WE WERE FOREWARNED that we
should not – even if the temptation would be great – sing with the
actors/actresses on stage. Otherwise, we will be told to sing at the lobby
seven octaves higher than their pitch.
I don’t know with the rest of the audience but I wasn’t
tempted to sing along because I was simply mesmerized by the cast – the
Americans would say “in awe” – as they acted out their respective roles through
intense songs and even more intense emotions.
I am talking about the phenomenal musical Rak of Aegis which I went to see several
Thursdays back at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Friend Babette Yllana
sponsored the night’s show and we were lucky to have been invited.
I watched it with my sister Patty – the other sister, Maleck,
was under the weather at that time, and she regrets to this day for missing it.
Of course, friend Milen was there, too with family in tow –
son Paolo and fiancée Regine; and partner Alvin (extreme right). Babette’s
hubby, Raffy, took pictures and I am sharing them all in this post, including
the Yllanas’ souvenir shot with one of the musical’s lead actresses, Aicelle Santos.
With the couple are son Alvin and daughter Keona.
As its title suggests, the musical is
inspired by the popular songs of Aegis, a popular rock band in the 1990s with
three women for soloists.
After watching the musical, I will never
look at these Aegis songs as mere videoke standards again. I have a massive LSS
(last song syndrome) from the time I stood up to applaud the entire cast for a
superb performance. I sang myself to sleep that night …
Until now, I belt out basang-basa
sa ulan … walang masisilungan in the privacy of my bathroom. I sing ang halik mo nami-miss ko and pag-ibig ko sa ‘yo tunay at totoo, sing-tamis ng wine sing-tatag ng sunshine while waiting for
the pasta to cook or photos to upload in my computer or even in between finding
the right word for an article or a blog post.
Maybe you too can sing a line or two of any popular Aegis
song. But let me tell you what the musical is about –
FAMILIAR,
MUNDANE
Visualize a small barangay submerged in floodwater aptly
called Venizia with a small wooden boat traversing the flooded path. Imagine
the usual folks going about their everyday to improve their plight, coming up
with stuff to sell like shoes called steliptos
and beverages like Baha Jos,
which broadcaster Korina Sanchez, who was in the audience, got to taste.
Reflect on what goes on after a strong typhoon and you come
up with people wanting to pick up the pieces the fastest way and fight an
impending threat of poverty. In between, conjure up images of unrequited love,
a boyfriend who loves himself more, and former lovers getting lost in their
past.
You reach this far and you realize I’m talking about an all
too familiar plot. You know the usual teleserye
template. In fact, one scene has Mary Jane, played by Isay Alvarez, telling
Kil – short for Kilabot – played by
her husband Robert Sena, ikaw ang dahilan
kung baket humahaba ang teleserye … hindi ka maka-move on.” Both
characters, now living separate lives, were involved with each other in their
younger years.
The familiarity goes personal for me as it is mentioned in
passing that typhoon Ondoy caused the
floods in the barangay. Yes that Ondoy,
thus striking a sensitive chord.
The musical’s writer, Liza Magtoto, is said to have taken inspiration
from true stories she has gathered during psycho-social debriefings that PETA
(Philippine Educational Theater Association) held in Binan, Laguna after the
onslaught of typhoon Ondoy.
Of course, it is true-to-(Pinoy)life. You know how many of
our kababayan have turned to YouTube with the hope that Ellen
DeGeneres will chance upon their videos. This was exactly what main character
Aileen – played by Aicelle Santos – did and she sang her heart out with her
submerged barangay for a backdrop. It’s crazy but that scene made me cry …
TRITE
BUT NOT QUITE …
But there was more to just putting tears in my eyes as the
performances were simply amazing. They are funny, cheesy funny, hilariously
trite and plain poignant all rolled into one. I was even both laughing and
crying as I stood up with the rest of the audience to applaud the entire
lovable cast.
Husband-and-wife team Robert and Isay are fun to watch. And
so with Arnel Ignacio, who plays the culprit behind the floods in the barangay.
Sari-sari store
owner Jewel – played by Philippe “Phi” Salvador Palmos – sang Sinta better than the Aegis themselves. I’ve
seen a lot of doble-kara performances
but they don’t come close to this.
I even fell in love with Tolits, the boatman – played by
Jerald Napoles – who started out as poster boy of unrequited love and finally
getting the attention of his love interest, Aileen. Their duet brought the
house down and I was like a teenager falling head over heels …
Jerald played Tolits so well and while he is not your typical
heartthrob, he was lovable, huggable and charming. He sang effortlessly yet his
voice was powerful. He was graceful with all those exaggerated body language
but never overacting. He also has perfect timing.
I told you I am head over heels …
Right after the show we looked for him for a photo-op. Friend
and photographer for the night Raffy said we’re not the only one and there was
actually a queue for those wanting to be photographed with him.
The rest of the brilliant people behind
this great musical include PETA Artistic Director Maribel Legarda; Myke
Salomon, direction and musical arrangement; Mio Infante, set design; Gio Gahol,
choreography; Jonjon Villareal, lighting; Carlo Pagunaling, costume design;
Maco Custodio, shoe design; and Joan Pamintuan, accessory design.
#RESILIENCE
Rak of Aegis “showcases
the Filipinos’ innate resilience in the face of calamity.”
Yes that word resilience again and it has become a popular
hashtag -- #resilience #philippines style. Looks like Webster came up with this
word with the Filipino in mind.
The musical successfully portrayed this word that defines the
Filipino spirit. The people of barangay Venizia tirelessly persisted to recover
or at least thrive amid the floodwater. Their resilience was anchored on their
sense of community as they drew strength from one another. The same resilience
likewise resulted in their complacency. There was one point when they hitched
their dreams to the floods that won’t go away, marketing their barangay as
Bahalandia. They likewise colluded with Arnel’s character thinking they are
short of options.
Sometimes I wish we weren’t so resilient. Cliché-d as it has
become, we Filipinos have a penchant for bouncing back, rising again. We have
remained unfazed by the usual hell or high water. This trait, however, has made
several of us lethargic with the tendency to just let things happen and/or go
with the flow. We know that whatever happens we will always overcome and
because of our sense of community and clannish tendencies, we know we will
always get help.
How about we level up, learn our lessons and go beyond mere
survival. It shouldn’t be enough for us to just cope or be satisfied with
doleouts.
We’ve had these typhoons and its accompanying devastation for
a long time now. I remember then Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando admitting
that they weren’t prepared for Ondoy’s
onslaught. Same thing with Tacloban City Mayor Martin Romualdez who said they
didn’t know Yolanda’s surge from
Adam.
In between these aha moments – and surely I’m not the first one
to say this – isn’t it about time that we should know the drill by now?
Congressman Manny Pacquiao says in SafeSteps.com that opponents don’t
let you know they’re coming. And so with typhoons and other disasters but can’t
we at least come up with a system that manages donations so we don’t have to
hear about millions of them rotting or going to waste?
Why can’t we just translate our resilience and impeccable
survival instincts to disaster preparedness and self-reliance? Is this easier
said than done?
#SUPERMOONS
But so much for philosophizing …
Anyway, August came and went as if in a rush. That’s good
because the Chinese calls it the Ghost Month. Yet, the same Chinese people
called the month just concluded a “Pocketful of Money” because it had five each
of its Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this year. They say this happens only
once every 823 years! The last time was in 1191 and the next one will be in
2837.
The rains made a grand entrance with four typhoons in a row
with Glenda trying to upstage Yolanda. She knocked my plants over and
she practically blew away not just my garden but the rest of Metro Manila.
The habagat or monsoon rains remain nasty
with its storm-like features. Afternoons or when it’s time for the working
populace to go home from work, there is fierce rainfall complete with
intimidating thunder.
And just last week, typhoon Mario almost did an Ondoy, once more plunging the metropolis and neighboring cities in
deep water. Daughter Ghiselle and I “evacuated” to my sister Patty’s house in
Batasan Hills, Quezon City after a pool of water formed near our gate and the
flowers of my gumamela plant became “battered.” Emma, my former managing editor
at MOD found my use of the word
battered funny but it was more like for want of a better word …
I’m glad all’s well that ends well … It
was even fun hanging out at my sister’s. We celebrated birthdays and watched She’s Dating the Gangster on DVD.
Seemingly compensating for this
unpleasant weather are the monthly super moons, which started in July.
I was working on
the eve of August’s supermoon and that early, the moon already showed its full
splendor. I was with friend and business partner Leah coordinating Aiko Sato’s
debut party at the Fernwood Gardens in Quezon City.
Here are some shots of August’s
supermoon as seen by photographers from other parts of the world and shared in
huffingtonpost.com. They were taken in (below to
lowermost) Hong Kong; behind a cross on the unfinished Serbian Orthodox church
Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Pristina, Kosovo; and at the beach of Ipanema
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I didn’t get a
chance to capture July’s supermoon but I did enjoy watching it from my
frontyard.
Dark clouds
spoiled the splendor of September’s supermoon – also known as the harvest moon
– but it gave me a beautiful preview the night before …
According to
metro.co.uk, it is known as harvest moon because it’s the full moon closest to
the Northern Hemisphere’s autumnal equinox on September 22nd. It
added that according to tradition, the bright moon helps light the way for
farmers bringing in their crop late in the evening.
And here are some
amazing shots of the year’s last supermoon from other parts of the world.
Clouds either hovered over or went past them but they were captured
beautifully. They were taken in Washington, DC (via washingtonpost.com/Ian
Livingston); Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia (via metro.co.uk/AP
photo.Dmitry Lovetsky); and near Encinitas, California
(metro.co.uk/Reuters.Mike Blake).
And this one is
kinda Christmas-y as it is set against a big red star in a building in central
Minsk in the Belarus Republic.
#SUMMER
Despite the rains, I can still feel the
heat.
Summer was short
but sweet. And this summer’s memories center on Baguio City with its tall pines
which seem to be telling me, “excuse me while I kiss the sky.”
But I found one which is not so tall and
I made sure I have a souvenir shot with it. This cute pine tree was at the
Stations of the Cross at the city’s Sto. Tomas Forest Reserve.
Somewhere along the way, Star Cinema declared
summer as the new Valentine’s by launching the team-up movie of Sarah Geronimo
and Coco Martin entitled Maybe This Time.
This is relevant because a lot of us found love in the time of hot weather.
The longest day – they call it summer solstice – happened on
the 21st of June, a day after daughter Pee Ann celebrated her
birthday. According to PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration … whew!) reports, the daytime lasted for
12 hours, 59 minutes and 36 seconds.
Anyway, daughter Ghiselle and I celebrated Pee Ann’s birthday
at Zensho, a Japanese restaurant along Tomas Morato in Quezon City. It’s across
Richard Yap aka Ser Chief’s restaurant Wangfu Chinese Bistro.
About the same time, Pee Ann bumps into
Ser Chief in Vancouver, at the Cactus Club Café. She wasted no time in asking
for a photo with him, making a lot of us envious, most especially my friend
Leah.
#HAPPYDAYS
Speaking about Ser Chief, he continues
to be seen with Maya played by Jodi Santamaria in Be Careful With My Heart, ABS-CBN’s kilig teleserye. The show reached its 500th episode in
June.
They have been airing for two years now
and a thanksgiving concert was held at the Araneta Coliseum. It was called I Heart You 2: Be Careful With My Heart
Anniversary Thanksgiving. In an interview, Jodi said, “It’s like a grand
family reunion with our viewers who have supported the show from the beginning
and continue to follow the love story of Maya and Ser Chief.”
I caught the concert on TV and I really
enjoyed it. Even in the concert, Ser Chief and Maya really have that kilig factor.
As usual there’s criticism in social
media that the morning soap has been stretched “far too long.” Well, to these
bashers, no one’s asking you to watch it. As for me, it continues to be a
feel-good story and I hope that it goes on as long as the writers can stretch
the story...
And I like the special appearance of
Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo as the young Anastacio and Manang Fe.
Still on happy days, it was indeed a
happy birthday for me last September 3rd. Considering the many
wishes of good health and happiness and affirmations of good vibes and
positivity, my life is generally hashtagged happy days.
I also enjoyed reading customized
greetings, especially from daughter Pee Ann, brother Abe, and several other
family members and friends. High school
friend Jun even shared a YouTube link
of American singer Lulu singing the theme song from the movie To Sir, With Love shown ages ago. Sweet
…
Of course, I started the day by hearing
Mass at St. Peter Parish along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to thank the
Lord for His goodness and grace. Daughters Ghiselle and Pee Ann treated me to
dinner at Ser Chief’s Wangfu Chinese Bistro. Pictures below tell the rest of
the story.
P.S.
That’s not all about the rest of the story. While savoring the
Chinese-Singaporean meal, I was half expecting Ser Chief to walk into the
restaurant … Ha-ha …
#EMPOWEREDMUDRA
It is history but I remember Mother’s
Day which was, as usual, memorable. I love it because I get to hear what I want
to hear from my daughters. Greetings galore and as friend Judge Lani has
remarked in her post, it’s time we moms had a party list in Congress …
Of course, I remembered my mom, too –
below are two of my favorite photos with her taken in a street in Bali,
Indonesia and a spa in Palawan – who is already in heaven and must be fuming
mad. A staunch Nora Aunor fan – they even have the same birthdays, May 21st
– I’m sure she didn’t take lightly President Noynoy’s decision to drop the
Superstar from the list of National Artists.
A couple of years ago, we bumped into
Noynoy at the Mall of Asia (MOA). He hasn’t declared his presidency then but
there was already a clamor. My mom didn’t want to join me and my sisters when
we had our pictures taken with him. Even at that time, she obviously didn’t
“feel” the man. Please don’t get any ideas on the second photo where his hand
is “that way,” he was telling his bodyguards to let him be photographed by us.
Anyway, this piece of news was discussed
lengthily on all forms of media. It was amusing that P-Noy let himself be
caught in this kind of imbroglio.
Ate
Guy has long been vindicated, however, with an outpouring of love which ensued
after P-Noy’s rejection. Several activities were launched including a forum
held at the Ateneo de Manila University entitled “The Nora Effect: A Forum on
the Crisis in the Order of National Art.”
She has been proclaimed the People’s National
Artist by various sectors, including a Facebook
page with “Nora Aunor for National Artist” as its battlecry.
Towards the end of August, the
University of the Philippines (UP) gave her the Gawad Plaridel Award, the
highest award given by the state university to an outstanding media
practitioner (photo credit: www.mb.com.ph). The award once again vindicated her
excellent contribution to film and television.
Fellow artists likewise aired their
support by vouching for her unconditionally. Gary Valenciano said, “Everyone
will fall short at some point in their lives, but not everyone is blessed with
the talent that Nora Aunor has.”
Comedian Epi Quizon, for his part,
declared, “Nora is more than a National Artist, she’s a National Treasure.”
SILLY
SEASON
Merriam-Webster regularly
sends me their Word of the Day and
the latest got me interested. It’s a phrase actually, silly season, which means
a period in late summer when mass media often focus on trivial or frivolous
matters for lack of major news stories.
Merriam-Webster further said that silly
season was coined in the mid-19th century to describe the time when
journalists face a bit of conundrum: Washington is on summer break and European
governments are on vacation. It is a period marked by outlandish or illogical
activity or behavior.
Celebrity news here in the country seems
to be always like silly season but in a higher level. It’s called tabloid
journalism which highlights sensational stories about the personal lives of
celebrities – both in showbiz and politics – which are sometimes “borderline
defamatory.”
Anyway, tabloid journalism and silly season are here to stay.
As analyzed by comedienne Eugene Domingo during her guesting in ABS-CBN’s The Bottomline With Boy Abunda,
controversies are needed in the life of a celebrity just so he/she won’t become
boring. “But to some celebrities, sobra
naman which gives a bad light to the (showbiz) industry.”
Let’s take a look at what’s on the local
scene …
Comedienne
Ai-Ai de las Alas, 49, revealed her successful vagina-tightening called the
FemiLift procedure or Pusikip, through Belo Medical Group.
In a press conference with her doctor, Vickie Belo, beside her, she described
the feeling after the procedure as “like a virgin.”
Prior
to this, she announced that Vice President Jojo Binay is her President in 2016.
She then declared her intention to run for town mayor in Batangas. And just
recently, she opened up to a new romance with a 20-year old badminton player
(photo credit: entertainment.tempo.com.ph).
Gretchen
Baretto gushes after being told of her latest role as mistress in an upcoming project
with ABS-CBN, “ay perfect … hindi ko na kailangan mag-emote.”
Meanwhile,
she and Richard Gomez – both won the 0+ Stars of the Night in the recent Star
Magic Ball – are doing a movie together for Star Cinema entitled Almost A Love Story. The Chito Rono film
also stars John Lloyd Cruz – who together with girlfriend Angelica Panganiban
were chosen Best Couple of the Night at the same ball – and it is set for an
October playdate. [Photo credits: ABS-CBNnews.com and rappler.com,
respectively]
“Hindi po ako umaarte,”
says imprisoned Senator Bong Revilla after telling reporters that malungkot sa loob.
I know you’ve seen his comical mug shot – officially released
by the Public Information Office (PIO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP)
– giving his best smile as if he’s surrounded by klieg lights. Some reporters
even detailed his first meal in prison of fried fish and munggo. And then he announced that he would run for president from
the four walls of his jail cell.
His
co-accused and friend Senator Jinggoy Estrada reveals he will make loom bands
while in prison. He likewise announced his active participation in the 2016
polls. But there’s no smile in his mug shot before the PNP. You have to
remember this is not the first time he gets booked for a crime and he knows
exactly how he should look in a mug shot. [Photo credit: gmanetwork.com]
The two senators are facing charges of plunder and graft
before the Sandiganbayan together with Senator Johnny Ponce Enrile. Yet they
set their sights on 2016 instead of focusing on their respective cases and
prove their accusers wrong.
In between the rainy afternoons and the annoying traffic, Supreme
Court declares the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional. This
isn’t silly because this is the law …
But P-Noy’s reaction to that decision is, wherein he calls on
his bosses, the Filipinos, to wear a yellow ribbon to demonstrate their support
for his leadership.
Other sectors followed suit with supporters of the Supreme Court
themselves opting for black and red (#JudicialIndependence). And there’s peach
for those wanting to impeach the President, notably the Makabayan bloc, as
shown in the photo below from ABS-CBNnews.com. They attended the recent State
of the Nation Address (SONA) in their color-coded barong and gowns.
Expectedly,
the three impeachment cases were dropped due to insufficiency in substance. The
filers, however, led by Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, condemned the
undue speed with which the Justice Committee of the House of Representatives
tackled the complaints.
There is also some celerity with the way
P-Noy changed his mind from counting the days to 2016 when he would step down
from the presidency to “I might do even better” as he warms up to a second
term.
Juana Change quipped in reaction to
this, “akala ko hair extension yun pala term extension ang gusto ng lolo mo.”
And P-Noy’s allies were somewhat quick
to the dance floor as they revive – yet again! – the chacha (charter change).
Oh well …
Now this is ultimate silly if not
idiotic – the construction by DMCI Holdings of Torre de Manila at the back of
Rizal Monument at the Luneta Park in Manila. [Photo credit: inquirer.net/Edwin
Bacasmas]
Needless to say, the monument and shrine
should have clear skies for a background and not some distracting and obtrusive
condominium. The resort-inspired
high-rise residential condo obviously ruins this important landmark’s view.
The netizens are right, this is a
downright photobomber [#PambansangPhotobomber].
A Facebook page,
NOtoDMCIsTerrordeManila, has likewise been created calling the condo Terror de
Manila.
Here lies our National Hero and the least
we could do is respect his environment.
Anyway, there’s more silly stuff in the
news like teenage actress Julia Barretto – chosen Best Dressed Female at the
recent Star Magic Ball – who wants to change her last name to follow her mom’s.
Poor dad Dennis Padilla filed a motion to intervene and we still have to see
the end of this …
Sanrio recently announced – after 40
years! – Hello Kitty is not a cat but a girl and a British one at that. [I took
a shot of this store in a recent visit to Eastwood City that had on sale
products on the Japanese cat but actually British girl.]
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The world has said enough about this but
I found some pronouncements neither silly nor frivolous. They’re actually cute
…
Like Kuya
Bodjie’s honesty when he said in his Facebook
page: “Linilinaw ko lang po. Si Pong
at si Kiko po ay hindi pagong at matsing. Sila po ay mga puppet. Salamat po.”
And still on Facebook, McDo(nald’s)
Philippines comes up with the following post –
Some congressmen are definitely not cute
when they filed House Bill 4807 which has been dubbed the “anti-selfie” bill.
In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
said the bill “poses an all too real threat not only to freedom of the press,
but on the very right to free expression.”
NUJP added “the measure could end up
stifling citizen journalism and even simply taking pictures or videos for
personal pleasure.”
Well said NUJP. My family and friends
love taking selfies and more than the pictures are the memories that go with
them and how much fun we have while taking them.
To the men and women of Congress, let us
focus our energy on making laws that are relevant to making your constituents’
lives better as well as preserving their democratic right.
#GOOD TIDINGS
But the news
were not all silly or frivolous or even controversial.
“A spiritual storm” is how Manila
Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle describes Pope Francis’ visit to the
country in January next year.
Pope Francis wants to spend time with
the poor and those who suffered due to Yolanda’s rage last year in the Visayas.
“He will be sitting side by side with
poor people,” said Archbishop John Du of Palo, Leyte in an inquirer.net report.
“Simple food will be served and there will be no VIPs.”
The Pope has been
pictured while liberally hobnobbing with the poor and all types of people
regardless of religion (photo credits: www.telegraph.com.uk). This has endeared
him to the world, including the non-Catholics.
In commemoration of Holy
Thursday, he kissed and washed the feet of two women and two Muslim prisoners
as part of the day’s traditional rite at the juvenile detention center of Casa
del Marmo in Rome.
Other interesting photos
of the Pope include joking with the newlyweds of an association in Rome which
deals with clowntherapia or clown therapy in hospitals, nursing homes and
orphanages; having a moment with a 19-month old pope impersonator Daniele De
Sanctis during his weekly general audience at St. Peter’s Square; and enjoying
the traditional Argentinian drink mate
which is similar to tea as he arrives at the square.
Meanwhile in our country that awaits
his visit early next year, a standee has been provided by Radio Veritas – and
situated in various schools and parishes and of course at the Arzobispo de
Manila in Intramuros (photo credit: gmanetwork.com/Danny Pataw; with a church
worker fixing it) – until such time that we can take that much coveted
selfie/groupie with him.
The country continues to earn worldwide
admiration as my beloved city of Vigan makes it to the short list of 21 cities
in the New7Wonder Cities of the world. (Here’s a photo of the arch which I took
a couple of years back and I am sharing one, that of the Simbaan a Bassit – a small church located near a cemetery in downtown
Vigan – by LAKADPILIPINAS.com/Christian Lucas Sangoyo.)
A global competition has been initiated
by New7Wonders Foundation, a Swiss non-profit organization which aims “to
protect and preserve the world’s man-made and natural heritage.”
This is the same organization that named
Puerto Princesa in Palawan one of the world’s New7Wonders of Nature in 2011.
According to a news release in its
website, the city of Vigan has qualified as one of the Top 28 cities and the
lone candidate from the Philippines. It made the short list in October last
year following a screening of more than 1,200 nominees from 200 countries.
As we all know, the city of Vigan is
also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other nominees in the Asia-Pacific
include Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Phnom
Penh, Cambodia; Kyoto, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Shenzhen, China; Mumbai,
India; and Perth, Australia.
Another life was meaningfully changed as
nine-year old Lyca Gairanod – whose family scavenges for a living – wins the
grand championship of ABS-CBN’s The Voice
Kids. Her coach was Sarah Geronimo (photo from The Voice of the Philippines Facebook
page).
Lyca was a guest at ABS-CBN’s Gandang Gabi Vice and shared her story
bringing host Vice Ganda to tears. She also showed her funny side as she sang Wrecking Ball ala-Mommy D(ionisia
Pacquiao). When performing in General Santos City with the rest of The Voice Kids champions, Mommy D was in
the audience and she obliged a duet with the talented kid.
My choice for The Voice Kids was another Sarah Geronimo protégé, Darren Espanto. He
was likewise coach Bamboo’s choice and the latter sort of lamented in an
interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that in reality-based
competitions, “narrative is important, people like stories.” (Photos from The Voice of
the Philippines Facebook page.)
Well
Bamboo, our kababayans are guilty as charged. A lot commented
that this is not a contest of who is pinaka-kawawa.
But fellow coach Lea Salonga gave a relevant explanation in her article
published on inquirer.net and we quote –
“Lyca
is The Voice Kids grand champion
because she represented everyone who voted for her. If her dream could come
true, then, everyone else’s could, too. What people felt for her was not pity;
it was something far more positive: Hope.”
Anyway,
Lea recently received the Pilita Corrales Lifetime Achievement Award from the
PMPC (Philippine Movie Press Club) Star Awards for Music. She was also given a
tribute in the said awards night with Darlene Vibares, The Voice Kids’ third runner-up and whom she coached, being one of
the performers. (Photo from push.com).
Teachers’ lives
will hopefully change positively as well with Senator Loren Legarda’s Senate
Bill No. 2351, which ”aims to raise the salary of public school teachers and
its non-teaching personnel.”
Specifically, the bill will increase to
P25,000 the elementary/secondary teachers’ monthly salary from the current
P18,549. The non-teaching personnel will get P15,000 from P9,000.
The lady senator – seen here in a
Mandaya tribe-inspired outfit given to her by the said indigenous people of
Davao Oriental [photo credit: PEP.ph] – said the bill will help “the State
fulfill its responsibility of ensuring adequate compensation for teachers.”
Nephew Ronald shared the good news
[gmanetwork.com] on his Facebook page.
A teacher himself, he commented that through this new bill, teachers will no
longer have to sell tocino and longganiza on the side.
THE YOUNG & THE UN-YOUNG
This has nothing to do with the news but
I commend SunLife for its new TVC, not because it stars Piolo Pascual (seen
here with reigning Ms. World Megan Young during the recent Star Magic Ball).
I like TVC’s tagline, “Let’s raise a financially
prepared generation,” and shows Piolo passing on money wisdom to son Inigo. It puts emphasis on parents teaching their
teenage kids the importance of financial planning and intelligent spending.
Instead of giving gifts to your kids
like a smart phone, a car or, citing Janet Napoles, too much cash to almost
wipe out a luxury store, SunLife offers an alternative and that is financial
literacy (#PYOLO or plan, you
only live once).
“This campaign echoes what I personally
want for my son – to protect not only his future but also that of the next
generation,” says Piolo.
“For some reason, I love saving up and my dad always reminds
me to spend on things that really matter,” Inigo says.
Good for him because unlike Janet’s daughter Jeane, who is
now being unduly charged with tax
evasion, was lavishly endowed by her mom that she learned to value only
material things. Now she has to learn the hard and painful way how burdensome material
things are – like her mom’s gift of a Porsche, not one but two – when she
graduated magna cum laude and when
she celebrated a birthday.
Another TVC
that I truly enjoy is McDonald’s Everyday McSavers’ Senior Citizen Edition. The
three seniors featured are charming with two bragging about the fact that they
can still move about. Until the third one comes along and they tease him
because they thought he was walking with a cane. It turns out he was holding a
monopod. He then raises it and takes a photo of the three of them. A lady
senior in the next table says “ang cute.”
I know
a lot of senior citizens both in my family and circle of friends and they are
really cute. I’m not there yet but
looking at how they are enjoying their life, I kinda look forward to it.
Early
this year while looking for a gift to high school friend Mirella who
practically has everything, I chanced upon a book by Judith Viorst entitled Suddenly Sixty and goodreads.com described
it as “a funny and touching book that speaks directly to the sixty-ish woman,
inviting her to laugh about, sigh over, and come to hopeful terms with the
complex issues of this decade of life.”
Evie,
another high school friend, and I went to bookstores in search of the said book
but it was sold out. Looks like it was really an appropriate gift for somebody
turning 60.
Well
my point is turning senior or even reaching mid-life is actually cool. The whistlebait waistline may be gone and
movement no longer has the easy agility but we’re having fun with what we have,
who we have and we are able to keep up with today’s generation.
And as
Ms. Viorst has said in her book, we should learn “to laugh about … the complex
issues of this decade of life.”
Borrowing
the words from a song by Taylor Swift – and I can quote a song from her! – “I
don’t know about you, but I feel like 22.”
THE COLD & THE UNCOOL
There has been much noise about the Ice Bucket Challenge
(#IceBucketChallenge) and for a while, I thought it was silly with too many
people doing it then posting their videos on Facebook thus clogging my
News Feed. I was clueless as to whether it was really creating awareness and
successfully raising funds for the much-dreaded ALS Disease (Amyotrophic
lateral selerosis) or commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This is a
progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and
the spinal cord.
But then I was enlightened while watching the hosts of It’s Showtime, ABS-CBN’s noontime show,
as well as several other local celebrities doing it and actually donating cash.
Anne’s boyfriend Erwan Heusaff did the honors of pouring the
bucket of ice water on her – she posted photos on this in her Facebook page
– while Vice Ganda was drenched after an opening number on It’s Showtime.
I didn’t see Kris Aquino do it but I saw an Aquino & Abunda Tonight episode
where she was reading and showing an acknowledgement receipt for her donation from
ALSA.org. She took the challenge after being nominated by friend and TV5 talent
Derek Ramsay, who recently gave her a dog, named Prada (photo from Kris’ Instagram).
I also read several businessmen doing it, notably Andrew Tan,
Megaworld Philippines’ chairman and CEO, who was the first one to take the
challenge [screengrab from a YouTube video] and donate to the cause as
well.
As of August 29th, the ALS Association has
received $100.9 million in donations from all over the world. It only managed
to get $2.8 million same time last year.
“The word gratitude doesn’t do enough to express what we are
feeling right now,” says Barbara Newhouse, ALSA’s president and CEO, in an
article in the organization’s website. “We recognize a profound send of urgency
and are engaged in discussions about how we’re going to put this money to work
in the short term and into the future.”
Just recently, I was tricked into playing the 2014 Breast
Cancer Awareness game. My friend Ana posted this in her Facebook page
saying “I think I’m in love with someone, what should I do?” I made a comment
and she sends me a private message –
LOL, you should not have liked
or commented!!!! Now you have to pick from one of these below and post it to
your status. This is THE 2014 BREAST CANCER AWARENESS game. Don't be a spoil
sport, pick your poison from one of these and change your status, 1) Damn
diarrhea 2) Just used my boobs to get out of a speeding ticket 3) How do you
get rid of foot fungus 4) No toilet paper, goodbye socks. 5) I think I'm in
love with someone, what should I do? 6) I've decided to stop wearing underwear
7) it's confirmed, I'm going to be a Mommy/Daddy! 8 ) Just won $900 on a
scratch card 9) I've just found out I've been cheated on the past 5 months.
Post with no explanations. So sorry, I fell for it too. Looking forward to your
post....
I
didn’t want to be a spoil sport and breast cancer – just like Alzhimer’s
disease/Dementia and autism – is one of those things I support on Facebook. The game’s uncool because,
well, breast cancer is a serious matter. But whoever started this brought home
the message that we should be aware of breast cancer and remember the pain and
sadness victims and their loved ones suffer.
In hindsight, I should have made another
post after this cryptic poison with something relevant like sharing the website
of ICanServeFoundation, Inc. – wwwicanservefoundation.org – which advocates
early breast cancer detection. I had the chance to write about its founder,
journalist and breast cancer survivor, Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, several years
back for MOD’s Breast Cancer
Awareness Issue – this was in October because it was Breast Cancer Awareness
Month. Her strength of character and those of other celebrity members and breast
cancer survivors themselves, including actress Maritoni Fernandez and writer/biographer
Bibeth Orteza, were amazing.
IN RUNNING MODE
When it comes to creating awareness, our
politicians are experts.
It is only September, the first of the ‘ber
months, but they have been making their presence felt, calling attention to
themselves to make sure people remember them in 2016.
Right now, I can only look forward to Christmas
but for them, elections are in the air and they are already in running mode.
I’m happy it’s that season of the year
once more and I’m happier being a Filipino because we get to spend it the
longest. I don’t care what other people think or say, I love these last months
of the year when holiday cheer happens and capped by a brand new year.
I’ve heard by first Christmas song even
before September could start – at the Rak
of Aegis musical – and it’s Aegis’ Christmas
Bonus performed by character Aileen. I listen to my Christmas playlist
every morning which includes the Beatles’ version of Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree in the style of I Saw Her Standing There; Mariah Carey’s
All I Want For Christmas (Is You);
Maroon 5’s Happy Christmas (War Is Over);
and Eraserheads’ The Christmas Alphabet.
You’re right, I already included Aegis’ Christmas
Bonus in the list.
Anyway, Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay is all over the
place as he is definite about his plans come 2016. He wants to be the next
president and he made sure we are aware of that. “Bata pa ako pinangarap ko na,” he said in one of his many
interviews.
His first choice of a running mate is in
prison, Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Manila Mayor Josephe “Erap” Estrada, however,
has long declared that his son is no longer running with him.
There were other partners considered or
perhaps dangled to get public opinion – Senators Grace Poe-Llamanzares, former
senator Manny Villar; and even DILG (Department of Interior & Local
Government) Secretary Mar Roxas – with him in a photo taken by Senator Loren
Legarda during the visit of American President Barrack Obama early this year
and published in gmanetwork.com).
No takers yet with businessman Manny V.
Pangilinan being the latest to be offered his running mate. MVP was quick to
say that the only running he wants to do is in a marathon.
Much earlier, even P-Noy’s sisters Kris
and Ballsy were open to “the possible ‘adoption’ of Binay as LP’s standard
bearer in the 2016 elections.”
Amidst all this, Joey Salgado, Binay’s
press officer, has said in an inquirer.net article that it’s too early to even
speculate VP Binay’s running mate in 2016. “But I guess it’s never too early
for political intrigues,” he adds.
For his part, Binay emphasized that “nothing
is impossible in politics. Everything is possible.”
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who
has just announced that her cancer cells are waving a white flag, is also
eyeing the presidency. Looks like the medication she was given, a tablet called
Tarceva (Erlotinib), is quite effective.
“I’m not going to be coy,” she says.
“Society leaders have urged me to seek the presidency, I can rise to the
occasion … “
This is not the first time she has said
this. In her Facebook page, she
simultaneously announced her cancer and her plan to run for president when she
goes into remission.
She has likewise announced her
prospective running mates in the persons of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte,
former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro and Senator Grace
Poe-Llamanzares.
“Maybe we can have two women running
together, president and vice president,” she said in an article in ABS-CBNnews.com.
“How about that ladies? Maybe it’s Miriam and Grace … sounds so charming.”
Grace
is thankful for Miriam’s consideration but she already said she’s not running
for higher office in 2016. The Senator, shown in a photo with her husband, was
invited at the recent Star Magic Ball (photo from ABS-CBNnews.com).
This
was shared on Facebook as netizens
tried to be funny with the following tandem pairing her off to Francis “Kiko”
Pangilinan, presidential assistant for Food Security and Agricultural
Modernization.
Other
suggestions included a Pacquiao-Poe or Poe-Pacquiao …
I am not sure if this has any connection
but maybe political partners should undergo something like a Sensuality
Workshop, which love teams have to undergo to be able to work, blend and act
well in a teleserye. I learned this
from actress Bea Alonzo who revealed in an interview that she had to undergo
this kind of workshop with co-star Paulo Avelino before tackling their roles in
ABS-CBN’s primetime soap Sana Bukas Pa
Ang Kahapon.
PROPOSALS GALORE
Along with these pronouncements are
interesting proposals that have been happening among prospective contenders in
2016.
For
the longest time, there has been talk about Dingdong Dantes’ political plans.
In fact, GMA network’s prime talent just completed his degree in B.S. Business
Administration, which many believe to be in preparation for this career path.
Shouldn’t he have taken a more appropriate degree like Public Administration or
Political Science?
Anyway,
tongues wagged some more when he recently went down on one knee to pop the
magical question to girlfriend Marian Rivera in her GMA-7 show Marian, saying it was scripted. Several
days later, Dingdong would admit it was a second proposal, the first one being
done in Macau in 2012 but kept secret from the public.
In a
push.abs-cbnnews.com report, Dingdong said it was unfair that he is being
accused of using his personal life to gain sympathy for the upcoming 2016
elections. He explained that he and Marian owe it to the public to share this
moment because “everyone has been part of our love story” even if “may option din naman talaga kami to really keep this private.”
He
added that he is not running for a public position in 2016.
Anyway,
the wedding will be this December 30th at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral
in Cubao, Quezon City.
Also
accused of doing it for the 2016 polls is Senator Chiz Escudero who
surprised actress girlfriend Heart Evangelista with a proposal in his hometown
of Buhatan, Sorsogon. The couple made a gorgeous pair during the Star Magic
Ball (photo credit: ABS-CBNnews.com/Jonathan Cellona)
A date has been set, February 15 next
year at the Balesin Island Club.
The
senator’s timing, however, created some controversy with another couple – Tyke
Kalaw and broadcaster Cesca Litton – who had the same venue and date in mind. A
misunderstanding with the owner and staff of the club resulted in the
Kalaw-Litton nuptials moving on to another venue.
That
ironed out, the senator continues to be accused of a politically motivated
proposal. Recently, the couple went on vacation in Paris – which was the
perfect place to do a proposal but he didn’t do it.
This
reminds me of a post made by my friend Laissa on Facebook.
Defending himself, Chiz said in ph.celebrity.yahoo.com that “the wedding is not being timed for
the 2016 elections.” He added, “I’m making a decision one thing at a time; our
getting married has nothing to do with my running or not running. We will get
married at some point and besides President Aquino has proven that being
married has nothing to do with winning, hindi
kailangan magpakasal.”
And speaking of P-Noy, he will be Chiz’
best man. In an interview with Yahoo Philippines, he revealed that he asked the
President two months before he proposed to Heart. The couple is also thinking
of getting Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who introduced the couple to each
other; and Grace Poe-Llamanzares as
sponsors.
Luis
Manzano, who has long reconciled with girlfriend Angel Locsin, is also being
groomed to run for mayor in Lipa City. In interviews, however, he has expressed
that his priority “is having a wedding.”
The
couple’s latest appearance – which media described as “looked like a campaign
sortie for Luis”; photo credit: pinoyshowbizdaily.blogspot.com – was in
Batangas’ Alay Lakad event, a project
of Luis’ mom, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, who is on her last term as
governor. The event is a fund-raiser for the benefit of out-of-school youth in
the province. Also in photo (extreme
left) is Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste.
In an
interview after the event which was shown on ABS-CBN’s Bandila, the couple was asked about their wedding plans. They were
joking each other with Luis telling Angel to spend for the wedding, saying “masasagot ko lang ang magandang lahi.”
He likewise said that they are planning to hold their wedding at the suddenly
controversial Balesin Island Club.
Knowing
Luis, I’m sure he is likewise planning a grand proposal.
But
why am I saying this? Well, these lovely actresses will surely make the
political firmament much lovelier. Leyte Congresswoman Lucy Torres showed the
way and she was stunning at the recent SONA Red Carpet with husband Richard
Gomez the perfect escort. (photo: ABS-CBNnews.com/Fernand Sepe, Jr.)
#GOOD VIBES
And the countdown to Christmas is in progress. As mentioned
earlier, the clock began ticking for our political wannabes and it’s ticking
faster than you can say 2016 elections. Same thing with P-Noy who counts the
days until he walks out of Malacanang and become an ordinary citizen again – if
he will not opt to stay longer in power.
With all of this, I am tempted to repeat myself and proclaim tempus fugit! Indeed time flies. Before
we know it, Christmas is here and then suddenly it would be 2016 …
I don’t want time to fly because these ‘ber months are always
fun and memorable for me and my loved ones.
I’m not really into countdowns but I enjoy watching people
who do. Like ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol that
ends the newscast with this –
The malls have turned their places into yuletide wonderland
and I love it. Last Sunday, daughter Ghiselle and I had our usual eat.pray.love
at Trinoma and Landmark had this Christmas
in the Vatican promo.
This brings me to my other favorite
Latin phrase – carpe diem – which is
my life’s mantra – or seize the day!
I learned the phrase from Robin
Williams, who played a Literature professor in Dead Poets Society, and taught his students to seize each day.
Surely I am one of many who were shocked at the way he died. Let me then share
a post on Facebook by Maria Shriver
in reaction to Robin’s death; and a quote from the actor (www.robinwilliams.com) –
Anyway, you’ve heard me say this before and I’m saying it
again, I will simply seize the day. And I will continue to be thankful for each
day and I like what my friend Charity posted recently on Facebook –
Actress Anne Curtis – one of Time Magazine’s 50 Smartest Celebrities on Twitter – sort of echoes
this when she says on It’s Showtime,
“every gising is a blessing.” Photo
shows her with her co-hosts in a groupie taken after their show in Edmonton,
Canada and shared on Facebook.
Anne likewise sends positivity and good vibes in her Facebook page –
And I share this photo of a giant Pepsi
billboard along NLEX which I took on our way up to Baguio last Holy Week –
The rest of the year will be hashtagged good vibes for me. Answering
a quiz on playbuzz.com on which song
was actually written for you, it was Happy
by Pharrell Williams for me. Tests.net
asks what color are you and my quiz result would make P-Noy happy because it
says yellow with the following explanation –
Playing true to
form with the song written for me, I choose to be happy. I’m not sure though if
I got my color right, I’m not mellow – never – and I don’t need convincing to
get out of my mold or to help a friend.
So clap along
everyone because happiness should always be our truth.
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