It's my birthday gig! (which is a bit late, yes but it's still Feb haha) And I'll be celebrating it with friends Anj and Jing from Ang Bandang Shirley. The night is guilty pleasure night so prepare to be reacquainted with the songs you know you love but rather not admit haha.

It'll be fun! Come and party with The Purplechickens, Candyaudioline, Marty Mcfly, Sleepwalk Circus and Ang Bandang Shirley! Of course, Soft Pillow Kisses will be playing too!

Tonight, we'll be bagets!

The movie is Blair Witch meets Godzilla. Everything was told through the lens of one character's digital video camera. So there were lots of quick pans, zigzags, blackouts, zap zip zap blzzzzzt thud thuds throughout the movie. I desperately refused vertigo but I felt a lump in my throat already from all those shaky scenes. The screenplay is stylistically non-existent, it consisted mostly of "OH MY GOD!" and "RUN! RUN! RUN" and that's exactly why I think it works. Offering further explanation will ruin everything. The characters were bland, though. Good thing they were hot New Yorkers. I'm getting way ahead, here's a quick telling of the plot for those who haven't seen it yet:

Cloverfield's first twenty minutes shows a going-away party for 20-something New Yorker Rob (Michael Stahl-David) because he is leaving for Japan. Soon, the partying is interrupted by a monster wreaking havoc in Lower Manhattan. The cast is then sketched: Rob is the bida in the barkada, he pines for ex-girlfriend Beth (Odette Yustman), who graces his party with another guy then leaves after a spat. Rob’s brother Jason (Mike Vogel) is dating Lily (Jessica Ford), who is friends with the cute and awkward Marlena (Lizzy Caplan) who's not supposed to be there in the first place. Videotaping all these is Rob's long-time friend Hud (T.J. Miller). They all realize the horror they're in when the Statue of Liberty is beheaded and everything goes awry.

It was difficult to watch this movie but I still wanted to finish it. The person beside me said, "This better end good." And for some reason, I knew the ending won't suck, unlike most monster movies. Watch out for my favorite scene though: the underground tunnel scene. I think this is the only part that really captured "horror."

"Cloverfield," succinctly put, is a survival film about normal people trying against all odds to survive a crisis over which they have zero control. Relate it to your love life or your career or whatever. And like me, most people will relate it to September 11. I relate it to the numbness we feel towards the normalcy of everyday living, how like disturbed ants we scamper when order is disturbed, how it is such a reminder that everything is fleeting, how little we are in the grand scheme of things. And with the limited time we're given, what really is the point of all points? The need to validate one's existence, that your life meant something to someone. That you have been unselfish and real and naked. Call it love, I guess. At the end of the day, it's all that everyone will cling to.

Either I'm a hopeless romantic or I've seen too many deaths this month.

***
And after watching the movie (well, puwede rin before watching), do visit these. It's surreal! Haha galing ng marketing nila, I'm impressed :)

http://www.myspace.com/robbyhawkins
http://www.myspace.com/beth_mcintyre
http://www.myspace.com/marlenadiamond
http://www.myspace.com/lily_ford
http://www.myspace.com/hudsonplatt
http://www.myspace.com/jj_hawkins

Check out the date they last logged in ;)


And oh, why the title you ask? There was so much hype about the movie that the creators decided to go with a "neutral" name to downplay everything. Thus, Cloverfield. Tada! ---apparently, I got the wrong info about the title.

Here's the real reason behind the tile:

Cloverfield refers to the field formerly known as Central Park. Clovers are
usually prone to grow at places after bombing. Thus the term "Clover" and "field" referring to park. TADA!

I'm not too excited for the 25th since I haven't shopped for Christmas gifts yet. How shallow. Hmm...not quite. I see Christmas as an opportune time to give back to people who rocked my year. And being obsessive-compulsive has got me pining for Christmas presents that these people will actually like and use/eat. But since the Christmas rush is here and very very evident due to the horrendous traffic I see in EDSA and the hordes of people in the MRT, I am reduced to a little girl--not anymore 5'8--who doesn't quite know where to go and what to buy. How else can I go about with my Christmas shopping spree when Divisoria is filled to the brim at 9am ON A WEEKDAY and Greenhills makes you want to smack people on the head. So please, if you think you will get a present from me this Christmas, do me a favor and post on your blog a wish list of sorts then tell me about it. It will greatly greatly ease my troubles. Don't go posting SONY VAIOs there, though.

BUT OH, if you're still looking for Christmas presents for your boss or your tito's family or someone with a family who likes to eat meat--then you don't have to endure the holiday rush with this! We ordered six chicken hams for this year and I remember happily devouring last year's chicken ham too. I made it ulam for sinangag during breakfast. And I think I'm gonna have it for dinner tonight! Haha adik! Thank God for homemade goodness. And well, Ping's mom's delectable cooking is no secret :)

I made a wish list! For my monito monita partners in all the Kris Kringles I'm in this Christmas, brought by my many affiliations caused by rakets everywhere. Now, you won't hear me say "kahit ano!" when you ask me want I want 'cos Santa, I've been good so here's my list. I was tempted to put an ASUS EEE PC but yeah, soon when we're all millionaires, friends.

My list has prices!

1. Allue Cosmetic Brush Set P90 HBC Market! Market! or any HBC store

2. Swallow Seduction Conditioning Hair Perfume P145 drugstores

3. St. Ives Eye and Face Stress Gel P167 FirstAid To battle all the stress accumulated from office work! psh!

4. a Globe SIM! yes, my Sun line is not enough for me. I don't know how much this costs, though. But I saw someone in Multiply selling a brand new Globe SIM pack with a free original Beyonce album for P200! haha

5. 2008 Starbucks Planner uhm, nakikiuso hahaha! I saw someone selling this for P950 in Multiply

6. Dried mangoes P50-P150 I sweaaar I'm addicted!!!

7. Bench Pure Mist Facial Water P89 for 100ml, P129 for 200ml Because I'm big on facial mists now due to all that commute I undergo!

That's my TOP 7. Anything else can be sweet, has milk chocolate as an ingredient or will move me to tears 'cos of nostalgia and mushiness. Nevertheless, those without money hahaha, you can always just give me a hug. It should last around 5 seconds for me to feel it Christmas-y enough.

Happy holidays!

PEOPLE magazine has published this year's Sexiest Men Alive list, with Matt Damon gaining the Number One spot. I never really liked him before but after reading his write-up and learning that he's a "rock-solid family man," he's now in my list of most desirable people. Nothing is sexier than a man successful both in his work and his family. It's difficult to balance both! And anyone who can do it with style, nice hair and a great bod deserves admiration.

Some men in the list I've yet to Google. Some I've been swooning over since forever haha! I'm not surprised my hotstuff crushes made it to the list: Johnny Depp (#4), Justin Timberlake (#14) and Adrian Grenier (#12).

I've noticed there's a certain trait that is common amongst the men in the list: they have solid inter-personal relationships--be it with their children, a long-time girlfriend, a wife, and even their parents. Wow, I guess Hollywood does something to you and in the long haul, it makes you just want to be with what feels home. I'm all for families and men who love kids so yeah I can't help but admire men like these. A-MEN!

I'm sharing my list of possible gift items cos' aside from love and holiday cheer and hugs and kisses--it's thoughtful to give a little something that is tangible, however silly or inexpensive.

Christmas Gift Ideas for 2007

1. Tsineelas. Heard of this? Tsineelas is a brand started by my sister and her friends for their Business Management course in De La Salle. They are, succinctly put, D.I.Y. sandals. The soles they sell have holes around them and a shoelace/vinyl strap/satin rope is weaved in and out the holes to create whichever design the wearer wants. To date, Tsineelas has been a hit in our church and amongst our friends because it's unique and very affordable. Check out their website to order.

2. Banapple Banoffee Pie. This wins "Cake of the Year" award for me! Ditch Red Ribbon's banoffee pie, the Banapple banoffee pie is what banoffee pies should taste (tongue twister haha). The bananas are fresh unlike the usual processed bananas in cakes. It's also not sickeningly sweet. A whole cake is P480 only. This is an ideal gift for your boss' or your tita/tito's family. Banapple is located at 225 Katipunan Ave. Blue Ridge, Quezon City (across Kopi Roti in Katipunan Extension). Or call 439-2675 to order.

3. Superblessed CD. My officemate, Ganns, was among the top 3 in the Kerygma Feast Songwriting Contest. His song "Magpasalamat" and "Superblessed" are featured in this new compilation. It's available in all House of Praise outlets. So, if you're thirsty for new songs to sing in church or you want to deviate a bit from your usual Hillsong mix, then this CD is for you...and your loved ones too! Check this out to find out more about the Superblessed CD.

4. Accessories. Every girl's best friend! I'm gaga over accessories and I collect those that I find rare. Because of my fascination with accessories, I've started selling some but I've been keeping it under wraps.
I like selling to the accessory aficionado first because I enjoy watching their eyes light up whenever I showcase my latest finds. If you're a voracious accessory collector, I'd be glad to show you my wares.
Btw, when shopping for accessories, be on the look out for the hottest: big blings (necklaces that have HUGE pendants), chunky funky rings, silver chains, army dog tags and anything that sparkles.

5. Team Manila merch. Graphic design mavens Team Manila has released new designs for their shirts, pins and wallets! Some slogans shout, "Made in the Republic of the Philippines," "I Shall Return" and "Jack en Poy Olympics." I've seen a lot of graphic design merchandise ever since Team Manila has gained a following but I've remained loyal to them. Circa 2004! Woot! I'm happy the boys are really attaining such status in the fashion and design world. Their new office along Jupiter St. is whoa! Macs, toys, lomo cams and fashion+design magazines litter their swanky new abode. Iz amazing! So, for Christmas gifts folks: buy Pinoy and buy orig, ok??! Team Manila!

Haha here's Team Manila's Jowee Alviar and me during the Lomo Lokal exhibit in their new store/ofc/home

On other news, do visit ClickTheCity for your daily dose of lifestyle churva as in restaurant reviews, movie reviews, product launches, events calendar and even a directory of hotels, restos, etc. And in the coming months, grab a copy of Mega magazine OKAY!? I shall be a regular contributor for that awesome fasyown magazine, as well. I hope all goes well, right Rome? ;)

In a nutshell: Life's been good! Thank God. I missed Tito Bob during his bday and like Riz, I saw Meet Joe Black (one of my favorite films ever) around that time too, which made me miss him more (he reminded me so much of Anthony Hopkins' character there). I've been designing clothes I wanna wear and yep, I've made the first step, I actually had my design made by a modista. I can't wait for the finished product! Ping is in the ABS-CBN soap which stars Kristine Hermosa and he plays a good cop. The no-tiyan, pogi cop! Swoon! Watch "Prinsesa ng Banyera" in Channel 2 around 3pm, it's been getting good reviews! I've seen it during the long vacation and I actually wanted to continue watching it, if only we had TV in the office.

Speaking of the boob tube, I haven't been watching it so much anymore! Either there's no time or there are no good shows when I tune in. Nevertheless, I have current addictions: Entourage and Six Feet Under. I don't watch them in HBO though, I subsist on DVDs.

Here's the cast of Entourage. Ari Gold (not the R&B artist) being my hands down favorite character:

Entourage has very witty dialogue often delivered with sarcasm by Ari Gold. The series chronicles the rise of Vincent Chase — a young, good-looking A-list movie star — and his childhood friends from Queens, New York as they navigate the unfamiliar territory of Hollywood. It is produced by actor Mark Wahlberg (remember Rock Star?) so I'm guessing he must've been really rich now. If you love your friends, you'll love 'em more when you watch Entourage.

Six Feet Under doesn't have much witty lines. Instead, the intelligence of this television series reverberates through the mundane interactions the characters undergo. Sometimes, some episodes scare me to death, not because it's gory but because it presents things that are inevitable. Six Feet Under is about a family who runs a funeral business right at their home. Every episode begins with a person dying. Then, the fun begins.

Some random updates because this blog is tigang and it's not pretty. I've set up a new blog over here. It's empty and as of this writing, I'm concocting a bongga pilot entry, which I don't think I can really whip up now. Pft. I'm so brain dead these couple of days. All I wanna do is shout ANIMO LASALLE! hahaha biglang plugging ng alma mater. More on the green pride later. As I was saying, my new blog is up but not running yet. I called it Funk Phenomena because I remembered the song when I was signing up yesterday in Blogspot. Then, okay, since my new blog will contain reviews on music, film, restaurants, beauty products, concerts, artistas, government officials, electronic gadgets, fashion, books, travel spots, hotels, motels, tv shows, etc etc---in short, anything worthy to share and give my two cents on--then I guess it would be great to call it the Funk Phenomenon, alluding to life itself. Chos.

When caught in a sticky pool of laziness, bullet. Bulleted lists are friendlier.

• First off, new haircut in town. Yep, got a new haircut in Wow! salon along Doña Soledad in Pque. I can't really call it Wow! but okay, for an unbelievable P40, I think the haircut's quite a steal. Once again, bravery has led to a great discovery haha. And it's just boo that my favorite "Korean cut" salon has deteriorated in terms of quality and their trademark meticulous hair-cutting method that's why I found myself entering Wow! one Sunday night.

• ClickTheCity.com is bound to get more krezeh! I'm now a writer for this way cool lifestyle website and things are sure to get exciting. If you have fascinating stuff to share like a new resto you discovered or an event you want featured, lemme know ;)

• I'm bleeding green! Haha. So proud of the DLSU Green Archers because UE was such a worthy opponent. I watched Game 1 in Araneta with my equally green sistah and menks, some of the UEeans were iskeriiiii, calling us bobo to our fez and stomping on the La Salle clappers/banners while spewing out words you wouldn't want your lola to hear. I've never seen that in ADMU-DLSU games before. But after that sweet victory in Game 2, after everything, the DLSU Archers emerge the champs! LA SALLE WINS ITS 7TH TITLE ON THE 7TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2007 IN THE 7TH DECADE OF THE UAAP WHICH HAD ITS FIRST GAME ON JULY 7, 2007. Iz creepy hahaha. I think the championship can be greatly credited to fantastic and well-experienced coaching. Franz Pumaren, from my frosh year in DLSU up to two years after my graduation, has never ceased to amaze. I think it's worth mentioning too that the De La Salle Jr. basketball team won the championships, as well! Can I just say it again? Animo LaSalle! Ok, that's about how school spirit-y I can go, I suck hahaha

And oh, hey check out the song in my player! I re-stocked on DLSU shirts too hahahah kill meeeh I miss Taft and college life :(

Then, lunchbreak arrives and I head to Landmark or Rustan’s supermarket when I feel like walking. Doing the grocery is one of my favorite things to do, it’s like the spa without taking your clothes off. Whut.Therapeutic hmmmm. It has been a ritual of sorts for me, going from aisle to aisle of counters chock full of yummy goodness. It being very curative and intimate and revealing, I only do the grocery alone or with people I like. So yeah, I do the grocery alone during my lunch break.

I decided to go to Landmark today and I must say I’m pretty proud of my purchases. With clenched teeth, I vehemently avoided anything too sugary or salty. (Except for that *small* hazelnut chocolate bar, demet). After spending around 40 minutes in the supermarket, I declare: doing the grocery takes a combination of skillful hunting(of what you really need), objective comparison (of labels and prices) and utmost self-control (when near the snacks and deli section).

Total purchase was around P370+ and it will provide enough munchies for me until the week ends. I bought 1 liter of malted soy milk, two Hungarian sausages (these are for Ping though, I was so fascinated with the evil chubbiness of those sausages!), Lotte’s choco pies in solo packs (not for me again), 3 packets of Quaker Oats’ Quick N Hearty, some blueberry muffins and a pack of roasted peanuts (I chose the one with the lowest sodium and it’s not Growers). Oh, and that annoying hazelnut chocolate bar who’s been waving at me from Aisle 45.

PERO WAAAIT, Someone's nominated in Urian! YEHEEY!

from the Urian site

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Rafael Roselle (Rome and Juliet); Allan Paule, Lauren Novero (Kaleldo); Archie Adamos (Raket ni Nanay); Ping Medina (Tulad ng Dati)!!!; Eppi Quizon (Rotonda); Soliman Crus (Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo); Domingo Landicho (Kubrador)

photo by Niña Sandejas

Woot! Getting recognition for something you do well always, always deserves some loving! And some red wine! Cheers dear! I hope we make it to the Urian tomorrow nyahaha!

If a man has talent and can't use it, he's failed. If he uses only half of it, he has partly failed. If he uses the whole of it, he has succeeded, and won a satisfaction and triumph few men ever know. ~Tom Wolfe

Sadly, I doubt many Filipinos will be able to read her (rather late) public apology. Much more, want to hear about it. After such controversial and irresponsible remarks, Malu Fernandez's name is now unfortunately part and parcel of what irresponsible journalism, bigotry, discrimination and elitism are. However sincere her apology is.

This brings to mind the too-often-abused PRESS freedom. Some journalists/ media people are so quick to cry "Freedom!" when it comes to raising their issues and interests but are so lethargic and apathetic when "Responsibility" matters enter the picture. All that yakkity yak without substance and truth surely taint the noble profession that is journalism. And I cringe, I reel from this realization being a writer myself--being gifted with a "louder" voice than most because I have space to write on and publishers who get my voice out there. It's a kind of power so fragile yet cutting.

I forgive Malu Fernandez and I hope she really, really learned her lesson. (And I hope she didn't take much offense on the comments regarding her weight. When people feel personally attacked, they do tend to retaliate personally, as well.) This has not only been a battle of Malu Fernandez vs. the OFWs but a battle of the mayaman vs. the mahirap once again. Waging war amongst the socio-economic classes is not, nah uh, NOT responsible journalism. I just pray it will be a verrry long time before such controversy in the media occurs again. (Hello editors!)

Former Manila Times co-writer Rome Jorge has thoughts regarding this and I couldn't agree more. It's high time the media shape up (not an indirect reference to losing weight, OKAY?). In this day and age where media is massively life-changing-- actually a powerful purveyor of all sorts of movements, trends and philosophies--people in the media definitely need more than name-drops and 'sosyal' surnames to prove themselves worthy.

It's quite unnerving to be sick now especially when I've never been sick for a really long time, way back when my time is my time and I can be lazy in the house the whole day. Now that I'm Ms. office girl, I get sick. And I'm forced to absent myself from work today. And because I'm still very much new in the company, that means no sick leave for me. Boohoo. 

I'm thinking there was a nasty virus carrier during the Blogger Food Fest I attended in Taste Asia last week with Joni and Rhiza. There's just no other possibility. Officemates Ganns (he won a kickass DVD player!) and Romz were also there but they inhabit the office too so it can't be the office. Plainly, I caught a virus in Taste Asia. Haha. I was fine the entire night, clearly impressed with the Clique Booth, the delicious (and free!) food served by Taste Asia and the many freebies SM Hypermarket gave away. But when I got out of the cab on the way home, I felt my throat hurt. Oddly, as if on cue. Then, boom, the next day I had a painful sore throat. By the time I was about to go enjoy my Friday night, I was shivering mildly from a slight fever.

Because of these bouts of fever and the amazingly annoying runny nose, I was forced to pass up a make-up raket, a practice session with Soft Pillow Kisses before Allan leaves for the U.S. and a Cinemanila movie night out with friends I haven't seen for quite some time. OLATS talaga. I think God's telling me to slow down but I'm just too stubborn and miffed to agree. Pft.