Nowhereian Motley Notes

And the Oscar Nominees Are...

2012-01-24T23:13:00.001+08:00

When I got home today I found out that the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has just announced this year's nominees for Academy Awards.

The nominees are:

Best Picture
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best Actor
Demian Bachir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Terrence Malick, Tree of Life
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Now the objective is to watch all the nominated films for Best Picture before the actual awards night come. Let's do this self!

Robinson's Galleria Cinema 4 Sucks

2012-01-23T15:30:00.000+08:00

JC and I were so excited to finally watch Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol (after MMFF 2011 movie monopoly has been finally lifted) so we decided to watch in Robinson's Galleria since it's nearest Greenhills (where we need to go first) and has the most convenient time that really suits our need.

I guess it was already a hint when upon showing trailers before the start of movie I noticed that the screen was a bit slanted and compressed in the middle. They were able to make up for this though come screen time. However, about an hour into the film, suddenly it stopped. This was quite irritating because as everyone knows MI4 is a fast-paced movie and no scene really should be taken for granted. After about 5 minutes it finally came back and I don't know how much we missed because the next thing we knew they were all jetted on their way to Dubai.

Then it happened again. Watta crap.

JC even told me that the couple sitting next to him left already, probably pissed like everyone inside the cinema and couldn't take it anymore. We didn't leave because I paid a rather hefty amount of money (191 pesos, which was more expensive than what they charge in Ayala cinemas that have far better amenities) to be entertained NOT to be royally pissed for cutting the film twice!

I swear they are worse than SM. Super disappointing.

Suffice to say, that'll be the last time that we'll be watching in Robinson's Galleria.

U2 Performs Stuck in A Moment Live at David Letterman

2012-01-21T12:40:00.001+08:00

After all these years, this song still give me the creeps. The good creeps <3

Old Photos of Manila

2012-01-19T16:29:00.000+08:00

I love looking, reading and finding out about old Manila photos, old Philippine churches, photos of our ancestors or just about anything related to the old Philippines.

Looking at the old faces of our ancestors, I try to picture how they lead their lives and what their personal stories are based from what I can see and it's not that difficult, really.

Manila, Manila, Manila. You were such a darling city of the orient once upon a time.

###

All photos courtesy of Mr. John Tewell. See more of old Philippine photos from his collection site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntewell/sets/72157617770699569/

Binondo Church, date unknown

Escolta Street, Manila, Philippines, Picture in Leslies's Weekly, New York, USA, Janurary 27, 1900

Old photo of Fort Santiago Gate. The main gate in the middle is what remains now of the original foundation.

Aerial view of Manila Bay circa 1932

Aerial view of Old Manila. You can clearly see the building of the National Post Office.

San Beda College circa 1945

Old photo Tondo Church

A boy riding a carabao. I really like this photo :)

For extras:

Banaue Rice Terraces circa 1946. Note how they named it Igorot Rice Terraces, probably after Banaue natives.

Jones Bridge, National Post Office Building circa 1920s

University of the Philippines Manila circa 1945, damaged by the war

Baguio Cathedral circa 1945

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

2012-01-15T23:47:00.001+08:00

Being raised by a hard-core Catholic grandmother I knew she would be beyond dismayed and would probably reckon my soul as damned if she ever finds out that I stopped going to church (or hearing mass) when I went to college. It would be unfair however to blame it all on UP's academic and religious freedom however, it is undeniable that the university really had a huge impact in moulding my personal and spiritual beliefs.

But I digress. I'm posting this video here because he was seriously spot-on about almost everything religion embodies since a millennium ago. I am not a preachy type of person - make that NEVER - but this kid threw some realm of truth that our church (or in my case, my grandmother) would never want us to descant (insert "erehe" or "filibustero" name calling here).

PS: I believe in God, in Jesus, the Architect, the Great Hand, the Maker of this universe or whatever other name He goes by. I just don't fully support what our church here is preaching. They have a major issue with consistency.

Hong Kong Day 1: Ngong Ping 360

2012-01-11T18:51:00.002+08:00

A roundtrip cable car ticket cost us HK$125 each. Crystal cabin is more expensive but it's okay, we can live with a regular cable cabin hee.

I have no words. The 20-minute cable ride was nothing short of amazing. We have a bird's eye view of Lantau Island, on our left we can see HKIA and directly below us is a lush mountain area where there's a trail going to Ngong Ping Village (I salute all the people who takes this route going there!).

Backpacks and all, we walked around the village spying on the cheapest menus (di namin type ang mga pagkain) and all the trinkets each stores have to offer.

I didn't count the exact number of steps before we reach the summit (I'm sure Google can provide the answer for that) but it was pretty high. The view from above was so beautiful we can't stop from gushing.

Although Buddha is not the god I whisper prayers to every night, I still offered a short prayer thanking him for the good weather and safe arrival at HK. We may acknowledge various gods but at the end of the day they're all the same, they have the same meaning and importance to us.

On our return trip to Tung Chung Station, JC and I waved hello like crazies to all the passing cable cars. It's really nice when your waves are returned or when they grant you their sheepish little smiles :)

Hong Kong Day 1: First few hours in HK and already we are lost!

2012-01-10T23:14:00.002+08:00

Good morning Hong Kong! We landed at a cloudy HKIA around 8:50, pretty much followed the crowd to get to immigration but before lining up we searched for that "elusive" ticketing office (where we were supposed to buy the Octopus card, turns out it was after the immigration pa pala!). Information office was empty. So sad to see an information booth empty, honest!

That's my happy face upon seeing the entirety of HKIA. Their airport is so impressive I wish Manila could have an airport maybe not as big but perhaps as pretty and efficient. After buying our Octopus card we proceeded to find the bus bay to our destination - Ngong Ping. This is where our "little" adventure that annoyed the hell out of me started. Not even an hour in HK nawawala na kami haha.

Their bus terminus is so organized it's really not that difficult to find your way around. It's listed alphabetically so figuring out your corresponding bus (depending on where you're going) is quite easy. We took the S1 bus that was supposed to bring us to Tung Chung Station. Well, to make the story short, no we didn't get there cos we kinda panicked and got off at the wrong stop upon reading some Tung Chung sign somewhere. Haynaku we walked some pretty nasty distance only to arrive at the wrong place, again.

I was being so cranky (hello ambigat ng dala namin at by golly, it's my first time in HK and I refused to admit that we are lost haha) so after the second S1 bus ride we finally conceded to a cab ride (which I rarely do, not when outside the country, cabs are my last, LAST resort).

Napa-pambihira na lang ako after the cab driver dropped us off at the real Tung Chung station haha. You can't miss it! And so we immediately queued up for tickets to get us to Ngong Ping Village, the line was super long but it was fast moving and the funny thing is that I'm so used with the long queues we have here in Manila that I was terribly in awe with how fast everything is being done in HK.

Oh to be in a first world country, talagang first world service din nga naman :)

-to be continued-

New Baby Has Arrived!

2012-01-04T01:00:00.001+08:00

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and advance Happy Birthday, self.

PS:

Thank you so much Papa Jesus! You know how long I've waited for this. :)

So Long 2011!

2012-01-03T01:53:00.003+08:00

2011 taught me to be more patient than ever. To wait for everything to come on its own full circle. It brought me to new places that once upon a time were only just a dream. I also attended 4 weddings and a funeral (no pun intended!) which made me celebrate and appreciate life more than ever and throw away immediate marital visions and predictions haha.

It ain't much but as long as I'm still breathing, enjoying God's wonderful gifts and creations, I consider everything to be a blessing no matter how small or grand. Allow me to share the highlights of my year through photos:

January. Marikina walkathon with friends. We've been meaning to do this for the longest time and finally it just happened.

February. Cebu! Probably next to Baguio, this place holds a special place in my heart. Whenever I'm in Cebu, my tummy and palate is home :))

March. Something inside this little fangirl's heart died after watching her favoritest local band's last gig. Sugarfree, o kay tagal din kitang mamahalin...

April. Kai Mykonos L. Fernandez. This little bundle of joy may not be mine but in a way she was and many others.

May. I turned 27. I also went back to Sagada aka the zen place up north. Although I didn't see any of those magical wild horses, the experience was pretty magical already.

June. Baguio aka my second home (even though I have no house there!) to visit my godchild Mykonos who's gotten pudgier, bigger and longer! gush gushing galore.

July. All hell broke loose (and BBoyd didn't even take his shirt off ha) upon news of Incubus' return in Manila (it's their third time here already). Thank God I finally was able to catch 'em live albeit still from the farthest seat in Araneta haha.

August. Good God of heaven, I did it! I conquered the granddaddy of Philippine mountains. And despite blistered, soggy feet, dead-stiff knees, chilly nights, I made it to the summit of Mt. Apo. Not without help, of course :)

September. I admire how the local government maintains local tourism in this part of the country. Puerto Princesa Underground River's promotion and maintenance is no easy peasy but they do it so effortlessly I never complained for the prices I had to pay just to get there.

October. Salunat-Franco nuptial. Second wedding I attended this year (well, I didn't attend the Diaz-Gonzales wedding ceremony but I was there on their wedding party so it counts!). What a beautiful wedding.

November. I waited 11 months for this trip and when it finally came I was so happy I almost peed on my pants. Joke lang! When I was watching the closing fireworks in Disneyland I almost cried. Standing there, I relieved my childhood dream - heck, every child's dream - of going to Disneyland and can't thank the Lord enough for this wonderful, wonderful chance. Not many kid/people gets to fulfill their wishes, and on that moment I know that I was one very, very lucky kidult.

December. Another wedding to cap off the year. This time, the wedding of one of my closest - sige na nga bestfriend haha - college friends. Despite the humps and bumps before her big day, everything went greatly. It was a happy day/night especially after most of the guests left because then the real party started :))

If I was ever frustrated or angered in 2011, well happier memories replaced them cos I can't seem to remember them now (or I'm just still drunkenly giddy from the joyous new year celebration hee). The bottomline is, they are not important. What's important are the lessons I learned, the people I met, people who brought significant changes in my life and made me a better person than 2010, experiences that taught me to be wiser, tougher and better in everything be it work, personal relationships, social life, travel mishaps, everything! You know it's a good year if you learned something new and brought it with you the next year.

Thank you Lord Almighty for the year 2011. I am ready to embrace 2012 now.

Death Cab For Cutie Live in Manila!

2011-12-29T14:29:00.000+08:00

Thump!

And that my dears, is the sound this happy and extremely excited heart of a little fan made upon hearing this great, great news in an otherwise downer of a Thursday.

Save the date: March 5, 2012, 7 pm at NBC Tent, Global City, Taguig.

2011 Christmas Wishlist

2011-12-17T02:46:00.047+08:00

Just in case anyone's interested :)

Asics Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Black. For the longest time I've been dreaming of owning an Onitsuka pair.

Gerber’s Bear Grylls Survival Series. I'm a huge Bear Grylls fan nevermind the "staged" situations :))

Lego Planner. Because I'm a huge Lego fan.

Collection!

Issues #1-5 have two stories, one written by Stephen King!

Intrigued just because Evanna Lynch (who portrayed Luna Lovegood in the HP films) kept raving about it (plus the cool ads haha).

Cambridge satchel bags are terribly expensive so I'd settled for a Cole Vintage instead :)

To complete my A Song of Fire and Ice book series. Second hand book'll do!

As a kid I wanted this. As an adult, I still want it. Still can't afford it :|

Another championship title for Boston. It's a long shot but heyyy, you'll never know :))

If you're outside the Philippines, please send me one! I'll PM you my address :)

Socks. The staple of my every (birthday or) Christmas wishlist.

Aside from #10, I know I basically asked for material stuff. So for non-material things, here's my list:

Happiness and peace of mind for Mo Twister. You can add KC Concepcion too.
For the rumored Coldplay or Radiohead's concert to push thru here in MNL.
~~Super advance: For Barca to win in this coming El Clasico! :D~~
To borrow from my officemate's wish, JUSTICE FOR RAMGEN!
No fare hike.
For Chantel and I's dreamed indie film set in Sorsogon to push thru. Certainly it won't be about whale sharks nor popular tourist spots.
NAIA rehabilitation plan to push thru ASAP.
Fire-free Christmas and New Year.
Full land distribution for Hacienda Luisita farmers.
Justice for Maguindanao massacre victims.
To not rain on Christmas.
World peace.

Machu Picchu 2014

2011-12-15T16:41:00.001+08:00

"Success is the outcome of thinking, visualizing, planning and taking action."

Determine goals: Check.
Write down goals & target dates: Check.
Visualize it: Check.
Show strong desire and optimism in achieving goals: Check.
Track progress: Check.

Financial status: still working on it.
Planning stage: embryo!

I still have a loooong way to go but by God's grace I shall prevail.

Countdown begins today: 2 Years, 5 months, 17 days.

It's on.

Rerun: Love Actually

2011-12-01T23:13:00.003+08:00

It's that time of the year once again. Time to revisit the film that gives me, and I'm sure a lot more other, that warm fuzzy feeling deep into the pits of our stomach.

PS: O di ba Deputy Rick Grimes looks pogi when he isn't being chased by a legion of zombies :))

Hong Kong Disneyland

2011-11-30T10:26:00.001+08:00

If Disneyland and Hong Kong weren't too expensive, I'd definitely be here at least once a month. One day is NOT and NEVER enough!

I wish to come back soon. Or maybe I'll take Shanghai Disneyland instead when it opens and if I got the $$$.

New Hunger Games Trailer

2011-11-15T22:00:00.000+08:00

I'm not a super fan of The Hunger Games Trilogy (I like the plot though - something new, different and exciting - and Peeta and Haymitch!) but I like keeping track of the film adaptation of the novel. I didn't set my expectations high, except for Haymitch's character (I approve of casting Woody Harrelson as Katniss and Peeta's mentor), so it was pretty awesome watching the second trailer (after the first crappy and horrendous trailer/teaser of course). It more than made up for its first (again, crappy) trailer/teaser that I am actually excited to see it come March 2012.

PS:

Jennifer Lawrence aka Katniss Everdeen was really pretty in the Reaping scene. I hope Josh Hutchinson aka Peeta Mellark does not disappoint us all :D

Di Ingon 'Nato (Not Like Us)

2011-11-10T16:45:00.001+08:00

Watch and give this film a chance. I know, everyone's gonna compare it to American zombie films and series i.e, The Walking Dead, but let's just say that this is the Pinoy and barrio version at that of a zombie film.

Also before you lash out with all your criticism with the film, keep in mind that this movie has waaaay low budget than its western counterparts and besides, I think it was, if not the first, one of the films to foray into the "zombie" genre. I'm sure many will follow the footsteps of directors Brandon Relucio and Ivan Zaldarriaga.

Franco Reyes was surprisingly a good actor ha, and Mercedes Cabral, as always, is a pure gem. The cute kid who played Nat-Nat stole the show too! The father-and-daughter tandem, Rez Cortez's character and the doctor, somehow became a source of humor throughout the film because viewers can very well identify that their Cebuano accents are unnatural.

Still, it's a film worth to watch pa rin. I love the cinematography and the effects, may laban!

Please catch Di Ingon 'Nato at Shangri-la cinema. Below are the list of film schedule of 2011 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival finalists:

November 10 Thursday

5pm Gala Premiere: MGA ANINO NG TANGHALING TAPAT by Ivy Universe Baldoza
7pm Gala Premiere: MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE by Victor Villanueva
9:30pm Gala Premiere: BIG BOY by Shireen Seno

November 11 Friday

5pm Gala Premiere: SA ILALIM NG TULAY by Earl Bontuyan
7pm Gala Premiere: KA ORYANG by Sari Dalena
9:30pm Gala Premiere: SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY

November 12 Saturday

5pm Regular Screening: Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa
7:30pm Regular Screening: Di Ingon ‘Nato (Not Like Us)
9:30pm Gala Screening: CARTAS DE LA SOLEDAD (Letters of Solitude) by Teng Mangansakan

at Shang Cineplex PREMIERE THEATER:

November 10 Thursday
12nn ISHMAEL
2pm ANG DAMGO NI ELEUTERIA
4pm SA KANTO NG ULAP AT LUPA
7pm ANATOMIYA NG KORUPSIYON
9pm DI INGON ‘NATO (Not Like Us)

November 11 Friday
12nn Cinema One Docu Special: INDIE MAINSTREAM PAANO KA GINAWA? by Jay Abello
2pm LAYANG BILANGGO
4pm MGA ANINO SA TANGHALING TAPAT
7pm MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE
9pm BIG BOY

November 12 Saturday
11:30am CARTAS DE LA SOLEDAD
1:30pm KA ORYANG
3:30pm ANATOMIYA NG KORUPSIYON
5:30pm SA ILALIM NG TULAY
7:30pm KA ORYANG
9:30pm SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILA CUNTAPAY

November 13 Sunday
11:30am MGA ANINO SA TANGHALING TAPAT
1:30pm MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE
3:30pm KA ORYANG
5:30pm CARTAS DE LA SOLEDAD
7:30pm SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY
9:30pm BIG BOY

November 14 Monday
12pm SA ILALIM NG TULAY
2pm ANATOMIYA NG KORUPSIYON
4pm MY PARANORMAL ROMANCE
6pm DI INGON ‘NATO
8pm CARTAS DE LA SOLEDAD
10pm SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY

November 15 Tuesday
12pm MGA ANINO SA TANGHALING TAPAT
2pm SA KANTO NG ULAP AT LUPA
4pm BIG BOY
7pm SA ILALIM NG TULAY
9pm BEST PICTURE WINNER

Sambo Kojin Fest

2011-10-30T00:40:00.001+08:00

Two Sambo Kojins in a month for two different occasion. The first one was with colleagues to celebrate the arrival of our much-awaited VB!

Team E-Business

Second one is to celebrate JC's mom's golden day (with her sister's family too not in photo nga lang)! Puma-family affair kuno :D

Although eating at Sambo Kojin puts dent in someone's pocket (someone like me!), it's nice to try things like these kahit once in your life lang. Mine happened twice in a month pa! So I guess I'll see you in x years Sambo Kojin!

Milky and Sunny: Breakfast All Day Long

2011-10-26T23:55:00.010+08:00

There's a new food place in our beloved Kapitolyo neighborhood called:

From the menu I figured that Milky & Sunny serves breakfast all day, everyday! So if you're craving for some waffles, silog meals or French toasts, this is definitely your place.

These are photos from my phone hence the poor quality but I"ll surely come back to try their other specials, maybe by then I can have some decent shots.

As I was walking out, one of the owners approached and introduced herself to me which was really cool. And like I promised her, I'll definitely bring my friends and officemates here next time.

By the way, this is what I bought: Banana Kingkong French Toast. I think it's better if I ate it there on the spot, see the presentation totally got lost on the takeout box haha. Til next time Milky & Sunny!

PS: I hate you blogger for not allowing "&" on title post. It's really Milky & Sunny.

My Name is Khan

2011-10-24T13:21:00.001+08:00

Razia Khan: Remember one thing, son. There are only two kinds of people in this world. Good people who do good deeds. And bad people who do bad. That's the only difference in human beings. There's no other difference. Understood? What did you understand? Tell me. Tell me.

Rizwan Khan: Good people. Bad people. No other difference.

Always remember that, people of every color and belief.

The Walking Dead Season 2 Premiere

2011-10-22T23:33:00.000+08:00

I already forgot how long everybody, including me, has to wait for The Walking Dead's second season premier. It was that looong. But boy was it worth it? Oye.

Although when did hiding under the car made the zombie ignore the smell of human flesh? Labo. Also, season 2 premiere ep's ending wasn't the ending I expected. I'm sure it wasn't the sign Rick Grimes asked for. Oh well. Can't wait for second episode (it showed new people/characters!).

Aurora Borealis in Iceland

2011-10-21T16:04:00.001+08:00

II'm still hoping to witness a dance of lights in the sky. I hope to achieve it in this lifetime.

Isn't it pretty? Aurora Borealis always remind me of infinite beauty. It keeps me grounded knowing that the power of the Mighty One is mind-blowingly transcending.

The Vampire Diaries - The Reckoning episode

2011-10-16T22:34:00.001+08:00

The Vampire Diaries' The Reckoning episode for me was the best episode of the season so far. Indeed, too many life changing incidents happened. So much information being thrown, albeit. inconspicuously.

Mikael o Mikael. I wonder what sort of trouble/information/joy will you bring to Mystic Falls this time?

After 3 seasons, I'll finally admit it out loud: TEAM DELENA!

Sorry Stefan, despite trying hard to be a badass this season, I still don't like you. You are really boring :( Damon already has the crown for that.

Best lines delivered by none other than the original siblings - Klaus and Rebekah.

"Why is that doppelganger bitch wearing my necklace?!" ~ Rebekah

Lily's Disneyland Surprise

2011-10-08T11:19:00.000+08:00

What an adorable kid! Don't you just love to reward non-brat kids? :)

So Long, Steve Jobs!

2011-10-06T13:38:00.003+08:00

To the visionary from Palo Alto, the man who revolutioned and brought digital technology in our homes, tables, ears and literally on the palm of our hands.

Thank you for Apple, but mostly, thank you for buying Pixar when no one wanted to invest on a struggling graphics company.

One more thing, have a safe journey in iHeaven :)

Goodnight!

Carlsberg Stunts with Bikers in Cinema

2011-09-30T00:48:00.000+08:00

I just love this Carlsberg ad! The look on the moviegoers faces and the cheers from the bikers are too awesome :)