Letting go...

Whilst i've delayed this decision long enough, today i've decided to face it. Partly because my Mom has been breathing down my neck for the longest time, but also because it's the new year, and this is the best time to let go of old things and usher in the new. 

 This morning, I've decided to let go of old jeans and clothes that have been clogging my closet. Being a major pack rat, throwing away and/or giving away things is always difficult. 

But seeing my jeans have exceeded the 100 pair mark, and my shirts are over 200, today was a good day to finally sort out the "must haves" from the "nice to owns." 

I woke up early for this. By 7am, I was already lining up and spreading out the jeans and shirts for a better view and assessment. Aside from the sentimental reasons, other factors I used in choosing were: jean rise, color, cut and details. 

For the shirts, it was simply if it still fits my personality now. (Once upon a time, I was actually a plaid shirt kinda guy. I shudder at the thought nowadays.) By the time the clock hit 10am, I was able to dispose around 20 pairs of jeans, 40 shirts and about 15 pairs of shoes. 

Mom diligently packed them in brown boxes and will ship them to Bicol today so my relatives there can give it to our less fortunate neighbors and townmates. They're the same folks who got a lot of my old G.I. Joe and He-Man toys, and I'm still smarting over that. So this little exercise is equivalent to rubbing salt on an open wound. Hahaha. 

But really, as much as it hurt me to let go of these clothes, I'm also glad at the thought that somewhere in Albay, someone is strolling around in a fashionable pair of Big Star Jeans, a Pull and Bear shirt and a pair of Nike trainers. 

At least i've done my part in making Bicol a bit more fashionable.

SM stand for Surprise Me!

It's been almost 7 months since I last had a decent stroll around a mall in Manila, and knowing that the turnover of shops here isn't as fast as the ones in Hong Kong, I was pretty confident to see the same old brand occupying the same old stalls. 

Since SM was the most convenient place to visit from where I was staying, I decided to meander around that area eventhough it's common knowledge that SM becomes a bee hive come Christmas.

Being accustomed to the HK crowd, this shouldn't be too hard to handle. SM is becoming an expert in coming up with surprises, so much that it often leaves me in awe after I step out of its hallowed halls.

First surprise was coming up with an excellent advertising campaign with Charlene Gonzalez. As I've told Lyli, her friends in New Directions have done an awesome job in bringing in class and fashion to this often scoffed upon "masa" department store. The art direction, styling, photography and clothes have succeeded in bringing it a notch higher. 

Another surprise greeted me today, and this came in the form of some chic finds that one wouldn't automatically associate with SM. Upon checking out their teens and young adult sections, there was a plethora of trend staples - all nicely executed and ridiculously cheap. 

Among the fab finds were the following items: 

1. Silk gaucho pants in bronze, brown, black and pink. 

2. An embroidered tank (similar to the one I bought for my sister in Zara a couple of months ago.) 

3. Bubble skirts in tweed, with lengths varying from mini to above the knee. 

4. Embellished empire tops with beaded details. 

5. Slides that are a mix of Chinese and Indian. 

What's surprising here is that i'd expect to find these in their Boutique Square section, but it was just in their regular line. Of course, after seeing how they've "upgraded" their teen/young adult section, I was curious to see if there were any additions in their "high end" line. Again, they didn't disappoint. 

SM Makati carries Cesar Gaupo and Avel Bacudio, both very skilled designers in their own fashion realm. Cesar's dainty dresses that channel the 50s and 60s were really nice, particularly the crepe silk shift with a velvet ribbon, plus the shantung dress with a refreshing combination of blue and orange, plus a punch of red. 

On the other hand, Avel's graphic prints would go well with plains to create a look that's both classic yet edgy. Comparing department stores, I think SM is really leading the pack in terms of fashion innovation and really bringing good clothes to the hoi polloi. 

I just hope that the hoi polloi can appreciate good fashion and start dressing well like the Hong Kongers do. 

After this little visit, my belief in the SM jingle is slowly being solidified. Indeed, "we've got it all for you."

My new travel buddy

Melvin and I headed off to Festival Walk today after mass and it was surprising that this was his first time to visit the mall. He goes down at the Kowloon Tong KCR station each time he travels from Shenzhen to HK, but he always takes the subway so he missed seeing one of my favorite malls in HK. One reason why I love Festival Walk is because of its humungous Page One branch. Long before Page Once came (and gone) to Manila, i've seen it in HK when Chris brought Maricar and me to the mall way back in 2001. That time, it was still pretty new and people came in droves to check out the myriad of book choices the store offered. Today, I picked up this book which will be my new travel buddy as of tonight. Entitled "1,000 places to see before you die," it features the 1,000 top travel destinations from all around the world. And man! Do they have every part of the world covered. From usual tourist traps like Europe, to relatively unknown islands like Bonaire, - they have it in their review. What's great about this book is that it avoids the tourist cliches and the oft-beaten paths. In contrast, it visits nice restaurants, unknown museums, houses with historical significance, and other must-see attractions. I leafed through the pages quickly and found out that a lot of the places I visited are listed there, but at the same time, an equal number of my favorite spots aren't even mentioned. Most of my favorite places in Mexico, like San Luis Potosi didn't even appear in the book, to my dismay. From my quick 30 minute scan of the book, here are some things i've learned: 1. I've been to all the "must visit" spots in Prague 2. The author and I feel exactly the same way about San Miguel de Allende 3. The Philippines has 3 entries in the book: Tagaytay, Banaue and Amanpulo 4. I've been to Amsterdam a couple of times, and there's this "must visit" place behind the flat I was staying in, and I didn't even notice it. 5. There are more Carribean Islands than we could have imagined. 6. I MUST VISIT BRAZIL! This book is a good buy, plus a must read, considering i'm off to Spain again next year. After looking at the "Spain" section, my resolve to take a train from Barcelona to Madrid to Bilbao to Santiago has further been heightened. At least now, I have an idea where to go. Ah, the travel bug bites once more.

Feeling so low...

I'm wearing the low rise jeans I got from Zara in Singapore last March. They must be the lowest pair i have. I'm trying not to sneeze, because if I do, I have a feeling they'll fall right off. (I exaggerate not...)

Lookie who's playing hooky?

It's a slow day today, so i'm planning to re-live my Makati and Ortigas days. 

Back in my previous agencies, whenever work would be scarce and there's nothing to do, i'd play hooky and head for the nearest mall. I would either do some shopping, watch a movie, or just meander aimlessly around. 

During my Adformatix days, our lunchtimes would be spent in Greenbelt at Triple V, coupled with some serious shopping along Greenbelt Plaza. Erwin, Xtine and I had lunch at Triple V, then hung out at National Book Store checking out magazines and books. 

Another option would be Makati Cinema Square where we'd check out Angela's for super surplus stuff. Or go to Plaza Fair to buy groceries for our pantry. 

By 1996, I transferred to San Miguel Corporation, and our office was behind SM Megamall. Everday, i'd be at Megamall, either having lunch, buying props, or simply being there. There was even a joke about how our office was connected to the mall. Megmall was divided into two major areas - SM-A and SM-B, and we were SM-C. This was to the chagrin of the management since productivity was really suffering because of our Mega-excursions. 

 My favorite working years were between 2001 to 2003 when DYR was still in Wynsum building along Emerald Avenue. Robinsons Galleria - once and forever my favorite mall - was just 5 minutes away by foot. That alone was reason enough for me to consider the office as paradise on earth. Aside from the fact that it was just 15 minutes away from home, it was also within arms distance from 4 major malls - Galleria, Podium, Megamall and Shangri-La! Needless to say, i'd spend most of my time out of the office rather than in. 

When our office moved to RCBC in Makati, getting to a mall was a bit of a challenge. After all, we were at the far end of Ayala, so Greenbelt would be a good 15 minutes by foot. A daunting task, but I was never one to chicken out. So every lunchtime, or whenever I felt bored, or if my groupmates irritated the *h*t out of me, i'd play hooky and go all the way to Glorietta to de-stress and have fun. 

Playing hooky was one thing I knew I'd be giving up when I moved to Hong Kong. For one, our office area isn't conducive to "playing hooky." There's nothing around us but residential buidlings, offices and a few supermarkets. The nearest meander area here would be Provident World, and all you can see there is the Adidas Outlet store and a couple of clothes surplus places. Slim pickings, I know, but beggars can't be choosers. 

Today, though, i've decided to go all out and all the way. I'm going to HMV to look for new magazines and DVD, then head off to the Cinema-Art where they show nice art films. It's not as exciting as going to Greenbelt or Glorietta, but it's a start. 

Again, we have to make the most of what's given to us. This is all I have at this point. Strange as it may seem, I think this little act is something that gives a sense a normalcy to my life. And normal is good.

Cold Rush

And the temperature continues to drop in Hong Kong. 

Today, it's said to be 11 degrees, which would qualify as "a tad bit too chilly." 

There are certain signs that tell you that the weather is too cold, and some of them i've observed the past few days. You know it's too cold when: 

 - People don't drink their Starbucks coffee, rather they use the cup to warm their hands. 

- Women wear socks with their pumps. (And I do mean socks and not stockings.) 

- The upper part of my jaws hurt. 

- I keep the water in shower running even when I soap because I immediately feel cold when it's turned off. 

- I run around the house from room to room in search of a warm spot. 

- My hands turn blue when it's exposed for more than 5 minutes. 

- You'd rather stay inside the office during lunchtime. 

- Staying outdoors for more than 10 minutes makes your nose run. 

Another setback of the cold weather for me is the fact that I can't wear my distressed jeans as often. Today, i'm wearing my Abercrombie and Fitch jeans with a lot of holes, and I must say that it feels like somebody poured 5 bags of ice in my jeans, and let them stay there. I can also imagine an air-conditioning unit attached to the interior of my jeans - and I mean that in a bad way. 

 Now I know why polar bears just hibernate during times like these. A few more weeks of this and i wouldn't mind hibernating myself.

Sunday Funday

Spencer held a seminar on creativity today, and some of us at the office were asked to help out in the event. Immediately, I signed up because not only do I get to see the boss work his creative magic outside the office, it was also a chance to get together with some colleagues in a "non-corporate" environment. By 1;30pm, the gang gathered at the Wan Chai art center. Everyone was visibly relaxed and had that "Let's just have fun" vibe along with them. Of course, so did I. Preparing for the event felt like preparing for a school play back in High School. Everyone was scurrying about doing some menial task, like mixing paints, inflating a pool mattress, wrapping a kung-fu "punching bag" in canvas, and arranging props. The seminar was conducted in Cantonese, so I couldn't understand anything they were saying, or planning to do. But I took this as a challenge to broaden my creative horizons, and try to figure out something just by looking at whatever is happening. Unlike most of the seminars I've attended, this one had no one talking! Yup, it was a silent seminar, with only cue cards telling everyone what they should do. But with the aid of music and a few scribbles on a white board, everyone got into the spirit of the event. It was totally a non-traditional seminar. There was a kung-fu man who used his moves to paint a canvas, there was an exercise where you had to take an object and put it into close contact with a person inside an acrylic container, there was a body painting session where the person's body was the paint brush, and an acting workshop. Even if I didn't understand what was being said, I could see that everyone was enjoying the seminar. And even if I couldn't read Cantonese, I got what they were doing, and what Spencer wanted to do. He was encouraging everyone to think out of the box, and use creativity to do something ordinary. In essence, he was asking everyone to find extraordinary solutions to ordinary problems. Upon further thought, I realized that was the essence of creativity. After the seminar, we started cleaning up and talking about the seminar that finished. Everyone was laughing at the highlights and sidelights, and in between mopping and biting into sandwiches, we began discovering that there is more to creativity than just finding a clever way to make an ad, or making an award winning story, or painting a masterpiece on canvas. Creativity is really opening your mind and finding new ways of doing things - whether that thing is art related, or as ordinary as folding a plastic grocery bag. Personally, i've been so obsessed with equating creativity to my job that i've forgotten to be creative in my everyday undertakings. This seminar, though i really wasn't in it, awakened my want and need to be write letters, draw pictures, make collages and just rediscover the creative spirit I had as a child. To find fun and personal fulfillment is really what creativity is meant to do. Spencer - and participating in is seminar - was successful in teaching me that. And I didn't even have to pay the seminar fee!

Viva las Reinas

In my continuing quest to learn more Spanish, I've decided to catch this film at the Broadway Cinematheque - one of the theaters that show art films. Entitled "Reinas" or "Queens", his movie is dubbed as a "Spanish Art House favorite" since it was directed by one of Spain's bad/bright boys of cinema - Manuel Gomez Perreira.

Judging by the film's synopsis - the story of 3 gay couples getting married, and their mothers weighing in on the celebration - you'd think that "Queens" would refer to the gay guys in the story. Once you watch the film, though, you realize that the title refers to their mothers.

The 5 mothers, each from different socio-economic and political backgrounds, try to cope with their sons' homosexuality and marriage in their own quirky ways. In an "art imitating life" twist, we see that the different mothers have a different level of acceptance. Some of them are fag-hags, others are homophobic, while some others are just oblivious to the entire thing.

The most accepting would be Ofelia, who doesn't give an R.A. whether his son Oscar is macking his boyfriend Miguel in her presence. She's also the one who eggs the two guys to try and resolve their differences each time they fight. Magda, Miguel's mom, is a kick-ass chick in a power suit who's more concerned about her business rather than her son. Ergo, her apathy doubles as acceptance in this case. Nuria, the mother of Narciso, is a historian who gladly embraces her son's homosexuality. She even preaches how the greatest men in history had homosexual affairs, which are known and accepted by their wives. Among those she rattles off are: Alexander the Great, Ramses, Attila the Hun and Julius Ceasar. In the middle would be Carmen, the actress who has accepted the fact that her unico hijo - Rafa - is gay. What she's worried about is his future after getting married to Jonas - the son of their gardener. At the back of her mind, Carmen feels that Jonas is only after Rafa's money. And finishing up the list as the most homophobic of them all is Helena - a judge who is more devoted to her job than her family. Mother to Hugo, she was the only one who was very vocal about her disgust with regards to the gay marriages.

These 5 sub-stories are neatly and tightly packed into one big film that's well-paced, neatly narrated, and interestingly arranged. The 5 mothers, though run into each other throughout the film. Interestingly enough. they don't know each other personally, and this continues until the end of the film. Of course, their lives converge in the big gay wedding that punctuates the film - they're all there, but they still don't know one another.

What I like about the film is the fact that it doesn't try too hard to tie up all loose ends. While the ending is a positive one, it's not the "deliriously happy ending" that a lot of Hollywood films wrap up their films with. It's the kind of film that makes you think a step beyond - once the credits start rolling, you begin to wonder what will happen after that last scene. This happens because you know there are still a number of unresolved issues after the finale.

What I like about watching the film is that I realized how much I missed studying the Spanish language. Upon hearing the dialogues, it made me realize that I should really learn more Spanish, because if I just put my heart and attention into it, my command of the language will be better. At times, I didn't even need to look at the subtitles to understand what they were saying. In one scene, there were no English subtitles, but I got the joke and laughed. And according to my anfitrion in Mexico, if you can tell and understand a joke in Spanish, that means you're good with that language. I've done both, so I'll take that as a good sign.

I can't wait 'til they show another Spanish film in Hong Kong. Heck, I can't wait 'til I go back to Spain next year!

Exito!

Estoy orgullosa de mi! Yo escibir las cartas para Pascua para mi primas en Espana uso Espanol! Estas muy dificil porque mi Espanol es limitado. Hago solo un diccionario y el memoria de mi Espanol en la Universidad. A pesar de que, escribele cinco cartas hoy. Yo siento muy alegre! Espero que tu entiende el. Saludate!

The Search for Miss Fortune

After a grueling pre-pageant show, the 7 semi-finalists are called on stage. They were selected based on their aggregate scores in the swimsuit, long gown, interview, crochet, and standing long jump competitions. Here they are, wearing their evening finery, ready for the final phase of the competition. At this point, all their preliminary scores have been erased and they'll start fresh. The early front runners, candidates 17 and 22 once again have to prove to the judges, and the public that they have what it takes to become Miss Fortune 2005. After a final wave, the field is further narrowed until there are only 2 contestants left. Surprise, surprise. The competition's dark horses, Candidate number 2 and Candidate number 16 are left behind. Only one of them will remain on stage after the name of the 1st runner up is announced. But please be reminded that the first runner up has a very important duty, because should the title holder fail to fulfill her duties as Miss Fortune, the 1st runner up automatically gets the crown. And the winner is... CANDIDATE NUMBER 16! Resplendent Rona representing Batangas wins the Miss Fortune 2005 pageant! The fans rejoice and confetti falls as they wait for last year's winner to give her the crown and scepter. Unfortunately, she was locked inside the bathroom for an hour, and wasn't able to crown her successor until after the victory party. Congratulations Resplendent Rona, and see you all again soon for the next Miss Fortune Pageant!

Boob-boos

Despite all the bad reviews that this film is getting, I decided to watch the new Reese Witherspoon popcorn bonanza: "Just Like Heaven." People who take films seriously - e.g. film students/critics - should steer clear from this flawed flick. But I'm not a film student/critic, just an average joe who wants to suspend reality for a while and live another person's fantasy life vicariously. And if you suspend reality and just sit there mindlessly, "Just Like Heaven" is a pretty enjoyable movie. Nice thing about it is that the film begins with a trite, "ghost-y" plot which later takes a minor twist. That little change in detail provides a distraction and a mini-jolt that gave me the impression that another twist might take place somewhere along the narrative. Unfortunately, it doesn't. The ending is quite predictable, and it has more cheese than my mom's baked macaroni. (And believe me, she DOES load it up with cheese.) What made the movie interesting is this little accident in one shot featuring Ivana Milicevic. Best known for playing a russian model in "Head Over Heels" and a wisconsin girl in "Love Acutally", she plays Reese's upstairs neighbor who tries to seduce Mark Ruffalo. In the scene where she does, Ivana was supposed to be wrapped inside a towel that accidentally falls, revealing her nakedness. The thing is, when the towel drops, and she's facing the camera, the framing is off, so the audience can see the big black tape holding together her cleavage and covering her nipples. A number of people in the theater couldn't help but point to the screen, both amused and aghast at this editing flub. This is the second time I've seen such a movie mishap. The first one was when I saw "Bring it On" on the big screen. In the first scene where Torrance Shipman jumps and loses her top, the cinema print showed the beige plaster enveloping her entire lower breast. Everyone thought it was part of the camera trick, but after watching the video version, it became clear that it was another boob booboo.

Weepy Weekend

I've been feeling emotionally numb lately so I've decided to buy a couple of tearjerkers at HMV just to get some water up my tear ducts and some emotion around my heart area. Two movies automatically came to mind, and thankfully, they were available on DVD. Film number 1 is "A Walk to Remember." I've seen this movie around 5 times, and i'm just amazed how i cry each time at the same scenes. Although this film was SO critically panned, I still loved the honesty and simplicity of the entire story. Mandy Moore and Shane West gave pretty decent performances here, and it helped that they were virtual unknowns in the acting arena. Favorite weepy scene: When Landon goes to his father's house to thank him for saving Jamie's life. His tears and embrace felt so real, I couldn't help but weep with him. Film number 2 is "Love Actually." This is such an "ideal" film because everybody's happy by the end of the film, and everything is resolved (more or less), and there's an emotional high with all that hugging and kissing and loving. But the stories about love: true love, accidental love, unrequited love, and unconditional love, does tug a lot of heart strings and makes your tear fall uncontrollably at times. I was particularly heart wrenched at the stories of Emma Thompson (a wife who's husband is on the verge of cheating her), Laura Linney (a sister who is "trapped" taking care of her retarded brother) and Andrew Lincoln (as Mark, who's in love with his best friend's wife, played by the splendidly beautiful Keira Knightley.) Favorite weepy scene: Emma Thompson rushes to open the Christmas gift her husband gave her, because she thinks it's a gold necklace. Then when she opens it, it's a Joni Mitchell CD. She tries to put up a brave front and acts as if she loved the present. She excuses herself, goes to her room and weeps silently. Thank goodness tomorrow's a Sunday. I'll probably stay at home most of the day since my eyes will probably be puffy because of all the crying today.

Fickle. Relish.

Our team is supposed to be going to this HK 4As shindig tonight, so we were asked to wear something spiffy today. 

Knowing my closet very well, I was convinced that I had nothing "spiffy" to wear. This gave me an excuse to shop last night, which is good. 

 Initially, I was thinking of buying a pair of boots in the hope that a mean pair of footwear would carry the whole outfit. But kicked in, so instead of an expensive pair of black boots, I opted to buy a velvet blazer and a new pair of jeans. 

Paired with a pinstriped, button down shirt, then my spiffy look would be complete. Carrying a blazer from Uniqlo and a pair of jeans from id:c, I went home and tried both articles of clothing on to see how well they blended. Then came the herculean task of finding the right shoes to complete the look. 

And so one by one, i tried the 10 pairs of sneakers I had, then matched it with the jeans, striped shirt and blazer. After the 5th attempt, the look was complete. Jeans from id:c, shirt from Abercrombie & Fitch, blazer from Uniqlo, navy hi-cut Chuck Taylor sneakers. Before going to bed, I laid them out neatly on my guest bed so even if I wake up late, it would be ready to go. Woke up this morning, took a shower, and wore the ensemble. 

Just when I was about to step out the door, it hit me: "I didn't like my outfit..." 

 So in 10 minutes, and endless poring through my closets again, I ended up with: jeans from Replay, shirt from Whoops, blazer from Uniqlo and black leather Chuck Taylor sneakers. Well, at least I had one item from last night's shopping spree. 

 Now I believe my former boss. She once told me: "Dressing up is a difficult job." Yes, it sure is.

Luxe. Super. Rich. (with apologies to my favorite client)

Though i'm not the type who submits to trends, I found myself submitting to one tonight. 

The trend - Luxe fabric. 

If you go to Zara, Mango, Gap, and all other big brands, you'll find fabrics such as lace, velvet, wool and fur in their collections. It can be something as simple as a collar, lining, or a cropped chinchilla jacket, or something as lavish as a velvet trench coat. 

While at Uniqlo today, I chanced upon this nice washed velvet blazer in a blue so dark, it's almost black. Whilst it's visually luxurious, it doesn't feel heavy and doesn't come across as too opulent. 

This is understandable since that's how Uniqlo does things: classic with a bit of attitude. Normally, this type of blazer wouldn't appeal to me. This is more up Arnie's alley, she being the more fashion forward and fabric conscious. But I was told that i'm going to attend an advertising function tomorrow, my first one here in HK. 

So I thought, heck, "Now that's an excuse to go Luxe."

My life as a beauty contest judge...

More than a year ago, one of my friends - who incidentally was also a client - asked me to be a preliminary judge for their image model search. It was one of the most surreal moments in my life as an adult. The feeling was a bit awkward, you sit there while all these girls preen and project in front of you. No matter how much the contestants say that a pageant isn't a meat market, hell, it sure does feel like one from where I was sitting. Heebie-jeebies aside, it was encouraging to see that some of the girls with pretty faces do have good heads on their toned shoulders. The prettiest ones were journalism students (always intelligent, i must say. hahaha), talented theater actresses, and involved in socio-civic activities. They could answer questions with candor and wit, and with a lot of sense. And then, there were these girls: GIRL 1: Judge: What's a typical day for you? Girl: Saturday *silence* Judge: Ok, what is it about Saturday that made you say that. Girl: Because Saturday is very typical... GIRL 2: Judge: What was the last good movie you saw? Girl: Passion of the Christ, po. Judge: Why do you think it's a good movie? Girl: Kasi po, I'm Catholic. And after ko po panoorin yon, mas maintindihan at naramdaman ko yung lahat ng suffering, lahat ng sacrifice, lahat po ng pinagdaanan ni Mama Mary. GIRL 3: Judge: What's your greatest achievement? Girl: Wala po. Judge: You don't have any achievements? Girl: Kung achievements po, meron naman. Like winning contests in school, being a part of our school's winning athletic team, being in the dean's list... pero achievements lang po yon. Yung "greatest achievement" wala pa po kasi mataas po ang pangarap ko. Judge: That's good. So ano yung pinapangarap mong maabot? What is it that will make you say: "Ito na ang greatest achievement ko." Girl: Ah, yung maging finalist po sa search na 'to. This was just a fraction of things we had to endure during the 4 hour plus judging. Imagine the headache we had after that. Good thing we were given neat goody bags for all the effort. Being a beauty contest judge was a surreal experience. But i wouldn't mind doing it all over again.

And if I my name was picked as judge...

I'd ask the girl this question that Erwin and I just love:

"If given the chance, what chance would that be and why?"

And Erwin's favorite question:

"Kung mamamatay ka bukas, bakit hindi pa ngayon?"

Guilty Pleasure

"I'm sexy, i'm cute, i'm popular to boot!... I'm awesome, the best, guys wanna touch my chest! Don't hate me cause i'm beautiful, i don't like you either! We're cheerleaders!"

And with those opening lines, this movie became one of my favorite guilty pleasures. It's one of the better juvenile, mindless but uplifting comedies i've seen. Though Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion is the best, this comes a very, very close second. The "downtrodden suddenly bouncing back to victory" story is one plot that I've always loved. Maybe part of it is because I've been through that stage once or twice in my life.

My movie buff colleague George gave me a DVD copy of the movie this afternoon, and that's the reason why I rushed home today so I can sit back, bring out a bag of Munchies, a cold bottle of water, take off my shoes, indian sit on the sofa and put the disc in the player.

"Bring it on!"

Strange Fruits

Caught a couple of Spanish films this weekend and was particularly intrigued by a Portugese Film entitled "Odete." It's a film about the strange relationship between a fruit and a fruit lover, or in regular parlance, a fag and a fag hag.

The movie starts with a pair of lovers, Pedro and Rui. They just celebrated their first year together, and had silver rings as an anniversary gift. On his way home, Pedro meets an accident and dies, much to the dismay of Rui because he feels responsible for Pedro's death. Rui called Pedro on his mobile phone while driving, and that's how he met the accident.

*insert commercial against using the phone while driving here*

Odete is a rollergirl in a supermarket, has a boyfriend and is yearning for a baby. When she floats the idea of having one, her boyfriend goes ballistic and Odete throws him out. She realizes her mistake a day after, and begs her boyfriend to come back. Alas, he's sick of her neuroses, and decides to leave her once and for all.

Rui and Odete's lives cross because of Pedro. Rui is his lover and Odete is his neighbor (and apparently, they don't know each other.) Because of the break-up with her boyfriend, Odete snaps and suddenly claims she's pregnant with Pedro's child. Pedro's mom, who slaps her in disbelief, know her son is incapable of doing that. But Odete hangs around Pedro's tomb, and the mom, upon seeing this, feels guilt and drives her to "adopt" Odete.

This is where things get really creepy...

Odete digs up information about Rui and Pedro's love affair. She's so smitten by the story that she later tries to make herself a surrogate Pedro to Rui - wearing his clothes, copying his hairstyle, calling Rui from Pedro's home number, and even stealing their "anniversary ring." At this point, you could feel a "Boys don't cry" vibe as the once beautiful Odete transforms into an androgynous "Pedro."

The ending of the film is too disturbing for words. It should really be seen to be appreciated.

After watching the film, I became instantly interested in the actress who played Odete. Her name is Ana Christina de Oliveira. She's this lithe stunner who looks like Kylie Minogue, but with much more height. She can easily pass off as a supermodel with her chiseled features and impressive body structure.

Apparently, she appeared as one in the Queen Latifah/Jimmy Fallon comedy "Taxi." She was one of tall, leggy robbers in cahoots with Gisele Bundchen in the film. She never struck me in that film because all eyes were on the Queen and Jimmy. But in "Odete," she really lived up to her role as the lead actress.

Throughout the film, I was hating her. (Even though I just love, love, love the way she looks.) She was irritatingly neurotic that you wanted to go inside the screen and slap her silly! And by the time she transformed to the faux Pedro, she shed all her bombshell-ness and really became a boy in the eyes of the viewers. How's that for a chameleon-like performance.

Immediately after watching the film, I searched the net for her other films, or her future ones. I want to catch more of Ana in action. Apparently, she'll be appearing in the big screen version of Miami Vice. I hope she'll avoid the Jessica Simpson/Carmen Electra curse and just be a token girl in the film. Given her excellent acting chops, she definitely deserves much more.

Seeking Sophie

If the US has Britney and Australia has Kylie, the UK has Sophie Ellis Bextor. She's that country's erstwhile Pop/Dance princess who, like the first two names mentioned, grew up in the industry. From her sound to her sexiness, Sophie practically bloomed in public.

My first taste of Sophie Ellis Bextor was during my first visit to Europe. Bored in the middle of Rotterdam, I decided to wander inside a music store and just listen to CDs. Among those counted as the top releases was our very own pop wonderkid, Billy Crawford, and this very attractive woman named Sophie Elllis Bextor. Intrigued by the CD cover, i quickly picked up the headset and started listening to her tracks.

And, if I may quote Kylie, "it was love at first sight." (Or sound, if we'll get specific.)

The first song of hers that I loved was this dance track entitled "Murder on the Dance Floor." Aside from having that rhythmic thumpa-thump beat that will send your right feet stompin', your right hand tapping, and your head bobbing, the lyrics were also quite nice in a nonsensical kind of way. I wanted to buy the CD right there and then, but music costs so much in Euros! The same amount can get me a couple of decent shirts at Zara, so I decided to postpone buying it and just listened to the song over and over until I could memorize it.

Upon returning to the hotel, I quickly plopped on the bed and switched the channel to MTV. And there it was, the "Murder on the Dance Floor" MTV starring Sophie. If the song was fun to listen to, the video was just a joy to watch. It was this campy dance contest where she was sabotaging her opponents moves and taking them out of the competition one by one. By the end of the song, she was clutching the dance contest trophy and relishing in her victory. After that, I knew I had to buy her CD. And I eventually did.

Then I lost it. I don't remember where or when, but somewhere between Barcelona and Belgium, I lost her CD.

When I returned to Manila, I quickly checked Music One to see if they had her CD on stock. Alas, they didn't. I guess Sophie wasn't too big a star in Asia to merit a release here. A few years after, on a trip to Mexico, I saw her CD being sold in a C&A shop in Monterrey. Though I should have bought it, I didn't - and up to now, I don't remember why. Maybe it's because I was saving my money for Pull & Bear shirts, or mexican souvenirs.

Up to now, I still find myself checking out record stores - from the big chains like Tower and HMV, to smaller shops like HongKong Records or Odyssey - in the hopes of scoring a Sophie Ellis Bextor CD. Her videos are being shown in MTV Asia, from "Murder on the Dance floor" to her newer "I won't change you." Because of this, i'm hoping that she's finally penetrated the region and her music will be made available to Asian Sophie-liacs such as myself.

Well, it isn't there up until now. Good thing my colleague from Bangkok has a couple of her songs in his iTunes. Whenever I feel the need for Sophie speed, all I need to do is plug in and listen. But hopefully, HMV will start carrying her albums soon, so I can finally have my own copy.

If not, i'll make sure that during my trip to Europe next year, i'll bring home another copy of her CD. And this time, i'll be super careful not to lose it.

Today's song

I've played this song the nth thousand time today. I don't know why, but i'm attracted to songs about love lost. Break-up songs have more character than love songs (unless the love song is by The Carpenters). My favorite songs are "Sometimes a love goes wrong" and "Paalam na."

The reason why I love "Never Gonna Let You Go" by Sergio Mendes is the fact that it's about a break-up and a reconciliation. It brings to life that idea of "if you love someone, set it free. if it comes back, it's really yours, if it doesn't, it never was." In this song's case, it did come back. And the fact that there was a sad story before the happy ending really does it for me.

Never Gonna Let You Go
Sergio Mendes

I was as wrong as I could be
To let you get away from me
I'll regret that move
For as long as I'm livin'

But now that I've come to see the light
All I wanna do is make things right
So just say the word
And tell me that I'm forgiven

You and me
We're gonna be better than we were before
I loved you then but now I intend
To open up and love you even more
This time you can be sure


Chorus:
I'm never gonna let you go
I'm gonna hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so

Gonna hold your body close to mine
From this day on we're gonna be together
Oh I swear this time
I'm never gonna let you go

Looking back now
It seems so clear
I had it all when you were here
Oh you gave it all
And I took it for granted

But if there's some feeling left in you
Some flickers of love
That still shines through
Let's talk it out
Let's talk about second chances

Wait and see
It's gonna be sweeter than it was before
I gave some then but now I intend
To dedicate myself to giving more
This time you can be sure

(Chorus)


oh..So if you'll just say
You want me too...

Waisted!

Going through my closet this morning to find a pair of jeans to wear today further highlighted my love affair with low waist jeans. After going through each one, I realized that are no regular waist jeans in my repertoire. And I doubt if there ever will be.

My love affair with low rise jeans began in 2002 in Barcelona. Tita Evelyn and I were shopping at Zara in La Illa mall, and she asked me to choose 2 pairs of jeans and a couple of shirts. Being a guy attracted to details, the jeans I chose were: 1. A medium washed pair with holes and distressed details, and 2. A dark washed pair with tucks around the knee area. While fitting these 2 jeans, my eyes were so fixated on the details that I didn't notice that the waist was a bit lower than usual. It was only after using it twice or thrice that thrice that it dawned on me that they were low rise jeans. Just goes to show that I don't read the labels, because it was practically shouting: LOW RISE!

When I wore them while judging the Miss Robinson's search, (Oh, I must write about this in the future), a famous fashion director complemented my jeans and said: "Low waist jeans suit you, you know." Then that's when I first became aware of the concept of, and the nice fit this jean type. If a fashion director said it, then it must be true. Hahaha!

Since then, I'd passionately search for low waist jeans. And I must say, this is a bit difficult in Manila where the regular waist ones still rule the shops and stores. But there were a few gems that I came across. My favorites were the low waist Lee Jeans, the Levi's 513s given to me by my friends during my birthday, a light pair from Topman with a lot of distressed details, and a DSquare-style pair from RRJ. (Yup, Rough Rider Jeans!)

Thank goodness for my occasional trips to Hong Kong and Singapore! These places offer a wider selection of jeans thanks to Zara, FCUK and Topman. Without fail, i'd buy and bring home at least 3 jeans everytime I go home from these trips. My favorite pairs from abroad are: 1. A green washed pair with a folded hem from Topman (not available in the Manila shop.), 2. A light washed pair with unusually low pockets from Zara and 3. A dark washed pair with zippered back pockets, also from Zara.

Moving to HK, I found myself spoilt for choice. Tough, K2, Indu homme, Mastermind Productions, Energie, Diesel and Replay all have smashing low waist jeans. And that explains why i now have 35 pairs of jeans in less than 5 months.

Today i've decided to wear this pair of Replay jeans that are my lowest pair yet. They're so low, they're practically hanging on to dear life on my two hip bones (which, thankfully, are big enough to support the denim and keep them from falling.) I like them because they make me feel tall and thin. While I was riding the MTR this morning, I was standing in front of two women who I knew were Filipinas. Since I had one arm raised and holding the rail, it was natural for my hoodie to go up and reveal the low-ness of my low waist jeans.

One of the Pinay's commented: "Yan! Yan ang walang puson!" Of course, she didn't know that I was Pinoy and I could understand her. But upon hearing that comment, I knew that this jean type will be the one i'll be wearing for a long time.

Haw come?

Although i'm not as alarmed as I should be yet, there's a noticeable shortage of Haw flakes in Hong Kong.

I've loved Aji Ichiban's Haw Flakes since they first landed on my lips way back in 1996. Ever since that moment, i'd go to Hong Kong specifically for that. And when I found out that they were sold in Cebu, I bugged all my friends living in or flying from the Queen City to PUH-LEEZE bring me home Aji Ichiban Haw Flakes.

When they finally set up shop in Manila, I was thrilled! You could imagine me doing cartwheels and Miposian Dances of Joy upon reading the news. My favorite fruit by-product (Haw, or Hawthorn, is actually a berry) was going to be easily accessible. Yes, the small Haw Flakes that sold for .50cents in sari-sari stores were always there, but after tasting Aji Ichiban, there was no turning back.

It was second nature, and so expected, for me to buy the P65.00 pack of Haw Flakes containing 8 big rolls. Whether I was in Megamall, Glorietta, Robinson's Place Ermita, Galleria, SM North or Gateway, my feet would lead me to the nearest Aji Ichiban outlet and i'd automatically walk away with one or two packs. It became too much of a routine that when the sales girl from the Galleria branch saw me, she'd automatically have a pack on her hand and she'd give it to me the moment I stepped in. That's how predictable I became.

When I moved to HK, that was the first thing I looked for. And yes, it was a bit more cheaper here. It was $15 for 2 8 packs, and $20 for 2 16 packs. Yup, I was in Haw Flakes heaven.

But recently, I noticed a shortage of the goodies in stores. Most of the ones near the office wouldn't have it. The branches in Kowloon didn't carry it as well. I was so tempted to ask the sales ladies why there was an apparent shortage. Too bad they couldn't understand English that well.

Not one to wait for a shortage to arrive, I did what anyone addicted to any substance would do. I hoarded packs and packs and packs of Haw Flakes. There are a few packs in my office drawer, and a lot of packs in my cupboard at home. I may not have the answer to the problem, but at least i've stocked up on the solution.

Cool!

Day by day, i'm beginning to see signs that winter is on the verge of making a big entrance.

The most glaring would be how people are dressed. Women are starting to bring out their fur lined coats (faux or otherwise) and knee high boots are becoming more visible than usual. Cable knit sweaters are adorning mannequins in most shops, and Zara has a fresh batch of scarves on sale.

Days are becoming shorter as well. Recently, it's beginning to get dark as early as 5:30 pm. By that time, the crisp, cool air is beginning to blow and one can't help but wish that he's back home, hiding under thick comforters and let the day pass by in a state of total sedentariness. I'm beginning to understand why Beijing-ers don't usually take baths during wintertime. It's really a pain to just get out of bed and make your way to the bathroom. Add the fact that you'll have to take your clothes off - albeit it's in a sealed bathroom - and have to be exposed to the cool wind, that's enough of a deterrent. But I swore that i'll take a bath no matter how cold it gets.

The weather at this moment is still perfect. Not too warm, not too cold. It reminds me of Barcelona at the onset of spring - the sun is up but the air is cool. It's the perfect time meander outdoors and take long, leisurely walks. It's also the perfect time to dress up! After all, winter does offer a lot of fashion possibilities - layering, wearing riding boots, wrapping your neck in a colorful scarf, and your head in a knitted beanie, wearing nice, leather gloves -- just thinking about it makes me want to stay outdoors most of the time.

This kind of weather can be hell on the skin. Double dryness is what comes to mind - because aside from the cold weather drying your skin, bathing in hot water also has the same effect. Ergo, when you bathe in hot water to escape the cold air, you get double dryness. (Cripes! That sounds like body copy to me.) Good thing I brought my lotion, and i should buy body butter as early as now.

On the upside, cold weather gives your cheeks that nice, rosy glow. I don't know why, but it has that effect on my skin. I guess the cold, and the heat, bring out the tisoy in me. Too bad i have to hide it under a scarf most of the time.

It's going to be my first "winter" living in Hong Kong, and it looks like it's going to be really cool.

West meets East

Something pleasantly surprising popped in McDonald's stores today. Shaker fries, my favorite fry-variant - hands down, has made its way to Hong Kong.

I can still remember way back in Manila when Shaker fries were launched. Erwin, Arnie and I would order one each, take a different flavor packet each, and shake, shake, shake away. Of course, whoever got the barbecue flavor sprinkle would be the loser, since everyone would attack that stash more often. Ergo, his or her stash would disappear first.

This concept of shake-flavored fries started with Potato Corner. What started as a small stall positioned in schools ballooned into a big enterprise and a few months after, there was a cart everywhere you looked. Just like Gonuts Donuts, Zagu and Nene's Barbecue, you'd find long queues for Potato Corner fries, but no one really cared. What's important was to get their hands on the hot and crispy fries dusted with sour cream, barbecue or cheese flavor.

I should know, I was one of them.

The concept of self-shook fries at McDonald's - in my opinion - wasn't too well accepted. After the limited run of Shaker Fries, it never came back. As opposed to Twister Fries, a product that made a comeback so many times, Shaker Fries up and disappeared. I guess no one cared too much for it, or at least not as much as I did.

Needless to say, my heart skip a beat when I saw that Shaker Fries was making a comeback - at least in Hong Kong. This lunchtime, I rushed to McDonald's to get my fill of my favorite. Walking to the counter, I was already trying to decide whether to get the Cheese, Barbecue or Sour Cream flavor powder. Sour Cream would be the best choice, but i haven't had barbecue since I turned vegetarian -- ergo, barbecue flavored fries would be a nice in-between.

Upon reaching the order area, I was treated to a wake-up call that screamed: YOU'RE IN HONG KONG! Instead of Cheese, Barbecue or Sour Cream, the flavor choices were things only chinese-asians would love. It was Seaweed, Kimchi or Garlic.

Kimchi Fries? Seaweed Fries? WTF?!?I couldn't get myself to try the first 2 flavors, so I settled for Garlic. It wasn't that bad, although it was a bit disappointing. Nothing comes close to sour cream fries in my book. I swear, this can only happen in Hong Kong or China, or maybe even Korea considering that's where Kimchi comes from.

Ah, the perils of west meeting east.

Back in Macau

Went back to Macau this weekend. I love how this place is just laid back. Some parts really remind me of old European towns, this is largely because of the Portugese who left a small indelible mark in this now-chinese country. Here's a little snippet of what I saw this time:

From Lagos de Senado, you walk the alleys until you reach Macau's most famous landmark, the Ruins of St. Paul. This reminds me of the Trevi fountain in Italy. It looks larger than life in pics, but it's really small in real life.

This woman and her dog is probably the most photographed folks in Macau. They silently stand guard near the foot of the ruins, and it looks to me like she's chatting with someone on her mobile.

When you reach the base of the Ruins of St. Paul, you feel a sense of awe at how the entire facade just withstood the damage. It looks like a 2D cut out, albeit more magnificent.

Honestly, the view from the side is just as spectactular from the bottom.

At the back of the facade, there's a stairway leading up. Here, you can see the remains of the cathedral - some corner stones and a few relics. This is the view from the back of the ruins.

And when you peep out the window, you'll see the sea of humanity that frequents this tourist trap.

After the facade, you go down, turn left, and go up the escalator and you'll see the Macau Museum. This is where you'll hear the story of the country and how the mezcla de China y Portugese created such a fascinating little country. Too bad it's now being transformed into Asia's Las Vegas. I'm afraid it'll lose its old world charm.

After the Macau Museum, go back to the Ruins of St. Paul and pass by one of the stalls that sell Macau's most famous snack - the Portugese Egg Tart. I think Lord Stow's still makes the best one in Macau.

Then, having filled up your tummy and senses, it's time to walk back down where you came from. The alley will again lead you to Lagos de Senado where you can enjoy a bit more of people watching and surplus shopping.

I'm more than meets the eye...

Transformers! You scored 60 Aggression and 40 Silliness!

You are Transformers! You are....more than meets the eye! You are strong, willful, and no-nonsense. You're assertive and confident. I bet you're the tough one in your group of friends. Transformers was always one of my favorites when I was little, which makes it hard to write this result without bias...Suffice to say, you totally rule.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 75% on Aggression You scored higher than 13% on Silliness

Link: The 80s Cartoon Personality Test written by TheLadyEve on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Bliss!

Last Saturday, I went home to Manila to attend the wedding of one of my best friends in college. Maricar's wedding is a major event for D' Frendz because it's the first time a member of our group is getting married. After more than a decade of being together, someone finally got married! And believe me, that's a reason to break open the Dom Perignion and let loose a few confetti cannons.



Maricar looked like a beaming bride the whole day. I know how much stress a bride feels a few hours before her wedding, after all, i've been organizing weddings for the past 5 years. But in true Maricar fashion, she managed to smile through the entire thing. From the hurried preparations in her room, all the way up to her walk down the aisle, her trademark cheerfulness was present and unfading.



Hearing Maricar and Gary say their vows, you could sense the happiness and conviction in both their voices. There was so much confidence and love resonating through the cathedral. Plus, as one of my friends commented, you can see both of them smile while exchanging their "I dos".



Needless to say, everyone felt the love the whole night. The reception was unlike those staid and stuffy de rigeur dinners that I usually see. The whole shindig felt like a small gathering of close friends and everybody knew each other very well. Of course, half of the room didn't know the other half, but the atmosphere definitely felt different. It was intimate, friendly, and above all, FUN! It's one of those laid back celebrations where everyone feels like family. And that's the best kind of celebration, I must say!



The first wedding of D' Frendz was really worth waiting for. It had all the ingredients of a great event: friends, laughter, fun, great food, a cozy atmosphere, and of course, a lot of love. I think this picture of Maricar best sums up how the whole wedding rated. It's definitely a MAJOR THUMBS UP!

Grace the occasion

Freshman year, 1989: As usual, I was running late for my 8:30am Kasaysayan 2 class. Each time this happens, my fervent wish would be: 1.) someone will come later than me, or 2.) someone will come as late as me. That way, the professor’s wrath will be divided among the numerous latecomers.

Upon reaching the door, a welcome sight greeted me. Another classmate of mine was hanging around the door and was, like me, late. We decided to enter the class together, with the exact same intention of trying to divide the anger by two.

We entered the room, and our professor - Prof. Vic Paz - just looked at both of us and said: “uyyy.” And the whole class echoed this, “uuyyyy-ing” in unison.

Under these embarrassing circumstances, I first met Grace Paat.

Grace, during college, was a quintessential “A-list girl” – much like Rachel McAdams was in “Mean Girls” or Alicia Silverstone in “Clueless.” Consider her credentials:

- She was a member of the “Geeks” which was Block I-1s “in” crowd. They were our “block royalty” because all the cool people belonged to that group. Their closest relative would be the “Assumptionistas”, or the group consisting of the graduates of the uber-exclusive girl’s school of Makati.
- She definitely looked the part. Grace was always well put together, and her long, brown hair and her perfectly powdered face would punctuate her outfit. (Of course, we would later discover that her face powder is her trademark.)
- She was the epitome of cheerfulness and being lady-like. This was the formative years of her “frou-frou-ness” – a trait she would carry until now.
- She had a boyfriend from Ateneo. And that always scores big points in the “A-list” scorecard. Everybody knew Paul, and how Grace would call his name with a certain drawl. (something like: Paawwwwlllllllll)

The longer we knew each other, Grace and I found out that we had more similarities and links.

- We were born on the same day, November 6, albeit a year apart.
- She and my sisters rode on the same school service when they were in St. Joseph’s College. Grace recounted with much chagrin that my sisters took so long getting ready, and she had to wait outside our house gate for a long time.
- We both lived in Tomas Morato, and our houses were just a few blocks away from each other.

While wrestling with our 4-years in college, we didn’t move in the same circles. We both had our own subjects, our own groups, and our own lives. Once in a while, our lives would intersect, like during Ovvian’s 18th birthday party which we both attended. Plus, the CMC Building was a small place, and the Journalism majors were a small group.


It was during our 4th year in college that Grace and I became friends. This was largely due to the UP Journalism Club, the club I joined during my last year, and the group where “D’ Frendz” began planting its roots.

We graduated in March 1993, and she followed a few months after. I still remember how we stormed her graduation ceremony en masse, and among her October batch mates was another good friend of mine, Louis. If I remember right, Grace was sporting the “I dream of Jeannie” hairstyle during the event.

After college the advertising world called, and a few of us CMC graduates answered. Tintin, Grace, Bonique and I were among those – them in AMA-DDB-Needham *hello* (this was how their receptionist would answer the phone), and me in Adformatix.

Years passed, Grace and I became the sole survivors in the advertising industry. We both hopped from one agency to the next, but strangely, we never worked with each other. She always tells me that it’s better that way because my flaring temper worries her. But I’d always be quick to react that Shash and I did work together, and became better friends after our stint.

Credit it to the fact that we were in the same school, same neighborhood and same industry, we formed common experiences throughout all these years we’ve know each other. But personally, I think it’s the differences that added character to our continuing journey of friendship.

Throughout the 12 odd years that we’ve been friends, I’ve discovered a lot of similarities between Grace and me:

- We both like organizing parties. Which is why we’re D’ Frendz de facto party planners. It has come to the point that we even have to plan our own birthday parties – just like we did last year, and this year.
- We’re travel freaks! It gives us a high when we go to an entirely new place and just revel in the experiences surrounding us. (But unlike her, I don’t have a – uhrm – “travel partner” though..)
- Shopping is something we both never get tired of doing. I can still remember the numerous “Robinsons Midnight Madness” sales we’ve gone to, and we’d be there until midnight – and even after. (She’d often raid Ba-yo for their floral and checkered stuff.)
- We’re D.I.Y. people. She has a knack for painting and doing all these handicraft-y things. If I’m not mistaken, she even painted the interiors of their house in Roces. (Better known as “THE party place.) I, on the other hand, am more into assembly and carpentry. (Thank heavens for Ikea.)
- We thrive in the crazy and cut throat world of advertising. Yes, she whines about it all the time, how she wants to leave advertising and do something else. But she’s been in the biz for more than a decade, and whether she admits it or not, I think she likes what she’s doing.

But the pinnacle of our similarity and parallel living happened this year. During the first quarter of 2005, Grace and I were offered foreign postings in our respective advertising agencies. We both accepted these offers – after much thought – she with the JWT affiliate in Laos, and I joined our Hong Kong office.

I don’t know if it’s in the stars (after all, we do share the same birthday), or is it just by plain coincidence. But we find ourselves in the same boat once again. We’d sometimes catch each other on YM and rant about so many things. Like how much we miss our lives in Manila, how we miss our friends, how we crave for the familiarity of home – things we sum up as “OFW Concerns.”


As we celebrated our birthday last night – and I’ve lost count how many times we’ve held double celebrations – I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of how two random people who happened to be late for Kasaysayan 2 class at the same time could have ended up living a life full of coincidences and similarities.

And given our track record, I wouldn’t be surprised if we find a couple more similar surprises as we continue with our lives and friendship.

Hit me!

Here are the top 100 hit songs during the year I graduated. A hundred songs is a lot to digest, but I though I'd check it out and see how many of these songs I know, and love! Reading through them brought back so many memories, and I couldn't help but hum or sing along: (To get it, go to musicoutfitters.com and type in your graduation year on the space that says "search")

1. Look Away, Chicago - The number one song -- is a song I don't know. Go figure...
2. My Prerogative, Bobby Brown - I love the Britney version more than Bobby's.
3. Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison - Huh?
4. Straight Up, Paula Abdul - Love this dance ditty from the original dance diva: Straight up now tell me do you really wanna love me forever -- uh-uh-oh -- or am I caught in hit and run.
5. Miss You Much, Janet Jackson - I miss you much, oh, I, miss you much, I really miss you much...
6. Cold Hearted, Paula Abdul - Another lovely dance track -- she's a cold hearted snake, look into her eyes, uh-oh, she's been telling lies. (What's with Paula and uh-ohs?)
7. Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler - From the movie Beaches. I heard this song during my grandfather's wake, and I cried the entire time it was playing.
8. Girl You Know Its True, Milli Vanilli - ooh, ooh, ooh, I love you... Girl you know it's true! Too bad their voices weren't.
9. Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird, Will To Power - Nope, don't know this one, too.
10. Giving You The Best That I Got, Anita Baker - I'll bet everything, on my wedding ring, I'm giving you the best that I got, baby...
11. Right Here Waiting, Richard Marx - Kinda cheesy, well, it IS from Richard Marx. -- Wherever you go, whatever you do, i will be right here waiting for you.
12. Waiting For A Star To Fall, Boy Meets Girl - Sounds familiar, but I can't remember it.
13. Lost In Your Eyes, Debbie Gibson - I love, love, love Debbie Gibson. Too bad it wasn't Electric Youth that was number 1 during my graduation year.
14. Don't Wanna Lose You, Gloria Estefan - I heard the Spanish and English versions of this song, and I prefer the Spanish one. It's much more romantic.
15. Heavan, Warrant - Don't know.
16. Girl I'm Gonna Miss You, Milli Vanilli - It's a tragedy to see the dream is over, and i never will forget, the day we've met, girl I'm gonna miss you.
17. The Look, Roxette - And they go, lalalala - she's got the look! Forever immortalized because of Eat Bulaga's TV contest.
18. She Drives Me Crazy, Fine Young Cannibals - Another cool yet danceable ditty. -- She drives me crazy, and I can't help myself.
19. On Our Own, Bobby Brown - Don't know this one, too.
20. Two Hearts, Phil Collins - This song has a nice, bouncy vibe to it. -- Two hearts, living in just one mind, together forever, til the end of time...
21. Blame It On The Rain, Milli Vanilli - When "you've got to blame it on something..."
22. Listen To Your Heart, Roxette - "When it's calling for you, listen to your heart, there's nothing else you can do..."
23. I'll Be There For You, Bon Jovi - "These 5 words I say to you, if you breathe, I want to be the air for you, I'll be there for you!
24. If You Don't Know Me By Now, Simply Red - "You will never, never, never know me.. no you won't..."
25. Like A Prayer, Madonna - Yes, Madonna makes it to the list. The almost-blasphemous MTV is what makes this song so memorable for me. Burning crosses, making love to saints, and low cut dresses -- just like a prayer, your voice will take me there.
26. I'll Be Loving You (Forever), New Kids On The Block - NKOTB during their high pitched era.
27. How Can I Fall?, Breathe - I did hear this song a lot way back in LSQC. It was very romantic.
28. Baby Don't Forget My Number, Milli Vanilli - This was the songn with the rap in between, which I think was really cool. "Baby, don't forget my number. Baby, love is stronger than thunder." May I add, Baby, don't forget my lipsync artist.
29. Toy Solider, Martika - I love the beat of this song, it's within the "marching" concept of the ditty and you hear Martika go: step by step, heart to heart, bit by bit and the battle wages on, for toy soldiers. This is supposedly about drug addiction and the fight to keep the youth away from drugs.
30. Forever Your Girl, Paula Abdul - Yes, everybody loves Paula! "Hey baby, i'm forever your girl." I love the instrumentation of this song.
31. The Living Years, Mike and the Mechanics - Familiar band, unfamiliar song.
32. Eternal Flame, The Bangles - A lovely ballad coupled with powerful voices. I can still hear the lead singer belting: but is this burning, an Eternal Flaaaaammmmmeeeeee....
33. Wild Thing, Tone Loc - One of those sexy songs complete with heavy breathing: Wild thing, yo make my heart sing.
34. When I See You Smile, Bad English - "When I see you smile, I can face the world..." Isn't that sweet.
35. If I Could Turn Back Time, Cher - Apart from the song, people remember Cher singing it while wearing the highest cut tanga bikini in recorded history. And she sang this while she was on an aircraft carrier. A lot of happy soliders there, I reckon.
36. Buffalo Stance, Neneh Cherry - Female rap at its best. "Looking good today, looking good in every way. No lock and key... Boy, don't you mess with me!"
37. When I'm With You, Sheriff - I don't know this one.
38. Don't Rush Me, Taylor Dayne - and this one.
39. Born To Be My Baby, Bon Jovi - and this one.
40. Good Thing, Fine Young Cannibals - and this one.
41. The Lover In Me, Sheena Easton - and this one. Although I love Sheena Easton.
42. Bust A Move, Young M.C. - Looks like this is the part that I really, really don't know.
43. Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Great White - next
44. Batdance, Prince - next
45. Rock On, Michael Damian - next
46. Real Lov, Jody Watley - Wow! Jodie Watley! I love this song: "Real love, i know I gotta get some, real love... gotta have real love!"
47. Love Shack, B-52's - Hands down, my favorite band. And I love, love, love the song. -- If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says: 15 miles to the LOOOOOVEEE SHACK! Love shack, yeah!
48. Every Little Step, Bobby Brown - "You will be there, every little step I take, we'll be together..."
49. Hangin' Tough, New Kids On The Block - "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh... Hanging tough!"
50. My Heart Can't Tell You No, Rod Stewart - Nope, don't know this one.
51. So Alive, Love and Rockets - and this one.
52. You Got It (The Right Stuff), New Kids On The Block - Vaugely familiar.
53. Armageddon It, Def Leppard - next
54. Satisfied, Richard Marx - next
55. Express Yourself, Madonna - LOVE IT! "come on girls, do you believe in love, because i've got something to say about it, and it goes a little something like this!" Madonna dances the Roger Rabbit in her Gaultier bustier! Classic!
56. I Like It, Dino - I don't like it because I don't know it.
57. Soldier Of Love, Donny Osmond - Huh? Donny Osmond?
58. Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Tears For Fears - Great MTV. With the crawling graphics. Lovely song, too.
59. Cherish, Madonna - Who can forget the mermaids in this MTV. And I like the chorus singing: "Give me faith, give me joy, my boy, I will always cherish you..."
60. When The Children Cry, White Lion - Huh?
61. 18 And Life, Skid Row - Huh?
62. I Don't Want Your Love, Duran Duran - I can't believe I don't know this Duran Duran Song.
63. Second Chances, .38 Special - Don't know this one.
64. The Way You Love Me, Karyn White - I might know this one.
65. Funky Cold Medina, Tone Loc - I definitely know this one. It spawned Andrew Ford Medina. And I love the part of the song where he goes out with a girl named Sheena, and he found out: "SHEENA WAS A MAN!" His parting words of wisdom: "Don't go out with a girl with an Oscar Meyer Weinier" How profound!
66. In Your Room, Bangles - Vaguely Familiar.
67. Miss You Like Crazy, Natalie Cole - This song has a great intro: "Even though it's been so long, my love for you keeps going strong..." Who wouldn't fall in love with that.
68. Love Song, Cure - I know the cure. I don't know this song.
69. Secret Rendesvous, Karyn White - I think Karyn White sang Superwoman. But this song, I don't know.
70. Angel Eyes, Jeff Healey Band - Nope.
71. Patience, Guns N' Roses - Nope.
72. Walk On Water, Eddie Money - Nope.
73. Cover Girl, New Kids On The Block - Nope.
74. Welcom To The Jungle, Guns N' Roses - And another nope.
75. Shower Me With Your Love, Surface - Yup. "Shower me with your love, shower me with the love that I long for..."
76. Stand, R.E.M. - Know the band, not the song.
77. Close My Eyes Forever, Lita Ford - Don't know the singer, don't know the song.
78. All This Time, Tiffany - Debbie's arch rival. I like this song as well, it suits Tiffany's hoarse voice.
79. After All, Cher and Peter Cetera - Super duper romantic song. It helped that it was part of that great Cybill Sheperd/Robert Downey Movie "Chances are"
80. Roni, Bobby Brown - Who's Roni?
81. Love In An Elevator, Aerosmith - Why an elevator?
82. Lay Your Hands On Me, Bon Jovi - Vaguely familiar!
83. This Promise, When In Rome - This song was a huge hit in High School. I still remember Romarose Riguer dancing this one. "If you need a friend, don't look to a stranger. You know in the end, i'll always be there..."
84. What I Am, Edie Brickell and The New Bohemians - Groovy song. Loved Edie Brickell since her "Good times" days.
85. I Remember Holding You, Boys Club - Unknown
86. Paradise City, Guns N' Roses - Unknown
87. Iwanna Have Some Fun, Samantha Fox - Unknown
88. She Wants To Dance With Me, Rick Astley - Who doesn't know Rick Astley? He was a dance icon and sounded like Roderic Paulate. "She wants to dance with me. I wanna hold her so tight next to me..."
89. Dreamin', Vanessa Williams - I prefer Vanessa's "Saved the best for last"
90. It's No Crime, Babyface - i don't know this one.
91. Poison, Alice Cooper - and this one.
92. This Time I Know It's For Real, Donna Summer - Donna does not disappoint. This was one of her better dance tunes. And it had a really nice story behind it. I think i know this one by heart. -- i'm going crazy just to let you know, you'll be amazed how much i love you so, oh baby. I've been around here long enough to know, this time I know it's for real!
93. Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson - The dance move was much better than the song. I wanted to learn that "lean forward without tumbling over" routine so badly.
94. Heavan Help Me, Deon Estus - duh?
95. Rock Wit'cha, Bobby Brown - I wanna rock witcha baby, all night long. I wanna roll with you baby... Of course, he's talking about the horizontal rock here.
96. Thinking Of You, Sa-fire - This title I haven't read in ages. But I do remember it clearly: "I'm thinking of you. Wish that I could hold you tight... wish you could stay, but you're so far away... so far away...."
97. What You Don't Know, Expose - Me don't know, too...
98. Surrender To Me, Ann Wilson and Robin Zander - Oh no!
99. The End Of The Innocence, Don Henley - I don't know!
100. Keep On Movin', Soul II Soul - The last 3 songs!


Whew! That was a lot of work. But that was a lot of fun as well! Makes me want to sing "Love Shack" for the next few hours...

Is this a sign? Or is this a sign?

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Umay gosh!

After spending most of my life and a half in front of the computer, i'm beginning to feel the pinch. Yes, i'm experiencing "computer umay" all of a sudden. It's that feeling when I shudder at the sight of another computer, and the thought of surfing the internet sends shivers up my spine.

So what am I doing sitting in front of a computer, typing on my blog?

Sounds familiar...

There are only 18 songs in my ITunes at the moment, which might make it the most lame and most boring ITune in the whole universe, and maybe even the next. Because of this, I've made it a habit to connect to the network and mooch off my other colleagues ITunes. That's the great thing about having an office network, you can benefit from other people's resources.

Golf must have the most number of songs in the office. He has around 30 days worth, if I'm not mistaken. He has a very varied selection, which is awesome. Best of all, he has Sophie Ellis Bextor, which means he definitely has taste. I'm a big fan of Sophie since 2002, but unfortunately, her albums aren't available in Manila or Hong Kong. I should have gotten one of her CDs when I was in Europe last year. He also has Carpenters, Isaac Hayes, Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone, so you can tell this kid has got an old soul. Alas, he has no Britney Spears, though.

Today, I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and listen to my other officemates' iTunes. The first one I saw was Keith's, so after a quick double click, I was in his song network. I expected Keith's selection to be predominantly Chinese. Since he's a Hong Kong Chinese, I could imagine him listening to KellyJackie, Rain, and the Twins all day long. When I began poring through is music selection, my deduction proved to be a correct one. Most of the songs are written in Chinese, so they're of no use to me.

Still, my persistence led me to scroll down and down and down. And while doing that, I saw this very familiar title:

"You made me stronger."

I thought... could it be? Could it be the song of Asia's Songbird, Ms. Regine Velazquez? Could it be the song she wrote after breaking up with Ariel Rivera? Curious, I double clicked on the song, and waited with baited breath.

"Is it hard to believe i'm ok? After all, it's been a while since you've walked away. I'm way past crying over you finding someone new..."

Yes! It was Regine! It was so great hearing one of her songs after a long time. Not because i'm a fan, but Regine really has one of the best voices on the planet. She's got the voice of an angel, and listening to her is so soothing - even if she's shrieking 40% of the time when she sings. So that song played for a few times before deciding to move on further down the list.

Then I saw it...

"Bulag, Pipi at Bingi."

Whoa! How could that classic Filipino song be in my Chinese officemate's iTunes! I double clicked on the tune just to make sure, and it was indeed the ditty that every Pinoy must know.

Wondering why he had Pinoy songs in his list, I checked the album title to see the source of these 2 songs. The Album title is "Classic Asian Love Songs", and was produced in HK. By the way, that's also where "You made me stronger" came from. This little factoid made me break into a big smile. That's because: 1. Two Pinoy songs are considered Classic Asian Love Songs in Hong Kong, and 2. My Chinese officemate likes listening to it. (I checked the playlist, and he plays these 2 songs often.)

I should chat with Keith one of these days so we can talk about Regine. He might want to know more about the voice behind the song.

And yes, it looks like i'll hang out Keith's iTunes more often these days.

Internet Junkie

Since my move to HK, i've noticed that almost 80% of my day is spent on the internet. I'm either doing research, (yeah, right), answering emails, downloading articles, or writing on my blog. In fact, my wrists are now complaining that they spend more time on the keyboard than anywhere else. Could carpal tunnel syndrome be far behind? I hope not.

One of my colleagues once commented that someone should bring me out of my room because everytime he passes by, i'm hunched in front of the Mac. And that worries him. Hahaha. But he does have a point. Often, I force myself to go out and interact just so i can pull away from the computer and the net.

Weekends are supposed to be "internet free" days. But often, I find myself sneaking into internet cafes to check mail or write. This is the reason why I love going back home to Manila. It's the only time when i'm 100% detached from all things techie and internet. It's when my social interaction instincts and skills kick in and i'm more in tune with the world through my eyes, and not through the eyes of some person who has "www" in his name.

The Homeboy is now a Handyman

It's been almost a month since I bought my curtain rods, but the search for a good carpenter to install them has been a vain one. There was one very good prospect, a Pinoy handyman, but when he gave me his quote for the project, it simply reeked "i'm cheating you because you look like you've got money to spare."

Last Thursday, I attempted to install the simple vertical fabric blinds from Ikea. Surprisingly, it was quite easy to put up. It took only 2 hooks and 15 minutes before they were up, and my heart was swelling with pride when I looked at the very nice results of my efforts.

It's time to take it to the next level. After debating with myself the past few days, a decision has been made. "Better install the blinds yourself, Lester," was the message from my mind.

And I did.

After making a quick stop at Ikea this lunchtime to buy 2 curtain rods and 3 pairs of curtains, I've decided to install them myself. Definitely, it would be more complex than fabric blinds since i'll be dealing with long steel rods that are heavy and require a lot of screwing. But it was a lazy Sunday, making me stand up to the challenge.

With Kylie Minogue, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani and Ray Charles in the background, my handyman instincts kicked in and my work began.

Suprisingly, it took only 1 hour to install the curtain rods in my room and in the dining area. My room now has a new curtain rod and new curtains (colored red and yellow, in honor of Mother Spain, hehehe) and the dining area now sports a navy blue with white box curtain. Both have added more sense of "homeness" into my home.

Looks like there's another alternative career waiting for me. I might just have the chops to become a Carpenter. And I don't mean the one that sings "We've only just begun." Though that would be quite nice, too.

New Edition. New Addition.

Two of Abercrombie and Fitch's new edition denim styles have found their way into my closet. One was by a simple twist of fate, and the other, thanks to a friend who came from NY.


The first one is a Saranac Signature Boot in Extreme Light wash. It has destroyed details all around, plus the classic moose embroidered at the right leg. Aside from the embroidery, there's also a silk screened print that adds to the design character of the jeans. The fit is nice, and the fade is just enough to keep it from entering the dreaded "Get Used - early 90s" era. This would look awesome with a plain white shirt.


The second is a Kilburn Low Rise Boot in Dark Dirty Wash. This one doesn't look to spectacular when you hold it up, but once you wear it - it becomes a totally different animal. The fit is great, the waist is very low yet not too tight, so it just skims the hip rather than strangling it. The leg, though relaxed, still follows the shape of the thigh closely. Ergo, it looks slim, but it gives the leg room to move around. The wash is found between "Dark" and "Dirty" which enables it to move from rugged to smart casual just by a change of tops.

Now i've got 2 more pairs that will join the group of "newly acquired but haven't been used" jeans in my closet. I have to get out of the house more...

That figures.

Our MD approached me to say I've been doing a great job: Excellent ideas and stellar copy, he says. It's funny because I feel more appreciated here in my 4 month stay compared to my 2 year stint in my Manila agency's new management.

At least now I know that the problem was more with them than me.

Almost there...

My jean closet is feeling a bit miffed that I'm paying attention to other parts of the house more than her.

I've been spending the past few days in Ikea, finding things to stuff in my apartment. It seems like i've been spending more time in Ikea than in Granville shopping for clothes. And that, I must say, is NOT NORMAL!!!

But there's a feeling of accomplishment when I see that my flat is beginning to feel like home. Plus, there's a sense of pride each time I'm able to single-handedly put something up. Be it as mundane as blinds, coat hangers, or a mirror.

I better finish this home project of mine soon.

Shoeuthanasia...

Almost 4 years ago, during my trip to Spain, Tita Evelyn bought me to one of the sports shop in La Illa Mall to get me a pair of shoes. Initially, she suggested a pair of leather shoes - Spanish leather shoes are top quality, after all - but it wasn't my style. I told her that i'm more of a sneaker/athletic shoe kind of guy, and that how we ended up in that store.

Among rows and rows and rows and rows and rows and row (yup, there were that many rows) of shoes, one pair caught my eye. It was a pair of adidas running shoes, in different shades of gray, with reflectorized stripes. The moment I slipped them on, they felt so light and comfortable, making it ideal for walking and running. Needless to say, this was the pair for me.

Now, almost 4 years of excellent service to me, these shoes are just about ready to give up. The signs of wear and tear started appearing this year, beginning with the edges of the sole coming off, to little tears in the fabric appearing. But the past few months, the damage began growing bigger, and bigger, like 1/8 of the sole coming off the base.

Normally, this is a clear sign that it's time for this pair to retire and move on to that big Foot Locker outlet in the sky. But I love this pair so much that my decision was to put up a fight to keep it alive a few years more. So i've had a passionate love affair with SupaGlue the past few weeks - patiently glueing every bit of the sole back to the base. It usually works, but when I start walking, another part of the sole manages to unhinge itself. So I stick it on again.

The situation is actually quite bad that i'm contemplating carrying a small tube of SupaGlue each time I use them. In case of emergency, as they say. But this extreme measure is also giving me the impression that I should simply give up and let it go.

After all, they've been with me through a lot of things. Trips all around Europe, Asia, Mexico and the U.S. (Making it my most travelled piece of property, along with the Delsey bag given to me by Marite in 2002.) I've waded through floods with it, and it's my shoe of choice whenever the rains pour like crazy. Ergo, it lived a full life.

But like many things that have emotional significance to us, it's hard to give up on, much less - let go - of things that we love so much. That no matter how we convince ourselves that it's ok, and sometimes try to find a replacement to what we need to give up, it's still hard. This I know for a fact because I already bought 3 shoes to "replace" it, but I end up using the old one more often than the new ones.

I guess some things are just irreplaceable.

Retro in the Metro

Riding the escalator on my way up from the MTR, I saw something that was equivalent to a time machine that would instantly zap me back to the early 80s.

Lois and Sergio Valente Jeans!

The two girls ahead of me were wearing these two iconic 80s brands. Behind their nicely shaped bottoms lay the tags, so i'm not sure whether it was the tag that caught my eye, or their nicely shaped bottoms. Or then again, it might simply have been because they were standing ahead of me on a steep escalator, with their bums strategically positioned in front of my face.

When I hear the brand "Lois", memories of childhood in front of the television set come to mind. They had these campy ads pretty much like the: "Kerr Jeans fits you right, right from the start... Kerrrrr Jeans!" jingle. Though the Lois ad escapes me right now, it was close to that genre. The brand identity was very distinct, with its bull and almost handwritten font. The brand, I think, was more popular with the female set since the males only wore Levi's back then. My sisters would have a couple of pairs, and they wear it with their Esprit hanging tees. (The one that says "ESP" up front, and "RIT" at the back.)

Sergio Valente Jeans was one brand with a very distinct jingle. It went: "Sergio Valente, Sergio Valente Jeans! Uh-oh, Sergio... Oooh... Sergio... you caught my eye... *fade away".

Aside from its distinct logo, Sergio Valente made really linear jeans. It was straight from hip to hem which worked well on shorter people. It was the type of jeans that made you tall and thin. Though back in the 80s, that wasn't too big a concern since Kate Moss and her supermodel posse weren't in vogue then. But despite that, Sergio had a big cult following - including my Mom. She had a couple of SVs along with her Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans.

It's so nice when you see these retro brands re-emerging. It lends truth to the adage: everything old becomes new again. Tomorrow, I hope to run into someone wearing Texwood: The Apple Jeans. That would really make my week.