Darna 2005 and Darna 2009 without their costumes and showing their kili-kili.

They’re both hot, aright? But uhm yeah, someone is hotter than the other.
images courtesy of Folded and Hung, and Jag.
special thanks to Shy Guy for the title. haha

I moved in to a condo unit along EDSA with Shy Guy, Andre, and other friends last Sunday. It was the most intense pseudo-work out I had in years. Transporting appliances and pieces of furniture was so beyond my masculine capacity.

But of course, after everything was set up and decorated, the satisfaction that I got from being in a lovely home a stone’s throw from my office was immeasurable. The view isn’t bad, either. To our left was Ortigas skyline and to our right, Pioneer Street with The Fort in the background.

However, it wasn’t perfect. So not.

For one, the condominium building is along EDSA and our unit is directly facing the violent (and insufferably noisy) tremors of the metropolis. I did not expect EDSA was producing 10 million decibels. Last night was our second night and we still had not gotten any decent sleep.

Every time an ambulance went speeding through the highway, we would wake up. I even wished, “Come on, just let the damn patient die and let us sleep.”

Every time a bus driver hit his horn, we would be sucked out of dreamland and my rage against city buses was multiplied by the number of times they break road rules.

We’d love to close the windows but using the air-conditioner is gonna hurt our pockets. Darn. We better find a way to sleep sound.

…

The night we moved in, after a series of heavy lifting, we had a pig-out session, food courtesy of Andre. I had more than my share. Later that night, Shy Guy was giving me a massage. He started giving my upper back hard pushes. Finally, he worked on my lower back really hard and I farted just like that.

Nabigla ako eh. Sorry naman.

We ended up laughing, talking about farting for the rest of the night.

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After compiling my favorite films of all time, now it’s time to list down the songs that are memorable to me.  However, this chart is limited to love songs for I am also planning to feature other types on a separate list.

Note that this is a personal list. These songs may be those that affected me immensely, became an anthem of a certain period of my life, or just personal favorites.

Click the title to see the music video  or listen to the song. Links will lead you to YouTube. I’m also posting lyrics to the songs that I especially like.

100. Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love

I first heard this song while YouTube surfing. I instantly became a fan. But I forgot about it soon after. Months later, before going to sleep, I heard it again over RX 93.1. I did not recognize the song and honestly, I thought it was Sarah Geronimo singing. Haha. I don’t like the lyrics very much but I believe that the melody and arrangement made the record the catchiest song of that year.

Later, I found out that it was written by OneRepublic’s front man Ryan Tedder and teen star Jesse McCartney, whom I heart so much. Plus points.

Also Listen To: “Yesterday,” “Better in Time,” “Run”

99. Kelly Clarkson – The Trouble With Love Is

I love this song because it’s so true. It summarizes what the problem with love is. Hey, look, look:

The trouble with love is
It can tear you up inside
Make your heart believe a lie
It’s stronger than your pride
The trouble with love is
It doesn’t care how fast you fall
And you can’t refuse the call
See, you got no say at all

Every time I turn around
I think I’ve got it all figured out
My heart keeps callin’ and I keep on fallin’
Over and over again

I first heard this song while Love Actually’s closing credits were rolling. Been in love with it since.

Also Listen To: “My Life Would Suck Without You,” “Miss Independent,” “Since U Been Gone”

98. Counting Crows – Accidentally in Love

I don’t know why but this song is just so addictive. It always induces LSS and gaaaah, sometimes I wake up singing this song. Is it a Counting Crows thing? Or is it a Shrek thing? More like a Shrek thing, I think.

So she said, “What’s the problem baby?”
What’s the problem I don’t know
Well maybe I’m in love, think about it every time
I think about it, can’t stop thinking ’bout it

Also Listen to: “Big Yellow Taxi”

97. Jann Arden – Insensitive

How do you numb your skin
After the warmest touch
How do you slow your blood
After the body rush
How do you free your soul
After you’ve found a friend
How do you teach your heart
Its a crime to fall in love again

I thought that you might have
Some advice to give on how to be
Insensitive

I almost felt exactly like this! I could have been singing this song. In fact, I was so ready to. Luckily for me, it turned out he wasn’t really insensitive. Yay!

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Sorry, natagalan. Hahaaay. Heto na. If you missed the first two parts, fret not. It’s here and here.

3. Bohol

image courtesy of www.pahof.de

Of all the many tourist spots in the Philippines that ranked well on the New7Wonders of Nature’s first round of nominations, the Chocolate Hills was my favorite. Simple, for strategic reasons.

You see, the nominees are categorized into: islands, rock formations, rivers, seascapes, etc. And there’s a part wherein the finalists will be shortlisted by a “panel of experts.”

I love the Subterranean River in Palawan. Yes, it was oh-so-amazing but how could that beat the Amazon Rainforest? They share one category.

I adore the Tubataha Reef, too. But hey, there’s the Great Barrier Reef to shoo away.

So I wanted Chocolate Hills to be the country’s official nominee. Too bad, it failed to snatch that.

But then again, I might be mistaken. I haven’t seen the hills. And most of my friends who’d been there weren’t that impressed and were all rooting for the underground river. But then again, they’ve never been there. So, I dunno.

2. Batanes

image courtesy of apmurillo of pbase.com and paraisophilippines.com

Of all the four elements, the most underrated, I think, is air. Most places give you a chance to enjoy the sea, the sand, and the sun. That’s water, earth, and fire respectively.

Batanes offers an intimate relationship with the wind. Yada yada, I dunno why I’m talking about this now. But yeah, I’d love to go to Batanes. But darn, that’s a long shot. I might sell a kidney to get my ass to Batanes. Anyone interested to buy? (The kidney, that is. Not the ass.)

Right now, since it’s the wind that I want, I’ll just make do with the electric fan at home.

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I was at the French Film Festival last night to see one of my all-time fave films “The 400 Blows,” directed by the French New Wave director that I more than worship — Francois Truffaut. It was the nth time I’d seen it; I lost count already.

The night before, Shy Guy and I went to see L’Esquive, and we really enjoyed it. Waaah. It’s such a shame that the French Film Fest is over. I guess I just need to wait for Eiga Sai 2009 (Japanese Film Festival) this July. I’m a sucker for foreign film festivals like that. Coz the films are really good. And it’s one of the rare times that I go back to my Film roots. And yeah, coz it’s free most of the time.

Anyway, so now that I’m film-happy and since we’re talking about national cinemas here, I’ll be listing the local films that I have seen this year and what I think about them. These are not film reviews, just some random thoughts.

BFF: Best Friends Forever (2009)
Genre: Comedy; Director: Wenn Deramas
Stars: Sharon Cuneta, Ai-ai Delas Alas, John Estrada

Have you seen the trailer? If you have, then don’t bother watching the film. Once you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen it all.

Seriously.

It’s funny, alright. But in between laughs you wonder, “My God, why am I laughing? Am I that shallow?” When the laughter subsides, you realize that the joke is empty, the scene is pointless, the movie is insulting you, and yeah, you’re shallow. I certainly laughed. But then again, I’m always shallow.

Sayang, after Crying Ladies, I was sooo excited to see Sharon Cuneta do comedy again. But the word “disappointment” won’t even match the way I feel after seeing it.

Somebody should really brainwash Wenn Deramas into quitting showbiz. I still don’t forgive him for ruining “Dyosa,” a TV series concept that could have been good but turned out insufferably ridiculous because it fell in the hands of a director who just loves slapstick and DJ Durano.  1.5

…

T2 (2009)
Genre: Horror; Director: Chito Rono
Stars: Maricel Soriano, Derek Ramsay, Mica Dela Cruz

Arguably the weakest among the Chito Rono horror trilogy, T2 started strong only to reach an anti-climactic twist. It was oh-so-well until the characters arrived at T2. That’s when it all came crashing down.

Sayang din. I like it’s horror road-trip feel. I love the entire going-to-Samar-and-back sequence. But gaaaah, why do they have to enter the Engkanto world?!

Even Maricel Soriano’s flawless acting can’t save the last parts of the film — especially the “school” finale; that was really lame and lousy.

Something is lacking in T2 that Sukob and Feng Shui have. No, it’s not Kris Aquino. 3.0

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Una sa lahat, gusto ko lang isingit na ang hot ni Dennis Trillo sa mga Soda Man pictures nya.

Yun lang. Haha. Hindi sya related sa entry na ‘to. Pero gusto ko lang i-post. Bakit ba?

…

One of the most irritating things in life has to be waking up early so you could come to work on time but you get stuck at some MRT station because the platforms can’t contain passengers anymore, and the train stops even in between stations because the train ahead is also stuck, and you stand beside a guy who keeps chewing — oh no, not just chewing — popping* his gum!

And surprise, surprise, you’re an hour late. Pfffft.

Mantra for the day: Life is good, life is good.

…

But it’s not just this morning. The entire week has not been kind to me, either.

The restroom kept calling me! For four days, my tummy had been tormenting me, urging me to let go of the nasty load I was carrying inside me.

Warning: Graphic language and psychological violence.

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SM Megamall

Andre, Shy Guy and I were walking around looking for a place to have dinner at when we passed by Petit Monde. The store’s facade is covered with huge posters of Carmen Soo.

Yoshke: Nagagandahan ba kayo kay Carmen Soo?
Shy Guy: Oo. OK lang. Bakit, ikaw?
Yoshke: Oo naman. Ikaw, Andre?
Andre: Oo namaaan. Iba kasi eh. Simpleng ganda lang. Parang… parang… parang ako.

Hala. Maganda daw sya!

Trinoma

Days after the Carmen Soo incident, Andre and I found ourselves in Trinoma. I forgot why we were there (but I swear it wasn’t bird-watching). Anyway, this time, we passed by Bench where a poster showcasing the buffed physique and nakaka-ihing sex appeal ni Gerald Anderson in a sleeveless shirt, his hands under his head, his armpits exposed.

Andre: (squeezing may left shoulder) Gaaaaaah. Eeeeeeh.
Yoshke: O ano na naman?
Andre: Ang sarap naman ng kili-kili ni Gerald… Parang gusto ko dun tumira…

Go lang! Tumira ka sa kili-kili ni Gerald Anderson! Hindi kita pipigilan!

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Wuhooooo! After a seems-like-forever hiatus, I’m back, blogging.

The hell week is finally over.

I filed a week-long leave of absence for the Foreign Service Oral Examinations. It was tough, intense, and mind-blowing. Very. Waaaaah, I really hope I could make it.

One of the questions they asked me was, “Who’s your favorite Hollywood director?”

And I just stared at them for 10 seconds. I was beyond nervous. I didn’t know what to say. I don’t even have a fave Hollywood director. Wong Kar Wai and Francois Truffaut, yes, but they’re so not Hollywood.

The first name that came to my mind was David Fincher but I was worried they would think my choice was too violent. And then Steven Spielberg, and I thought they would think I was too juvenile.

And so I said, “Stephen Daldry.”

Poor me. Can’t even think of a much more famous director. But come to think of it, he really is my favorite right now. “The Hours” remains my all-time fave film, after all. And I really liked “The Reader.”

Another question they asked me: “Brilliante Mendoza has just won Best Director at Cannes Film Festival for his film about a young cop who raped and killed a woman and chopped her to pieces. What can you say about this?”

My answer? Hmm… I think I’ll just keep it to myself. Ehehe. My opinion is not very pretty.

…

Of course, days before the Exams, I was brushing up on my International Affairs. Was at Gloria Jeans Coffee in Tomas Morato/Timog a number of times. (Free Wi-Fi!)

On Monday, we saw Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. Yum Yum. Haha.

…

Last Tuesday, we finally found a new home! So later this month, my friends and I will be moving to GA Tower along EDSA, a stone’s throw from my workplace.

…

Yesterday was our Barrio Fiesta in Lemery, Batangas. Perfect, perfect. After a gruelling, almost suicide-inducing Foreign Service Exams, it was time to PIG OUT!

I love fiestas. Basically because I love to eat.

Kudos to the Spaniards for injecting the fiesta tradition to our culture. Ahahaha.

…

So right now, I’m back in the violently jolting metropolis. Work’s piled up. So I gotta split now.

image courtesy of pahof.de

Long overdue, I know, I know. Haha. Anyway, here’s the upper half of the list of destinations in the Philippines that I want to (and I should and I WILL) visit sooner or later! Preferably sooner.

And oh, I added three more and made it Top 15 instead. Ehehe. I’m fickle like that.

9. Taal Volcano, Batangas

image courtesy of Joseph Uy Jr of pbase.com

I’m a proud Batangueno but sadly conquering the Taal Volcano is still a dream. Naunahan pa ako ng mga college friends ko na mapuntahan ‘to. Gaaaaah. Loser me.

8. Caramoan, Camarines Sur

image courtesy of www.caramoanislands.com

I’ve been to Camarines Sur (and other parts of the Bicol region) before but not in Caramoan. CamSur is starting to become the “it” destination in the country, drawing the attention of locals and foreigners alike. Andami na ring sporting events to get… well, more attention. And man, just look at the pictures above. Magnetic.

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image courtesy of veer.com

Like Santa Claus.
Like the jobs GMA claims her government has created.
Like GMA7 being the number 1 network in the country!

It’s a lie! Summer is a figment of our imagination.

Like Christmas and Valentine’s, used by the media and the capitalists to squeeze money out of us. It’s a lie! I didn’t even feel it. I wasn’t able to hit the beach and it’s raining already. Gaaaaaaaaah.

Mother Nature is being too vengeful. Boo. Haha.