Feel Good Movie Anyone?

Eric (Gerald Anderson) and Roan (Sarah Geronimo)

Reminders to myself the next time I plan to watch a local movie with light romantic comedy theme:

1. Ignore the plot of the story. These type of movies are created only to appeal to the cheesiness side of the viewers. The fun and "kilig" moments will definitely compensate for the shallow story line. Try to focus on the mushy lines though. These might come handy in the future as "pick-up" lines.
2. Never set high expectations on the skills of the actors. Usually the strategy of the producers in order for the film to sell and earn gazillion of revenues, is to hire the most in demand showbiz personalities as main characters. In demand not because they are effective at what they do but plainly because they are damn good looking. Okay I have to make an exception here. Sarah Geronimo (Roan Sanchez from Caloocan) did a good job performing her role. I thought that the so called chemistry between her and Gerald Anderson (Eric son of the president) worked because of her almost natural approach to the character.
3. Reserve seats online to avoid the hassle of waiting in long queue. The cinema house will be predominantly occupied by ladies, both the real ones and those who are still hoping that one day a fairy god mother will appear in front of them and grant their long time wish to become like one of their girl friends. And what does it mean when girls get together to have fun??? LOUD.

I know that social norms dictate that a single guy cannot watch this type of movie alone and so I gather some friends (Amie, Reana, and Ron from Malabon) to join me. I have to be honest, Sarah Geronimo was the only reason why I was eager to watch this movie. I thought that she was amazing in "A Very Special Love" which convince me to see her in the big screen this time with "Catch Me, I'm In Love". Her antics are near to reality perfection which was well applauded by the moviegoers. Gerald was just okay although I still think that there is something wrong with his voice. The deep modulation sounds fake to me. Aside from clarity of the script, I think the tone of the voice plays an important aspect in conveying the sincerity of the role the actors are playing... Ergo fake voice is tantamount to fake acting.

Earthquake or Godzilla?

On March 18, 2011 several floors of the Citibank Tower in Makati felt what was recorded as the most catastrophic event in the company. Officials have not released any statements yet as to the magnitude of the wreck caused by the disaster but the epicenter of the wrath has been identified emanating from the 11F.

In a recent development, authorities are now analyzing a different angle of the event. A possible suspect has been invited for investigation. A whistle blower disclosed to the company officials that before the tremble happened, this big guy fell off his ergonomic chair.

Local police is still conducting their investigations and cannot give definite answers as of the moment. So the question still remains outstanding as to the culprit behind the incident... Earthquake or Godzilla disguised as a Citi banker?

On a side note, I feel for the chair. Poor chair. It's fragile plastic structure did not withstand the weight of its owner... Goodbye chair. Thank you for your good service...Will make sure you get the justice you truly deserve.

The Place To Be

I've been constantly telling my friends and guests that my favorite spot in my apartment is the terrace. I live on the 14th floor of an old 27-storey condominium in Makati avenue. There are 3 dilapidated elevators with only 2 working most of the time. I have been very thankful to these elevators for they bring me closer to God everyday. The rough cranky ride on these cable driven cars brought me back to believe in the power of prayers. Most of the time these cars smell like my sweaty feet after long hours of playing badminton.

I moved in the building on December 2010 and since then did not get the chance to meet and socialize with any of my neighbors. I'm not sure though if all the units on my floor are occupied. I saw one time a middle aged Japanese guy leaving 1407 (room beside me on the right), he didn't smiled back when I tried to be friendly with him... The unit on the left has always been quiet. Bills and letters are now starting to pile up outside the door. I just hope the tenant is not dead and rotting inside that room.

My terrace has been very accommodating to me. It never fails to welcome me with the sweetest breeze of air at night. It may not offer me the grandeur view of the city night lights but the embrace of the cold air touching and tickling every flab in my body is more than enough to comfort me through the night. It paints a mood of reassurance telling me that everything will be okay, clearing any cloud of doubt left in my head after a day full of worries and ambiguities. 

There are also times when it offers me entertainment. And by entertainment I mean live show. You see my place is situated in front of a hotel whose guests are mostly foreigners. We all know what it means when filthy old guys with money prefer to stay in Makati avenue, right??? It's like a cheap pornographic material being shot right in front of my eyes sending shiver to every nerve in my body signaling that it's time to puke.

Letter to Chill

Dear Chill,

This is going to be brief. 

I don't understand what really happened to us last night. I have to be honest, it was the saddest experience with you since the first time we met in December. I remembered vividly how it was like kissing you for the first time. It was the sweetest thing ever. You got me addicted with your chocolaty taste. We were inseparable way back then. You were my breakfast that perked up my mornings. You were my most delightful dessert every after lunch. And you were my BFF that gave me company during my sleepless nights. Remember how we sneak around in between working hours just to be with each other?

But last night was just horrible. Everything about you was full of bitterness. Things were not the same as it used to be. The connection and chemistry between us just died instantly. Please tell me, I need to know what went wrong to us.

My Dysfunctional Relationship with my Team Lead at Work

(Hugh as Winnie the Pooh and his friends...)

 Random conversations at the office...

Me: Hey Hugh, why are you fat?

Hugh: Shut up!

Me: Hugh, I'm asking why are you fat?

Hugh: Whatever... Seriously, are you working?

Me: I'm bored...

Hugh: Do you want to get beer tonight?

Me: You know I can't... I'm working late today, duh?

Hugh: Okay just stop pestering me and go back to work.

Me: Hugh I'm hungry...

Hugh: You want my knuckles?

Me: Oh no they're too big to chew...

Hugh: It's gonna be sweet when it hit you!

Me: Oh but I love spicy food.

Hugh: I swear to God, I'll beat you! I swear to God!

Me: Hugh I'm sleepy...

Hugh: Man you are crazy. I'm working here... Just stop will you?

5 minutes of Silence...

Me: Hugh!

Hugh: Whaaaat??? (shrieking voice)

Me: You wanna get coffee?

Hugh: Yeah, I think I need a break...

Me: You buyin'?

Hugh: Okay Let's go...

Me: Hugh did I ever tell you that you are the best TL ever?

Hugh: Shut up!

Me: Ok.

End of conversation...

I am number 29! (Continued...)

I was already in the office at about 9:10ish which is still early as I was planning to be super late like between 10 to 11. Hugh told me that I am allowed to come in late only if I get wasted on the eve of my birthday. And by wasted, he meant throwing up in the parking area. He's been wanting to see me drunk to witness my transformation into different personalities. My friends told me that the last time I was heavily medicated with alcohol, I was claiming I was Korean and I was even speaking faux Korean language.

(Taken from Hugh's Iphone4, which I have been planning on stealing long time ago...)

I was surprised to see blue and white balloons on my workstation. This was totally unexpected. Honestly, I brushed off the idea that my teammates will do this on my birthday. It's not just their thing. I am usually in charge to do these stuff... But I loved what they put up for me on that day. The theme was inspired by the reality show Biggest Loser. There were pictures of an extremely fat and muscular guy, same guy, who I guess won the competition. Some of my teammates were making fun of it saying that those were pictures of me and Hugh. I was the buffed one and Hugh of course was the seriously obese one.

(Amie went home quickly to get her Camera just to document our lunch...)

 

 

I met with Amie, Reana, and Jerwin for lunch. I insisted that we eat at Kanin Club (Ayala Triangle) as I have not tried any of their dishes yet. There has been a lot of buzz over their version of crispy dinuguan which is one of my many Filipino food favorites. I specially like it when its super spicy. My friends were absolutely right, the dinuguan did not disappoint me at all.

(Can somebody tell me what's seriously wrong with these pictures?)

Of course any occasion would not be complete without proper documentation! We had a lot of pictures taken. Although most of the pictures suggest that it was Jerwin who celebrated his birthday! Thanks to Amie for bringing her SLR camera. It was great day!




 

I am number 29!

Chronology of events:

• Got a birthday text message from Rhiel at 12:09 am. I replied " Haha! Thank You. Bakit gising ka pa? Adik ka tulog na!". He replied back saying "Eto matutulog na". End of text messaging. 
• Another text message came in at 12:50 am. It's Doc Reagan! Meanwhile John and Reana posted their greetings on facebook at about the same time I got Doc's message.
• Chatting with Reana up until 1am... (Tama ba?)
• At 1am my eyes are still wide open! This is becoming perennial already. I used to sleep at 11 or 12 midnight.
• I decided to get a tea at a nearby coffee house. I welcomed my 29th birthday at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in AVenue with an African Sunrise Tea latte. I was busy surfing  the net and blogging, up until 2 am.
• Went back to my apartment at 2:30. I was fighting the urge to light a stick before heading back home. It was a 30 minute battle with my evil alter ego. The goodness in me was victorious!
• Went to bed fifteen minutes before 3am and have fallen asleep right away. No more shower, no more toothbrush... 
• Woke up at 7ish. It will be another day of lack of sleep... yet again.
• At about 8am my cellphone kept on beeping. Family and friends birthday greetings and wishes are coming in. 
• Thirty minutes later, I turned on the TV to check what's playing on MTV. I don't know the song, the artist's name doesn't ring a bell... Yup! I am finally convinced, I am really old now... The song was good though...Took shower and dress up.
• At about 9am a birthday zombie was walking in Makati Ave heading for Mc Donalds to meet Ace for the installer.
• The zombie reached the office at 9:30ish.

Will update what happened in office later...

Tear Jerky Sunday

(Kathy H, Tommy, and Ruth)

After watching "Never Let Me Go", the first thing that immediately came to my mind was to blog about it but in a different perspective. I am not a film critic. I can't objectively tell whether a movie deserves 5 star rating or not. I know that people who are paid to do this job, reviews the merits of the film in all its aspects whether it has the best plot or storyline, the most convincing actors, the larger than life visual effects, or probably the spectacular costume and moving original theme song that goes with it. I don't really have specific standards that define what a good or bad movie is all about, all I know is that I go the cinema if I want to get away from the real world and enjoy for a moment what the silver screen  has to offer. I like movies that pose a lot of "What If" questions and Never Let Me Go did not let me go of these questions. The story takes you back to the childhood years of Kathy H and her 2 friends Tommy and Ruth at Hailsham, which at first glance seems to be a primitive English boarding school...but only it wasn't. It was more of a state prison housing special students who were genetically altered and are destined to donate their organs to the person they were modeled on or their "originals". Kathy just like any teenage girl had a big crush on her guy friend Tommy. The two had already developed a mutual connection until the evil selfish Ruth came in the picture and ruined the relationship. Tommy eventually gave in to Ruth's trap. Ruth gets the guy while Kathy H devastatingly lost her true love.

I started forming the "What If?" questions when the sad part of the story began, this was when the new guardian (who got fired because of her big but kind and concerned mouth) finally told her senior students their real purpose...that they will not be able to fulfill what they wanted to do with their lives because they will die at an early age...they were born to donate their body parts to people who rightfully own them. And so I tried to put myself in the characters' shoes and asked these questions... 
 ...What if one day someone knocks at my door and gives me a notice that my left eye is due for donation, what will I do? Will the eye patch be an enough cover to protect me from being ridiculed?

...What if they want both my legs? How will I play the sports I dearly enjoy?
...What if they want my hands? How will I feel the joy and passion of touch?
...What if they want my liver on the day I plan to propose to the one I truly love? Will I still continue with the proposal? How will I say to her that I want to marry her but I can't because I'm dying...


There was a stage of completion in the lives of the donors. This is when they will have to donate a third organ. Ironically, completion means death in the story. All three main characters died. Ruth was first. Tommy came in next and this happened at the time when he and Kathy H rekindled their lost love. It was just too late... They were meant to die.


At the end of the movie I had stupid and cheesy What if questions in mind:
...What if medical breakthrough indeed allows us to donate any body part and still survives, what am I willing to give?
...What if  I give my heart...
    Will I still fall in love? 
    Will I still feel the joy and pain of falling in and out of love?
    Will I now love intelligently knowing that I'm using my mind and not my heart?

Happy Birthday Jau!

(Jau, Reagan, Ace, and I)

This is a late post to greet a friend who celebrated his 40th Brithday on Saturday March 5. Yes, Jau is now 40 and he seems to handle the nearing middle age stage very well. He doesn't look his age at all! This is not fair! When I was in college, people used to think that I am either in graduate school taking my MBA or worse a young dad waiting for his kid to finish the last subject in kindergarten. That's why I hated the days when we were required to wear business attire and dress up like encyclopedia salesmen in college. I remembered vividly Joey (college friend, not in the picture) and his evil laughter while he shared what his block mates thought of me when they saw me sit on a bench near the scholars' office one day..."Hey, tell that man to wait for his kid at the grade school area, he may be lost..." 

Happy Birthday Jau! Salamat sa libreng chickboy!!!

My First

This is actually my first attempt at blogging. This is yet again another indication of how a late bloomer I am. Most of my friends in college have been writing online and are having fun giving the public access to their lives... I was part of that public. I have always been their market, in fact an avid follower at that. Despite the overwhelming hype about blogging, it never crossed my punitive mind to join the society of "bloggers" or the so called "blogosphere" or the "warblog" community. I think this is because I am more of a talker than a writer. I love talking. I talk for a lot of reasons. I talk loud when I want to draw public attention. I talk gibberish when I want to piss off people. I talk face to face with fresh saliva spewing out of my mouth to people I despise. I talk sweet when I want to flirt (although this usually happens when I'm drunk at a bar). I talk fast when I want people to think that I am intelligent. I have this notion that people who can expel 50 words out of their mouths virtually in seconds actually own humongous brains which contain too much information on it, making them intelligent... Yes this is how I define smart people...they just talk too much... 


So why did I try blogging this time? It's because I am now living alone... I have been entertaining a lot of crazy thoughts in my mind after moving in to my new apartment. I guess I can consider blogging as one of those insane projects that I have for 2011. Blogging will keep me company at night when I have troubles sleeping. If this relationship prospers, then blogging will be my new BFF...