exodus

Tinay's 7th

barack + michelle

Obama's First Two Years: An Inside View

Aug. 15, 2010
During the oil spill crisis in the Gulf, The President and First Lady toured St. Andrews Bay on a boat in Panama City Beach, Fla. I noticed their hands touching as they held the rail on the boat."

http://www.time.com

divine Comedy

I laugh at the silliest jokes. It is not difficult to make crack a smile. I think that is because I don't take things seriously or because I like the good feelings that I get when I laugh heartily.

I also like watching comedy shows. The longest running gag show, Bubble Gang still makes me laugh specially in the CheChe-Bureche sibling rivalry. But the predecessor, Tropang Trumpo had been really unforgettable with their Chicken dance, ''Kinabayo ni Mikee Cojuanco' jingle, Battle of the Brainless and ''Bahaw, Kaning Lamig drama. Me and my high school friends always dance the recent Chicken dance at the Flag ceremony in high school. The same way that it was fun to sing with college friends the latest band version of 'Voltes V' in our university corridor.

Perhaps loving comedy is part of being a Filipino. As a popular survey revealed that Filipinos are one of the happiest people in the world. Slapsticks comedy and English to Tagalog translation songs had been the forte of famous comedians like Tito, Vic and Joey and the King of Comedy, himself, Dolphy. Among the trio, I personally think the Vic Sotto is the most charming and funny. Even with the corniest jokes, as long as he was the one who threw it, I will still find it funny. I guess that is because of his endless charisma. And Dolphy's title as the Comedy King is not just a PR stunt. He really is enduring. I feel blessed that I was able to follow one of his greatest work, Home Along the Riles, because I was too young to remember John and Marcia. His health maybe a little delicate nowadays and I honestly won't be thrilled to watch his latest flick, Father Jejemon, but Dolphy has my love and respect.

In Hollywood, my favorite comedian is Jim Carrey with his crazy movies Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura, Liar Liar and Yes Man. I can't remember other great funny men but I also like the movie There is Something about Mary. And yes, I also like some movies of Jack Black like Shallow Hall, Nacho Libre and House of Rock. But Guillever's Travels was not that great for several reasons like the weak story telling, the mediocre robot fight in the finale and the anti-war song at the end. Sure, Jack Black is about achieving things despite of being imperfect, but I got it now and I was expecting a more well-thought and entertaining film.

It maybe easy for me to laugh but I will also appreciate comedy with a heart and intelligence.

twisted

Theirs is a twisted love story. He is a convicted murderer who eats his poor victims while she is one of the most promising student from the FBI academy. They were forced to team up to profile a dangerous serial killer, Buffalo Bill, who skin his voluptous victims alive. In order to save Catherine from ther brutal death, they must discover where to find him.

More than a horror and thriller film, Silence of the Lambs is a romance movie as well between Dr. Hannibal lecter and Agent Clarice Starling. I love their non-stop banters, their mind games, the unblinking eye contacts topped by the soft touch of hands. As a proof of his devotion, he helped her profile Buffalo Bill, called her on the phone before stalking his óld friend' and did not go after her and eat her. It was really bizaare, but that is how an intelligent, poised, mysterious, dangerous, cannibal lover is.

I think that Silence of the Lambs is one of the most clever, well- written,, brilliantly cast, beautifully executed suspense thriller movie of all time. It is really a must watch classic.

cream of the crop

book cover: http://www.neilgaiman.com
Smoke and Mirrors is a collection of published short stories of Neil Gaiman. The book is strikingly eerie and dark but it is really inspired that magnified the talent of the author. There is an introduction to each short story and it was impressive that Gaiman was able to get most of his stories in his random experiences and mundane topics.

The short fictions in this book are all jewels in the literary crown of Neil Gaiman. But there are still some that stood out from the rest, which really tickled my imagination, gave me goose bumps and rattled me. These are the stories which hunts me long after I finished the book and still made me think and wonder. Here is the cream of the crop this highly imaginative book in no particular order.

1. Don’t Ask Jack
Gaiman mentioned in his introduction that he got the idea of writing this story when he saw a demonic sculpture of a Jack in a box. There is really something creepy about a sinister clown popping out from a box. The children refuse to play the creepy ancient Jack in the box, but there are certain times that they walk in the night, as if in the trance, to look into the toy box and play with Jack. The children grew up but tragedy struck the family as one of the children died in the war and one got insane who attempted to burn down the house. The surviving children refuse to inherit the house. Jack was stuck in the deteriorating house, but he was patiently waiting for new children to play with him. He claimed that he would just stay there, claiming that he can wait forever.

2. Changes
In this science fiction, there is finally a cure for cancer. But in order to be cured, the gender of the patient is going to be changed. I liked the story because it showed how the society was affected and reacted in this breakthrough. The word ‘changes’ was not used in its’ former meaning anymore. Religions had different dogma about this procedure. People were persecuted because of they were accused that they changed their gender illegally. The pills were abused by junkies who used it as recreational drugs. Cancer was finally cured but not without a major societal shift which not next impossible in this modern time.

3. Tasting
This erotic tale took the author a long time to finish because he was embarrassed with what he was writing. It was a relief that he overcame that awkwardness because the story was really one of his best works. More than the detailed love making, the premise of the story was really intriguing. Is the woman an alien, hence the delicate silver hoop earrings, who has the power to absorb the memory of his lover then swiftly killing him off? Or is he just representing sex as something as powerful that can suck one’s being, soul and life? It can go either way, that’s why it is so unforgettable.

4. Murder Mysteries
This is Gaiman’s take on the story of creation. The angels are God’s designers in creating the world. Conflict risen when the angels conceptualize Love and Death. An angel was murdered and it was up to Raguel to solve the murder mystery. With his intensive investigation, the murderer and his motives were uncovered and he was sentenced to die. Lucifer, the high-ranking angel felt that the punishment was wrong. He anguished in confusion, crying as he said that what happened was ‘not right’, ‘not just’. When Raguel was alone with God, he confronts Him that he was the one who ‘pulled the strings’ on the event that happened and defeated said “Perhaps it is true that happens is in accordance with Your will, and thus it is good. But sometimes you leave blood on Your instruments.” It was brilliant.

5. Snow, Glass, Apples
This is tale of Snow White in the point of view of the supposed evil stepmother. Snow White in this tale was described as she was in the original story except that she has yellow sharp teeth and likes to suck blood out of you. I can’t help but sympathize with the story of the stepmother, on how she was terrified by the bizarre child, on how she just protected the kingdom against her and the queen’s tragic end when she met the unforgiving revenge of the child. Gaiman’s take was actually more dramatic and exciting compared to the original Snow White story.

1.1.11

I have high hopes for this new year of the Metal rabbit. There had been several changes that occurred, but I kept the faith that it is all for the best. My ultimate wish is for everyone to be in good health. With that, my goal is to keep everything in moderation. I had a good start as we welcome 2011.



We may still have a lot of meat and sweets in our menu but my parents also prepared healthy options like the tuna pasta and vegetable salad. It was a hit to our guests that evening.



The Revereza family composed of Hidemi, Tita Olga and Hiroki are there to join the fun. It was also a delight to have the Matrianos, Tita Raquel and Erwin. Kuya Bok’s happy crew, Ate Jelly, Irish and Cyrus were there to celebrate with us.





We sang and danced the night away with the videoke. We have a few ‘kwitis’ just to bring in luck. We had a perfect view from as we can see the skyline and the neighboring villages as fireworks symbolize our high hopes for the New Year.





A lot had happened in 2010, and all I can feel is to be thankful for everything. I can’t foresee what the future holds, but God does, so all I have to do is to persevere to make it a meaningful and productive new year.