D pUnks Christmas Party 2008

PUNKS NOT DEAD!!! A Black Party held at the Music Match Family KTV, Tomas Morato QC last December 27.

Photos courtesy of Pie Valencia.

Merry Christmas from Capiz Family!

From our house to yours...May the Good Lord continue to bless us all.

SURVIVOR PHILIPPINES RULES!

Survivor Philippines rules! And it rocks!   Initially, my bet for the first Pinoy sole survivor is Nanay Zita (Ortiga), a 43-year old labandera from Pasay City.   Later on, I began to admire this young lad by the name of JC (John Carlo) Tiuseco of Quezon City. Catch the explosive ending on December 12, 2008!

Eagles' Homecoming

When I graduated from high school (Liceo de San Pedro Batch 1988), I received, among many others, a gold (eagle) medal from Insular Life.

Little did I know that eight years after, I would join this company.

Last November 28, I, together with 5 other Insular Life senior personnel (SP) who were also high school valedictorians and gold eagle recipients, was invited to the Insular Life Gold Eagle Award Re-Launch. I was the lowest-ranking SP, in fact (there were 2 SVPs, 1 SAVP, 1 AVP, and 1 Manager), but, as our President said, "the youngest." So puwede na din.

Twilight

The waiting is finally over.

 

Being a Twilight fan (thanks to Cae), I was among those who counted months and days to be able to see the movie and so I watched it last night with Alex (Cae was with her friends, a row above us), prepared to love every inch of it.

 

Somehow, I blame my Twilight trailer-info-still photos overload that I felt that actually watching it was sort of anti-climactic.

I'm happy that the baseball scene, my favorite in the book, was executed well. While reading that particular chapter, I remember not being able to breathe.

Edward in shades was really O.M.G.

I like the graduation caps mural and Edward playing the piano. And yes, Charlie's humor.

Was that Rob Pattinson’s "Never Think" playing in background during the dinner scene?

I had the notion that the movie was done assuming the audience is already familiar with the story so no need for character or emotion build-ups.

One of my officemates, Joey, hated it, saying it's the worst movie she's ever watched. Parang B-movie daw. But I was telling the others to just go out and watch it, following their own instinct. Because if you don’t, you’ll enter the theater na biased na, ready to dislike the movie. So it’s only fair to let 'em have their own opinion.

 

I was expecting Cae to rave about it and scream her heart out but she has her own thoughts, in fairness.

For me, well let’s just say the book is better than the movie. The latter wasn't that gripping enough but as I've said, I was prepared to love the movie because I am a Twilight fan. It wasn’t as if we are expecting an Academy Awards nomination. I’d like to think that more than anything else, it was made for the fans. If disappointed fans or anyone else for that matter are still pushing for Tom Sturridge as Edward, well, you can say you’re vindicated but this doesn’t mean we love Rob less.

 

Seeing Bella, Edward and the rest of the Cullens on screen was like seeing old friends again after a while.

 

And seeing Twilight the movie, at least, I can now close this chapter in my life.

 

Next: New Moon

An early Christmas gift from the Tuloy sa Don Bosco children

Today is Insular Life's 98th founding anniversary.
 
As in the previous years, we started the day with a Thanksgiving Mass, followed by a breakfast (rice, pork steak, daing na bangus, salted eggs, and banana and ensaymada for dessert).
 
While we were eating, around 20 children (ages 13-15, I think) from the Tuloy Sa Don Bosco serenaded us with mostly Christmas songs, complete with choreography.
 
Actually, when they arrived, they immediately reminded me of Caitlin and her friends. As soon as they started singing, I started crying, too. I thought of Cae and of the many things she has, and of the many blessings coming her way, without her knowing it, and sometimes, without her appreciating it. These children in front of me come from a variety of problem backgrounds, including domestic violence and abuse. Yet, all I can see and feel are happiness in their faces and voices.
 
Even though we're not rich, and we don't have much, as my ex-boss Ana said, "We really are blessed whichever way we look at it." At least, we have a roof above our heads, Cae goes to a good school, Alex and I have our jobs and our family is complete. I just hope my children won't take all of these for granted.
 
Thank you for the early Christmas gift, kids. Thank you for your lovely songs. I was 98 times blessed nung nag-mano kayo sa akin.
 
(Tuloy Sa Don Bosco Foundation, established in the nineties by Fr. Rocky Evangelista, a Salesian priest, has become a real home for hundreds of streetchildren. In 2001, the Foundation moved into new and bigger headquarters, a 4.5-hectare Street Children Village in Alabang. You can reach them at Tuloy Foundation, Inc. Tuloy sa Don Bosco Streetchildren, #1 San Jose Village cor. Alabang-Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City, Philippines 1770)

One True Love

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Romance

Three reasons why I didn’t want to miss this film:

1. I have always loved the song “The Last Time I Felt Like This”, popularized by Johnny Mathis and Jane Olivor, and the theme song of the movie “Same Time, Next Year”, a 1978 film adaptation of the 1975 comedy play by Bernard Slade. I have yet to watch this movie completely, though (only the first few scenes, thanks to Youtube).

2. I am a DD-Marian loveteam follower (after Marimar and Dyesebel). I didn’t get to see their free birthday concert and I believe that to shell out 111 bucks for OTL is my way of showing my support. With the very talented Iza Calzado in the cast, who could ask for more?

3. Watching Pinoy romantic, feel-good, light movies is one of my bonding activities with Cae, my unica hija.

Migs (Dingdong) is a young doctor whose relationship with childhood sweetheart Bela (Iza) ended when the latter decided to migrate to Canada. Three years later, Migs weds Joy (Marian), a nurse. An accident results to a retrograde amnesia and Migs could only remember Bela, who intends to win him back. Will Migs return to Bela or move on with his new life with Joy? Who will be his one true love?

My daughter and I noticed the 2 Migs played by DD here – Joy’s Migs who is playful and Bela’s Migs who is serious. We like Marian but Iza’s presence is really so powerful. The two actresses only have to move their eyes, kahit hindi na magsalita.

Joy to Bela: “Si Migs lang ang nagka-amnesia, ikaw hindi.”
Bela to Joy: “You have the only thing I have ever wanted in my life.”

Notable is Jennica Garcia who plays Raya, Joy’s sister. Magaling itong batang ito, mapa-comedy or drama man. I was trying not to cry but I had to give it to Jennica in the scene where Joy was scolding her for allowing Migs to leave the house.

The other characters have short exposures (Boots Anson Roa, Chinggoy Alonso, Pinky Marquez, Sheena Halili, Bianca King). Napansin pa nga namin ni Cae yung white and silver metallic mesh Havs ni Bianca. Adel Tamano was dashing as the best man. Si Richard Quan, kahit nakapikit ako at naka-hard hat siya, alam kong siya yun. At higit sa lahat, si Ma’am Annette Gozon-Abrogar ha, talagang ayaw paawat! Pero si mamang taxi driver, markado naman ang papel, in fairness.

But what I like about it is that walang paliguy-ligoy yung story, walang masyadong complications or twists or palabok. It has continuity flaws though (watch out for the appearing-disappearing-appearing bandaged arm of DD), but still, hindi pinilit na magbalik agad ang memory ni Migs.

Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigs!!!