Pulse

Yesterday, at the mall, I was surprised to see a poster announcing September Shopfest Philippines 2008, a shopping festival involving multiple malls. It is organized by the Department of Tourism and promises discounts in your favorite stores up to 70%.

I wonder if it will attract as many tourists as The Great Singapore Sale or the Hong Kong Shopping Festival. Or if it will draw the tourists away from Greenhills or Carriedo and into the malls. The few medical tourists I've spoken to swear by those places.

The fest starts tomorrow. Let's see what happens.

september shopfest philippines 2008

Image from this site.

Labels: announcement

I didn't know that my friend Zara is a closet KC Concepcion fan. She does not watch as much movies as I do but volunteered to be my movie companion yesterday. This morning, she called to check what time we were watching the movie. When I told her the time and what time we were to meet, she was worried that we might run out of tickets. I assured her I'll reserve. While before, she would make it to the cinema almost at screening time, she was 30 minutes early for our date and even got to the mall ahead of me. The reason, For the First Time starring KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez.

While I avoid reading reviews or listening to friends' comments before I've actually seen the movie, Zara read the Inquirer's less than stellar review of the film yet that didn't stop her from going.

Here's what I think. During the first half of the movie, I felt like watching two love stories unfold, that of the leads and their sidekicks, with the latter providing comic relief. This, however, deviated attention from the real story. While it drew laughs, some of the scenes felt like fillers as they were not crucial to the story. In fact, some of Candy Pangilinan's scenes could have been cut and it would not have affected the movie at all.

Technically, the editing was lousy. There were gaps and jumps. Some scenes were poorly lit and out of focus.

Although they make an attractive pair, the chemistry between Richard and KC was not as potent as that of Richard and Marian Rivera in My Best Friend's Girlfriend. But that's just my opinion.

As for KC, I think she did alright in her first movie appearance. It would have been better though if she was given a much lighter material so her radiance will shine through. Her character had so much angst that it was quite tiring to watch. Her scenes, however, with Philip Salvador were quite moving as conflicts with parents and children always seem to draw emotion.

Even before her birth, KC was already a celebrity. However, I think, having two celebrity parents has advantages and disadvantages. Of course, she had it easy. Before she got into the business, she was already a household name. Endorsements and others came right after. The disadvantages, of course, are that everyone expects her to surpass or at least equal her parents' abilities and to be better than her contemporaries. I say, let's give her time to shine. After all, Sharon Cuneta did not become the Megastar in one day.

And because both of the movie's stars are endorsers, the products they support were prominently seen in the movie. The bit about Sony was alright and was well placed. However, the Garnier ad was too in-your-face. No subtlety there at all.

The real star of the movie is Santorini, where a significant portion of the movie was shot. Both Zara and I dream of going there someday. Me to take pictures as the place is really picturesque. And she would only be too happy to pose for me.

So the verdict? I think KC did fine, although not outstanding. Let's give her a break. After all, this is her first time.

for the first time, kc concepcion, richard gutierrez

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

I love to travel and when I do, it's usually a well-researched affair. By that I mean I check travel guides, read magazines, ask friends. The net is also one source of information for me from travel packing tips to photography. I've also been reading blogs with posts about places I've never been to before. A visitor only gets a glimpse of the city and its culture when he travels. The locals definitely know more.

This brings us to today's question: What would you recommend to a first time visitor about your city or country?

The answer is entirely up to you. Food perhaps or maybe an attraction? And don't forget to tell us what city it is.

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This is my 5th contribution to Aloha Friday.

travel, aloha friday

Labels: aloha friday, travel

It was my first time at The Block today. What struck me was the selection of restaurants, a number of them not available in my usual haunt. I took my time walking around seeing what those I haven't tried before have to offer before the design of Chaikofi beckoned me inside.

Although it occupies but a small area next to the cinemas, one can say that the owners really put a lot of thought into its design. The interiors are done in black, brown and yellow. The limited space is used to the fullest without compromising the comfort of the diner. There are number of choices for seats, stools, couches and chairs.

What attracted me too to the place were the tarpaulins in its periphery highlighting their special deals. They promised affordable meals which even come with free iced tea.

I had the Cheezy Beef Bollem (PHP 155), 5 golf ball sized meatballs on a bed of rice smothered by a creamy sauce with a hint of rosemary. It was served piping hot. The styling was beautiful. The photo shows the dish in its untouched state. No, I did not eat the rice that seems to be missing. The presentation was really like that.

The free drink that came with the dish, however, was not to my liking. It tasted differently from the usual iced tea. When I asked the server why that was so, she said that it was actually Lemon Mint tea. That explained it. I'm not having it again unless it's free.

My impression was that Chaikofi is a franchise of a global brand but it is actually home grown. I'm glad I discovered it today.

chaikofi xpresso, the block

Treadmill x 60 minutes x 341 calories

Labels: exercise time, taste test

When I lined up to get my ticket for Death Race, the girl at the ticket counter reminded me of its classification: R-13. I didn't know that and thought this couldn't be worse than The Dark Knight. I'd seen the trailer and it seemed like a regular action movie.

Death Race takes us to 2012, a time where lawlessness prevails, prisons are full and run by private corporations who make money by making prisoners fight against themselves to the death in exchange for freedom. They broadcast it live and viewers watch the telecast for a fee.

As for the classification, I think the review board had the movie spot on. There is plenty of violence and rage. This movie's definitely not for children.


What I thought of during the movie was the writer's vision of the future. Will there come a time that we are too callous that fighting to the death becomes entertaining? And that we consider lives other than our own as expendable? Is it imminent or even possible? 2012 is just a few years away, after all.

I don't think we're quite there yet. Or even close. And we don't really have to be. I think there's hope for a more peaceful future.

What do you think?

death race, jason statham

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

A typical Filipino breakfast is composed of fried rice or sinangag, eggs or itlog and a viand or ulam. The meal is named after the combination. In photo is tapsilog, a meal comprising of tapa, sinangag and itlog. There are limitless variations: cornsilog, longsilog, tocilog to name a few.


This meal is most often missed when traveling abroad and breakfast choices are limited.

Personally, my favorite items to go with rice and egg are tapa, longganisa, bacon and SPAM. I don't care much for corned beef or daing.

What about you? What's your favorite -silog?

filipino breakfast, sinangag, itlog, tapsilog

Treadmill x 45 minutes x 267 calories
Stationary bike x 15 minutes x 64 calories

Labels: exercise time, taste test

One of the perks of watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars was seeing the teaser of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for the first time. It was good, really good and it left me yearning for more. After all, of the books, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is perhaps my favorite of the series. Tough luck then that I have to wait until July next year to see the movie and not this November as originally planned.

Warner Brothers has decided to postpone the showing of the movie, much to the chagrin of Harry Potter fans. Me, included. Others are petitioning the studio to revert back to the original schedule yet others are calling for a boycott of the movie when it shows. Rumors about the postponement abound. Some say the studio just want more money. Others think they're running away from Twilight. Still, there are those who'd like to believe that the studio does not want the showing to coincide with Daniel Radcliffe's stint in Equus, a controversial play which deals with nudity, etc.

I personally think that the studio should revert back to the November schedule. After all, that's what's been promised the public. The only reason the film should not be shown in November is because it's not ready yet. But there is no evidence to say that much. I don't see why it should run away from Twilight. I think Harry Potter has a bigger fan base and moviegoers who like both would most likely watch both and not choose one over the other. Lastly, I think the viewing public is mature enough to separate Daniel Radcliffe, the actor from the character Harry Potter.

Whether it's shown in November or July, I don't think I would be able to stay away. I'd think I'll watch it still.

Now about the teaser, it lived up to its word. I was teased wanting more. And as if to add insult to injury, the teaser shown in the Philippines bore the date November 2008. At least, the teaser showing in the website's been updated to say July. Isn't that enough teasing? Why show the trailer when we have to wait a long time?

harry potter and the half-blood prince, warner brothers, daniel radcliffe, twilight, equus

Labels: movies

The 2nd International Silent Film Festival is happening on August 26 to September 8 at the Shangri-La Plaza. It is jointly sponsored by Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes, Japan Foundation and the embassies of the Czech Republic, France and Italy.

The films are classics and would definitely be interesting to watch, to say the least. Some will be accompanied by original music; the others with the original score. Some screenings charge a minimal fee of PHP 75 while others are free admission. Check out the schedules and film details here.

I'm not sure if I'm watching but thought that maybe serious film enthusiasts visiting this blog might. After all, this is a rare opportunity to see classic films from other countries.

2nd international silent film festival, shangri-la plaza, movies

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

I was a child when Star Wars started and I saw it become a phenomenon. The series gained more fans when new episodes were shown starting 1999.

Fanatics (and there are legions of them) would tell you what they like best about the franchise. What I remember most about my personal experience with the series is my fascination with Han Solo played by Harrison Ford. I am hardly a fanatic but just an avid movie goer.

What struck me when I bought my ticket for Star Wars: The Clone Wars was that the movie did not seem popular. There were more available seats than reserved seats. This was still evident when the movie started. I reasoned that maybe the poor box office draw is secondary to the long weekend. But then again, this is just the opening weekend so it should be doing good. And WALL-E opened too on a long weekend but did very well. Apparently, Star Wars fanatics stayed away.

Did they make the right decision? I think they did. The movie was interesting enough but could have served its purpose on the small screen. I found myself bored and sleepy. As the major conflicts in the story have all been settled in the 6 movies which preceded it, Star Wars: The Clone Wars felt like an excuse to profit from the franchise as the movie is set in the time before Anakin crossed to the dark side. Although the animation is good, it pales in comparison to the live action of the previous movies and what made Star Wars the benchmark of sci-fi movies then. I felt that this animated feature trivialized the entire franchise.

That said, I wonder if Star Wars fanatics share my views.

star wars, star wars: the clone wars, movie, animation

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

I saw the tumbler before the movie even opened. I made a mental note to buy it when I watch the movie. But its cost was almost equal to the cost of a tumbler of popcorn so I passed. I figured the drink would taste just the same in a regular container.

That's just me though. I'm not that into movie merchandise unless they come with a Happy Meal. Others collect them. When I like the movie, I buy either the DVD or the book.

Do you buy movie merchandise?

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This post is my 4th contribution to Aloha Friday.

movie merchandise

Labels: aloha friday, movies

Zara and I had contrasting mornings. I barely had things to do as my schedule suddenly cleared because of a no show. Hers, on the other hand, was busy. While I had a leisurely brunch which extended to 1 PM, she had to hurry out to catch a bite before her next appointment.

I thought she came for the donuts. But apparently not. She finished two servings of squid rings drenched in vinegar on her own. She did offer me some but I was too full.


This got me thinking about street food in general. I'm wary of getting Hepatitis A or something and so don't eat as much street food as others would. I don't have any fondness for isaw and the like. I haven't tried them at all. But I do love street bought taho, nilagang mani, pritong mani and pork barbecue.

What about you? What's your favorite street food?

Labels: taste test

Is at the foot of the mountains with a view of the beach or the ocean. The latter is but a short distance away where I can walk barefoot when I feel like it or just sit still to watch the waves or the sun go down.

Is surrounded by greenery. There are huge trees where I can sit in its shade and read a book or have a picnic. Blooms abound giving the area a magical feel and a flowery scent.

Is equipped with a state-of-the-art security system. Safety is my priority.

Is Wi-Fi ready. I'd like to be online all the time.

Is a one-floor property. I'd like to be able to enjoy all of it even when I'm old and gray.

Has a deck or veranda. Where I can do some entertaining. A barbecue party perhaps? A swing would also be a good idea.

Has huge glass windows which open up to let the breeze in when it's hot. And a window seat where I can sit and read a book or watch the rain. Yet with hotel-type curtains to keep the glare out when I'm having a migraine attack or when I just want to pretend it's still nighttime.

Has living and dining areas with comfortable furniture with soft cushions. I don't want formal furniture. I want one where I can rest my back.

Has a huge kitchen where I can learn how to cook. Pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. A center counter for the wannabe chef with an oven and grill. A 2-door refrigerator. A well-stocked pantry. A breakfast nook.

Has a den which doubles as a home office and entertainment center. Walls stocked with books, CDs and DVDs. A huge plasma TV with Surround sound. A desk with the latest computer system and the biggest monitor.

Has wonderful bedrooms. Comfortable beds. A walk-in closet. Its own toilet and bath with a tub and glass-enclosed shower.

Is clutter free. I'm a sporadic declutterer so a dream home is a good place to start. Out with the old.

Is shared with the people who matter most to me.

I can dream, can't I?

What about you? What's your dream home?

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This post is my entry to the My Dream Home group writing project at A Cabin Full of Log Homes.

my dream home, group writing project, a cabin full of log homes

Labels: group writing project, musings

Potato Chips. My all-time favorite junk food.

I prefer it over corn chips or cheese curls.

In the past, they were not as readily available or had as much varieties like today. Pringles then could only be bought in big supermarkets and PX outlets. I remember it was one of the items in my Christmas list. Locally, there used to be Carol-Ann's potato chips available in cheese and barbecue varieties. It was a favorite until it was no longer available. Jack 'n Jill later produced their own brand of potato chips which we loved pairing with Coke; my favorite then being the Bacon and Cheese variety. But that too was phased out. And then I got introduced to Lay's and Ruffles and I was hooked. The expense, fortunately, moderated my consumption as they were a lot more expensive than local brands. And then I came across Legend Potato Chips which were really good and not at all expensive. My friends thought so too.


It used to be that we had a steady supply at home but I told Mom NOT to buy chips anymore because according to a diet book I read, "Thou shalt not buy what thou should not eat". Following this rule was very difficult when I was in the US. There were more varieties of Lay's and Ruffles there and some available only for a limited time. Truth be told, I missed the bus twice because I couldn't decide at Walmart. Even then, I couldn't say no to temptation and went home to where I was staying with a bag or two.

Nowadays, I try to avoid buying junk food but when I slip and do, I buy the small pack instead of the big one. I also read the labels and buy one with less salt and calories. We occasionally receive Lay's and Ruffles from friends but I'd learned not to attack and just to save them for a special occasion.

I still find it difficult sometimes to avoid it especially when it comes with the meal. Like the potato chips served with sandwiches at Cibo. It tasted so good that I ordered it on its own. But I think I have more self-control now, I ended up bringing most of it home.

What about you? Are you a junkie?

potato chips, junk food

Labels: taste test

I learned about the Twilight Series from one of my favorite bloggers, Toni. As it was about vampires, I was not the least bit interested. Secondly, I was not about to start another addiction. Especially since I'm not yet over Harry Potter. Thirdly, I didn't want any more books, considering the expense and the eventual clutter.

But the hype around the release of Breaking Dawn was enough to pique my interest. I chanced upon a copy of Twilight at Powerbooks and read the first chapter. It was interesting but not enough to make me buy it. When I finally decided to get one, it was sold out. The other books in the series were available but the first book was crucial. It was either going to make me a convert or turn into clutter. And then Breaking Dawn was released and my Plurk friends who were so into the series didn't like it at all. That effectively dampened my interest though I was still curious.

And then last Saturday, I saw all 4 books of the series at National Bookstore. And they were all in paperback. I had imagined the latest one to just be available hardbound. I wasn't able to resist anymore. After all, the timing was just right. The long weekend has started.

And 48 hours later, I can describe my experience in one word.

B-I-T-T-E-N.

By the twilight bug that is.

I've finished the first two books and now starting on the third. I would have to read them again as I glossed over some of the narrative to get to the end. That said, I'm with Team Edward.

What about you?

stephanie meyer, twilight, breaking dawn, new moon, eclipse

Photos from this site.

Labels: bookworm

Traditional to all Pixar animated features is the short which precedes the main event. In WALL-E, the short film is Presto, a story of a magician and his rabbit.

The magician is at the top of his game, performing in big venues to large audiences. However, he has forgotten to show kindness to his rabbit; even denying the latter of basic needs. The latter gets fed up, refuses to work for the magician and gets even. Both sides hit each other back and forth until it becomes a life and death situation. Realizing that, one offers a hand which the other graciously accepts. All's well that ends well.


The same image was also underscored in Harry Potter regarding the relationship of wizards and house elves. I think this is a common scenario too in real life; both at the office or at home. But it doesn't have to be. We must treat others as partners or equals.

What bothered me, however, while watching the short is the amount of time given to getting even. Children might consider an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth acceptable behavior. In this instance, parents should guide their children that revenge is never right.

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

Like all Pixar feature presentations, WALL-E is a masterpiece in animation and storytelling. The latter is particularly true here as most of the movie is without dialogue. Yet the animators were able to get the message across. And boy, there were plenty of lessons here.

Our trash pollutes the earth. It may one day outstrip us. We must learn to reduce, reuse, recycle.

We are collectors. Although WALL-E manages trash, he is, in fact, a victim of the collecting bug. We must only collect what is necessary.

One cannot live alone. No man is an island. Everyone seeks companionship.

Physical inactivity is dangerous to our health. It promotes obesity which in turn leads to other health consequences.

Gadgets may make us antisocial. Being hooked to these electronic devices may make us miss life as it passes us by. Take time to smell the flowers.

Bad things happen when good people do nothing. We must speak up to defend our rights.

There is a huge difference between surviving and living. Why live a hundred years and not live life to the fullest? Which is more important: quantity or quality of life?

Renew. All things are possible. One can always start over.

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This post is my contribution to the August Movie Madness of Daily Mish Mash.

wall-e, pixar, animation, movie

Photo from this site.

Treadmill x 47 minutes x 265 calories

Labels: exercise time, movies

My friend Endapea sent me this text message last night.

God is giving you 600 million angels to take care of you.

Share them with 9 close to your heart.
You will have good news in 10 minutes.

She ended it by saying, "Nagtry ako. Totoo (I tried it. It's true.)"

Truth to tell, I didn't bother reading it all as I was already sleeping when the message came in. But this afternoon while going over my inbox to do some housekeeping, I came across it and thought about chain letters in general.

While this chain letter predicts good fortune to the believer, others are not as kind. They even go to the extent of predicting misfortune and bad luck.

I've never been a believer, whether the message came through snail mail, email or text messaging. Chain letters were popular at some time while we were in high school. This did not escape the attention of our religion teacher who told us that we shouldn't put our faith in those. And my practice since has simply been to ignore such letters.

What do you think of chain letters?

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This is my 3rd contribution to Aloha Friday.

chain letters, aloha friday

Labels: aloha friday

Emboldened by Shai's post titled What Does Your Blog Say About You? , I tried Wordle for myself to check how Pulse would fare. Here's what my words say about me.


Shai ended her post by saying that the word cloud generated by Wordle does not quite match what she made by hand called Words of Life. She said that maybe she should start realigning her blog to the latter. I don't think she needs to do that as I think she's on the right track. It's Wordle that got her all wrong. Well, not entirely. There's definitely more to S Studio by Shai Coggins than meets Wordle's eye. And for the same reason, there's more to Pulse than meets the eye.

Why do I think so? Reading through Pulse's own word cloud, I noticed that the words belong to only my most recent posts. And so it's not entirely accurate.

Case in point: Affair. The only time I talked about it was in reference to the movie. And that was maybe one or two posts except that I mentioned the word several times in one.

But Wordle did get my preference for movies and dining right. That I'm not going to argue with.

Don't let Wordle define you or restrict you. It may be useful as a guide about your recent blogging experience but your blog history speaks volumes about you.

Image from this site.

wordle

When S4 learned that I was planning to watch You Don't Mess with the Zohan, she asked me not to because it was vulgar.

I did anyway because I had 3 hours to waste. And I think S4 is absolutely right. The movie is indeed vulgar from start to finish. However, as the movie progressed, the shock somehow wore off. This movie, although hailed as very funny by some quarters, failed to elicit laughs where I watched.

I've seen other Adam Sandler films before (and so has S4) and they were okay. Case in point: 50 First Dates. I feel that Adam Sandler has done and could do better. This movie is a career setback. I hope his next starrer would be better inspired. The only nice thing about the movie is Adam Sandler's new hairstyle. It looks good on him.

Two of my three hours were indeed wasted. I should have just sat at a restaurant and read Twilight.

you don't mess with bthe zohan, adam sandler, movie

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

This flame-grilled Mexican chicken restaurant, El Pollo Loco, has been in Megamall for as long as I can remember. My friends and I used to frequent this during our med school days because it was RC's favorite. But I haven't been here in recent years save for one time when I felt it badly needed renovation.

When I ate here today, many surprises greeted me. The menu is basically unchanged but I couldn't remember anymore how much it cost then and what the inclusions were. I ordered from the Chicken Combo Meals, 2 piece (1 big, 1 small) with 2 sides, 2 tortilla and salsa (PHP 145). The chicken was as I remember it; grilled just right, tender and falling off the bone. The corn was fresh and the coleslaw newly prepared. The tortilla and salsa matched wonderfully with the chicken. Large iced tea (PHP 35) completed my meal.


Orders are taken and paid for at the counter and then delivered to the diner. Service was fast and food was great but I don't think I'd be eating here again soon even if the store now looks better after its renovation.

When I got to the restaurant, it was still too early for the lunch crowd and so the place was only 30% occupied. I ordered and started eating shortly after. By then, the restaurant was already 50% full. Two women sat in the table across from me but didn't seem to have ordered at all as they had no number with them. A lady, about 20-30 years old, asked if she could share a seat with me. Call me rude but I refused; telling her at the same time that there were other tables available. She stepped back and then sat next to the table of the 2 women. These women later left. The lady who asked to sit next to me left shortly after. All 3 women did not order and that makes me certain they were up to no good. It was a blessing that my guard was up. I asked the woman dining alone next to me if she noticed something odd. She said that the two women kept looking around.

I'm sure the management of the restaurant has nothing to do with the loco attempt (pardon the pun) but I'd rather eat somewhere more secure. The price I paid today (PHP 180) could buy me a similar meal elsewhere where I'd feel safer.

el pollo loco, flame-grilled mexican chicken, megamall

Treadmill x 30 minutes x 154 calories

Labels: exercise time, taste test

This long-delayed thank you goes to Anya of Kutsara at Tinidor. She thinks Pulse is just plain fun to read.

Thank you very much, Anya. Moments like these and kind comments keep me blogging.

plain fun to read, award, kutsara at tinidor

Labels: awards

Readers of this blog must know by now that I love watching movies. Although I watch the latest releases in cinemas, I also catch what I've missed, see what I like again or see something old on DVD. And that activity I reserve for Sunday afternoons.

Though I prefer blockbusters, especially those with special effects, I can watch any genre. Even if I don't like horror flicks too much, I can actually stand them more than intellectual films.

The choice of movie then depends on who I'm watching the DVD with. If it's just Dad, then action adventures are the first choice. When he insists on watching war movies however, I blog on the side. Mom has specific requirements when watching movies. She prefers love stories but not those celebrating promiscuity or infidelity. We started Enchanted but she couldn't quite get past the idea of birds and mice singing. When she loses interest, she drifts to sleep right away. But that hasn't been the case two Sundays in a row.

Last Sunday, I screened From Here to Eternity as I wanted to see the love scene again. Mom was awake all throughout the movie and even volunteered information about the actors in the movie.

Today, we watched Love Affair starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. This is a remake of 1939's Love Affair which I have not seen. My introduction to old movies however came via the 1957 An Affair to Remember starring Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant, a remake which I saw on local TV with Mom. The movie also made me aware of the Empire State Building such that when I got to New York, I already knew what it was before cousin Marita pointed to it. Of course, while watching Love Affair, we couldn't help but compare it with the original with Dad pointing out the differences. Both movies are a joy to watch. The Beatty-Bening version has been modernized to make it appropriate to the times. Pierce Brosnan plays second lead in the movie and Mom was quick to point out that this was probably before he became Bond, James Bond. What I like too about the film is the inclusion of the song I Will, one of my favorite songs ever.

Next on our playlist are Dial M for Murder, An American in Paris, High Society which I got yesterday at the Astrovision caravan for PHP 125 each.

Compromising on movie choices allows us to watch movies together and bond over the movie and snacks.

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This post is my answer to Cookie's tag on Movies We Watch. If you enjoy movies too, you're tagged!

old movies, dvd, sundays, an affair to remember, love affair

Labels: meme, movies

I've always liked Sarah Geronimo. I first took notice of her when I chanced upon the MTV of Forever's Not Enough while channel surfing. I was impressed; the song is after all catchy. I don't however like her singing birit. In fact, my favorite happens to be the upbeat Ikaw. What I like about Sarah is her winsome personality and how her life and career are bereft of intrigues. She also exudes a pleasant aura. It's no wonder that other people think the same and why A Very Special Love is doing so well at the box office that my favorite cinema extended its run to two weeks from the usual one week they give local fims.

John Lloyd Cruz gets the privilege of being Sarah's first on screen partner. They look good together even if John Lloyd looks a lot older. That bit is incorporated in the story. Sarah plays Laida, the executive assistant to John Lloyd's Miggy Montemayor, a young business executive. As usual, John Lloyd excels in his dramatic moments but occasionally overdoes his serious face. This is trivial but I think he would have looked better and more credible as a business executive if he'd worn socks.

In this movie, Sarah lights up the screen and one can see that she has a bright future ahead of her in the movies. She's funny too and they say comedy is more difficult to do. Sarah's definitely on her way.

What I like about the movie too are that it's feel good and appropriate for Sarah's age and image.

As for the endorsements in the movie, they were well placed. In fact, I was waiting for them to blurt out Biogesic but no one did. Seeing John Lloyd with fever and chills was enough to be reminded of the brand.

I laughed and cried with the pair. The movie was the perfect ending to a toxic week. It made me feel good. The movie deserves its box office success and extended run.

a very special love, movie, sarah geronimo, john lloyd cruz

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

A couple of months back, during our unplanned excursion to Ark of Avilon, JT bought a stuffed toy snake for her nephew which she later sent to Canada. A few days ago, she received a phone call from her sister in Canada who said that her other nephew wants a similar snake. We went back to the zoo yesterday to get THE snake. Zara could only laugh at us. She has two boys and she has learned a long time ago to get similar items for them, whether it be clothes or toys.

The latest encounter between my nephews Lastikman and Little Music Man is another example. Lastikman dropped by Little Music Man's place and played with some of the latter's toys. Once Little Music Man saw what Lastikman was playing with, he wanted it too. He wanted to be just like Kuya.

Do you have the same experiences with children and toys?

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This is my second contribution to Aloha Friday.

children, toys, aloha friday

Labels: aloha friday

I've always loved corn dogs especially so since we used to make them from the carton when I was a kid. But that was a long time ago. While in training in the US some five years ago, I attended country fairs in search for corn dogs. I was satisfied and wished that they could be as readily available back home. When I came home, I was happy to find them and more at Nacho Fast.

This afternoon, Zara and I shared the Ultimate Nachos (PHP 110), nachos with beef, salsa, cheese and jalapenos and Jalapeno Flautas (PHP 65), cheesesticks with jalapenos drizzled with cream sauce dressing. They were yummy and consumed very quickly. We had to, otherwise they'd become soggy. We washed it all down with Iced Tea (PHP 38).


You may be wondering why I didn't have corn dogs. I would have but Zara had ordered by the time I got there. I didn't miss it too while devouring our meal because I just had it 2 days ago. When you like a place, you never tire of it even if you go there a lot. That's Nacho fast for me.

nacho fast, mexican food

Labels: taste test

I dream of someday having my own restaurant even if I don't cook. It has a name already. It's going to be a coffee shop cum casual dining spot. I've designed the logo some 20 years ago and even have an idea of what I'm going to serve. It's a theme restaurant and the names of the items on the menu will follow that theme.

That's my dream and I'm wide awake. What's yours?

dream

Labels: musings

The plan was to watch A Very Special Love today but Zara said we have to attend a meeting. She consoled me by treating me to lunch at Hap Chan. Between the two of us, she is a regular of the brand. Though I come from a Chinese food loving family, I haven't been to an outlet until now.

Since she knows the menu more than I do, I left the ordering to her but not without telling her that I wanted some roasting and dimsum.

She ordered the Roast Pork Asado (PHP 165, small) which came in a bed of lettuce. The meat was tender, seasoned just right.

We had the Kaylan (PHP 150, small), her recommendation. It was good. The vegetable was fresh and the garlic topping provided a good contrast to the otherwise bland greens.

I was very impressed with the Hakaw (PHP 90, 4 pieces). The coating was very soft and inside were 2 whole shrimps. Yummy!

Plain rice (PHP 35) and complimentary Chinese tea completed our meal.

The meal today was enough to win me over. I think I'm going to be a regular just like Zara.

hap chan, chinese food, roast pork asado, kaylan, hakaw, Chinese tea, plain rice, food, taste test

Labels: taste test

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon yesterday. The rain was the perfect excuse to stay home and watch DVDs. I popped From Here to Eternity in the player because I wanted to see the Burt Lancaster-Deborah Kerr love scene shot at Halona Cove again. After all, it is considered one of the classic love scenes in Hollywood.

But this post is not about love scenes. It's about old movies.

I love old movies but not all of them. Case in point: Gone with the Wind. This movie is considered one of the best yet I find it really, really long and boring. I also think that the scene showing the couple fighting and the woman later falling down the stairs is too melodramatic. In my honest opinion, Casablanca outranks Gone with the Wind a million times over. I do love Humphrey Bogart.

Bogart is not the drop dead, gorgeous kind of guy but he has charm all his own. He displayed this once again in Sabrina, another of my favorite old movies starring Audrey Hepburn.

Sabrina was not my first exposure to Hepburn. I saw her first in Roman Holiday where she played a princess in desperate need of a life outside the palace. Gregory Peck comes to her aid and the viewer gets a tour of Rome through their adventures. After watching this, S3 and I crushed on Gregory Peck.

Interestingly, my first exposure to old movies came via An Affair to Remember shown on local TV. I watched it with my mom who knew the dialogue and songs by heart. We both cried at the end. I still do each time I see it again.

I've watched Ten Commandments before but when it was shown on cable while Frenchy and I were at the hotel during a break from the convention, we ended up finishing the movie and not returning to the scientific meeting.

And who could forget Psycho or The Birds? The former is enough to make you scared of taking a shower while the latter stopped me from going out of the gym. No, I wasn't afraid of birds. It was just too exciting that I had to finish it and reschedule the rest of my day.

And of course, the musicals. Sound of Music. My Fair Lady. If you want to feel good, just pop these into the player and you're on your way.

What about you? Do you like old movies? Any recommendations? Or do old movies bore you?

old movies

Labels: movies

I've always loved action adventure movies so it comes as no surprise that I made sure to watch The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

The film begins many years after the last adventure. Rick O'Connell and his wife have settled into domestic life, a far cry from their mummy days. Both long for excitement yet fool themselves to believe that they're happy. A dig gone wrong takes them out of retirement. How they prevent the mummy from wrecking havoc is what the rest of the movie is all about.

As with all The Mummy movies, this one has all the elements of a great action adventure movie: an evil villain, fights, a car chase, an exciting airplane ride, a quest and a love story with a sprinkling of comedy. Although the movie was enjoyable, there were scenes that screamed been there, done that. The airplane ride, for example, was predictable.

The film is set in China and alludes to legends of the land (Shangri-La), the terracotta army and the Great Wall. How much of it is fact or fiction should be an interesting discovery.

Overall, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is an enjoyable ride. I wonder who they'll resurrect next.

the mummy: tomb of the dragon emperor, brendan fraser, jet li, the mummy, movie

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

Dome serves good food. That's one thing I'm certain of. But though I frequent areas with Dome outlets, I am not what you'd consider a regular. After all, they are considerably more expensive compared to other dining options close by.

When we do visit Dome however, it's usually for breakfast. Like this morning. We were in the area and the other alternatives were Starbucks and Gloria Jeans. As both do not prepare sandwiches on site and just reheat what's available, Dome was our only option as Dad prefers his food freshly made.

I wanted to order the Cheese Hungarian Sausages (PHP 315), sliced and grilled served with garlic rice and fried eggs, but Dad beat me to it when he was told that the salmon belly he preferred was not available. The nice thing about dining with family is that you can always share and that's what we did. The sausages were really good, oozed with cheese and were tender to the bite. Dad had nothing but praises for the garlic rice even saying that it's a lot better than Chow King's chao fan which has more ingredients. I was amused at this. Imagine, raving about garlic rice!


I had the English Banger Sausages (PHP 325), fresh pork and beef sausages served with garlic rice and fresh eggs. These were even more tender than the Hungarian sausages and were grilled just right.

Both our orders were breakfast sets and so we had a choice of cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate, fruit juice or oversized iced tea. Dad had the hot chocolate and the cookie that came with it while I had the oversized icede tea. And believe me, it was huge.

Mom had the Banana Caramel Waffle (PHP 110, 1 piece) which she paired with Chococcino (PHP 90), pictured above. I didn't get to taste the waffle but she said that it was good.

Service wise, the crew were very attentive and delivery was fast. The Shangri-la outlet could use some renovation though as it looks dated and has not changed much from my first meal there some 10 to 12 years ago.

Food wise, nothing needs to be changed. Though more expensive compared to other restaurants, I think they offer good value. After all, the breakfast sets already include drinks and the servings are huge.

Labels: taste test

In a comment to my post You Have the Power to Create Love, Wits and Nuts invited me to join The Jane Austen Book Club which she is hosting. I don't own a copy of any of her books but have seen some of the movies based on them. This month's book is Persuasion. I then downloaded the e-book but didn't have the mood to read it.

This brings me to the question, Which book do you prefer: the real thing, an audio book or an e-book?

I personally prefer a real book. I love the smell of a new one. I love flipping through the pages, reading it where I want to, while seated and next to a lamp or while curled up in bed. I even love putting it down when I'm done and returning to it when I'm ready to read again. I love that I can bring it anywhere; on the beach, on a plane without a thought of bringing a piece of equipment with me.

What's keeping me from buying books is the expense. A good book nowadays costs a lot. This partly explains my hesitation to start on the Twilight series. But then again, others will argue that books are great investments because they fuel the mind. Another is the clutter. Books do gather dust. We do with them similarly what happened to toys in Toy Story. Loved today, abandoned tomorrow. Some have adopted the practice of leaving a good book behind, in a train station for instance, so another will benefit.

Some would say that e-books are better than the real deal because they do not require as much trees to publish one. But then again, don't we also affect the environment when we use items that rely heavily on power?

My Plurk buddies prefer the real deal too. What about you?

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This post is my contribution to Aloha Friday.

Labels: aloha friday