All Saints

I don't think there are a lot of people in the US celebrating All Saints Day or All Souls Day. Back home, that's what we observed around these times. I think now the concept of Halloween is more prevalent there, but I am sure everyone still went to the cemetery. I remember me and my cousins would all troop and pay our respects to family members who have passed away. We would spend the day at the cemetery, light candles, and say prayers. Of course, as we grew older, it became more party themed, using it as excuses to get together with friends, and cousins our own age. Then we would all "hang out." I don't know why I suddenly thought of this. Maybe because I am still awake at 3 in the morning, and I am seeing my Facebook newsfeed filled with friends who dressed up and went out for Halloween. I wish I still had the desire to do the same thing. But - old fogey and all. I know Pipo is probably out gallivanting in West Hollywood as I type this. I guess I will just have to catch up on my reading.

"We may tell ourselves that love is not really available. but the deeper truth is that we don't entirely trust it, and therefore have a hard time fully opening to it or letting it all the way into us. This disconnects us from our own heart, exacerbating our sense of love's scarcity."

- John Welwood

The Cuteness

Here is a picture of 2 year old me. Cuteness!

Triggered

Jojo gave me a DVD of Kuh Ledesma's concert "Let's Hear It For Me, Kuh!" and I loved it - it brought me back to those days in early High School. And coincidence of all coincidences (or maybe Kismet?) just as I was starting to watch it, th ephone rang and guess who it was? Kuh's # 1 fan Pipo. So "together" we watched the concert and the funny thing was he knew everything that was going on even though he was 5,000 miles away. Now that's a real fan. But, it was so interesting to watch Kuh duet with a then 9 year old Lea Salonga. And in Kuh's movie they added some of the scenes from this concert as her character's in the movie. It's funny how a small thing like this trigger a lot of memories. 


No Halloween costume this year. I did an elaborate one last year, but just not feeling it this time around. Again, I guess this is the old fogey syndrome all over again. 

"We cannot take this life so seriously, and I mean that seriously. Life is too serious to be take too seriously."

- Sri Sri Sri Spankneesh

Blood Shot

I'm Old Fashioned. That is, when it comes to musicals. Give me the classic melody, the classic orchestration, the wit and candor of a Cole Porter and I am happy. Over the years, I have had a tempestuous relationship with the "rock musical." More often than not, I am underwhelmed. In fact, I may be one of the few people in the world who despised "rent." Yes, you heard it, despised it. And, aside from a pop song from it, or two, I generally was not enamored by "Jesus Christ Superstar." I write this to say that I saw BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON with trepidation. I was ready to not like it. A cheap ticket presented itself to me, so I relented.


Well, my instincts were more or less right. I am not going to run up and down for this. However, I will not say that I hated it either. I respected what it is trying to do, and for the most part admired what was going on onstage at The Jacobs Theater. I understand its voice, and the emo style of the msuic is a lot more relatable to me than, say, Cheap Trick. Still, though, I waited and waited for a song that would speak to me, would pull me in, would make me fall in love with the show. I waited in vain, since it never came. Song after song came and I felt....nothing. And for me, that is when a musical is most successful. There's music in the word "musical" after all. 


I do realize there is more to a musical than music. This show boasts a star-making performance by Benjamin Walker. He is a sensation, and I won't be surprised if he gets a nomination, maybe even a win, for this performance. Reportedly, he turned down a role in the X Men prequel to star in this musical. Plus, the book is concise, and there is enough fun in it without making history relatable, even making us understand how it can be current, giving it more weight. And clocking at 95 minutes, the action moves swiftly, not wasting anyone's time. 


I just wished I liked it more. I have old fogey taste. 

Photo with star Benjamin Walker

Hungry Like A Wolf

I have had this book on my pile for the longest time, and recently because the pile tumbled, it went on top. So when I started my "reading challenge," I grabbed it and started reading it. After the first chapter or so, I was hooked. Jillian Medoff writes well - I got into the story right away, and I totally appreciated the mix of tones int he writing - you didn't know if you were reading a comedy or a tragedy. There is a lot of dark humor which I appreciated, hough a bit of it sounded a little but too self-deprecatory. About three quarters in, though, it kind of loses steam. I wish the editors had made some cuts, it kind of felt like the same ending was being repeated, until it got to the happily ever after one. And in this instance, I did appreciate the final bittersweet but mostly joyous epilogue. After what the character went through, I was just a little bit exhausted. The novel gave me insight on anorexia, a debilitating disease that is really not as "understood" as it needs to be. People have their own relationships with food - I know I do - and it is always fascinating to hear stories about people's personal struggles. Apparently this book became a Lifetime movie and I am even curious enough to seek it to see how the story was adapted for television.  
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I Bet Me

Meh. The Project Runway finale this evening - boring, and I found that I really do not care anymore who wins. They made Michael C. the "hero" the whole season only to eliminate him just before the finale. And it would have been fine except the designers who beat him had lackluster collections. And the wretched Gretchen, all smug and entitled-feeling bitch winning the whole thing. It really does seem to be a fix - a woman winning on the Lifetime network! And the judging this time is so horribly fake.  They're lucky I even have it on. And special guest judge - Jessica Freakin' Simpson? Couldn't they get someone more qualified?


One of my favorite places in New York City is The Strand Bookstore, specially the basement where they have galleys and ARC (Advanced Review Copies)  for $1.99.  Basically these are the  books that are sent to newspapers and magazines for review purposes so sometimes they have no covers, or the artwork may not be the same as the final book. They even say that these advanced proofs may not even be finally edited.  When I first started buying them, they were just 49 cents, but inflation inflation inflation.  Anyway, in this section you get to find books that range from current bestsellers to obscure authors that are up and coming. I love discovering writers this way. A lot of times I would choose titles that later become hits. I have not been there in a while only because I have a huge pile of these things, and I really need to speed up on my reading. Today I went, and told myself I will only get three titles. Of course, the most difficult part was editing my pile, and I "compromised" and got five titles. See - I am making a bet with myself that I will finish at least two books a week. I am also challenging myself for that to be the lowball estimate. Ideally, I would want to finish five, but good luck! I will keep everyone informed of my progress (or non, although I don't want that to be the option) 

"Life does not accommodate you, it shatters you. It is meant to, and it couldn't do it better. Every seed destroys its container or else there would be no fruition."

- Florida Scott-Maxwell

Blossoms Of Snow

Talk about my favorite things! Oprah had the whole freakin' cast of the movie version of "The Sound Of Music" (well, Mary Martin really can't make it so it cannot be the stage version, no?) today and it was appointment television for me. I rushed everything I needed to do so at 4 pm I would be in front of the television. It is such an emotional treat for me. I think I have mentioned before how much I love the movie : it's my introduction to the concept of a "musical" and to this day, I am still an evolving fan of the genre. She had a segment where she was interviewing people who, like me, had emotional connections to the movie. I couldn't help but cry along with these people. I am such a fag, aren't I? And when the real Von Trapp great grandchildren were singing "Eidelweiss," I was weeping uncontrollably. 


Of course, though, the adult in me agrees with a lot of the criticism regarding the movie. Too sentimental and treacly? Yes, for sure. But then again, on a commercial level it needed to be that. (just like an action movie needs the perfunctory car crash) And I also lamented the loss of the two "cynical" Baroness songs from the stage version.  I am not one of its "blind followers." 


Still, just try and take my hand away from the upcoming Blu-Ray release of it. Because if you do, there will be blood.

No one has ever become poor by giving.

~ Anne Frank

A Drop Of Golden Sun

Shouldn't we have turned our clock back already? Is it just me, or does it seem already too late and we have not ended Daylight Savings Time? I feel my body clock so out of whack. I am up late at night, and during the day I feel just "off."  And it's too warm for October, too with today's temperature hovering near 8 degrees. And my allergy has started to attack - I keep on sneezing and sneezing. Or maybe I am just in a bad mood tonight. I need to calm down and just chill before I start watching my beloved Top Chef. 
Think happy thoughts : "The Sound Of Music" is finally coming out on Blu-Ray and I will be there first thing Tuesday to get my copy. It's also my beloved, and one of my favorite movies of all time. I remember watching it incessantly when I was a kid, and to this day I  know all the words to the songs, and can recite dialogue from the film in verbatim. And they are having a reunion tomorrow on Oprah. I usually cannot stand the big O and her God complex, but I will surely tune in tomorrow to watch that. 

"Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds."

- Buddha

Seven Layers

Oh, the one thing I forgot to write when I was reviewing "Little Boy Big Boy" was the fact that a good chunk of the movie was shot in UP Village. Yes, where I grew up. Of course, nothing looks familiar anymore, but there were scenes at the playground, and I do remember the village park pretty well. It's prettier now, of course, but back when I was a kid, it was more or less just a place where kids congregated to play games, and I was one of them. We would all play Chinese garter, or "habulan," or those text games there. We would have spider fights in match boxes. Life seemed so innocent then, and most of my playmates there are Facebook friends still, but it just isn't the same anymore, isn't it?


I woke up this morning with a craving for burritos. All I wanted was the 7 layer burrito from Taco Bell. I even dreamt about it. So of course, I just had to have it. Then I wondered - what are the 7 layers? I guess it is a spinoff of the 7 layer dip, and here is the description of the ingredients, from the Taco Bell website:

A warm, soft flour tortilla wrapped around seasoned rice, hearty beans, a blend of three cheeses – cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella – crisp shredded lettuce, diced ripe tomatoes, reduced fat sour cream, and chunky guacamole.

"If you want to see the brave, look at those who can forgive".

- Bhagavad Gita 

Two Faces Of Christmas

I guess it's that time of the year again. The new Christmas recordings have started to come out, and of course I come and report on two of them: Mariah Carey's MERRY CHRISTMAS II YOU, and Shelby Lynnes' MERRY CHRISTMAS. I cannot think of two more distinct albums celebrating the same thing. 


I was prepared to hate Mariah's disc. It's her follow up to her hugely successful Christmas disc, which I read is third only to Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole in sales. I don't remember much about that disc, although I must say that "All I Want For Christmas Is You" has become a latter-day classic - heck, I have even memorized the song. I thought this new one would be as bombastic and over-produced. Well, the verdict is that indeed, it is as colossal in production - does this woman do anything small?  Yet, I found myself responding to it, surprising myself most of all. The album comes in diva stockings, of course: the great voice is as strong as ever. Those waiting for her whistle notes will not be disappointed. It's modern, it's current, and darn it, I found myself groovin' to her hip-hop infused "Here Comes Santa Claus."  It's gospel infused, too, as you can imagine. You could almost see the all-black choir backing her up in "The First Noel/Born Is The King." And there's a great original song there, too. "Christmastime Is In The Air Again" caught me at first note, and no wonder, I just found out that it was produced by Marc Shaiman, 'Hairspray' composer himself, and Bette Midler's frequent collaborator. If only for that song, I will give this album two great thumbs up. I wonder if this album will last the test of time, though. I wonder if I can listen to it five years from now and feel the same way. 

I do know, though, that I will always want to listen to Shelby Lynne's "Merry Christmas," since it is one of the best holiday albums I have heard in a while. Most yuletide discs are basically karaoke records - the singers' voices give it personality, or they don't. Shelby's album sounds like her, for sure, but even the most popular Christmas songs sound like new tunes in her hands. Listen to her Southern-fried version of "White Christmas," and its message has never been more personal. I can imagine Shelby sitting by a bayou on a muggy December night, reminiscing of wintery, snowy days gone by. And while everyone and their mother will out strain their vocal chords shouting "O Holy Night" out with abandon, Shelby takes the quiet route: O night divine, indeed. Its plaintive message almost shocked me. I thought to myself - is this the same song I have been hearing all my life? And her original compositions are fantastic. On "Ain't Nothing Like Christmas," she recreates the atmosphere of a honky tonk bar Christmas party, and "Xmas" is heartbreaking, about someone who sings that Christmas is sad because everyone goes bad. I think she has been on record about having a difficult childhood, and the autobiographical tone of this song strikes a truly melancholy note. 


Ultimately, both albums serve specific Holiday music purposes. Mariah's is a circuit party album. I can imagine playing it while exchanging gifts with friends, with everyone exclaiming, "Girl - just listen to that bitch Mariah hit those notes," as go go boys take their shirts off and everyone is shimmying. It's a fun, fun, bitchfest: slightly tacky, slightly serious, all Mariah. Then after everyone leaves, and the merriment is gone, I will be playing Shelby's album and be on "contemplative" mode. You think about the times, you think about your life, and if there is someone there to hold your hand, you squeeze it back and look into their eyes and smile as you make your way to slumber. 


And then I'll wake up and Christmas will be over. 

Party Planner

 Election season in full blast: I got one fo those cold calls from a candidate's phone bank today. She asked if I had heard of so and so's name, and would I consider voting for her on Election Day. So I play along. I ask a very simple question. What political party des she belong to. I figured if she was a Republican, I would give her a piece of my mind about gay marriage or DADT. The person answers, she is on Column B. I answer back that I do not want to know her column, I want to know her party affiliation. She answers, she is in Ward B. I almost laugh at her ear, but then she does something unexpected: she hangs up the phone. I think it is pretty sad that these volunteers do not even know the party of the candidates they are shilling for. And guess what - she had the audacity to call back! And then she says, "Sorry, I got disconnected, but I found out what party she belongs to: Independent." This thing is now almost a parody, so I did the best thing I could do: I hung up the phone.  

If you go near a tree you will get shade;
if you go near a fire you will be relieved of coldness;
if you go to the river and drink,
your thirst will be quenched;
if you go near God you will get His grace.
~ Kaivalya Navanitam

The Boys Are Back In Town

Maybe I still have Oscar Wilde on my mind that's why I wanted to write about a gay movies I saw recently. It's LITTLE BOY BIG BOY, which is one of Jojo's gifts to me from the Philippines. Just like any modern Filipino movie, there are parts from it that really infuriate me. However, there are a lot of good things about this movie that I thought it was mostly worth my while: i.e. I did not feel like my time was wasted. First of all, the movie was pretty focused: it needed to tell a simple story, and it did, simply. There were no extraneous story lines that distract. A rom-com by heart, I liked that the tone was light. In most Filipino movies, melodrama can be on the overwrought side. There's still a little bit here, but it is tempered comparatively. I seem to be now mostly an outsider to Filipino nowadays, but do I sense a bit of relaxation on gay acceptability? The general attitude here seems to be mostly progressive, and if this movie is a reflection of the now over there, then I say good for them. Are Filipino children really that open-minded about gays? I would tend to think so, because American kids are so blase about these things - only the adults really make a bigger deal out of them.

I wish the acting was stronger. Both Paolo Rivero and Douglas Robinson were adequate, but I still feel a stiffness in their acting, especially in the earlier scenes. The kid, Renz Valero, mostly plays along. I don't know if I completely believed Rivero and Robinson as a gay couple, although the sex scenes try hard to convince me. I struggle with them - they are borderline gratuitous for me. But then again, this may be because I am an old fogey. And I also wish the dialogue was more Tagalog, as I cringe when the actors are trying desperately to have an accent. As with most Filipinos, the focus is more on the accent than the proper pronunciation of the words. I wonder if their performances would have been better if they were able to verbally communicate their dialogues? This movie is a light frothy drink, and I gobbled it up. 

When I Think Of Home

Jojo arrived last night from the Philippines where he took a two week vacation. Look what he got me:

Among other things, he got me this Jingle Extra Hot! from 1985 with Nora Aunor and Sharon Cuntea on the cover. What a classic item now! It's pretty hard to imagine that this magazine is 25 years old, and is part of Pinoy Showbusiness history. And the strangest part is that I kind of remember the magazine. During those years, my mom used to travel home, and they used to send me heaps and heaps of these magazines to remind me of home. Now - they are items that you can buy from antique stores. 

Albert sent me these items - the infamous Folio Magazine, and a Christmas CD. 

But one of the most precious pictures that Jojo sent me is this of him and Buboy. 

"Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you.  They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion."  

- Buddha

London Calling

My allergies are attacking me full-blast right now. Is it the weather, the falling leaves? As I say, even a leaf has a reason for falling....and I have been thinking about London lately. What triggered it first was when I saw "Hereafter," and the movie was partially set in London. One of the characters is a big fan of Charles Dickens, and on a whim decided to take a trip to London to go to the Charles Dickens House/Museum. I thought to myself, that would be an awesome activity to do. Then, I just finished reading the book "One Day," and that, too, was set in London. Aaaargghh - I think the city is sending me a message! I think the last time I was there was in the late 90s, and I have no even been on The Eye yet...so I would say I am due for another visit. London is still one of my favorite cities in the world, and any chance for me to visit would certainly be most welcome. I was speaking with Jeff this evening and he agrees that he is due for a trip there as well, so what do you say? I am claiming this one, for sure: I will be there soon. When London calls, I just gotta answer..YES!


And speaking of... I just started watching WILDE again. It's the 1997 movie which is the biography of Oscar Wilde. I remember vividly seeing this movie years ago, but I think it's so weird that while watching it now on DVD, I scarcely remember anything from it - almost every scene is so new to me, as if I was watching it for the very first time. Is this old age or what? And Jude Law looks so young and fresh here. Remember when he was the next huge thing? 

"He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realize."

- Oscar Wilde

One Love

I remember this past summer, everyone and their mother seemed to be reading "One Day," by David Nicholls. I knew it was one of those love stories, but I wasn't rushing to read it. I told myself I would when I found a cheap copy of the book. Then one day I got an email from Amazon saying that the e-Book version was on sale for $6.00 so I said why not. 


The story isn't new. Two people, who obviously are so right for each other, live their lives tip-toeing around having a relationship. But timing is never right, and they move along. If done well, it could be entertainingly maddening, with you screaming to the characters: "Can't you see how much you two are meant to be together?" And, that part of the book is done so well that I did find myself screaming that to the characters. There is much wit in the dialogue that I wanted to read them out aloud. Even though much of the references are British in nature, hey were all accessible that you got them. I found myself rooting for them to be together, cursing their obstacles. I rode the roller coaster ride of their love story. 


But the last eighth of the book was so disappointing. I would have preferred for the tone to be light, but it just turned dark, and I felt blind-sided. I guess that was part of the strategy, but I never want to get built up only to find I have been set up. 


This book is Hollywood ready, and Anne Hathaway has been cast as the female lead, which I think is a great casting choice. It is to be directed by the man behind "An Education," so I hope the tone of the film would be similar to "Love Actually."  I do feel, though, that would be a Nicholas Spark influence somewhere there, though. And that would be not good. But I will hope. They say it springs eternal.