Si HP at ang Superhero Syndrome

I was able to watch the much awaited movie of 2009 (sa aking pananaw lang naman) last Saturday. Pahuhulaan ko sana kung anong movie – kaso sobrang obvious na.  Pero naisip ko rin na minsan may mga tao na medyo “blur blur” ang pag-iisip at malamang ay hindi alam kung anong pelikula ang sinasabi ko. So – now it’s a choice between telling the obvious or pahulaan ko pa rin. Pero – naisip ko ulit – pwede rin namang gawing pareho…..

 

Sa mga taong gustong hulaan ang much awaited movie of 2009 — please sms  “Movie name” space “Name”  Space “Address” sa 2366 for Smart and Talk and Text. 2377 for Globe.

Sa mga taong kasalukuyang umiikot ng 360 degrees ang eyeball at sinasabing “So obvious what” – please disregard item 1.

 

Anyway – para matuloy na ang entry na ito –  the much awaited movie of 2009 for me is “BFF – Best Friends Forever” hehehehe… joke…. pasuspense lang.  Syempre – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Sabi ko nga sa aking mga ka-berks… ito ang highlight nang aking taon. Ganyan kaboring ang aking buhay. Ayaw nyo maniwala? Second highlight nang aking buhay ay ang napipintong pagangat ng aking level sa Farmtown. Ano? Naniniwala na kayo?

 Naligaw na naman ako – balik tayo kay Harry.  Hindi masyadong mataas ang expectation ko sa  movie na ito compared with the past 5 movies. Kung ipaprank kasi sa akin ang mga Harry Potter books e medyo nasa last itong libro na ito. Don’t get me wrong – it is still a good book. Labs ko rin sya to the last page. This book for me sets the stage in preparation for Book 7. Pero syempre — in every ranking – merong last place. Hindi naman pwede na 1^st lahat dib a. Kaya ayun — wala masyadong expectations. Which I think is the main reason — na unlike the others who have seen the movie – I was not disappointed. I liked the movie. Hindi ako inantok. Yun nga lang — tingin ko – those who have read the book will appreciate it more. Malamang mabitin yung mga hindi nagbasa. Pero opinion ko lang naman ito. Go see the movie and form your own opinion.

 Seeing Harry Potter reminded me of a conversation  with some friends tungkol sa Superhero complex. Kung susuriin mo kasing mabuti ang personality ni Harry — he is reeking of Superhero complex. Lahat na lang ay kailangan nyang iligtas. Siguro dahil sa lagi syang inaapi at nahihirapan. Ang tendency tuloy ay naisin nya na wag mapahamak yung mga mga mahal nya sa buhay. Kaya ayun – kahit na isalang pa nya ang kaniyang buhay – he can’t help but save those in grave danger. Minsan nga naisip ko – what could have happened kung hindi nya sinagip si Sirius dun sa Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Would Dumbledore intervened and saved Sirius himself? Kung hinayaan na lang nya si Cedric at kinuha nya yung Triwizard Cup. E di sana hindi namatay si Cedric. Yun nga lang – hindi magagawa ni Cedric yung Twilight The Movie.  Kawawa naman kung sakali si Bella.   

 Bakit nga kaya nagkakaroon ng superhero complex ang isang tao. Dahil nga kaya sa hirap na naranasan sa buhay? O dahil sa kaapihan? May effect kaya ang pagpapalaki ng magulang? Ang superhero complex ba ay isang strenght? Or dapat ituring na isang weakness?

 Hmmm… Daming mga katanungan na for sure ay napakaraming magkakaibang kasagutan. Pero amidst all these questions and subjective opinions —- isa lang ang tutuo – Harry won’t be harry without the superhero complex. 

Upset!

I’m going to bed sad…. my wife (di pa lang nya alam) Ana Ivanovic lost her 4th round match today. Pero di bale…. nandito pa naman ako para mahalin sya ….. matalo man o manalo — labs ko pa rin sya!

(Pic from cnnsi.com)

And It All Started with a Big Bang

I had another discovery na nais kong i-share sa inyo aking mga dear reader/s. In one of my previous blogs – nabanggit ko na kailangan ko nang itigil ang kapapanood ng How I Met Your Mother and probably should get a life. Well – I did stopped watching HIMYM. Bukod kasi sa few remaining episodes of Season 4 na kasalukuyan pa lang ipapalabas sa US of A – e napanood ko na lahat. Kaya true to my promise – tinigilan ko na ang panonood nito. Well until matapos na ang Season 4 sa Tate at makahanap ako na paraan para mapanood ito. Did I finally get a life? Hmmm… not really. Ang init lumabas e… tapos biglang uulan. Parang hindi alam ng panahon kung summer ba or rainy season na. Pati ang weather – confused. Katamad tuloy lumabas – not unless naghahanap ka ng sakit ng katawan… as in body pain due to flu. Aside from that — medyo lie low muna ako sa mga crowded places… with swine flu and financial crisis – now more than ever is the best time to become a homebody. Tipid na – iwas pa sa sakit.

Which brings me back to me – not getting a life. Dahil sa homebody pa rin ako – I need to entertain myself. Magastos yata umarkila ng payaso. Dito na pumasok ang aking bagong discovery. Presenting — The Big Bang Theory. It’s a fairly new sitcom which is beginning to attract fans in the U.S. Second season is currently being played in the States now. I was able to get hold of Season 1 and decided to give it a try – have no regrets whatsoever. I love this show. Ok. Fine.. Para makarelate din kayo. Brief info on this show (courtesy of Wikipedia):

It concerns two male Caltech prodigies in their twenties, one an experimental physicist (Leonard) and the other a theoretical physicist (Sheldon), who live across the hall from an attractive blonde waitress with show-biz aspirations (Penny).

Leonard and Sheldon’s geekiness and intellect are contrasted with Penny’s social skills and common sense for comedic effect. Two equally geeky friends of theirs, Howard and Rajesh, are also main characters. The show is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre

Johnny Galecki as Leonard Leakey Hofstadter, Ph.D.
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, Ph.D.
Kaley Cuoco as Penny
Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz, M.Eng.
Kunal Nayyar as Rajesh Koothrappali, Ph.D.
Sara Gilbert as Leslie Winkle, Ph.D. (recurring since season 1)

Actually – kadalasan ay medyo hindi ko rin naiintindihan ang mga pinagsasabi nila. Hindi naman kasi ako physicist e – theoretical man or experimental. Pero the way they deliver the lines – specially Sheldon – pure genius (pun intended). It’s not your typical mainstream 30 min US sitcom. Kaya siguro hindi pa pinapalabas dito sa Land of Integrated Resort. Lam nyo naman ang sense of humor ng mga tao dito – non-existent. For sure ay lalangawin lang. Pasalamat talaga sa internet – we get to see good shows. I wouldn’t expect most people to like this show —- more on daldalan kasi. One of the main strength of this show are the dialogues. Kailangan pakikinggan mo mabuti yung sinasabi nila. The writing is a work in progress — they are still trying to know who the characters are. The actors are believable — they fit the characters to a T. Sheldon is hilarious but I particularly like Leonard’s character.

It’s a good show and I recommend it to everyone. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to love the show. Promise.

Opps.. muntik ko nang malimutan. The show’s opening theme is really good. “History of Everything” by Barenaked Ladies. To those interested to hear … just follow the link –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItIdeKg5kt4.

The One with the Burger

I am starting this entry with a flashback. Couple of Fridays ago — Friday night to be exact – I’m at home… in front of the tube… having dinner while watching the 4th season of How I Met Your Mother. There’s this episode where Marshall is looking for the place where he had the best burger. For the whole episode – they did nothing but eat burger from one place to another. And every time they bite into that thick juicy burgers – I can’t help but crave… for a thick juicy burger. And you know me – once I crave for something — I gotta have it. There ain’t no mountain high enough. Ain’t no valley low enough. Ain’t no river wide enough. To keep me from getting a thick juicy burger. Singbilis ni Flash na ako ay gumayak — at tumalilis. Isa lang ang aking goal buy a burger. And the best fastfood burger there is – Carl’s Junior’s Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger. Yun nga lang – the nearest Carl’s Junior from my place is the newly opened outlet an MRT station away. Pero hindi ito naging sagabal sa aking misyon. Pushing and kicking all those in my way – I finall arrived. It took forever – nakarating din ako. Pumila ako in all excitement – thinking of all the langhap-sarap goodness that I am to eat. Nung ako na ang oorder – I excitedly said — 1 Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger – no pickles – no onions. The staff smiled at me and said – I’m sorry sir – we only serve chicken and fish today. @#*^$%^%$# naman o. Who the hell eats fish burger? Or Chicken burger? Ok fine — marami.. including me. Pero that time – I want a double western bacon cheeseburger… and I want it now. Pero bigo ako bigo. Umuwi akong bahag ang mundo dala dala ang aking Double Cheeseburger from Mc Donalds. And I am telling you…. It was not the same. It did not satisfy me at all…..

Which leads to today. I am watching – well – the 3rd season of How I Met Your Mother ( I know… I have no life) and there’s this episode again with Marshall about to eat a burger. Lo and behold — the craving returns. Muli – singbilis ni flash na ako a muling gumayak. In no time – nasa mall na ulit ako. I am so excited to eat the best (that I can afford) burger in town ng mapadaan ako sa isang bagong bukas na Sandwich shop. Hmmm… Grilled Ciabata bread – egg, cheese and corned beef. Hmmm…

P.S.

I never made it to Carl’s Jr…. I had the sandwich… and it was Legen —- wait for it — Dary! Man… I need to stop watching How I Met Your Mother – even if it’s Awesome!

In theaters – July 15. Can’t wait!

Stop, Look, Listen

(11-Feb-09) Sobrang antok pa rin ako. Aga ko kasing nagising at pumasok – e late na akong natulog. I was watching the US Congress grill the financial company CEOs sa Bloomberg till around 2:00 a..m. Hmm.. Nagulat kayo no. Hindi nyo ba ako ma-picture in front of the television watching Bloomberg intently? Well – ako man. But desperate times need desperate measures! Knowledge is power! Sabi nga ni Ka Ernie (SLN) – pag walang knowledge — walang power! Truth be told – hindi ko rin naman naiintindihan lahat nung mga pinagsasabi nila. Pero dahil sa malaki ang effect ng mga pangyayaring ito sa akin — napipilitan akong makiusyoso. O – alam ko na ang sasabihin nyo – tsismoso naman talaga ako by nature. Fine. I admit that. Pero yung mga interesting tsismis naman. Tulad ng nabuntis yung pinsan ng kapatid ng manugang ny biyenan ng pinsan ng kapitbahay ng classmate ng friend ng kaopisina ko. Yan. Medyo interesting. Pero kung tungkol sa mga credit flow, Troubled Asset Relief Program, Financial market meltdown etc….etc…  Malamang ay tulugan ko lang yan. O ilipat sa Cartoon Network or TFC ang tv. Nasa isip ko kasi na pang-geek lang yang mga ganyang usapan.  Hindi naman lalabas sa normal na usapan yang mga yan. Sige nga – kunwari nagkwekwentuhan ang grupo tungkol sa latest episode ng Tayong  Dalawa at bigla akong sumabat para itanong kung ano ang opinion ng bawa’t isa tungkol sa bailout package ng US government sa mga  Banks na considered as “too big to fail” . Ano sa tingin nyo ang magiging reaction ng sangkatauhan?  Malamang ay tingnan ako ng masama at deadmahin – or worst batuhin ng sapatos ala Bush. Such news have no place in normal day to day conversation.

 

I was wrong.  Magmula ng nagsimula ang mga kabulastugan sa global finance ay naging common topic na ito sa aming circle. Siguro nga – dahil sa nakasalalay sa mga pangyayaring ito ang kinabukasan ng ating lahi. I’m not kidding nor am I being dramatic. Alam nyo naman kaming mga OFW — maraming mga dependents at scholars. Kinakailangang laging may raket kung hindi – force diet ang lahat. Since this crisis is very close to home — kinakailangan na medyo aware kami sa mga pangyayari at maaring mangyayari. We need the info in formulating our short term and long term goals and actions. Mahirap na ma-caught unaware. Again – force diet ang lahat kung sakali. Kaya ayun – bigla naming naging kaibigan sina Bloomberg, CNN Money at CNBC.  Looking at the bright side — as in looking – craning your neck to see the bright side— kahit pa by force – nakatulong ang force-awareness na ito sa amin.  We can make use of this awareness sa aming mga desisyon regarding investments and retirement fund. Napilitan din kaming i-review an g aming mga financial standings at mag-reprioritize ng needs at wants. In short – we were forced to grow-up and kahit papaano mature in our financial decisions. I am still a long way bago ma-achieve ang financial decision maturity pero kahit papaano naman ay may change ika nga.  I aint liking it but no choice lah.   

 

Anway – marami pang pwedeng mangyari sa “reality-serye” na ito. Sabi nga ng mga financial experts (which I am beginning to doubt kung experts nga) – it’s still a long long long way to go. Kaya suggestion lang – don’t hold your breath in anticipation. Baka maubusan lang kayo ng hininga at madedo.  What we need to do is to stop (ang walang mga kwentang paggasta), look (for ways to save…save…save…) and listen (sa mga bali-balita sa paligid). Hmm… mukhang listening lang ang kaya ko ah. Hirap nung stop and look e. Aiyah

 

Pahabol lang…..

Dahil sa ilang buwan na rin ako na medyo madalang  akong magsulat – naisipan kong magkaroon ng isa pang entry bago matapos ang taong ito. Isang entry ito na wala talagang tema – yun kung ano lang ang pumasok sa isipan ko. Pwede ko ring isama dito ang ilang mga pangyayari na hindi ko naisulat dahil sa ako ay busy or nagkukunwaring busy or tinatamad.     

 

- There is one entry sa blogsite kong ito na medyo hindi maganda ang dating sa ilang mga nakakabasa. May isang sentence daw kasi na medyo racist ang dating. Anong sentence. Well – nabanggit kasi ako tungkol sa isang suggestion ko na pwedeng pagkuhaan ng alternative source of energy.  Bilang tugon sa mga paalala kong natanggap — i-update ko po itong entry na ito. Sa mga mga mambabasa – kung medyo may na-hurt sa aking entry – pasensya na po.

 

- Tutal nasa racist na tayong usapan. Avenue-Q had its run in Singapore last Oct-Nov. Ang maganda — it was staged by the same people who did the Avernue-Q run sa Pinas.  Most of the cast are Pinoys. I can’t recall the names now (except for Frenchie D and Aiza Seguerra) but they were all quite good. I become a fan of Avenue Q when a friend suggested that I listen to the sound track. But watching it live is definitely way-way better kaysa sa pakikinig lang. Sobrang nakakatawa talaga. All the songs are great – but the songs “It Sucks to be Me”, “Everyone’s a little bit racist” and “The Internet is for Porn” is hilarious. Nakakatawa talaga lalo na pag makikita mo yung mga actions. Hay.  Schadenfreude!       

 

- I saw the Twilight movie last week. It’s surprisingly good —- siguro kasi ay hindi sila masyadong nag-deviate from the book. I particularly like the scene na naglalakad si Bella then followed by Edward papunta sa gubat without talking to each other. Then some fancy cameraworks. Galing. Parang ang dami nasabi nung dalawa sa isa’t-isa without really saying the words. I’m now reading the second book – New Moon. I guess I am officially caught by the Twilight fever.    

 

- I read from somewhere na binili daw ng ABS-CBN ang rights to turn Twilight into a telenovela.. Nung una ko itong nabasa – I can’t help but roll my eyes in disbelief. Asa pa. Couple of days ago – I read that Perz Hilton (quite well known American showbiz blogger) wrote an entry tungkol sa Pinoy Twilight. The pinoy version will be entitled “Takipsilim” and will have Rayver Cruz and Shaina Magdayao playing Edward and Bella. My reaction – wala lang. Let’s wait and see kung ano ang kalalabasan.  

 

- Still with Takipsilim —- binasa ko yung mga iniwang comments dun sa blog entry. I’m actually expecting the Twilight die hards to spew fire with the Pinoy Twilight idea. Ang medyo – for the lack of a better word – interesting ay yung mga iniwang comments ng ating mga  fellow pinoys. Better if your read it yourself — baka naman ako lang ang medyo napataas ang kilay….. link to the article (http://perezhilton.com/2008-12-23-filipino-version-of-twilight-to-begin-production-soon)

 

 

- Tuwing New Year ay maraming pamahiin na sinusunod. Unang-una na dito ang pagbabayad ng utang  before the year-end para debt free ka sa pagpasok ng bagong taon. Pag debt free ka daw sa pagpasok ng taon — the entire year ay madali ang pasok ng pera and hindi mo na kailangan mangutang pa. It’s actually a good superstition kasi napipilitan ang lahat – ok… ang ilan – na magbayad ng utang.  Anyway – just today – a couple of my friends settled their utang sa akin (lunch, taxi fare etc).  Para daw hindi sila abutan ng New Year na may utang. Dahil sa may pagka-antipatiko talaga ako — I reminded them na techinically – hindi pa rin naman sila debt free. They still have the credit card purchases which – kahit hindi pa kasama sa due – ay technically utang na rin. Hindi pa nga lang due – but still — utang ito. Then there’s the housing loan sa bangko. For 10 or 15 years — may utang ka.. So — it doesn’t really matter kung bayaran nila ako sa utang nila sa akin or hindi. Kung titingnan mo talaga — until the last amortization sa housing loan is paid — if naniniwala ka sa pamahiin na ito — you are destined for financial difficulties. Hehehehe.  Suggestion ko — pumunta ka Joyce Lim ng Charms and crystals. Marami siyang binebenta na pangkontra!

 

- Isa pang pamahiin ay ang pagbili ng 12 types of round fruits. Swerte daw ito.  We did this nung papasok pa lang ang 2008. Unfortunately — nabulok lang yung ibang prutas dahil sa dami. Since malas ang mag-aksaya ng pagkain — sa tingin ko ay na-cancel out nito ang swerte na dala ng 12 prutas. Kaya ayun – 2008 is not that financially rewarding. Moral lesson — you have to buy the fruits and eat it too. At least – di man maging swerte — napakinabangan naman ng katawan mo ang vitamins at iba pang nutrients nito.

 

-  Hindi pa man din pumapasok ang 2009 ay puro negative na ang sinasabi ng lahat dito. Oo nga…. kasama ako dito….  Lahat nga e…. Pero napag-isip-isip ko na unfair itong masyado kay 2009. Hindi pa siya dumarating ay na-judge na sya. Dapat hindi tayo masyadong judgemental. Sabi nga – positivity attracts positive energy. Kaya dapat — we welcome 2009 with a positive attitude. Para positive ang energy na ma-attract natin. Tingin nyo?  A ewan ko sa inyo — basta ako — I’m giving 2009 a chance to prove itself — sabi nga – wag tayong masyadong “NEGA”!

 

 

- Muli…. Happy New Year….  

And the Grand Star Dreamer is…..

Laarni Lozada is the Grand Star Dreamer of PDA Season 2! Naku — mukhang maraming matutulog ng masaya a. Bugoy – my other bet is on second place. Miguel placing 3rd cause quite a stir in the blogosphere. Liezel, Van and Cris place 4th, 5th and 6th. All in all — I am quite happy on the result. More about the Grand Dream Night on my next entry. Antok na ako e.

And Then There Were Six

Malamang naman ay alam na ng halos lahat kung sino-sino ang mga top six scholars sa PDA season 2. Sa mga hindi nakakaalam – wala lang. E di hindi nyo alam. Tingin ko naman ay hindi ito ikasasama ng inyong mga buhay. Kaya continue living your life as it is. Hindi naman ito life changing event. Anyway – dahil sa palapit na ang pagtatapos nila — kailangan may masabi muna ako. Wala lang. Masaya lang minsan yung nasasabi mo ang gusto mong sabihin. Try nyo rin minsan.

Personally – I hope Bugoy will win. Wala lang. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the strongest contender for the top prize. His voice is quite good. He performs well. Kung baga – lamang siya ng ilang paligo sa ibang mga scholars. However – he lacks the looks which – aminin man ng iba or hindi – is quite important. Medyo mahirap kasing ibenta sa masa kapag medyo kulang sa physical na biyaya. Although hindi nga masyadong blessed itong si Bugoy sa looks department – nadadala naman nya ito with his personality. Pero still – real world – he’ll need all the help he can get to last in the Biz. Being crowned the Grand Star Dreamer will mean that he’ll get more priority sa mga raket sa ABS-CBN. Mas maraming exposure – mas maraming change ang mga tao na makilala si Bugoy at mapatunayan na Beauty is more than skin deep.

Laarni is also a favorite. Lagi kasi siyang inaapi e. Laging pinapagalitan. Hmp. Inggit lang yung mga ibang scholars sa kanya. She’s been through so much – bago pa man siya pumasok sa Academy. Her stay in the Academy is no walk in the park either. Buti na lang nga at yung mga nangunguna sa pang-aapi sa kaniya ay natsugi na. She’s no angel – she has her faults. But somehow – you can turn a blind eye easily. Siguro nga nandun na kasi ang awa factor. She’s very versatile as well. I think she’s the only scholar who have been singing different genres every gala night. Yung iba laging ballad or pop lang. Voice quality is good – not greate- but good. She compensates her voice quality with good technique (sabi nung mentors ha… wala naman akong alam sa mga bagay na yan) and wide voice range. Mula mababa — hanggang operatic… kaya nya. Throughout the season – she has shown us the audience that she’s definitely a force to reckon with. Insecure tuloy yung ibang mga girls. Di ko na sabihin kung sino – baka masabihan pa ako ng Listen!

Fearless forecast? Aba – diyan ako magaling… at walang katanda-tanda. Kahit laging palpakin ang aking forecast — aba – forecast pa rin ako ng forecast. Wala namang nasasakatan sa aking forecast e.

Kung ako ang masusunod —- ang gusto kong result ay Bugoy, Laarni, Miguel, Liezel, Van, Cris. Bakit? Na-explain ko na sina Bugoy at Laarni. Si Miguel – di man ganun kaganda ang boses nya – sya lang kasi ang nakita kong seryoso. Yung alam nyang gusto nyang manalo and he’s not ashamed to say it. Liezel - I’m not a fan actually. Malinis siyang kumanta — pero laging kulang. Laging blangko ang mata niya — kaya hindi nya maiparamdam sa audience yung sincerity at emotion. Her voice is good – kaya lang may tendency na mag-Donald Duck pag mataas na. Parang si Fantasia. –na hindi rin ako fan. Van has the looks – pero manipis ang boses nya. Cris actually has a better voice than Van – kaso she’s stiff and minsan akward. Actually – Apple should have been in the final six — kahit ayaw ko siya – she’s way better thatn Van or Cris… or even Miguel.

As for how the votes will go —- it’s either Laarni or Bugoy for the top spot. Van for the 3^rd spot. Miguel on the 4^th . Liezel and Cris will be 5^th and 6^th. Hmm.. malamang maraming mag-react. Again — opinion ko lang naman ito. The views and opinions of the writer (me) does not reflect the views and opinions of the reader (you). Kaya wag mong masyadong personalin.

So.. paano… kalimutan muna tayo…. sa muling pagniniig…

Yahoo!!!!!

I’ll make this short…. and sweet…. WALA NA SI INYUCKIE !