Butchering Idol Hopefuls 1

As I am an avid fan of Philippine Idol, despite obvious evidences that some contestants are glorious miscasts, I will continue my weekly tradition of ranking the idol-hopefuls according to their performances last night (then I will rant if my best pick will be eliminated tomorrow). As expected, not all of those who did well during the semi-finals did impressive tonight (Armarie and Drae), while some have successfully worked on their vocals and presence(Jan, Reymond and Apple). Of course, notable here are the consistents: the consistent great performers (Gian, Maureen and Pow) and the consistent drunken-member-of-class-animalia-posing-as-singers (Ken, Jeli and Stefanie).

It seemed that the venue of the Performance Night (SM Megamall Cinema) hasn't yet recovered from the power outage caused by the raging typhoon Milenyo. The audience was armed with abanikos (paper or cloth fans), as weapon against the heat. Ryan Agoncillo even commented that it's hot, then he darted away, directing the adjective "hot" to the competition. Okay, Ryan stop tricking us. You're sweating. The contestants are shiny too.

Tonight's theme was OPM. So, here's my ranking from best to worst:

1. Gian, ("Himala" by Rivermaya). I give him the credit for being the only one who sang a rock song this episode (Miguel did a rendition of After Image's "Next in Line" but it doesn't sound rock at all) and doing it with utter magnificence. Quoting Ryan Cayabyab, he is the Philippine Idol of the night.

2. Pow ("Nakakapagtataka" by Hajji Alejandro). Her voice can carry the emotion of every single song she sings and its like that she never fails to wow the audience every single performance.

3. Reymond ("Hindi Magbabago" by Randy Santiago). At least, the microphone didn't fail him this time, saving him from the suspectedly "sympathy votes" he received from his first performance due to a technical problem. Well, the performance is a proof that he doesn't owe everything from pity after all. He even caused me goosebumps.

4. Maureen ("Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin" by Ariel Rivera) Not her best, but still a good performance. Probably because I'm looking for a different side of her. I'm starting to get bored typically on her choice of songs: they are all in the same genre.

5. Apple ("Ngayon" by Basil Valdez) I found the song choice a very wise pick since it fit perfectly with her very deep alto voice. And her interpretation is above average.

6. Jan ("Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka" by Basil Valdez) The contestant who sounds like a theater artist. I think he nailed it this time, compared to his comatose-inducing performance way back.

7. Miguel ("Next In Line" by After Image) His rendition didn't sound rock at all, which is good because he has shown that he has the potential to own a song through his rendition. The only ruining factor is in the ending, wherein he sounded like he's gasping for extra air to reach the last note.

8. Drae ("Hang On" by Gary Valenciano) He sounded good, that's provided. The performance is boooring.

9. Armarie ("Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi" by Didith Reyes) Besides the fact that she didn't deliver good enough, her song choice is too ancient.

10. Stefanie ("Pangako Sa Iyo" by Rey Valera) "Pae-ngae-kow-sai-yow-ey-pag-la-la-baen-kow!!!!" God! Stop it!

11. Jeli ("Iisa Pa Lamang" by Joey Albert) Thank you for murdering my favorite song. You did it without effort.

12. Ken ("Di Na Natuto" by Gary Valenciano) He reminds me of chipmunks (the voice and the look, hehehe). The only difference is that Chip and Dale could perform way better. I believe that among the finalists, he is the total miscast. Aargh, I can't wait to see you wave farewell tomorrow.

OK, so that's how my deliberation went. I just wish that anyone in my bottom three will be eliminated tomorrow. My fingers crossed.

Millennium Passed By, Then?

Yesterday, typhoon "Milenyo" (Millennium) swept out Metro Manila. Strong winds unscrewed billboards from their respective spaces and went flying and targetting puzzled human beings. I am witness to this one Jollibee signboard which figured itself in midair, then landed violently in a bicycler's forehead. The impact's strong; the bicycler screamed in agony. Carlo, an officemate, also told me this incident when this giant billboard with Zanjoe Marudo posing for an underwear came tumbling down a lady's body. There's also this dog that I saw this morning under a pile of fragmented signboards. Its face exposed, I thought it's still breathing. I wish for its death, I hate to dilate its pain.

Every foundation appears decrepit under Milenyo's command. Rooftops were forced to leave the houses they're protecting from harsh elements. Trees surrendered; their branches cut off miserably and roots unearthened. Electric poles slashed out like tall toothpicks. Buses were helplessly halted by flying debris (e.g. branches, stones, electric wires, wooden and cement poles, faces of Kris Aquino, Sam Milby, Richard Guttierez etc., and houses ... I'm serious with the house).

Today, everything went to normal, the weather at least. The sun has shone in the sky with glee once again, glancing at the great raucous Milenyo has done. The roadways are dry once again, winds toned down to normal and the heat's scorching hot. It's weird actually. Milenyo visited the country just to go rampaging on a day, then it escaped like nothing happened.

(Photos Courtesy of Stephen Valena)

Egghead Me

Setting aside photographic evidences that I was bald as a newborn baby, there's no other time in my earthly existence that I have sported a shaved-head look. Well, the record's been broken last Friday evening.

I have big problems setting my hair to a desired style that's why I decided to shave it off. Honestly, I feel contented (and happy) everytime I'm sporting a new hairstyle - thanks to Victor Lim of Bench Fix Salon (BFS), Commonwealth branch for giving me a variety of looks every month. However, I can maintain and experiment on my "new look" only for two weeks and the next two weeks will end up to the same old boring hairstyles I sport since college ... the ducktail, the spikes, and the clumped-hair-displayed-like-fountain-in-the-middle-of-your-head hairstyle. I can't afford to have a haircut at Bench Fix twice a month. No, don't suggest to bring myself to a nearby barbershop instead. I know, their prices are way reasonable (P40.00 to P60.00 versus BFS's P185.00) but I am not in the mood to picture my hair in "bunot," and "Jose Rizal" mode. So, to solve my problem regarding hairstyle, I decided to be bald (semi-bald not skinhead, to be exact).

Before Shot

After Shot

But, it's never an easy decision, although I've been considering this hairstyle last May for my college graduation. Of course, my mom protested, she wanted me to "look good" -not a hoodlum- for my graduation night. I entered the BFS still thinking twice. I asked Victor if a semi-bald style would look good in me. He examined my head, and said "yes" without signs of hesitation. Well, I still have my doubts. I'm on my way to stop him and tell him, "Wait, maybe I'll just try this next time" but it's too late, a chuck of hair was already shaved off my head. OK, I said to myself, there's no way turning back. Man, I'm shaking badly during the whole process, I'm so nervous that I might end up killing Victor if the finished product is garbage.

I liked it. No, I loved it. This is the first time I saw myself like this. This is the NEW style I'm looking for a long time. Well, while some of my family and friends were quite surprised and well, dismayed (My mother literally screamed when she saw me approaching our gates. She thought I was a member of Tadtad gang. OK, that's cruel typecasting, as if balds are members of the gang) I don't care because I have no regrets.

So another argument is, why did I shed P185.00 to shave my head? Actually, this is a matter of relegating my head to someone whom I've already trusted (pun not intended), which is my hairstylist for the past six months. I don't want to see chips and blood in my scalp.

Having said the primary reasons for temporarily saying goodbye to the length of my hair, I have come up with more valid back-reasons (which I just formulated after the final product):

1. My hair might serve as a small contribution for the restoration of the bodies of water in Guimaras and Iloilo polluted by the MV Solar 1 Oil Spill. According to studies, hair is a good absorbant of oil.

2. I will not spend for hairstyling products for a mean time. So long hairgel, hair wax, cream and mousse, you'll not be busy for the mean time. Oh, I also have to keep my comb for three weeks or four weeks, tops. That's both economical ang environment-friendly.

3. Maybe this is a good luck charm (for what? I don't know). Remember Amazing Race 7 when Uchenna and Joyce stumbled upon a Fast Forward in India(?) whereas they are needed to shave their hair. Tearfully, Joyce accepted the challenge to shave her hair. While they receive the Fast Forward, they remain as underdogs until the last leg of the race. Not until a sudden twist of fate happened, they won the million dollars. Hmmm... maybe I'm just making a very big fuss about my hair. Forget it.

I'm Not a "Survivor" Addict

The first Survivor (Borneo) hit me in the head when I was in junior high. I screamed my lungs out: "CBS, give me more!" Survivor: Australia then hit the televisions around the world and it was way better. Blame it to the very harsh environment of the outback and a bunch of very interesting people: a vegetarian who ate a worm for immunity, a chef who cannot cook rice, a father figure who cannot swim, a very outspoken fitness trainer, an actress who is always in involved in conflicts, an underdog who will later win the title. I believe that Survivor 2 is the best among all Survivor installments, so far.

Then went Africa, Marquesas, Thailand (a big disappointment), Amazon then Pearl Islands. There's nothing notable with these seasons, with the exclusion of Africa and Pearl Islands. Africa was saved from crappiness because of its location - the dry lands, but in case Lex, Kelly and Tom are not in the line-up of casts, it would have turned the viewers into comatose.

Pearl Islands, despite the ancient beach location, cracked out from its dirtiness. This is by far the "dirtiest" Survivor ever shown, in terms of lies, deception, character assassinations and weird tactics (the infamous Jon's dead grandma spiel). While the winner of this season (Sandra Twine) is not notable, this season will not be easily forgotten.

Survivor: All Stars is gas. It composed of the 18 most famous personalities from the past seven seasons battled out for another million dollars. Four former winners were casted. No one even made it to the tribal merge and jury. Challenges were recycled. Twists were too many, my senses can't take them. Perhaps the most notable in this season is Rob-Amber love spark. They brought themselves to the final two; Amber won the title and the million dollars.

When I was in third year college I realized that I've been making a fuss about Survivor for four years! I thought 'All Stars' was the last in the ensemble of immunity challenges and tribal council. My prediction failed me when Survivor: Vanuatu was shown. I found this season as the crappiest among all seasons because everything's ancient: the division of tribes into gender and the same old beach location. I literally identified myself as a zombie after episode 6, I believe it's already wasting my time. Too much of the "social experiment" thing. I swore that I will never watch a single Survivor episode after that.

Survivor 10, 11, 12 passed by and I turned loyal to my decision not to watch a single episode from each season although sometimes, I read news about what's happening but nothing came farther than that. However, I think I'm going to single out my conviction.

Survivor 13: Cook Islands debuted last Friday afternoon (September 15, Philippine time) with twenty castaways divided into four tribes according to races: Aitu (Hispanics), Hiki (African-Americans), Puka (Asian-Americans) and Rarotonga (Caucasians). Two of the casts are Filipino-Americans: Brad Virata and Jenny Guzon-Bae. These two, plus the other casts, make this season a ground for diversity, making this a watchable season. At least, Mark Burnett, Survivor's producer, has decided to open the game to non-Caucasian hopefuls.

Brad Virata, 29 (Fashion Director)

Jennifer Guzon-Bae, 36 (Real Estate Agent / Writer)

Photos Courtesy: Survivor: Cook Islands on CBS

Brad, by the way, is openly gay, making him the first Asian-American gay contestant in the game. Jennifer, on the other hand, worked as a journalist in Chicago's only Filipino American news program, "Philippine News Reports".

On the first episode of Survivor 13, the tribe of the Asian-Americans (Puka) kicked ass big time. They won the immunity challenge and reward challenge.

Contemptible

Hate the day.
Normal, ordinary. Despisable.
Bland.
I wish there's something new.

I Wonder How Sam's Hotdog Tastes Like

Before your eyes started rolling to dart it into where I am standing I think you need to see this:

Photo Courtesy of The Man-Blog

That's Sam Milby endorsing his ALL-MEAT (brown) JUMBO hotdog. True to ts tagline, "Bagong Sarap, Bagong Kaibigan," Sam's hotdogs will be every hotdog-lovers' bestfriend.

I can imagine someone buying this in a wet market:
"Ale, pabili nga po nung hotdog ni Sam, yung Jumbo (Miss I like to buy Sam's Jumbo hotdog)"

Or two kids eating at the canteen:
Kid 1: Wow! Hotdog Sandwich!
Kid 2: Sam Hotdog ata to! Gusto mo kumagat? (This is Sam's hotdog! Want to bite?)
Kid 1: Sige pakagat! Hmmm! Sarap! (Let me have a bite! Delicious!)

Or a mother asking his son to eat lunch:
Mother: Anak! Kumain ka! (Son, eat your food!)
Child: Ayaw! (No!)
Mother: Ano bang ayaw mo sa hotdog ni Sam? E ang sarap-sarap nyan!? (What don't you want in Sam's hotdog? It's delicious!?)

What in hell is Sam Milby thinking when he accepted this endorsement??

To take a peek on the fictional account on how the whole product conceptualization was formed, click here.

Yuck

Two semi-finalists who did the worst performances in Philippine Idol last Saturday made it to the top 12: Ken and Stephanie. Aaaaargh! Ira and Onyx were totally axed out of the competition, and they deserve the slots miles farther than those two Filipinos from down under. Well, thanks that Maureen and Gian made it to the finals, though. But, aargh!! I don't knwo why I'm still watching this crap.

To Remain As An Observer

I just want to remain as a viewer of Philippine Idol. I refuse to vote because I don't want to contibute for the telecommmunication networks' acquisition of fast cash. Globe, Smart, Talk N Text, Touch Mobile, Sun Cellular et. al. produce so much money in text polls: that's PHP 2.50 per vote and every television and radio contests has their own text polls. On the very first semi-finals episode of Philippine Idol, Ryan Agoncillo spilled that approximately 300,000 votes came. I think that's a big number of votes for a 22-hour votation period - that's PHP 750,000 in a single day! ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother, on the other hand, did a one-week votation period and they acquired approximately 2 million votes in the finale! You do the math.

That's why I cringe everytime a host says, "If you still want to see (name of contestant) here next week, vote for him/her. Text and send to (number here). Remember, you may not vote just once, you may vote as many times as you want." Well, this statement means very different in the perspective of the contestant and the networks 'CEOs. While the contestant is having a nervous breakdown thinking of how many votes he acquired, the CEOs, on the other hand, are excited to see how much money they gained during the votation period.

But I will still continue to watch P Idol. I don't care whoever makes it to the top 12. Actually, only half of the eight present semi-finalists are of caliber: Apple, Armarie, Pow and Drae. The rest, CRAP. Maybe the other four look good in the camera, yes; but their performances are so so. Oh well, maybe they could redeem themselves in the Finals.

Last night was the Wildcard Round where two boys and two girls will be determined to complete the four remaining slots. The contenders will be announced tonight. My personal choice: Gian and Onyx for the guys; Ira and Maureen for the girls. This choice is based upon last night's performances. The worst performers last night are Ting, Ken, Stephanie and Ramir (provided his first performance is considered, Ramir should have been in the top 12 beforehand).

Suey is also a notable performer of the night, if Ira willn't make it, I hope she'll grab the spot ... but I still heart for Ira. Maureen has to be in the top 12, we all know that.

I'm sick of Joseph trying to manipulate the viewers through sympathy votes. He is doing the old "poverty" trick like other people did in other contests (Remember Hero of SCQ and more names). I mean, he need not to brag about it in National Television. If he's poor then that's it. Quoting Francis M, "You should have not join here, Dapat sa Laban O Bawi ka na lang sumali."

So, here's my ranking of their performances:

1. Gian
2. Maureen
3. Onyx
4. Ira / Suey
6. Joseph
7. Ramir
8. Ting
9. Stefanie
10. Ken

Lukas Rossi's the Frontman of Supernova

Photo Courtesy by Rockstar.MSN.Com

Lukas is finally the frontman of Supernova after a summer-long application and audition process. I thought Dilana would win it.

Writer's Block

For two years I've never written a single short story after I signed on my "masterpiece" to the Palanca Awards: English Short Story category. I thought it was good enough, but I don't know what's with the other entries during the competition period so predicting that my work is way much better than the other entries is very unwarranted thus, served useless. I waited for the LBC stating that I won. I received nothing. Oh well, that's OK. That's my first entry, anyway. There's a lot of time to join in the future.

When I was the Literary Editor of the Bosconian Forum (the official magazine of Don Bosco) rewind College years, I am required by our Adviser to feature a short fiction for every issue. I was hesitant at first but I ended up enjoying the process of writing short fiction. Writing gave me an excuse to let my multiple personalities resurface everytime it's necessary. I love instances when schoolmates would ask me what on earth I was thinking during the creative process. By the way, I was in a technical school so if somebody learned that you can write, you'll be praised, likewise those who are gods of mathematics, programming, electronics and computer troubleshooting. It's even weird that my four years of wallowing in Information Technology caused me to fall in love with creative writing to the nth level instead of focusing on my majors.

Now, I'm trying to write a short story again. The reason's not primarily accustomed to the Palanca but that's an easy backdoor objective. I want to hear my voice translated in fiction again. I want to transcend away from myself for sometime. Before I graduated, I was already hired as a writer in this company I'm working now. Well, I'm writing for a client so this doesn't count as a passion. This is plain paid skill. I intend to write again because I want to reinvent myelf again.

The problem is, this has become a struggle. As of now, I'm having a difficulty translating my ideas into words. The characters, the main plot, the ending, the middle, the beginning - they are all stuck in my head. They can hardly get out. Actually, I don't intend to write an entry for my blog this day to devote time for my upcoming short story, but getting stuck straing at the monitor for one hour typing the first few sentences then deleting them then typing then deleting them again like a locomotive mantra is horrific. Maybe, my other personality hasn't emerged from his subconscious yet. I'll wait for him to wake up.

By the way, those who are interested about the story which I entered to the Palanca, you may email me at corpuzdavidr@gmail.com. I am more than willing to give you a copy.

This Day, Two Years Ago

2004

I cried almost all the times of this day: after I woke up this morning, then on lunch with friends and even on our ride back home. After all, I only have a frail idea of what I am experiencing right now. I’m confused, disturbed, insecure all at same time. Add up the feeling of guilt but I have to let go of that for a while. This is a product of my work and things seem favored my way, but everything’s sour and will end up hopeless.

Remember those days when you and I created a pact that we could not form a relationship more than friends? I respected it. But believe me, I’ve tried to stop my feelings for you but I ended up wallowing in a difficult position. You’re one of a few who has given me the conviction to stand up on my own and believe in myself. You are the one who contributed to the confidence that I’m trying to build up every single day. You are the one who taught me to see things in a very optimistic way. You’re the one who never put me down deeper every time I feel hopeless and stiff. You’re the one who believed that I can make every single day a worthy experience. You’re not at fault with these things I’m feeling. It’s just that I'm falling.

The first time I saw you, I never had the intention of befriending you. I’ve never thought that we will be so close. With you, I’ve never been so comfortable in my life.

And now, I don’t know if I’m slowly sinking deep in gloomy wilderness. I want to hide my feelings but things have to happen this way. Am I just misinterpreting all the things that you are doing to me? The answer could be Yes but I would rather guess the answer as a No. I don’t know what to do. Things need not to happen this way.

I want to thank you for the respect. Of all the times of my life, I’ve never felt so respected and pampered. You restored my fallen dignity. Thanks for helping me to raise my head high the same way when you remind me that I’m wrong at times. Most important of all, thank you for giving me the feeling that I am loved.

Yup, loved. Sorry, I overassumed. You’re supposedly the last piece of puzzle which will complete my life. I’m sorry. I know that you’ve got no intentions. Again, it’s not your fault. It’s a feeling I can’t sustain.

It seems that you want to forget the fact that I’m in love with you. You always point out that everything's just an infatuation. So be it, it’s the time for me to give respect. But I can’t redirect my emotions. I’m still in a feeling of doubt that someone so close to me has no feelings for you. I’m crushed, but I’ll never stop. I’ll never give up. It’s that because I love you.

Are you still there?

***

Note: The author has no idea that this entry has survived after a pile of notebooks has been burnt a year ago. This entry was originally written exactly two years ago in the leaves of a scratch Mathematics notebook (those with green grids). He hasn’t read the whole entry after he placed the last question mark in the final sentence … not until he rediscovered the notebook, only after two years. This was supposedly for someone.

Memory rush.

Who's Up For Group Study?

Yup. I'm advance studying Comparative Media Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) for free as preparation for Graduate School two months from now. Everyone knows that I majored and sucked big time in Information Technology when I was in College so I need to flex my brain cells for theories and basic information about media studies, particularly in Film. And yes, you can study at MIT for free as I have stated above, through their Open Courseware. Well, that's free knowledge minus the diploma and degree title of course. But it doesn't matter because you can download their syllabi, reading materials, assignments and exams. It's still studying MIT style without the classrooms and tuition fees. Imagine you're in an Open University or Online Study setup.

There's no registration or sign-up required, thus making it absolutely open for everyone who are really eager to learn. I'm focusing on Comparative Media now but I occasionaly steal snippets of time peeping notes on subjects under the Linguistics and Philosophy Department and Writing and Humanistics Studies. Enjoy learning!

Korean Film Festival Next Week

Calling All Film Enthusiasts! September 19 - 23 is Korean Film Festival at the University of the Philippines Film Center. Six films will be exhibited for FREE!

"Old Boy," winner of Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival will be shown on September 22, 5 PM. Actually I've already seen this film a year ago in Titus Brandsma screenings. I'm more than excited to see this cult film for the second time!

Schedule of Screenings

September 19, Tuesday
7 PM Il Mare

September 20, Wednesday
5 PM A Day
7 PM Art Museum

September 21, Thursday
5PM Il Mare
7PM I Wish I Had A Wife

September 22, Friday
5PM Old Boy
7PM Spring Summer Fall Winter ... and Spring by Kim Ki Duk

September 23, Saturday
2PM I Wish I Had A Wife
5Pm Art Museum by the Zoo
7PM A Day

Uh oh

Congratulations to three of my bets who made it to the top 4 of Philippine Idol: Pao, Armarie and Apple (actually, Apple is my top 5, and I'm still rooting for her to make it to the top 6 so her early entrance is good). Ei, what's Jellica doing there in the top 4? She has one of the ugliest performance last night! Argh! Plus Maureen and Ira didn't make it. Sob.

Next will be the wildcard round. I hope that Maureen, Ira, Gian and Ramir make it. They deserve to be up there.

Compound: A Microscopic Simulation of the Society

I arrived an hour and a half early to the UP Special Screening of Compound yesterday. Well, the act's intentional since I'm in the process of writing a short story; I need space for thoughts. 4:30PM and I bought my ticket. The ticket is oh so big, I have to say it with a big monstrous voice to emphasize its size. By 4:45 PM, we, the demented moviegoers have been entering the freezer, I mean, theater.

The ticket

Thirty minutes inside the theater, I'm freezing to death while old commercials of Liwayway Marketing Corporation (manufacturer of the never-say-die Oishi crackers), Nikkon Home Appliances and FGI Furniture continuously playing. The old guy in front, complained and shouted "Hey guys start the movie! You're f*cking late!" I am enjoying the vintage Oishi commercials, by the way. Five mroe minutes, Will Fredo (the director), John Arcilla, Jake Macapagal et. al. walked in the aisle and headed to their seats. After a short introduction by Will, the film finally started. I wish that they aren't the reason why the screening's late.

The film opened introducing us to the people living in the compound. There's the delos Reyes family: Virgilio (John Arcilla), Divina (Janet Russ) and their retarded daughter Luisa (Joan Palisoc). Virgilio and Divina has problems to please each other sexually and their mentally-challenged daughter is hard to deal with as she is seeing "things."In addition, Virgilio is struggling with substance addiction and Divina is obsessed with full-body amplication. To complete the quadruple whammy of the whole picture is the presence of Romina (Liza Dino), the household helper who served the compound since her childhood, who is also Virgilio's subject of sexual attention.

Virgilio inherited the compound from his family. Their clan is one of the richest in Manila - he always say it with pride, but the truth is they're dealing with the worst of financial problems. The compound is unarguably the family's contributing money maker for now, he and his wife decided to have a tenant, Jay (Jake Macapagal), a bisexual guy searching for himself and loosing threads from his wife (Lili Chu) and boyfriend, Gary (Marq Dollantes), who eventually had a sexual attraction with Big Boy (Perry Escano), Romina's husband(?).

So the fun starts in the middle, when everything's starting to crumble. Virgilio's hallucinations started to intensify. He can now see and hear "things" like her retarded daughter. He suspects that terrorists are invading their compound and they're going to kill his family. This is the point where the viewers started guffawing. It's fun to see Virgilio slowly losing his sanity (John Arcilla in one of his finest performances). While our minds are secured that we already knew the ending, we were goddamn wrong. We're screwed. The director played with our mind and he won.

I have to say that the main character in the film is not among the human persona in the film but the Compound, itself. The compound is the microcosm of the world we are living in. In the compound, it's like every society's issue is present: drug addiction, terrorism, homosexuality, greed for power and wealth, ignorance .. you name it, it's in here. It's like the compound in the picture is one kind of hell, but let's not forget that there's a big world out there.

One thing, I am irritated with the characters' coniotic way of speaking (e.g. the overly famous "Whatever!!!" "Gosh!" and millions of tag-lish sentences). Maybe, it's the director's intention to show how people communicate today. While some people find it intelligent and socially-acceptable, the movie displayed it in a very honest way that it's so irritating. Personally, I don't root for people who call themselves "conio," as if "conio" equates to class. Don't they know that conio means female reproductive organ in literal Spanish? Remember, the Spanish ruled the Philippines for more than 300 years. Probably, when they hear Filipinos proudly calling themselves as conio, I will not be surprised if they giggle.

Arcilla and Macapagal are noteworthy in their performances as Virgilio and Jay, respectively. They deserve acting nominations, or probably the trophy itself!

Check this out. The last three movies that I saw in the big screen are low-budget Filipino digitals while off the record, they are all excellent: Kubrador, Todo Todo Teros and Compound. The last two movies, I saw them both at the UP Film Center. No, I haven't seen The Devil Wears Prada yet, but I plan sometime next week (By the way, is it still in theatres? Oh well, if not, I can drag my friends to Quiapo. If Edu Manzano caught me buying pirated discs, I'll ask him to autograph my DVD, then I'll run away like a cheetah).

PIYOK Idol

I'm disappointed with the female semi-finalists' performances in Philippine Idol. Only five are worth listening to, six are worth ditching, while one is duh. And here are Francis M and Pilita C giving their most boring and bland comments. Maybe they are being just kind or considerate enough but they have to be reminded that this isn't Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko but a singing contest. I'm tired of listening to Francis M saying "Ang linis ng pagkakanta mo (You performed very well)" despite the annoyingly squeaky performance and of Pilita wasting airtime catching the host(Ryan Agoncillo)'s attention instead of focusing on the contstants' performances.

I called this episode the PIYOK IDOL because half of the 12 contestants slipped their voice boxes out. This is a very disappointing feat for a live singing contest (and this is supposedly the Philippine Idol). Jelica's attempt to sing "Bridges" into three different languages - English, Portuguese and Filipino (I wish she also sang it in Cantonese, Urdu and Aramaic) - brings blood to the eardrum. Stef's "Home" and Suey's "Almost Over You" are enough to send Diana Ross and Sheena Easton to fly to the Philippines and decapitate them for not giving justice to their song. Jill, the hearing-impaired semi-finalist, dedicated the song "Paalam Na" to her departed father, but it seems that with the annoyingly bad performance, she needs to wave goodbye as early as now. Ynah's "Halik," aside that it wasn't song well (evident on pitches) is too gimmicky. I need not continue with Ting's because describing it is too horrible.

Well of course there are but five performances stood out. Maureen's "Sweet Love" is unarguably the night's best. A great display of voice power. I will be surprised if she will not make it to the top 4 (well, I was surprised when Gian and Rammir didn't make it last week). Armarie's "Superwoman" is also a hit. Pao's very dramatic voice perfectly suited "Ikaw Lamang" - just the thought of her perfromance still gives me chills as I type this entry. Ira's "Mister Melody" gave the needed energy to the competition. I have to disagree with the jurors' negative comments on Apple's great performances. I believe that Apple's "Rhythm of the Street" is oen of the best one, displaying her strong powerful voice.

What about the Milo Girl, Gail? Too plain. I can't even remember her performance.

So, here's my ranking of the girls' performances with the number 1 as the best and 12 the worst:

1. Maureen
2. Pao
3. Ira
4. Armarie
5. Apple
6. Gail
7. Stephanie
8. Suey
9. Jellica
10. Ynah
11. Jill
12. Ting

If my top 4 failed, then it isn't surprising at all. I wish that this show will not be mistaken for Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko.

This Blog is Nominated for the 9th Philippine Web Awards

Yup, you read it right. Mental Pornography, despite the profanity my title suggests, is one of the nominated sites for Philippine Web Awards 2006. I'll keep you informed until the voting season so that you could have the chance to push this very simple almost uni-colored website with above average contents to win the People's Choice Award. That's in case if you want to support my site. Ahahaha!

Two years ago, my school, Don Bosco Technical College bagged the Best Website, Schools Category. If I made it to the top five finalists, I will be more crazy-looking more than a baboon.

Wish me luck guys. Thank you.

Depressing Christmas

Remembering childhood, we learned from adults that Christmas is the best season to be jolly, the same time when Santa Claus will finally decide to stand up from his almost year-long respite (which explains his balloony figure) to distribute gifts to "good" children. It made me think that the simple rule which has been instilled by our parents to our heads - to be good so that Santa Claus will give the gift that we wished for - has taught us to be materialistic. The month of "ber" turned as a signal for us to obey our parents and behave properly at all times lest Santa Claus will not give us the toys we have been salivating about since time immemorial.

You grew old, totally forgot about Santa Claus and realized that Christmas is not always jolly after it all.

As I said, September marks the start of Christmas season here in the Philippines, with the suffix "-ber" as the official and national indicator. Aside from performing the shop-til-you-drop activities, monito-monitas and the usual outings, Christmas isn't complete without the proliferation of Christmas carols in everyone's eardrums. This is the mark of the year when you have to be prepared or you'll get sick listening to "Deck the halls with boughs of holly/ Fa la la la la, la la la la/" or "We wish you a Merry Christmas/ We Wish you a Merry Christmas/ and a Happy New Year/" and more truckloads of clicheic happy music about Christmas. Who's not getting tired of these type of music by the way?

So let's all be prepared. Send those MP3s of jolly Christmas music to your computer's wastebasket and start searching for my top ten most depressing Christmas songs to be played on Christmas Eve as you munch on your ham and cheese sandwich, lechon baboy and other hypertension-inducing cuisine (if you are having a hard time looking for these songs, I have copy, you may contact me).


10. I'll Be Home for Christmas by Bing Crosby - Aside from the depressing last line, "I’ll be home for Christmas / if only in my dreams”, the song has been believed to be written for soldiers away from home. Workers abroad should not dare listen to this song.

9. Brick by Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds' song about her girlfriend getting an abortion a day after Christmas. Although this is not a song about Christmas, events told in the lyrics happened on Christmas, that's why I still counted this as a depressing holiday song.

8. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Well, very ironic: a song wishing us for a happy christmas while the melody is too melancholic. This song is actually a protest song about the Vietnam War.

7. River by Joni Mitchell - A song which started off with the Jingle Bells theme and developed to a sad reflection filled with longing, as many are won't to do during Christmas time. In the song Joni's praying: "I wish I had a river / I could skate away on" finding herself celebrating Christmas in a place with a warm climate. Check out the melody.

6. 25th Christmas by Everything But the Girl - Imagine Tracey Thorn's voice in this lyrics: "And I see forests and its the 25th of December/ and my old man plays the piano for Christmas, / He plays the piano for Christmas /And we're all there, all the aunties and uncles, /and the angel's on the top of the tree/ Up there on the top of the tree/ And I never, no I never ever realized/ Have I enough time, have I just some time, / to revisit, / to go back, /to return,/ to open my mouth again/and say something different this time/" Sorry, if I can't explain further. The song's majestic. Period.

5. Baby Please Come Home by Death Cab by Cutie - A christmas song suitable for those who find themselves alone in Christmas day. Sink your ears listening to lyrics like, "They're singing deck the halls/ But it's not like Christmas at all/ I remember when you were here/ All the fun we had last year"

4. Where are You Christmas by Faith Hill - A song dedicated for people who can't find the essence of Christmas despite the evident holiday season. Where are you Christmas/ Why can't I find you/ Why have you gone away/ Where is the laughter/ You used to bring me/ Why can't I hear music play

3. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tori Amos -First point: it has suggested a very ironic title despite the depressing dirge. As a World War II era song, the melancholy tone was intentional. Second point: although Judy Garland's original is enough to put chills to listeners, Tori Amos' version can automatically kick one's consciousness out.

2. Circle of Steel by Gordon Lightfoot - In 2 minutes and 48 seconds the song has managed to tell us the following story: It used a roulette wheel (circle of steel) and a time for giving (Christmas) as symbols to show the plight of the poor. We focus on a family that consists of a newly born child to a weepy, alcoholic, welfare case of a mother and a father who is in prison for a vague crime. No one cares, no one gives a damn, and this is how the poor are treated year around. Christmas dawns and the snow lets up/ And the sun hits the handle of her heirloom cup/ She hides her face in her hands for a while/ Says look here child/ Your fathers pride was his means to provide/ And he's servin three years for that reason/

1. Christmas Shoes by NewSong - This is a heavy-handed, depressing piece. If you haven’t heard it, it’s a song about a boy who’s scraping together money to buy a pretty pair of shoes for his mom, who’s dying. He wants to buy them because “I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight.” Well, the song can be cheesy if you tried to listen to it over and over again. It has the same storytelling technique as used in the Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses.

SO that's the list!

Army of Me

My name, David Corpuz, is too common that when I applied for my NBI Clearance I was asked to return to their office after a week (which I translate as "hell" because falling in line is enough to cause one's head to melt). That's enough time period to check that I am not the David Corpuz who has committed murder, rape, estafa or whatever-criminal-cases-you-could-think-of. Of course, I received my clearance without any stains of guilt.

When I'm in the mood to be bitchy, I often ask my parents why haven't they thought of a creative name for me - maybe "Terrence" or "Achaia" or something very weird like "Xifan" or "Googy," so that I would be distinct from anyone else. I mean, they gave me the same name as that of my father's name, and they even forgot to put the suffix "Jr." or "II" in my birth certificate. The only distinguishing factor between me and my dad is our middle name.

Then I also learned that the Resident Ombudsman of the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA), and the Board of Investment (BOI), is Atty. David B. Corpuz.

There is also a David Corpuz who is a water-planner and a David Corpuz who is an OFW in Saudi Arabia. There is also a David Corpuz who is a Sales Department Systems Coordinator from Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts. Aaaarggh.

To set the records straight, this David Corpuz also writes in cyberspace.

This name is overused.

Aninag

"Aninag" is a short film by Rianne Hill Soriano. This short film will be shown at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival this October.


Video Courtesy by Rianne Hill Soriano

Todo Todo Teros

I believe that John Torres' Todo Todo Teros is a film of excellence. It promotes a style so groundbreaking, it leveled up the definition of "experimental." I'm glad that a Filipino filmmaker has that innate x-factor to push filmmaking into different directions. The only problem is, it took me a lot of thinking before I coud get it (or so I thought that I already got it).

I failed to grasp the essence of the material the way I want to handle it. I mean, as a cineaste, I'm used to battle my wits out to movies with challenging plots, twists and storytelling techniques. Most of the time, I win. In this case, the end credits have started scrolling up and I'm left in my seat still trying to decipher what really happened for the past 103 minutes.

I went to the UP Film Institute for the second Philippine screening of Todo Todo Teros last Saturday (its premiere was held at the Ateneo). It's amazing that a good number of people are waiting in line, each curious to see what a Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Critics Awardee/ International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Awardee and Singapore International award 2006 winner is like. Somewhere in the middle of the film, I overheard my girl seatmate whispering to herself, "I don't get it! AAArgh!" I just want to tap her back, hug her and tell her, "Don't worry honey, you're not alone. Don't feel stupid. I am feeling the same way too." Then both of us will cry in frustration.

"Feeling ko naintindihan ko siya (I feel that understand the film)," a chubby guy is telling his friends while we are heading our way out the dark, cold theatre. Like him, I have my own understanding about the film. Maybe it will not match the director's perspective but I will share it to you anyway.

We are introduced to an unnamed narrator, a filmmaker who will be later referred to as the Terrorist. He went to Berlin, Germany to bomb subways, leaving Manila behind. In Berlin he met Olga, his Russian tourguide, whom he had fallen in love with. Back home, the terrorist has a legitimate wife, putting himself in an extramarital affair.

One remarkable thing about the film is how the concept of "terrorism" was utilized in various aspects. First, we were introduced to the most familiar form of terrorism that intimidates a population or government through sheer violence. When "The Terrorist" went abroad to bomb subways, that's the terrorism that we are all familiar about - massacre, warfare, acquiesence.

Then we introduced to another form of terrorism. Emotional terrorism, I may say. "The Terrorist" fell in love with a foreigner, neglecting that he has another life in his native country. In the last part of the film, we saw his wife in torment trying to hold her personal bombs only that she can't hold it anymore, sending her to a sudden outburst.

Then last, independent filmmaking could be noted as a form of terrorism to the media here in the Philippines. According to the Wikipedia's definition of terrorism: "acts of terrorism are not intended to merely victimize or eliminate those who are killed, injured, or taken hostage, but rather to intimidate and influence the societies to which they belong." Independent filmmaking has given artists and future filmmakers the chance to express themselves through film without the extra thinking about commercialism and marketing, without spending great amounts of moolah. All they want is to share to the people what they have to offer and the mere fact that this type of filmmaking is easily becoming a threat to mainstream/commercial cinema. In independents, we always see something fresh, something innovative, something out of the formula. In mainstream cinema, we see two people falling in love while running in beaches and melting their eyes with long stares. In mainstream, there is nothing new. Independent filmmaking terrorizes this formulaic way of creating films. And this film by John Torres is such an innovation, despite a movie which is very challenging to watch and comprehend, too poetic and fragile I will give my two thumbs up.

Watch out for the outstanding musical scoring of Khavn dela Cruz, Armi Millare (Up Dharma Down) and Earl Drilon - one of the most promising scores I've heard in my lifetime - and the unconventional (yet amazing) camera works.

I think I need to see this film one more time. This is just another best film of 2006.

Facts:
Torres says everyone who worked on the film didn’t get any compensation.
The whole film was shot without a written script.

My Verdict: 8.0/10.0

(Photo Courtesy by John Torres at WithoutaBox.com)

The Youngest

There's always a hype for "free admission movies" at the University of the Philippines' Film Center, no matter what genre, theme or issue the feature film is tackling. Last August 30, Ditsi Carolino's critically-acclaimed and award-winning documentary, Bunso, was shown. Of course, its not a hype without the long line of viewers who waited for so long to see the film, most of them for the very first time. (Check the synopsis here)

This was the second time I saw the film. The first one was in its nationwide premiere also at the UP Film Center last December 2004. I remember how my bestfriend and I left the cinema bruised and battered, in our hearts I mean. We left wiping tears while making the words, "Ang swerte natin at naging maganda ang buhay natin," a mantra as we discussed the film in the FX we are riding on our way back home.

The second time I saw it, I realized that it is more disturbing than what I have perceived from the first time I saw it. What I'm telling is beyond the fact that these children have to learn to live their lives inside murky, area-challenged overpopulated penitentiaries while battling the dangers of malnourishment, skin infections and psychological imbalances. What made things more disturbing is that the issues that are discussed in the film seem not have been resolved yet. I believe that no one who had watched the film never left the cinema unscathed. So, we are touched. We gave them our sympathy. Then what's next?

We watched it, we praised the filmmaker for being utterly brave and undoubtedly passionate for creating a material that discusses social and national problems and we realized how lucky we are from most other people -- like the kids who are in the film. But after we left the theaters, life just moves on. Of course, the movie will remain imprinted in our minds and hearts. But the question still lingers in my mind: what to do next?

Don't worry, I'm also asking this question to myself.