will prepare!

Il Pirata

Pirates don’t only exist in storybooks and movies, they can also be seen in… restaurants?

Il Pirata Restaurant is a pirate themed restaurant with seafood specialties and waiters dressed as pirates. Gabby will try their Pizza Serena, a gigantic pizza that’s a half-meter wide! He will also taste the Black Nero Pasta, with a sauce that is made out of squid ink! Gabby also learns the history of piracy as he fills his tummy with this mouth-watering food trip.

LDFG vs. Takaw Mamaw

Raijin has fallen into the Pit of No Return, but the LD Force’s fight against evil is not yet over.

The LD Force meets Maui, a good-hearted chef whose only goal is to cook healthy and sumptuous meals. But an evil spirit possesses Maui and turns her into Takaw Mamaw, a monster who uses her delicious yet poisonous bread to make people’s tummies hurt!

Will Takaw Mamaw succeed in tempting the LD Force to eat her dangerous bread? Watch out as the team fights this bloated monster in Lovely Day Force of the Guardians this Saturday.

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since it's a news and public affairs show, may segments na informative chever. pero ang tahi pa rin nun ay yung narrative portion na 2/3 ng show nakikita. yung narrative ang dinidirek ko. they used to call it spiels pero it's more than that na nga since naging narrative na may fictional kuwento ang approach. ikalawang bihis na ito ng fictional focus. may costume costume pa rin pero iba na ang quality ng powers at may main villain na silang kaharap chever.

it's like directing a short film every week. literally. hay. pero masaya naman kapag masaya ang cast and crew. this time around, masaya na lahat. wala nang negativity center kasi, nasipa na. kaya nga i'm back e. the world is at peace.

which goes to show na talagang ang pagpapatakbo ng isang bagay ay nakasalalay sa harmonious co-existence ng good leadership and amiable constituents. achieve na ito this time around. happy for them.

wala akong behind the scenes photos because i didn't bring my cam this time. i was imagining a whole day affair of feeling the vibe there again after some time, kaya i needed to focus on that lang. at saka haggard ang summer sun kaya walang extra energy to be super happy for pitiks.

pero happy naman ito. goal pa rin is to shoot for a day. hiraf. extra hiraf pag medyo hindi happy ang ibang talents. hay... pero kekerihin na yan ng special fx.

PLEASE WATCH THE SHOW THIS SATURDAY MORNING, 10am! gma7.

help with our ratings. just turn on your tv at this time and tune in sa kapuso network. tapos tulugan niyo na hehe. okay lang, basta mag-rate.

feedback always welcome. kahit nega. go!