Just Like Old Times

Well, it's back to reality for me. After almost 2 months of job-hunting and scrimping on whatever cash I had left, I finally landed a job in one of the first and biggest BPO companies here in the Philippines - as a trainer, of course. And just when I was starting to enjoy my state of absolute bumhood, I was again given another project for January. :-D

But more on that later. So what did I do since the time that I arrived back home?

Absolutely NOTHING.

There I was, waiting for a new event or wedding to come from Concept Magic... but nothing materialized. I was getting desperate. I had credit card bills to pay, payables left and right, get-togethers with car peeps, Spirit Quests, JDMU YNs ("Yabangan Nights") and Honda Club EBs day in and day out, gas to worry about, some getting-fat-and-gaining-poundage concerns, and dates with different guys almost every week (hey the single life is terrific!)... but no income was pouring in. I was spending more and more everyday, but what little money I had left was not enough to compensate for all the expenses that I incurred.

For the life of me, I cannot quite recall how I was able to survive the draught... but hey, when it rains, it does pour, and somehow, for some mysterious reason unknown to me, I pulled through.

Which brings me to the eve of my first day at work: December 14, 2008. What was so significant about this night? Well, for the first time in a very long time, I was able to sing in front of a crowd again - and not just any crowd, mind you. I'm talking about a huge chunk of my friends and acquaintances from a car community gathered together in one major event: the 2008 Honda Club of the Philippines (HCP) Christmas Party and Graduation.

It all began sometime in October when HCP President Juno approached me and this group of music-loving Honda owners (affectionately called the HCP Shredders.) He was asking if it was possible that we form a band (it was very possible, actually, since most of the guys from this group are true-to-life musicians) and perform at the Christmas party.

We all got excited about it! We all knew that we were going to be a part of something great - nothing like this has ever happened before in the history of HCP. We were pioneers! Since most of the guys were rockers by heart, we stuck mostly to alternative songs which I could sing, but I was still able to include some mainstream hits into our lineup - just to grab the crowd's attention. ^_^

And so that was how it went for the past two months: Saturday (and sometimes even Sunday) jamming nights - just to complete a significant amount of songs. Due to severe time constraints and conflicts with regard to the rehearsal schedules, we had to take out a lot of songs, but in the end, we were able to come up with a solid lineup of eighteen songs - and this was a wide variety of rock, pop, alternative and mainstream melodies. I was truly blessed with such gifted and dedicated bandmates: Rich (Pudong) on lead guitars, Edu (pooch) on rhythm guitars, Ronnie (Graffiti) on bass, Jet (shoji_shingo) on drums, and my very good friend Mikko (papa_boss) took the male lead vocals. We were complete, and we were ready to kick some ass!

And we definitely took the crowd away! I guess nobody expected that we would take it seriously - I believe some of the club members thought that this would just be a simple anything-goes jamming session... but boy, were they wrong! See, most of us had some professional background in gigs and performance, so there was no way that we were going to make fools of ourselves!

From old Goo-Goo Dolls hits (sung by Mikko of course) to Alanis Morrisette's very famous "You Oughta Know," Tina Arena's "Burn," my uber-favorite "I Don't Wanna Wait" by Paula Cole, and even some OPM songs wherein we asked for some jammers from the guests - we were a big hit! And for weeks after the performance, we kept on getting good reviews and comments from the HCP members, and the praises that we received went straight to our hearts.

Never mind that we were completely exhausted from all those rehearsal nights. Never mind that we had to sacrifice a lot of time and money just to perfect those songs. Never mind that I had to get up 3 hours after the performance just to make it in time for my first day at work. Never mind all that. The warm applause and support that we received from our friends made it all worth the effort, and that alone, is priceless. :-)

*Photos courtesy of Raymond Cruz. Click here to view his wedding packages.

*Click here to view his works and designs.

THE Guy.

During a spur-of-the-moment writing frenzy triggered by Mike (Sunstreaker) of HCP's Singles Club, I was able to come up with a response to the question that he posted in one of the forum's threads.

His question was "If God will give you a choice to meet and be with the man with whom you will spend your lifetime, what attributes will you love to have him possess?"

So here is my (extremely detailed and wordy) reply:


He holds my hand. He kisses my forehead. He sings me a lullaby no matter how off-key he may be. He opens doors and holds out chairs for me. He wipes my face when I perspire. He spoils me. He prepares food for me, even though he does not know the first thing about cooking. He lets me drive his car. He reminds me of things that I have to do. He lets me choose which music I want to listen to in the car. He accompanies me whenever I go shopping, no matter how tedious and boring it could be for him. He is a drinking buddy. He compliments me at every possible chance. He matches his clothes to what I am wearing. He strokes my hair ever so gently. He surprises me with flowers and hidden love notes. He dedicates songs to me. He gives me a backrub or a massage whenever I need one. He lends me his reading glasses whenever I get eyestrain. He cracks the corniest of jokes to make me smile. He is patient whenever I get mood swings. He soothes and comforts me whenever I feel down. He lets down his pride. He encourages me. He motivates me. He understands and accepts me for who I am and for who I have been. He is a shoulder to lean on, yet he turns to me for help whenever he needs advice. He trusts me with all his heart. He hugs me tight. He places his head on my lap. He watches over me when I fall asleep, then covers me with a blanket. He lends me his shirts. He waits for me until I get home. He goes to church with me. He tries to involve himself in my interests and interacts with my circle of friends. He cancels his appointments for the day just to be with me. He is a hopeless romantic. He takes me out on dates no matter how long we have been together. He speaks his mind. He reads my mind. He senses my emotions. He attunes himself to my moods. He is the epitome of sweetness. He is both creative and dynamic. He is both strong-willed and independent. He is both eloquent and transparent. He tries to engage in intellectual converations with me. He is never afraid of unlearning... and relearning. He challenges me. He shows his appreciation whenever I do something for him. He joins me in my pursuit of happiness. He takes me to my favorite restaurants and places where I would want to spend some quiet time with him. He drives me to and from work. He would not mind watching sappy romantic movies with me. He is not afraid of shedding a tear when he has to. He thanks me for loving him. He would not hesitate to spend on my dream wedding. He cries as I walk down the altar. He is both a friend and a confidante. He is willing to grow with me. He includes me in his plans for the future and shares them with me. He reminisces happy moments with me. He is every little thing I have always wanted. He tells me that I am the most beautiful person in his eyes. He tilts my face towards his and looks deep into my eyes so that words need not be uttered in order to express his feelings for me. He is my source of strength and inspiration, my laughter, my light, my life... and he never fails to let me feel that he loves me every single day of my life.

Only The English Could Have Invented This Language

Here's yet another repost of a funny (yet witty) poem my longtime friend Vania forwarded to me via email. The kind of literature I appreciate goes to show how much of a Grammar Nazi and English nut I am. (Is that supposed to be a good thing? LOL.) ^_^

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,
Then shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

Let's face it - English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England .
We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes,
we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,
and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing,
grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.
If you have a bunch of odds and ends
and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English
should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.
We have noses that run and feet that smell.
We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
in which your house can burn up as it burns down,
in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm
goes off by going on.

And, in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?

My Top Wedding Movies Of All Time

I would attribute this wedding flick fanaticism to my fun, yet fruitful hobby: wedding planning and coordination. Since one of my hobbies is movie-watching and collecting, (yes, I have around 400 titles in my personal collection to date!) I personally selected the best wedding-themed movies from my list.

So without any further ado, I present for your ultimate viewing pleasure the must-see movies for those brides (and sometimes grooms) to be. Take note that I did not rank these films in any specific way, so feel free to start watching them from the bottom of my list!

1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Love is here to stay... so is her family.

A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

Starring:
Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Ian Gomez




2. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Julianne fell in love with her best friend the day he decided to marry someone else.

When a woman's long-time friend says he's engaged, she realizes she loves him herself... and sets out to get him, with only days before the wedding.

Starring:
Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett



3. 27 Dresses (2008)
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

After serving as a bridesmaid 27 times, a young woman wrestles with the idea of standing by her sister's side as her sibling marries the man she's secretly in love with.

Starring:
Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Åkerman, Edward Burns, Judy Greer, Maulik Pancholy




4. The Wedding Singer (1998)
He's gonna party like it's 1985.

Robbie, the singer and Julia, the waitress are both engaged to be married but to the wrong people. Fortune intervenes to help them discover each other.

Starring:
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert, Steve Buscemi, Jon Lovitz


5. The Wedding Planner (2001)
His big day is her big problem.

Mary Fiore is San Francisco's most successful supplier of romance and glamour. She knows all the tricks. She knows all the rules. But then she breaks the most important rule of all: she falls in love with the groom.

Starring:
Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Bridgette Wilson, Judy Greer



6. American Wedding (or American Pie 3: The Wedding) (2003)
This time they're going all the way.

The third film in the American Pie series deals with the wedding of Jim and Michelle and the gathering of their families and friends, including Jim's old friends from high school and Michelle's little sister.

Starring:
Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Eugene Levy


7. Wedding Crashers (2005)
They're coming to your wedding... with or without invitations.

A pair of committed womanizers who sneak into weddings to take advantage of the romantic tinge in the air, find themselves at odds with one another when one of them meets and falls for a bridesmaid.

Starring:
Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams


8. Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2006)
Will they pass the ultimate test?

When his parents force him to migrate to the US, Jed does the unimaginable - he proposes to Angie. Hasty wedding preparations and conflict between their families almost drive them crazy. This is when they realize that marriage isn't exactly "happily ever after."

Starring:
Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo


9. The Bachelor (1999)
One thousand brides. One hundred million dollars. Jimmie Shannon is about to discover the true value of love.

A committment-phobic man goes in search of a bride including his fed up girlfriend, so that he would meet the conditions to receive his grandfather's $100 million inheritance.

Starring:
Chris O'Donnell, Renée Zellweger



10. Made Of Honor (2008)
It takes a real man to become a maid of honor.

Tom loves his life, until he realizes he also loves his best friend Hannah. But when Hannah gets engaged to a dashing Scotsman and asks Tom to be her maid of honor, Tom faces hostile bridesmaids, bridal showers, and bad hair days, all in an effort to pull off the perfect wedding and steal the bride.

Starring:
Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd


11. License To Wed (2007)
First came love... then came Reverend Frank.

A reverend puts an engaged couple through a grueling marriage preparation course to see if they are meant to be married in his church.

Starring:
Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski, Eric Christian Olsen, DeRay Davis






12. The Wedding Date (2005)
Love doesn't come cheap.

Single-girl anxiety causes Kat Ellis to hire a male escort to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding. Her plan, an attempt to dupe her ex-fiancé, who dumped her a couple years prior, proves to be her undoing.

Starring:
Debra Messing, Dermot Mulroney, Amy Adams




13. The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
Love blows.

A newlywed man who believes he's just gotten hitched to the perfect woman encounters another lady on his honeymoon.

Starring: Ben Stiller, Malin Åkerman, Michelle Monaghan, Jerry Stiller, Carlos Mencia, Rob Corddry, Danny R. McBride, Eva Longoria Parker





14. Father Of The Bride (1991)
Love is wonderful. Until it happens to your only daughter.

When his 22-year-old daughter's wedding takes place at their home and a foreign wedding planner takes over the preparations, George cannot face the fact that his little girl is now a woman.

Starring: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, Martin Short


15. Just Married (2003)
Welcome to the honeymoon from hell.

A young newlywed couple honeymoon in Europe, where obstacles challenge their ability to sustain the marriage.

Starring:
Ashton Kutcher, Brittany Murphy








16. What Happens In Vegas (2008)
Get Lucky.

Set in Sin City, the story revolves around two people who discover they've gotten married following a night of debauchery...

Starring:
Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz








17. Runaway Bride (1999)
Catch her if you can.

A reporter is assigned to write a story about a woman who has left a string of fiances at the altar.

Starring:
Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack, Héctor Elizondo, Rita Wilson, Paul Dooley









18. Ever After (1998)
Desire. Defy. Escape.

The "real" story of Cinderella. A refreshing new take on the classic fairy tale.

Starring:
Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey








19. The Notebook (2004)
Behind every great love is a great story.

Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, an old man tells to an old woman the story of two people who, after being separated for seven years, realize that they still love each other.

Starring:
James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Marsden




20. Meet The Parents (2000)
First comes love. Then comes the interrogation.

Male nurse Greg Focker meets his girlfriend's parents before proposing, but her suspicious father is every date's worst nightmare.

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner

21. Meet The Fockers (2004)

And you thought your parents were embarrassing.

All hell breaks loose when the Byrnes family meets the Focker family for the first time.

Starring:

Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo

Let me know if any of you guys want to add a movie to my list! Happy watching!


*Images and posters courtesy of Wikipedia.

*Movie synopses and taglines courtesy of IMDb.com.

Long-Distance Planning

Last February, when my longtime friend Reynan broke the news of his upcoming wedding and asked for Concept Magic's help in planning it, I knew that he and his fiancee, Karen, would be brokenhearted to find out that I wouldn't be there to attend their wedding.

Let's call it the 8-8-8 conspiracy. I wonder just how many couples got married that day. August 8, 2008 - one of the luckiest dates in the history of superstition. After all, the number "8" is supposed to signify infinity, continuance, as well as that notion of TOGETHER FOREVER for couples, so naturally, nobody would be surprised to find all the churches and possible reception venues fully-booked on that day.

And that was how it worked for Reynan and Karen. Because they wanted to get married in Caleruega, it was close to impossible getting a good date. Since Reynan was very much insistent on the 8-8-8 wedding date (and was devastated to find out that Caleruega was no longer available on that day), he finally settled for August 17. Technically, it still fell under the 8-8-8 conspiracy (simple math, folks: 888 = 8 + [1+7] + 8.)

The problem was, he wanted ME to personally see to the details of the wedding, being a good friend of his for ten years. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I was leaving for the US in May... and that I wouldn't make it in time for his wedding. :-(

Nevertheless, everything pushed through. Since I really did care about how their wedding would turn out, (Reynan had this specific vision of what he wanted his wedding to be like: perfect in every way) I decided to plan their wedding even though I was thousands of miles away!

Reynan spared no expense. We got Joel Salindong's company to be the photographers/videographers (Joel incidentally is a good friend of mine from way back during my college days) and the couple got the most expensive photo/video package that the company was offering. I arranged for Ara Fernando to do Karen's hair and make-up (Ara was also my friend from college - although she was from an upper batch.) We were also able to book Taal Vista Hotel for their reception venue... again, Reynan chose the most expensive reception package! Finally, we were able to strike up a great deal with YZA House of Couture (yes, this is where the Concept Magic site office is located) for the bridal and entourage attire, and we were also able to get the owner of the shop (Tita Jenny Caballero) as one of the ninangs.




I would send weekly email and text updates to Karen just to ensure that they're right on track, and sometimes I would even make overseas calls. I wanted to make sure that even though I wouldn't be there to physically coordinate their wedding, I wanted to let them feel that my support was there because they were really good friends of mine.




Reynan, being the car aficionado that he is (that's why we get along so well), opted for a racing theme - and this was pretty evident in the kick-ass pre-nuptial shots, as well as in their AVP which Joel produced for them. Our whole racing team (Team VCZR) was able to schedule a shoot along White Plains (the current illegal race dragstrip.) Here's their "Consite AVP" - a term borrowed from Joel which refers to a Concept + an Onsite AVP in one:





I was deeply saddened that I wasn't able to be there personally, but Reynan and Karen both understood my dilemma. I was just so happy for them - that they finally found each other. I also felt fulfilled because I knew that I was able to help them despite my absence. Nevertheless, Concept Magic was still able to take care of them, and apparently, the wedding was a complete success!




*Photos and video courtesy of Joel Salindong. Click here to check out more multimedia and write-ups about the wedding.

*Click here to find out more about Joel Salindong and his photo/video packages.

*Click here to find out more about Ara Fernando's HMU packages.

*For inquiries about bridal/entourage gowns and attire, contact YZA House Of Couture, c/o Mrs. Jenny Caballero at (02)4014423 or 09272185903.

H-AYI-KU

During a creative spurt, I was finally able to come up with a write-up for my niece Ayi's AEGIS yearbook (she's graduating from the Ateneo this school year with a major in Psychology.) Since I didn't want to stick to traditional paragraphs and the regular dedications people usually make when composing a write-up for their graduating loved ones, I decided to do some witty wordplay with an easy enough poetic form: the Japanese Haiku. Being the obsessive-compulsive freak that I am, I strictly stuck to the 5-7-5 syllable rule, thus releasing the formalist in me. Haha! I'm posting it here for everyone to enjoy. :-)

H-AYI-KU

Flip-flops. Funky tops.

Laptop, study props, book shops.

Hiphop; never stops.


Mood swings. Kiddie flings.

Guitar slings, yet doesn’t sing.

Bonjing. Wacky things.


Skills-enhance. Romance.

Laid-back stance. Mind in a trance.

Tries to dance (no chance!)


Eldest brat. Hair-pat.

Not fat, but PHAT. Humor vat.

Cool cat. She’s all that.

The Quarter-Life Crisis

Here's a repost of what my longtime friend and high school classmate Diana posted on her Multiply blog... I can sooo relate to this right now... and yes, sadly, we're not getting any younger. :-/

The Quarter-Life Crisis

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.

You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while wining the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

The Power Of Friends

I decided to take a risk and venture into the unknown. I said goodbye to my beloved school, and left Concept Magic behind. I was jobless, (almost) penniless, and headed for America to stay with my sister and her family in Ohio, as well as visit some relatives in California during the latter part of my trip. I'm actually thinking of just staying there for good - finding a job and converting my tourist visa into a working visa - after all, I'm planning to stay for four months... or more.

Why I was able to organize an event on the eve of my US flight is beyond me. Nevertheless, the night of May 17 was spent in Carbon Bar (in front of Pier 1 Julia Vargas) with great music and people. It was a benefit show by the Spirit Questors, and it was all for one of our members who needed the funds to support an ailing parent. The show featured bands, such as Save Art and Rub-A-Dub, and later on, we had an informal jamming session with Spirit Questors and guests (including yours truly of course!)

Here's a video of me singing my own version of "Weak" by SWV accompanied by my trusty guitarist, Ian. I actually miss doing gigs, and it was a truly poignant experience for me to be able to sing in front of an audience again.





Seeing the power of friends in helping out somebody in need is truly a moving experience. (We love you Eric!) It was a success! Thanks to Francis of Carbon Bar for giving us the venue for free! Love the Subaru! :-)

And it was three hours after that event wherein I saw myself boarding an airplane headed for North America.

(For more information on the Spirit Questors and how to join us, click here.)


*Video courtesy of Ms. Kat Fucio

Iron Man

Marvel produces yet another action-packed movie to put viewers on the edge of their seats.

Before I watched Iron Man, I never got to watch any of its previews, nor read its synopsis. I didn't even try to look at its promotional posters. In short, I didn't even know what to expect upon watching it.

Well, after settling down comfortably in one of Eastwood Cinema's plush seats while munching on nachos and fries, I had the tiniest inkling that this movie was something out of the ordinary. In fact, it's not even your everyday superhero story - which, by the way I believe, gave us viewers a more entertaining alternative to all those recently produced Spiderman flicks.

Iron Man starts out elaborately in an Arabian setting that involves the kidnap of a weapon manufacturing magnate and genius, Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) Stark is coerced by an Arab terrorist group to help them build an extremely destructive missile, but instead, builds an armored suit to help him escape. Later on, he decides to use this invention to battle against villainy and terrorism.

Power-packed with amazing CGI, digital effects, witty dialogue, and a bit of twisted humor, Iron Man falls under your basic category of a good versus evil plot - with an uncanny twist. Downey, being used to roles of a gentler nature, succumbs to the challenge of the "arrogant hero" archetype - precisely because Tony Stark doesn't exhibit any of the usual notions that society has of what qualities a hero should possess. He's a conceited, wealthy playboy who, in the beginning, cared only about his own interests and being in the limelight. I believe this is what made the movie different from other superhero movies that have been produced. In contrast to the regular superhero icon who would rather keep his true identity a secret, Tony Stark defies that standard and creates one of his own. His arrogant nature (despite being a compassionate do-gooder in the end) compels him to breach the "superhero code of secrecy" and chooses to disclose to the public who he really is!

While Iron Man has been around for many decades, the 2008 reproduction depicts the story in an entirely new and different perspective. Aside from the heavily invested technology and character tweaks, the film gives us an outlook on current political and socio-cultural issues - thus making it easier to relate with circumstances presented within the scenes.

All in all, Iron Man is definitely a must-see. While it features the fundamental plot concerning the quest to conquer evil, it aims to go beyond the criteria set by other superhero films, and instead, revolutionizes the genre on its own. :-)

Of Cars And Chicks

Here's a repost of an essay that I wrote a couple of years back on girls and racing. Hope it inspires all those would-be girl racers of the next generation! :-)

--------------------

Witching Hour, the time when all magic begins; the moment when everything reasonable seems to disappear; the signal for all entities to unleash their power; the bell that rings for all hell to break loose.

For some men, Witching Hour on a Saturday night casts a spell. The force of this spell is so strong that it draws them to come out with their toys and play along the forbidden dragstrip: the racing playground.

I, surprisingly, realized that I became bewitched by the same spell.

That’s precisely the reason why I found myself bringing my own toy to such a playground stretched along Libis one eventful Saturday night.

It was my car’s experimental stage (having been newly bought and out of the shop for only a month), for I was preparing it for battle by testing its power and practicing my launches.

So there I was, inching my way into the starting line, searching for the perfect playmate and opponent. After all, this was just a game!

Finally, I found my first victim: quite a good-looking guy driving a Honda EG hatch. He was waiting, apparently impatient, for a playmate as well!

Slowly, tentatively, my car crept towards him and halted when I made sure that we were on equal footing with each other.

He was ready.

I was ready.

I gently pressed on the accelerator, staging my battle tank. As soon as I saw the needle of my odometer go from 0, 1000, 3000, until it stopped and remained at 4500RPM, I felt the adrenaline rush through my whole body and I knew that the race had begun.

I was staged.

He was staged.

I quickly let down my window to give my opponent the signal that I was ready for take-off, when I noticed an unmistakable look of astonishment on his face. It was a look that quickly gave way to pure amazement upon realizing the identity (more so, the gender) of the person in the driver’s seat of the black Honda EF hatch right next to his car.

I will never forget how that expression registered on his face. Nor will I forget how his surprised look gave way to a smirk, to a smile, and then to a look of utter disdain. Without another word, he nodded and focused his gaze on the road that lay ahead.

We thus began our game, wherein, to his immense shock, I had won.

Mr. Macho Racer Dude had been pulverized by a member of the female species.

And so, games like these went on as my need for speed and my passion for auto performance increased over time. The spell of Saturday night drag racing completely overpowered and intoxicated me. Playing the game became a drug, which addicted me so much that every time, I yearned for more.

Many people would probably ask how I, a GIRL, became so interested in such an endeavor that, under normal circumstances, would only entice a man. Why racing? Why am I a car enthusiast? Why do I engage in such a dangerous sport so common only to men and disregarded by most women?

Because I love it.

Many guys would argue with my reasoning, and I cannot blame them. A GIRL? With a bad-ass car? On the STRIP??? Unheard of! Totally uncalled for! Downright ABSURD! Girls and cars do NOT mix together at all!

But it’s true, in my case, at least. More so, in the case of a few other great women out there.

Nevertheless, we braved the seas, said “what the hell,” and entered the racing realm anyway.

So how would it go? Like any normal Saturday night for a girl, I put on make-up, get dressed to kill (excuse the pun please), go out on a date, go bar-hopping, party or simply hang out!

But NOT without getting a good car wash and a decent tune-up.

After my Saturday night itinerary, my other life kicks in. Witching hour strikes and I feel that familiar surge of excitement as I park my car to join my racing teammates and the other auto-enthusiasts.

I would often see eyes (yes, MALE eyes) boring down on me as I get out of my car. Sometimes I would just chuckle to myself as I see these guys’ reactions to me as soon as it dawns upon their faces that YES INDEED, I am a girl and I own a race car. It is even quite amusing to find out at times how much more I know about cars than some of my male friends. Most of my racer friends treat me as if I belong to their gender. Still, I know that my teammates are proud of me and it is their support that encourages me to go on and do what I love to do, no matter what.

However, I did not say that I was really skilled in what I do. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I will not deny that I have yet to gain more knowledge about the technical side of car performance and the technique of launching my vehicle properly. I am still the enthusiastic student, eager to absorb all the information that I can put to memory. But then again, it is not everyday that you would see a girl up to her elbows in dirt and grime over the popped hood of her car, trying desperately to learn all that her mechanic could possibly teach her. Yes, we car-enthusiasts understand that a little filth cannot kill you.

No, I am not a lesbian. Neither am I a die-hard feminist. I share the same interests and hobbies with plenty of other women in the planet. I believe that the male population is God’s greatest gift to my kind. I date. I fall in love. I shave my legs. I get a facial regularly. I get PMS. I primp myself to look good. I have to admit I could even be so vain sometimes. I do the same things many other girls do!

Except racing.

Hey, who said that women can’t hammer the throttle? After all, we don’t race in heels. :-P

Prom Props!

I have not mentioned here that aside from my part-time work with Concept Magic, (yes, it's merely part-time, but I feel like I'm on-call 24/7) I also work as a teacher in a small private high school.

But then again, that alone is another multi-tasking function that I have in the school. Aside from handling all the English Communication subjects of the Sophomores and Seniors, I also handle several other subjects, such as the Seniors' elective classes (Film Theory, Introduction to Humanities - focusing on Aesthetics and a touch of Metaphysics, and Project Management) as well as Values Education for the Sophomores (I was appointed to be their class adviser). On top of all of that teaching load, I was also given the special role of Special Projects Coordinator - the event coordinator of the school.

So February 15 found me attending (and organizing) a special event for some of the high school students: The Junior-Senior Turnover Ceremony (which literally translates to their prom night.) Since these students did not really want to spend extravagantly on such an occasion, we tried to keep it as simple, yet meaningful as possible.

Working on a budget that the school administration and the students agreed upon, we came up with the theme of "Dancing Through The Years" featuring music from the 60s to the 90s. It was great fun! With the help of Marlene, our personal friend and caterer, we were able to transform the ground floor of the Village East Clubhouse into a place for the students (and some faculty members) to enjoy. We thought of using loud retro colors like purple, yellow and orange to emphasize on the theme, and true enough, the decors, from the balloon centerpieces to the cloth swags, helped in making it a truly festive affair.




Of course, I wanted it to be as memorable as possible for the individuals (and their dates) who attended the event, so I created a simple lighting design, carefully selected a compilation of great songs (from the 60s to the 90s), hired the sound system and lights provider whom I dearly trusted, created a short but meaningful program, trained some Sophomore students to be the emcees (with cue cards!) and ushers for the night, taught the students how to do the Swing, Cha-Cha and L.A. Walk (hey, of course we had to go with the theme!), and gave wacky table names, such as "Boy George and The Culture Club," "Hagibis," "Jimi Hendrix," "Aqua" and the like (obviously, we really full-throttled the theme.) It was a good thing that the kids were good sports. They were all for it!




Everything about that night was different mainly because it deviated from the traditional notions of how a prom is done, and I was so happy with the turn-out of events during that activity. We even had a "Human Bingo" ice breaker and the mandatory switching of partners (I ended up dancing with a few students myself) during the slow dance portion of the program. Students grooved to the beat of songs which made the charts more than a decade ago, and the Seniors even prepared a dance number similar to the prom scene in the movie "She's All That" - letting loose to the tune of Fatboy Slim's "The Rockafeller Skank."




How I wish my very own high school prom was like this back then! The food was sumptuous (for inquiries regarding the caterer, contact Marlene at (02)5156841 or 09274027533 - humongous buffets with bottomless drinks at very affordable prices!), the students were allowed to drink wine for the toast, and everyone, including the teachers were having the time of their lives. It was a total blast, and I'm sure every single one of those students and their dates will remember this night for years to come. :-)


*Photos courtesy of Sam Veneracion.

Wedding Cramming

Six weeks. PhP100,000. One hundred and twenty guests.

Those were the crucial factors that I had to work with during my second wedding for Concept Magic. The odds were working against us, but nothing could have stopped Bryan and Mhe-ann from exchanging their vows last February 9.




Mhe-ann was a childhood friend of mine, while Bryan was the rhythm guitarist for my show band (yes, I sang in a show band, folks!) way back during my college days during the early part of the decade. They approached me to ask for help, and since the couple is really close to me, I was able to arrange for the company to handle their wedding (full coordination, mind you) despite the time pressure.

So we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. Most of our suppliers were the couples' (and/or their friends') family friends so we were able to get HUGE discounts on practically everything. Kudos to our friend Michelle (who is, incidentally, the talent behind all those Starbucks planners that we have all been buying signature drinks for every December) for designing the gowns and the color motif - teal green and champagne gold (very unique indeed!)




Since both the bride and the groom were musically-oriented, (Mhe-ann has an amazing voice, while Bryan can really show you a thing or two on his guitar) we decided to inject a videoke theme into the wedding... and man, was it hilarious!

Instead of having the regular bouquet and garter ceremony, for instance, we had the emcee call on five male and five female participants. Next, we had them pick a piece of paper from two separate jars (one jar for the men, one for the women.) Each slip of paper contained an unfinished line from a song which is normally sung during videoke sessions, and what each person had to do was to find his or her "partner" by checking the other participants' slips of paper to see if the line written in their paper matched the line from the other persons' paper. We had really popular and funny song lines, such as "I did it..." and "my way..." as well as "Heto ako..." and "basang-basa sa ulan..." and the like. The invitations were DIY, but again, beautifully designed by Michelle - and the wording was superb! (Come And Share our Happines = CASH, get it?) Also, instead of having the regular guest book, we made some signing sheets out of green parchment paper and had the guests write their song dedications, as well as wishes for the couple. These sheets were then compiled after the reception, after which, I believe the couple will have them bound together in a scrapbook style.

And of course, to top it off, their first dance was none other than Eric Benet's very famous song, "The Last Time," which, mind you, always gets me in tears whenever I hear the song.

And so, we pulled it off without a hitch. Who would have thought that getting it all together in a span of six weeks was impossible? If there was one thing that I have learned from this experience, I realized that it is really not about the budget - it is how you plan it, and how creative you can get. Money and time cannot measure true love, and that's how it was for Bryan and Mhe-ann. ^_^


*Click here to view more images of the wedding.

(Photos courtesy of Ms. Michelle De Guzman)

My Cadet Girl (and Boy)

Who would have thought that Concept Magic's very first wedding would be a themed wedding? (And a military one at that?)




January 26, 2008 marked the company's (and yours truly's) very first milestone: Jigger and Sharon's wedding. It proved quite interesting to plan the affair, what with going to and from Villamor Air Base to visit the groom, enjoying Queensland Caterer's food-tasting event, and joining the choir practices (yes, they got my very own parish choir to sing in church and I was part of them) - the whole military theme, on top of this event being Concept Magic's debut wedding, was indeed a challenge for us.

Everything about the wedding, from the reception venue featuring highlights of our very own Air Force (PAF Museum) to the white dock uniforms worn by the entourage (some of which are well-known officers from the upper echelons of the government and the military), to the guests (most of which are members of PMA Class 2002 - the mistas ) and even the first dance of the couple ("My Cadet Girl") reminded me of the nationalistic pride that thousands of men and women feel in serving our dear country.




A particularly breathtaking experience which I would not forget was the sword salute which Jigger's comrades gave to Sharon as she was walking down the aisle - it was a solemn vow to protect her: both the bride of Jigger, and a foster sister to them (Sharon, by the way, is a 1st Lieutenant of the Philippine Air Force, while Jigger is 2nd Lieutenant.)

Nobody, not even the highest ranking General in the whole world would even think that a bride as breathtaking as Sharon is actually the same woman you would see in an air base docked in military garb armed not just with weapons, but with the intelligence and training needed in serving to protect our homeland.




All in all, it was a very unique experience for all of us - not just because of the theme which embraced the whole occasion, but more so because it was an event that marked the beginning of more weddings to come in the future. It was a promise, as well as an affirmation to the company and staff that we truly have the talent and capability to fulfill the job.


*Click here to view more images of the wedding.

Testing

Test, test, test.

Great, the blog's up and I'm ready to write! ^_^

Hey, they just asked me to write this from my own point of view, so please take note that any errors are my own.