Mitsuru

In case you haven't seen this one on YouTube. This is the video of the prisoners/ inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in the Philippines dancing to Michael Jackson's superhit Thriller... There are mixed views and reviews on this one but I won't add my opinion to the growing list. All I can say is-- most Filipinos are really born dancers. ha-ha.

I was browsing on the AOL website when I saw the news about the conviction of US Marine Leandro Aragoncillo for spying wherein he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crime. I logged in to the comment section and saw a lot of negative things about the Philippines and the Filipino people. I am no fan of Aragoncillo and I don’t like his bosses in the Philippines especially but when other people began lambasting us and giving their ignorant and obscure views of the case, I was compelled to do what every Filipino should do and is capable of doing---roll with the punches and give them what they deserved in return. Many comments were obviously from ignorant readers and since I have nothing else to do I decided to join the fray and give them hell if there is such a thing. Or at least give them my Piso- worth take on their issues and before I knew it I was on the warpath and everybody was fair game. I don’t know if I succeeded but as of this writing the ones who commented and insulted u...

One college professor of mine whose face has a funny resemblance to one of the characters of the “Tatlong Itlog” fame/notoriety of Philippine Comedy once told his chemistry class that “some of you here have photographic memories” looking directly at me while he was seated in his desk and the whole class were busy copying some texts from the blackboard that he had written earlier. Only a handful of my friends have known this before; I finished my Bachelor’s Degree which was my pre- med course from Aquinas University in Legaspi without a single notebook in my possession. I never took notes and I managed to survive the course by reading the textbooks once in a blue moon (or when I am not under the influence of the spirits of the glass then) and most of the time by reading my girlfriends' notes on the subjects. Ha-ha. But no, I don’t possess a memory that will put the famous Savant Daniel Tammet to shame. It’s just that I hate taking notes because I can’t decipher my handwriting aft...

I’ve been tagged about a week or two ago by my blog “berks”-- Salamin and Snglguy and I haven’t done my end yet. Sorry guys, I promise that the next post will be the much awaited---tararan-tadan, response. Nowadays, aside from getting home late at night or early morning from my shift at the ER, I spent my free time and waking hours wandering around town- watching concerts, shows, exhibits, street fairs, etc. The Summerfest is in full blast right now and I am taking every chance I get not to miss anything and make the most of it. Two years ago I had the opportunity to see some of the finest works of Auguste Rodin at the Detroit Institute of Arts for what I considered as “loose change.” If you’re not into “art” and the name doesn’t ring a bell to you, I’m sure you’ve seen a print of his famous “The Thinker” on somebody’s shirt, in books, posters, etc. Yes folks, he was the creator of that iconic man sitting on a toilet bowl! Kidding aside, considering the value, in...

The United States of America was born on the Fourth of July in 1776 after a bitter War of Independence (a.k.a. The American Revolution) with “mighty” Great Britain. She is now celebrating her 231st Year of Independence… I am celebrating the birthday of my adopted country in the comforts of the living room with an ice- cold Bud in hand and broiled Tuna dipped in a mixture of soy sauce, sliced tomatoes and onions for “pulutan” made just like the way it is back home while waiting for the Macy’s Fireworks Show on NBC to start. Come to think of it, July 4 is also Filipino- American Friendship Day in the Philippines. I’ll leave the politics aside (there’s time for that and in another post probably) and instead focus more on the positive side of the holiday (at least, for now) and that doesn‘t make me less of a Pinoy for doing that, I hope. Many former "friends" from the good old days may disagree with me but and it‘s always a big but? And the debate on that will also come at a late...

Every year while under the intense heat of the hot, hot summer sun… All roads in Michigan lead to Downriver ; that is all classic car enthusiasts in the Wolverine State and their cross-state neighbors to as far back west like sunny California and down south to stormy Florida, not to mention the Canucks from across the river would all converge into the biggest show on this side of town where many of the hottest rockin’ a’ rollin’ oldies but goodies automobiles that once ruled the roads of Continental America sashayed amidst the oohs, aahs and oh-la-las of the fascinated audience. The annual Classic Car Cruise in June draws a crowd of more than 500,000 people as they feast on the nostalgic sights and beauties of the pioneering American Automobiles of a bygone era and relive even just for a day or two the good old days in a massive show of booming engines and pageantry that can only be found in the heart of the American Automobile Industry. Cool Slideshows! The still steaming cars crui...

"He was magic.” Kirk Douglas recalled that he was mesmerized by “this guy, this young actor” while watching The Indian Wants the Bronx eons ago and remembered going backstage and telling : “'Mr. Pacino, you're going to be a star.' That was 45 years ago. What took you so long, Al?" Al Pacino in his speech acknowledged that The Godfather made him a household name and a star and showed gratitude to his Director, Francis Ford Coppola whom he admitted he haven’t seen in a long time and thanked him profusely for standing pat on his choice of the actor that will portray the coveted role of Michael Corleone" "I hardly ever see him anymore," he said. " Francis didn't just put me in the Godfather. He fought for me. Even when I no longer wanted to be in it. I wouldn't be here without him." Francis Ford Coppola in his videotaped tribute in turn revealed that while reading the book, The Godfather by Mario Puzo , the only f...

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a non- profit organization that was created in 1967 to preserve America’s Film Heritage and train future filmmakers which was made possible when then President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation creating the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in 1965 whose Board of Trustees in turn established the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1973. The AFI Life Achievement Award is recognized and considered to be the highest honor given to a career in film. Stars like Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep as well as Directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese just to name a few were all recipients of the prestigious award. This year’s honoree Al Pacino will be very much at home in their company, all giants of the silver screen and talented actors/actresses in their own right. One touching moment in the show was when Hollywood’s Nanogenarian Icon and Mr. Spartacus himself, Kirk Douglas , who survived a stroke in 1996 which left him p...

AL PACINO : Man of the Hour “Say Hello To My little Friend!” If you don’t know that line you probably don't know who Tony Montana was nor you have not seen Al Pacino at his wicked- best. And I would probably say that you missed one of the best "bleep" movie of all “bleep’ time! Those were the words that cocaine- powered Tony Montana in the movie Scarface hurled to his enemies behind the door before unleashing the M- 203 grenade launcher at them in one of the highlights of the brutal and savage film by Brian de Palma and script written by Oliver Stone in the early 80’s. Last night, his colleagues at the American Film Institute (AFI) and his legions of fans have once again said hello to this diminutive man by Hollywood standards but a giant one in stature both in life and on the screen by presenting him the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award reserved only for the silver screen’s elite. The televised show was actually held at the Kodak Theater in Los Ange...

What do former Philipppine First Lady Imelda Romualdez- Marcos and US- born Fil-Am student Christa Olandria have in common? Both are obviously beautiful Filipinas who at some point in their lives have reigned as beauty queens; Imelda being a one- time Miss Manila courtesy of the late Manila Mayor Arsenio "Arsenic" Lacson (who was once rumored to be Imee's father) and Christa as the reigning Miss Rutgers University , that State University in New Jersey whose women's NCAA basketball team brought the downfall of colorful radio personality, the "racist" Don Imus months earlier. Both have held elective positions with Imelda being a one- time Governor, Assemblyman and Congressman in the Philippines and Christa as the Rutgers Livingston College Class President of 2007 on the other side of the globe. And both are being accused of robbery and facing charges in court although their similarities end there-- For Imelda is the Mother of All Thieves ; she share...

Most people are encumbered by the choices in front of them. In this particular case and situation, many will have a dilemma but in my case I have a great “trilemma” on what to watch on TV tonight. You see, there are three shows that I really need to watch and I don’t have Tivo and there lies the rub. Anyway, I’ll do what I am expected to do. I have mastered this discipline a long, long time ago and I am an expert now in this undertaking and with it I like my chances in my calloused fingers. In case you're wondering wtf I am talking about- the art of channel surfing, that is. I will just relax and enjoy the whole thing while having an ice- cold Belgian White Ale in my hand and some unsalted mixed nuts to munch on for the night. Sing No Sad Song for The Sopranos "So, Whadaya know? This sh*t is finally done." Tonight will be the final episode of the highly- acclaimed TV Show The Sopranos that has caught the average viewer’s fancy for the last 8 years...

Yesterday Lea Salonga performed in the 21st Stars in the Alley an annual free concert by Broadway’s biggest stars in the historic Shubert Alley . She sang I Dreamed a Dream and despite the wind (for unknown reasons it's always windy in there or at least during the time that I was there), noise, bad audio and distractions gave the audience an “earful” of what Fantine should really sound which is a lot better than her predecessor in the current revival of Les Miserables . Daphne Rubin- Vega's... "My Right Shoe and Shubert Alley" The Alley on W. 44th St and W. 45th St. at Seventh Avenue is the place where aspiring actors congregate hoping for a chance to land a part in theater baron Sam S. Shubert 's production in the old days. Here is a clip of the billboards in the alley I took last Friday the 13th April 2007. n.b. Don't Forget to watch the live coverage of the 61st Tony Awards on June 10 at 8 p.m. on CBS

Here's Lea Salonga as the spoken voice of Mrs. Yasuko Kusakabe in the star- studded Disney version of Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro that was released last March 7, 2006. Incidentally, Mr. Miyazaki is the Japanese Animated Film Master behind the very popular and 2001 Academy Award Winner for Best Animated Feature Spirited Away ( Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi 千と千尋の神隠し) Visit the Ghibli link My Neighbor Totoro

Here are "raw" excerpts from The Adventures of the Dragonfly- Eaters. Spirit of the Glass The death of Tay Isko one lonely April night heralds the ascension of Romeda to fame, fortune and notoriety. Tay Isko was the lone Albularyo* in the barrio: He was a real healer, fortune teller and a natural leader rolled into one. He was a respected man of many talents and a genuine Basagan* He walks with a swagger of a proud man while at the same time spewing healing words, chewing on his toothless cud and spiting the juice of his favorite Nganga* to the ground. He can see the future in your palms and tell the significance of every mole in your body at a glance. His eyes is a mirror of your soul and in his hands lie the best cure for every curse imaginable but a day after he healed the cross-eyed Antonio, he was found naked and dead in his bed. Rumors had it that he died of the dreaded Bangungot* after eating a full meal of Adobong Manok and chasing them with several bottles of La...