bloom

it was another baguio time once again... well, after almost 12 years! my last visit in the city of pines was in december 1995, as a wide-eyed Hi-Yer for a leadership training at the senior mess hall of the Teachers' Camp. we braved what they call Panagbenga showers (at lahat ng putik na dulot nito!!!) and somewhat rowdy and cranky onlookers to witness the parade of flower-designed floats. i enjoyed it and here are some of the pics!!!

katam

'pag talagang nabagsakan ka ng katam...

'pag umidlip ka pero natuloy sa malalim na paghimbing...

'pag mas inuna mo pa ang walang wawang mga gawain...

'pag wala kang ganang atupagin ang mga nakabinbing trabaho...

'pag nakipagtsikahan ka sa mga opismeyts mo...

'pag umiral ang mamaya na atityud...

'pag nanood ka ng telebisyon buong maghapon...

'pag naglakbay ka pahilagang Luzon...

'pag sinipon ka at nangongo na dahil sa baradong ilong...

'pag ang sipon ay may kasabay nang ubo...

'pag ang ubo't sipon ay kahalo na ng sakit ng kasu-kasuan...






... wala lang. eh sa 'yun ang nangyari eh.
ba't mo pipilitin ang sarili mo na umigpaw pa ng isang dipa, kung magkatulad lang din naman ang magiging resulta?
ayawan na kaya?! ewan.

leap-musings

an inter-faith rally is still being held at this very moment. competing with the echoes of "gloria step down" is a menagerie of comedy bar mainstays having their own usual friday tryst in PBCom's foodcourt. videoke singing of such songs as Pagdating ng Panahon, Torete, among others, and anti-Arroyo chants… true to the Tide commercial, vie for the available airwaves from where i'm sitting.

tita c and i actually went to paseo de roxas, not to join the rally, but to take pics! well, she took these pics and i was one of her main subjects… at least that's what i felt! i even found some nice inihaw na pusit, 20 pesos for 3 sticks!

i can't help but to turn my back… rallies and mass demonstrations are designed to arouse group enthusiasm and push for the greater good, but such recent gatherings have already been marred with heavy politicking, driven by also-greedy politicians that are only out there because of their eagerness to usurp power and have their chance to plunder the country's riches through the (mis)use of people power. supposed demonstrators are given their appearance fees and free packed lunch… to the point that a new career has been started – professional rallyist!

such mass movements are already tiresome and has lost its essence. seemingly honest witnesses like Jun Lozada might get the sympathy of most pinoys, but not to the point of actually taking the EDSA way and protest… they have more important things to do and can't miss a day's work to earn for their family. opposition stalwarts and even Cory Aquino need to come up with a better alternative than either Noli or anyone from their group as they call for Arroyo's resignation… that is, for the middle class to join in the action. as Amando Doronila puts it:

Today’s configuration has lost the fervor for mass action of 1986. It tells us that today’s movement is not based on mass action to bring pressure on the key support institutions of government to defect, such as the military and the bureaucracy. Today’s movement has changed emphasis. It has shifted its cutting edge from confrontation in the streets to bringing moral pressure on government. The shift is not exerting a powerful pressure on government officials to step down. It emboldens them to stonewall.

a rally in a day that happens only once in four years might be a good footnote in history… but only if it achieves what it is ultimately hoping for. for now, the people will go about their usual routine, while i'm hoping that this phlegmatic feeling finally makes its halt.

Whitney Houston's I Wanna Run to You has already swallowed the airwaves… courtesy of the belting abilities of one of Allan K's entertaining cohorts.

biga'a

mabiag ti kalkalsada... (captivating in the street...)

patikim

No addá sabsábong, agaarák dagití kulibangbáng.

(Where there are flowers, there are butterflies.)

- Ilocano Proverb

Whitsunday?!!

i had fun playing facebook's traveler IQ challenge! i even stayed in the office just to reach level 11... wahahahaha! what i was focusing the whole day to finish and to finally submit became the "on the side" stuff. thanks to mam riya who invited me to try this one. (",)

geography (and all the things related to it) surely is one of my top of the pops, even when i was young. and because of this, i managed a decent showing in this challenge... yipeeee! but i still think that i need to revisit some sources of information and read some more. i did poorly on locating key sites in Australia (except the more well-known ones such as Sydney), as in! how on earth would i know where Whitsunday Island is?!! mostly, i got zero points on location, but managed bonus points due to fast clicks. i also had kamote time locating some not-so-famous cities in the U.S., while doing generally ok in Asia and Europe.

after two attempts, i got this result... not bad. time to go home! (",)

Persepolis

the remaining analysts... kr (salamat sa mga pics dito), cath, ralphy and i had a nice hearty persia grill dinner! my first few visits here were mostly concentrated on trying the kebab and tikka, but today i had liver with tomato and onion ala persia! i particularly like the persian rice... makes the whole shebang a really delectable meal. the meals are somewhat simple but the uncomplicated flavors make up a good fleeting split from a day of heavy mind-bending exertion... wahahahahaha... makes me want to try authentic cuisine from where persepolis used to stand. plus, tonight they served free persian tea! nice!

the resto logo used one of zoroastrianism's primary symbol, the faravahar ... wala lang! just reminded me of my kas 2 (asian civilization) under noel teodoro and social studies 2 (kasaysayan ng asya) under one of my all-time high school fave teacher, ma'am dolores tabura! did they have to secure permit to use the symbol?!! well, i guess not... coz the christian cross is used everywhere! so kian and his family can definitely use zoroaster's symbol of one's purpose in life. fair enough.

longan

sarap ng longan! kahit medyo panat na ang nabili ko (mura kasi eh!), pinagtiyagaan ko pa rin... bagamat halos paltusin na ang mga daliri ko sa kakapisat ng bawat prutas! matamis! kahit nagputik (sabi ni ate lyn) pa si zel sa lugar ko, sige pa rin! ayon sa wikipedia, mga mata ng dragon ang ibig sabihin ng longan dahil sa kapansin-pansing pagkakawangki nito sa mga mata ng dragon kapag ang mga ito'y nakatiklop (ang itim na buto'y maaaninag sa puting laman ng prutas na parang iris o pupil).

gilit

bilib ako sa henyo ni Stephen Sondheim at nakagawa siya ng isang musikal ukol sa isang mamamatay-tao. sanay tayo sa mga musikal na umiinog sa tema ng pagliligawan at pantasya. maaaring mahaluan ng kaunting pulitika o bahid ng pagsusuri sa umiiral na kalakaran, ngunit ang mga ito'y karaniwang palabok lamang para sa arbitraryong tema ng pag-ibig at lahat ng kumplikasyong kaakibat nito. ang ibang mga musikal ay maaaring seryoso ang tema at naglalaro sa pagitan ng nakakikiliting kumpas ng mga diwata at tusok sa pusong pag-ukilkil ng mga henyo ng panulat. bagamat nasa sentro pa rin ng istorya ang unibersal na tema ng pag-ibig, makabreng dulot ng paghihiganti ang panghalina ng Sweeney Todd. kung paanong nailapat ang mga titik ng damdaming nais kumitil ng buhay at bigyang-buhay ito sa paawit na paghahatid ng salaysay ay isang gawa ng isang makasining na paham.

madilim at mapula (dahil sa dugo!) ang atmospera ng pelikula… ngunit totoo lamang ito sa sining-gotik ni Tim Burton. angkop ang ganitong pangkalahatang lapit sa tema ng paghihiganti ng isang marangal na barbero (Benjamin Barker / Johnny Depp) na winalanghiya ng isang tiwaling maykapangyarihan. dahil sa maigting na pagnanasang maangkin ang asawa, ipinatapon ni Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) sa Australia si Sweeney upang magsilbi bilang trabahador. pagkaraan ng 15 taon, nakatakas siya (di na tinalakay sa pelikula kung paano ito nangyari) sa tulong ng isang binatang si Anthony, at bumalik sa London bilang isang bagong indibidwal – Sweeney Todd, hubad ng anumang ideyalismo at handang maghasik ng lagim sa ngalan ng paghihiganti (ala Simoun ng El Filibusterismo!). sa kanyang pagbabalik, nakadaupang-palad niyang muli si Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) na nagsilbing kasapakat at tagapayo. at doo'y kanilang naisakatuparan ang maitim na balak na patayin ang huwes na ngayo'y umampon sa nag-iisang anak (Johanna) ni Sweeney Todd, upang ipaghiganti ang ginawa nito sa kanyang pamilya.

sa isang wasiwas ng labaha, isang malinis na gilit sa leeg ang agad na kumikitil sa buhay ng mga biktima ni Sweeney. nahuhulog ang mga bangkay ng mga ito sa silong ng barberya at restoran nina Sweeney at Mrs. Lovett. at upang matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan habang lumalapit sa target, hinuhurno nila ang laman ng mga taong nagilitan, niluluto upang maging meat pies at ipinagbibili sa mga parukyanong walang ideya kung ano ang kanilang nginunguya! 'maryosep! sa huli, siningil din ng karma ang magkasabwat. nang malaman ni Sweeney na nagsinungaling si Mrs. Lovett ukol sa kanyang asawa (na buhay pa pala, naging taong-grasa, at aksidenteng nagilitan din!), itinulak ni Sweeney si Mrs. Lovett sa hurnuhan at nasunog ito. ang kasabihang "kung sa patalim ka nabubuhay, sa patalim ka rin mamamatay" ay totoo kay Sweeney, sapagkat siya mismo ay naging biktima rin ng sariling labaha nang siya ay gilitan din ng leeg ng kanyang katulong na si Toby.

mahusay si Johnny Depp. bagamat may isa o dalawang eksena pa rin kung saan lumabas ang kakatwang pagkibot ng kanyang mga pisngi, ang kanyang pagganap ay angkop at hindi gaanong umayon sa karikaturang maaaring inaasahan ng tao sa kanya. ang malalim na baritone na kanyang ipinamalas sa kanyang mga pag-awit ay kapuri-puri, bagay sa isang lalaking pakikipagtuos sa pamamagitan ng ganti ang tanging pakay. di ko alam na sa musikal na ito galing ang awiting "not while i'm not around" at kung maririnig ko ulit ang kantang ito, siguradong maaalala ko ang magaling na si Helena Bonham Carter.

di ako tutol sa anumang balakin ng taong humanap ng retribusyon sa bawat kamaliang idinulot ng kapwa. dapat lamang na pagbayaran ng maysala ang kanyang kasalanan, lalo na kung ang mga ito'y ginawa lamang sa likod ng simpleng pag-iimbot, inggit o anumang nakasusuklam na panlalamang sa kapwa. ngunit, ang anumang paghahanap ng retribusyon ay nawawalan ng saysay kung ang paraan ng paghahanap nito ay tunggak, na isasakripisyo maging ang tuwirang rason. maraming landas na maaaring tahakin upang makamit ang hustisyang inaasam, ngunit isang maling hakbang lamang ang magsisilbing mitsa ng pagkaligwak ng anumang balakin. ang bugso ng damdamin o naipong poot ay delikado, hindi lamang sa maykatawan kundi lalo sa mga taong minamahalaga ng bawat indibidwal. di dapat magpabulag sa poot, bagkus ipunin ang nalalabing lakas upang magkaroon ng higit na malinaw na pag-iisip. sa gayon, makalikha ng mas maybisang balangkas at maisakatuparan ito ng may halos tiyak na tagumpay, tulad ng nakamit ng konde ng monte cristo!

premature

another priced find from mcs! or so i thought. i've never heard of this movie before so i was quite hesitant to buy it from mai-mai (the saleslady who i call ate even if i'm way older than her!). synopsis and movie info at the back provide nothing (what can you expect?!). i can always say that my viewer can't read the copy once i see that this was a blah, so i bought it anyway, plus vanya and his supposed journey got me interested. stories told from a child's point of view or the ones where the central character is a child almost always provide a nice movie experience.

true enough, the movie was remarkable. it opened my eyes to harsh realities outside what i used to see in the philippine setting. while i always thought that what we have here is already appalling, russia, in all of its former glory, still has to do a lot of cleaning, too. not that i regal with the situation sharapova and her country has to deal with, it just makes me acutely aware of the grim facts of today's life. there may be no wars to contend with in other parts of the world, but kids of vanya's age are forced to mature prematurely and live well beyond their years due to negligence (from their parents) and need (to survive).

thoughts of vanya the italianetz still linger (hehehe… sing a song) because he was a brave one, i can't imagine going through what he'd gone through. he might be willing to break rules to get what he needs (like tiptoeing his way to get his records from the director's safe or keep some dibs from kolyan so that he can pay irka to teach him to read) but all these efforts are only to equip himself with needed tools (such as the skill to read) to at least give himself a chance to be "complete". what I like about the character is that he didn't allow himself to be completely corrupted, just did "enough" to get by. so he won't get unwarranted attention from other train passengers, he posed as the son of a drunken man. when he was finally cornered by madam's man, he did the unthinkable, hurt himself by trying to slash his wrist, a trick that he learned from older orphans, so that would-be attackers will have a "change of heart". so, he was also practical and won't stoop down until it's all over.

he understood that life might have been better if he allowed himself to be adopted by the italian couple, but took the chance that has presented itself. all these, of course, knowing that he might not get the result that he's longing for. i think the obstacles that he was able to withstand were solved in the most realistic way possible, that is through the help of others and some ounce of luck because after all, he's a child… helpless, somewhat unsure and naïve.

the ending gave me a sense of relief, as he was able to find his mom... vanya will finally be able to experience how it is to be a child. while he found his mom, vanya was also able to give his good bud a new lease in life, as the italian couple adopted anton instead of him. in his letter to anton:

Hello Anton:

Thank you for your letter. I didn’t know that oranges grow where you live. It rains all the time here but it is warm inside. Momma and I send our greetings to you, Roberto and Claudia. Come visit us some time.

Vanya Solntsev

kolya spiridonov essayed vanya magnificently! realistic interpretation, no frills, just pure emotions through simple gestures. his eyes, i think tell it all. the supporting cast was also superb. one major thing that helped the movie as good as it is, was the setting. the barren and frozen landscape only adds to the gloomy picture of stale hope in the orphans' eyes. only the start of spring provides a sense of faith that a new couple might come to consider adopting anyone of them, or in vanya's case, his chance to finally make everything happen.

i love it… it now has become "prized", rather than just one of those "priced" ones. what's next?!! mai-mai, any recommendations?! (",)

likot

dumaan ako sa mcs kagabi upang maghanap ng dvd ng atonement... hehehe! tinatangkilik ko rin ang hanapbuhay ng maliliit nating mga kababayang nais lamang ay magkaroon ng pagkakakitaan. ang anumang diskusyon ukol sa piniratang mga produkto ay sa ibang panahon magaganap!

maganda... mahusay ang pelikulang ito... malinaw ang nais tunguhin... presko ang mga tuluyan... angkop ang inilapat na tunog. bagamat may mga eksenang nakababagot tulad ng paulit-ulit na linya ni cee na "come back to me...", ang pabaliktad na pagsiwalat ng mga sumunod na pangyayari ay mainam na pampukaw-atensyon. karaniwang nakatutulugan ko ang panonood kapag lagpas alas-12 na ako nagsimula, ngunit sadyang magaling ang pagsasapelikula ng obrang ito. higit sa lahat, mahusay ang mga nagsiganap. kapuri-puri maging ang mga karakter na maliliit, lalo na ang mga pangunahing aktor at aktres. karapat-dapat lamang na manomina si saoirse ronan sa oscar sapagkat mahusay niyang nailarawan ang karakter ng isang batang biniyayaan ng maigting (malikot!) na imahinasyon ngunit nakagawa ng malaking pagkakamaling ikinasira ng isang pausbong pa lamang na relasyon. dahil dito, matagumpay na naisiwalat ang mga sumunod pang mga pangyayari. magaling din si james mcavoy, makaka-ugnay ka sa hapis na dinanas niya bunga ng isang tunggak na hatol ng langit, ngunit hinarap ang anumang pagsubok ng buong tatag bagamat sa huli'y iginupo ng sakit na dulot ng pakikidigma. sa last king of the scotland pa lang, hanga na ako sa galing niya.



paano mo haharapin ang isang pagkakamaling nagdulot ng ibayong sakit sa damdamin at sumira ng ugnayan ng magkapatid, magkaibigan at magkaibigan? di ko yatang maaatim na tumandang tulad ni briony ng di man lang gumagawa ng konkretong hakbang upang ituwid ang anumang pagkakamali... mahirap kabakahin ang sariling budhi. bagamat pumanaw na ang mga tuwirang naapektuhan, kahit paano ay mapapanatag ang damdaming ng mga naiwan, lalo na ang ina ni robbie, sa sandaling bawiin ang maling paratang at mapawalang-sala ang anak na nagdanas ng lubusan dahil sa maling akala. sa gayong paraan lamang magiging ganap ang pagbabayad-puri o anumang uri ng pagtitika o pagsisisi.