Filipino Po Ako!

And it seems like it's been a very long time since I opened this blog... Am I that busy for school? Haha. To think that my grades are going... Okay, now back to what I'm supposed to write. I have surfed through the internet and came across to this video. It's a teaser, I believe, for an Asian musical TV series entitled The Kitchen Musical. I'm really looking forward to watching it upon learning that Filipino actors are in it like Karylle, Christian Bautista, Thou Reyes, Arthur Acuna and Ikey Canoy. I became a fan of Karylle after she portrayed Alena in Encantadia. She was really good there. I'm not that much of a fan of Christian Bautista but I liked his first album that I bought it. Haha. And then here's the video:

Another reason for Filipinos to be proud of is Julie Anne San Jose. She sings so well, and raps well too in her acoustic performance of Nicki Minaj's Super Bass. The video had a million hits the first time I checked in YouTube, but now it has gone up to 2 million. WOW. I can't even reach that number of views in fact my upload had only around 15 hits. I wasn't singing or dancing in that video anyway. And will never be. Haha. Now, watch the Super Bass cover below:

Now, I can really say that I'm proud to be Filipino!

Movie Review: Deadline (2011)

Actually, this review was for my Sociology class since our teacher asked as to submit a review for the film Deadline. Now, read on..

If you are given the opportunity of having the power or authority in the society what are you going to do with it? Well, if it was me who was asked to answer this question, I would use my power in the right manner by doing devotedly the duties and obligations accompanied by accepting the opportunity. But if other people would be asked this question, what would their answer be?

I’m not sure if everyone will have the same answer as mine. Well, I can say that from what I have witnessed not so long ago. It was around seven on a Monday morning, the streets were busy as people are rushing their way to the city. I was on my way to school and was riding a multicab. Everything felt normal when suddenly I saw this man on a motorcycle. He was approaching the multicab I was in when another multicab moved forward and blocked his way making the man stop. He approached the driver of the other multicab and argued with him. He was saying to the driver that he should not get in his way. He was very mad that he pulled out something from his side. It was a gun. He threatened the driver to use it if he resists on what he says. Everyone in the multicab I was in looked at them. The driver could not do anything since he had no match to a man with a gun. Then the man on the motorcycle leaves the scene.

I don’t know if that man was a police or a government official, but one thing is for sure, he was on the wrong lane. He was literally on the wrong side of the road and he was even more incorrect when he used his gun to threaten the driver. Why would some people do anything they want to people who are powerless?

This issue was highlighted in the movie Deadline which was shown last Saturday. When I heard that the movie was an indie film I was really excited to see it since indie films are known for their interesting and good stories, not to mention the creativity of the people behind these types of movies despite the little budget they have.

From: philippinesgraphic.com

Deadline tackled the killing of media men in our country. In fact, it was patterned from the ruthless Maguindanao Massacre that happened in Mindanao in 2009. The film follows the story of different journalists who have close connections to the murdered Henry Rosales (Luis Alandy), a journalist who fearlessly exposed the wrongdoings of Governor Ghazi (Tirso Cruz III), a warlord in the hypothetical place of Abdul Rabb in Mindanao. After his death, his girlfriend Greta (Lovi Poe) mourned for his death and eventually for their unborn baby; Ross (TJ Trinidad), an acquaintance of his whom he had worked with once, found himself guilty for not taking Rosales’ offer of joining him in his fight against the warlord seriously; and Azad (Allen Dizon) and Claire (Ina Feleo), whom he had asked for help in doing his series of articles against the warlord, went into hiding after they were ambushed by the warlord’s private army. The death of Rosales blazed the flame in the hearts of these people he left behind. Together, they worked hard to reveal the identity of the warlord who was responsible for the death of Rosales and end his reign of terror not only in Abdul Rabb but also in certain parts of the country. The group decided to conduct a press conference in order to reach their goal but was stopped when the venue was bombed killing a large number of journalists who were present in the event including Claire. It was later revealed that Ghazi has a hold on the higher officials in the country including the president, for the reason that he used his power to let her win in the last election, which explains the slow development of Rosales’ murder case. Due to the president’s fear of exposing her dirty past, she declared martial law in Abdul Rabb. The movie ended with the annihilation of Ghazi’s private army and his unexpected death after one of his followers resisted the army’s overturn.

The film was like a peek into the lives of journalists. In the film we see how their jobs or their chosen professions affect their lives and their relationship with the people close to them. They chose to be journalists in order to serve the Filipino people, to let us know what we need to know. And yet, some selfish people are just killing them so easily just because they got in their way. Getting into trouble and making their lives at stake made them ponder on why they had chosen Journalism as a course in college when they just wanted to become a good reporter or a very good writer or just a good public servant.

The movie was really an eye-opener. I really did not have a better picture of our country’s situation being the powerful having the control over things, even the lives of the innocent and the good people.

How the movie ends was definitely not so close to that of real life, having the antagonist die at the end made the film look like a fairytale. In reality, it’s even hard just to catch them. But I guess the writer wanted it that way to make the viewer see that all evil has an end and that people have to pay for the crime they make. Who doesn’t want a good ending anyway?

I really appreciate the performance of the actors and actresses in the film, especially Lovi Poe, TJ Trinidad, Ina Feleo and Tirso Cruz III, they were very good in portraying their roles and they were believable. The writer also did well coming up with a story like that. And Director Joel Lamangan really pulled it off.

I really hope that more Filipinos will be able to see the movie so that they can see how journalists risk their lives just to do their jobs, and make them see that doing evil things will not do you any good. Lovi Poe even had a line in the movie saying: ‘Kung lahat lang ng tao sa mundo ay may konsensya siguro napakaganda na ng mundo.’ Isn’t it beautiful to live in such a world?

Want to be a spy?

And I don't know how to pick a lock, guess I'm not ment to become a spy eh... Good thing, a friend next door has this 'skeleton key' which fit perfectly and then the day was saved!

Yeah, how I dream I can be a spy but the qualifications tell me that I'm not fit for the job. Anyway, I know some nerdy guy who did not ever thought of being a spy but ended up living the crime-fighting and saving-the-day life, his name is Charles Irving Bartowski or simply Chuck.

His 'spy life' started when the Intersect, a neural supercomputer of the US government holding its secrets, was sent to him by his college-buddy-turned-rival and former CIA agent Bryce Larkin. What's worse is that the sole copy of the Intersect is embedded in Chuck's brain after his PC broke down in an incident wherein CIA agent Sarah Walker attempted to recover it. Now, the CIA and NSA have to work together to keep the Intersect safe from terrorists, not to mention Chuck who is the Intersect.

Chuck stars Zachary Levi as Chuck, Yvonne Strahovski as Chuck's love interest Agent Sarah Walker and Adam Baldwin as the NSA agent Major John Casey. Also in the cast are Joshua Gomez as Chuck's bestfriend/Buy More co-worker Morgan Grimes and Sarah Lancaster as Chuck's sister Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Bartowski.

The cast of Chuck: Sarah Lancaster, Adam Baldwin, Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski and Joshua Gomez

Although the show started in 2007, it was just late last year that I've heard of it. The first two seasons of the TV series were very appealing to me since the storyline is really good and very well written. Each episode is filled with every element a TV maniac wants, may it be action-packed scenes, funnybone-ticklers or even tear-jerking moments. As of now, the show is still airing on NBC and currently on its fourth season.

If you want to watch Chuck, you can watch it on AXN or online through these websites:
http://www.watch-chuck-online.net
http://www.sidereel.com/Chuck

Champ, Hale No More

Last year, the alternative rock band Hale had its members go in separate ways. However, the lead vocalist Champ Lui Pio continue his career in the music scene as a solo artist. In fact, last November 19, 2010, he released his debut album as a solo artist. The album is entitled Synergy and is under the label of Polyeast Records. It is also said that Lui Pio is about to enter mainstream showbiz soon and he is currently undergoing workshops. He has signed up a contract with VIVA to handle his showbiz career other than recording.

Hmm... It really sounds interesting to see Champ acting on TV, although this kind of shift is not already new as Rico Blanco(from Rivermaya) and Kean Cipriano(from Callalily) had already done it. Well, good luck for Champ.
Anyways, here is the track list of Synergy:
1. Sparkplug
2. Hanging Habagat
3. Sari-Saring Kwento
4. Sa 'yo Lang
5. Magdamag
6. Gulong
7. Nightmares
8. Bleed
9. Emergency Room
10. Juan Tamad

What's intesting in this album is that Champ explores other genres and pair up with other artists in some of the songs. The carrier single for this album is Hanging Habagat and here is the clip:

Parenting 101: Session 1

Woah! I just can't believe I couldn't get off my attention from my blog, looks like writing here regularly would be an addition to my New Year's Resolution...

So now let's stop beating around the bushes. I've been thinking about this thing for some time, what if I become a parent someday? How will I bring up my child? I'm sure it would be one heck of a job to do, looking at myself right now I could ask myself, how did my parents brought up a monster like me? Hahaha.. Anyways, here are some of the things I would do:

If I will be a parent someday...

1. ... I would be a good role model for my children. Kids tend to follow what the older people do, so you adults out there, be careful of the things you do, you don't want your children to end up following every single wrong thing you do, better think twice. But if we ever commit a mistake in front of them, we should not forget to tell them not to follow it. Children just don't buy "Hey darling don't do this and that," as we all know children are full of questions, and they need answers, satisfying answers, so explain why they shouldn't do that, expose them to the consequences. Lastly and most importantly, teach them how to correct that mistake. Remember, pencils come with erasers so that one can correct the errors one might make along the way.
2. ... I would expose my children to different things while they are young. Exposing your children to different things and activities allows to them know more about the world they are living in. Aside from the enjoyment, learning is a plus they can get. What catches their interest will make them crave for more, children are curious, aren't they. Interest grows into love. And I am talking about GOOD THINGS here okay, don't get me wrong. We all know that children don't stay children forever, they grow old just like us. This would be a perfect foundation for your children's future, for college, that's what I mean. When the time comes that they will be choosing the course they want to take, they won't be having a hard time picking plus you wouldn't be worrying about them shifting to another course since the interest and love for the certain discipline is already there. Isn't that good to hear?
3. ... I would let my children love reading, whether it is a magazine, a book, a newspaper or a magazine, but not an adult magazine okay? I think you already know what things you can get from reading. Yes, a lot of things. Not only do you enjoy, but also you learn. It's a great leisure activity for your children, a perfect substitute to playing and watching TV. By the time they get to college, a lot of reading is done, trust me, reading wouldn't be new to them by then and it wouldn't be a burden for them but a fun activity. Don't you know that successful people read?

And I can't believe I am posting this topic on my blog but I think, I really think these tips would be helpful to people out there who are having trouble with parenting. I really hope. Anways, to those who are interested, wait for the next sessions...

It's a new year, it's 2011!

Whew.. Amazingly, I have survived 2010. Yehey! It was really one heck of a journey. Welcome 2011 and I welcome you with a bang! Woohoo! Here take it, take it:

Happy New Year!!!

Hehe.. Too bad I can't afford the real ones... Yes, it's a new year and a new life to live on, thus, I have finally decided to straighten things out for a bit(finally!). Yeah, what you're thinking is right, it's definitely the time to make a new year's resolution. Don't feel nasty reading the succeding parts, my new year's resolution could be yours too, who knows?

The following are to be done by migg.the.sleepyhead this year and the succeeding years: (hopefully, who knows repeating these things more than 21 times would really make them a habit...)

Be a ChE Student. In other words, submit yourself to THE TRAINING. Yes. Who knows, after all these heartaches and suffering, ataraxia (i really thank ate yanyan for the word if not for her, the word wouldn't be here. hehe...) can be found? Think of these things, after you graduate, you can get a job for a year or so. If you don't really feel this kind of thing is for you, then you can pursue something that you really like. You can do photography and culinary arts, with you financing for your studies. How cool is that, eh?
Deal With Issues. You know, you can't go on thinking and worrying about things and even carrying a very heavy load on your journey. Accept things as they are. Weiwuwei, remember Lao Tzu? Doing things without even trying.

Aim High. This means no more procrastination for you Mr. Major Procrastinator! Succesful people do not procrastinate. Haven't you learned from you previous experiences? You should know by now. You should! Okay?

Save More. Yes. Should I say it again? It is for the reason that you aim to buy yourself a new laptop, right? And you have a lot more things to buy for yourself and for your friends and for your family, right? Right?

Live Healthy. How can you enjoy all the things you have exerted effort with when you don't have the right state of mind and body to enjoy them? Exercise. Eat less. Sleep right. Eat less. Don't think too much. Exercise. Relax. And did I forget to say EXERCISE and EAT LESS?

Open Up. No man is an island and according to Confucius' teachings, one cannot fully realize his existence as a human being only by himself because man is naturally communal, he lives with others. That means share yourself so that others will share themselves back. Win yourself a friend, would you?

Read and Read and Read. Did you know that successful people read?
Love Life. There are people in the world struggling to live, so why waste yours when others are even trying to lengthen theirs? Live meaningfully and be a blessing to the people you encounter in life.

Woah. This could really be a hard job. But I believe that with continuous repitition and God's guidance (oh please help me God) this could all be chicken. Ehehe.. Let us all pray for a new and improved migg.the.sleepyhead! Again, Happy New Year Everyone!