Pulse

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is not a typical war movie. Although it deals with war, it focuses less on the war but more on its effects on family and childhood.

War tears family not only physically. Family members go separate ways because of conviction, choosing love of country over love of family.


Children are left to go with the decision of their parents, not really understanding why such changes have to be made. Because of this lack of comprehension, they either go through war clueless or highly impressionable, accepting whatever information as gospel truth. When the latter happens, they grow up with a distorted view of the perceived enemy.

I suggest you go see the movie as there are many such insights presented and because the ending is quite shocking.

Image from this site.

Labels: movies

Bridges provide interesting and romantic backdrops to some of the best movies. Here are a few.

Bridge on the River Kwai. I haven't seen the movie of the same title but Dad considers it one of the best movies ever.

Golden Gate Bridge. This seems to be a favorite of mutants. In X-Men 3: The Last Stand, this was rip apart by Magneto. While in Monsters vs. Aliens, it was here where Ginormica conquered the Alien Robot.

Brooklyn Bridge. Although Godzilla met his end here, we also remember this bridge as where Sex and the City's Steve and Miranda reconciled and decided to forget the past and move forward.

Bridges of Madison County. Probably the most romantic movie about bridges, this one starred Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

Any other bridges in mind?

Labels: movies

It was Zara who introduced me to Sisig Hooray when she brought some to the hospital. Just as she predicted, I fell in love with it so much so that when I learned that S1 was at Robinson's Galleria, I asked her to buy me one. But that was about 10 months ago and since then I haven't had a repeat. Until yesterday that is.


Mindful of my healthy eating mode, I opted for the Chicken Sisig and Rice combination (PHP 71). They have bangus sisig too but since I ate fish all day Friday I opted for the chicken. Because my previous experiences were both take-out and so long ago, I had no idea how it was prepared. The notion that it was healthy burst as soon as they topped it with chicharon. I ate it still because I'd ordered it already but although I felt full after the meal I also felt guilty. And probably becauuse of my new diet, I also felt that it was too salty for my taste. A few months ago, I would have screamed Hooray but this time I imagined my coronaries screaming otherwise.

This is not to say that Sisig Hooray isn't good because it was. It's just not the right choice for me.

Labels: taste test

Monsters vs Aliens is another winner in animation from Dreamworks. The colors are superb and the image details are wonderful.

Add to that a stellar voice cast led by Reese Witherspoon. Except for her, I had a hard time matching the actors with the characters and that means they did a pretty good job of losing themselves in character.


The story is also beautifully crafted providing insights about friendship, accepting differences and forging one's path in one's own terms.

That last bit reminded me of my secretary whose plans for the future came crashing down when she had a falling out with her boyfriend. My advice: always plan ahead but in your own terms, other people may be important but they may have their plans too.

You don't have to wait for anyone or anything to see this movie. Go, I'm sure you'll like it too.

Image from this site.

Labels: movies

Why is Friday occasionally dubbed fright night? Is it because of Friday the 13th or because they show horror movies on TV Fridays? It wasn't always the case. When I was growing up, horror flicks were screened Wednesdays and I remember watching TV alone while the rest of my family ate in another room. I put dinner on top of the organ chair and sat as close to the set as possible. But I got scared and stood up right away that dinner came crashing down. I had to admit to family that I got scared. Embarrasing, huh? Since then, I've avoided horror movies unless I have full control of the remote control. Although a movie addict, this is one genre I avoid in the theater.

Do you like horror movies?

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This is my 35th contribution to Aloha Friday.

Labels: aloha friday, movies

Last year, I raved about David Cook but only after he won. This time around, I'm putting my support early on for Adam Lambert.

He didn't really catch my fancy during the auditions or Hollywood week but when he walked into that stage and sang Black and White, I knew he IS the one. The next American Idol that is. And my current favorite.


In fact, the day after that performance, I raved about him and a mentor was surprised to hear me say sexy in reference to Adam. Well, he was then and he hasn't disappointed in his subsequent performances. Tonight, he looked really good too and he reminded me of a younger Patrick Swayze.

My favorite from the auditions is Danny Gokey and he remains my second favorite. However, I love Adam's edginess and unpredictability. Danny's just too wholesome for me.

Who do you think will be the next American Idol?

Labels: american idol

Ketchup on egg done sunny side up. Toyo and kalamansi for pancit. Bagoong for kare-kare. Balaw-balaw for kanduli. Etc. Etc.

Most of my family loves them, I don't. I hardly season my food.

Do you like condiments?

A friend is sick. News like that make me pause and think that my concerns are not at all significant and that there's a lot to be thankful for. And that one must work to support the other person with a much bigger problem.

Because I'm revamping my diet, I'm spending much more than time at the grocery than usual. Most of the grocery shopping at home is done by Mom and trusted aide Nene. As for me, it would just be a quick stop to buy toiletries or chips or to take photographs. Now I'm taking time to read the labels and compare. I'm also spending most of my time at the produce section where I check out the fruits they have available. Intentionally avoiding the processed foods section, I've focused my interest on the seafood and chicken sections.

Do you like going to the grocery?

For the last week or so, I've been bringing fruits to work but some fruits are not as portable as others and and having the same fruit every day can be a little boring. It's a good thing then that there are fruit cups.

Both Dole and Del Monte have them. And in different varieties too. So far, I've tasted Dole's peaches and Del Monte's pineapple and mixed fruit. Although recent discovery Del Monte Fit n' Right snack is much smaller, it also has fewer calories.

So remember to read the label when you buy your fruit cup. And that fresh fruit is always better.

Labels: taste test

One of the consequences of my new diet is that I'm looking at restaurants that serve fruit and vegetables and serve dishes in small servings.

That was precisely why I dined at Yoshinoya. Looking at their menu, I saw that the Chicken Teriyaki rice topping is available in two sizes, regular and large, and that it comes with vegetables.

I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki rice topping regular (PHP 90). It was served in a bowl with the rice at the bottom and topped by equal parts of steamed vegetables and chicken teriyaki. It was good but nothing extraordinary.


To fulfill the fruit requirement, I ordered the fruit jelly (PHP 15) and was disappointed as there was hardly any fruit. It was mostly jello and tapioca. I say never again to this one.

The other bright consequence of the new diet is that I'm spending less on food. Yoshinoya is definitely an example where you get your money's worth.

Labels: taste test

In a bid to improve my lifestyle to a healthier one, aside from increasing my fruit intake, I've also increased my intake of vegetables. I consider this though a bigger challenge because there are vegetables I don't like, ampalaya and okra being some of them. Beans and legumes are others I don't really like. I prefer leafy vegetables, eggplant, broccolli and squash.

Do you like vegetables?

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This is my 34th contribution to Aloha Friday.

Labels: aloha friday

The movies are my pacifier. They get rid of any aches or pains, destress me, make me happy among others. They also keep me from being bored with exercise.

Remembering that The Birds kept me on the treadmill at the gym inspired me to put on a DVD of Dial M for Murder, another film by Alfred Hitchcock, while on the stationary bike at home.

I've never seen the movie before and so was surprised that A Perfect Murder starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Michael Douglas, a movie I never fail to watch when it's shown on cable, is its remake.

Of the two, I prefer the remake probably because it was more visual and dynamic while the original was mostly talk. That, plus the suspense is more palpable in the remake; although that that could be because I saw it first.

Although I sort of knew how the story would play out because of the remake, Hitchcock managed to keep me glued even after I stopped pedaling. I know I could have done more with Hitchcock pushing me but dinner midway into the movie ruled out any more exercise after that. Now, if it were Psycho, then I'm sure I'd be doing some of the exercise with my eyes closed, as I do each time I watch it and the shower and last few scenes are shown.

Those three films are all I know about Hitchcock. Any recommendations that will keep me exercising?

Labels: movies

One of the changes I made to my diet is to increase my intake of fruits. In the last week or so, I've had a variety of fruits but of course in small amounts and therein lies the problem. A banana is the most readily available but it's not easy to bring around as it ripens easily. Although mangoes are another good choice, the one slice policy makes it difficult to bring to work. I decided then that those would be my fruit options at home while at work, a Fuji apple would do.


It's nice that some restaurants offer fruit in their menus and I'm particularly pleased with those who have them in single servings. When I dined at Crustasia Thai Shrimp House recently and ordered a fruit platter, I was astounded with what was served me. Fortunately, I had family to share it with. While Sbarro has fresh fruit salad on its menu, the serving size is just too much for one. Kenny Rogers Roasters offers the fresh fruit salad in two sizes, solo and regular. Similarly, El Pollo Loco serves single serve fruit cocktail too. I just tell them to spare the whipped cream. I remember having fruits at McDonalds in Dublin. I hope they bring the same practice here.

Do you eat fruits regularly?

Race to Witch Mountain is about an ex-convict turned cab driver whose services are utilized by aliens who crash land in Vegas. How he gets them to their destination is what the rest of the movie is all about.


I think the movie has all the potential to be developed into a theme park ride, if it hasn't been already. Aliens, crashes, flying saucers, etc.

The movie abruptly came to an end that I wondered about loose ends. It was good I stayed until the end credits where my questions were answered.

To enjoy the movie, one must suspend disbelief and accept that there are such things as flying saucers and aliens. In fact, the movie explores this belief in the extraterrestrial. While some are skeptic, others are passionate that they are often considered weird or even crazy.

Do you believe in aliens?

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

Kreez thinks Pulse is a gem and has bestowed upon it (and 5 awesome blogs) the Uber Amazing Blog! Award.

This is such a great way to start another year blogging.

Thanks, Kreez!

Labels: awards

Thanks to you, its Pulse's second birthday today.

Statistics:

• 365 posts, one for each day of the year.
• Page rank 4 (from last year's 3)
• Ratified rank 159 (from last year's 260)

Highlights of the past year:

• Your comments which made my day.
• Interviewed by Jacob Share about my passion for group writing projects
• My post How to Survive the Great Singapore Sale reposted in Kikay Exchange
  
• Hosted 2 editions of The Blog Rounds: Doc Hollywood and The Love Boat
• Gave away two tickets to the The Dark Knight to Doc Emer for winning the Superhero contest
• Honest to goodness reviews picked up by restaurant blogs

Some rewards:

• Awards: Honest Scrap from Kreez, Just Plain Fun to Read from Anya
• The mini art journal from Shai
• Books from Jake after blogging about my dream home
• Free ticket to You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown from UA&P-Kultura

And because I'm in a healthy eating mode, this birthday's cake is low-fat. Enjoy!


Hope to see more of you!

Taken tells the story of a retired preventor trying to reconnect with his daughter he's lost because of his work. However, their reunion is cut short by a trip which goes terribly wrong and he loses her yet again. How he gets her back is what the rest of the movie is all about.

I knew I'd like the movie because I love action suspense films. However, it's quite difficult to believe that the father could wage war against his daughter's captors and win all by his lonesome. We've seen similar movies, Die Hard comes to mind.

But what makes the movie unique is the cautionary tale it gives to travelers, particularly women. Tell someone you trust your plans and itinerary and when you're on the road, keep in touch. Never trust strangers. Always remain guarded. Travel with a trusted companion.

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

Keeping a blog is like writing a diary. I wonder how many bloggers actually kept diaries in the past.

I did but never completed a month except when I was in my last year in medical school when I nearly completed half a year. Now, I'm keeping a health and wellness diary, in a blog actually but restricted, where I track my diet, activity, etc.

Are you a diarist?

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This is my 33rd contribution to Aloha Friday.

Labels: aloha friday

I haven't been exercising as much as I should have which was probably why I had such a difficult time with gentle flow yoga. I haven't been back for another session but has since been increasing physical activity in my daily activities.

Since the month started, I've been going to the gym when time permits and for now, am sticking with the treadmill. When I don't go, I feel guilty and try to make up for it at home.

I realized however that the location of the stationary bike was not at all conducive to exercise. It was against the wall in a corridor without the benefits of artificial air and entertainment. A few nights ago, I did a little rearranging. I moved the bike into my room and placed the DVD player and electric fan in front of it. I've clocked in two 45 minute sessions already, both while watching Voltes V. Wow, the new strategy works!

Time is also another barrier. Yesterday was a full day at work. By the time I got home, American Idol was on and I was hooked. It was dinnertime by the time I finished and that left me without time for exercise. So I guess the strategy here is to get it done early!

Being active is an everyday struggle. Recognizing barriers is the first step to conquering them.

What are the barriers to your exercise program?

There are many ways to give to charity.

I noticed that S1 gives to street children when they stand outside her car window. I don't as I think it promotes begging. Dad, on the other hand, loads up on Cloud 9 and gives these to street children during Christmastime.

Clarence prefers giving the goods directly to the beneficiaries. He thinks that many things can happen when you use a middleman.

Zara and I both prefer giving to organized charities. By this I mean the church and other organizations.

When we were in church together, S1 felt that I gave more than what was acceptable. I told her no and that the amount was just right. After all, what I gave was less the cost of a latte at Starbucks or a movie.

My friend Jake has been donating to World Vision for a few years now and has sent children to school by doing that. Since hearing her advocacy, I told myself that I wanted to give back too. Years passed and I haven't committed to a cause. Until yesterday that is when I saw a UNICEF booth at the mall. I figured I'd better do this now and so I did.

Giving to charity is the right thing to do. After all, everything is not about us. If we can spend for a Starbucks coffee or a movie, why not give a little back?

I don't really do repeat posts on restaurants but Kenny Rogers Roasters, which I blogged about last year, deserves a special mention because of their new offering called Kenny's Healthy Meals.

As I'm on the lookout for healthy alternatives, my heart leaped when I saw the poster outside the branch. There are five options to choose from: high fiber, high energy, high protein, low calorie and the classic healthy plate.


I chose the Low Calorie Meal (PHP 160) composed of grilled fish, steamed vegetables, garlic rice and Kenny's Lite Iced Tea. They allowed me to substitute Coke Light for the iced tea. Maybe next time I could change to plain rice too. The fish and vegetables were quite good but I found the sauce for the fish too salty for my taste.

It would have been better though if they have nutrition information for each dish. Right now, we just have to take their word for it.

I love that this is cheaper than other healthy restaurant options, especially so since the drink's already included. I will definitely return.

Labels: taste test

One of the most entertaining Filipino movies I've seen is A Very Special Love and because of that, I looked forward to the sequel with excitement. I was not disappointed.

You Changed My Life follows the adventures of Laida Magtalas and Miggy Montenegro who fell in love in the first movie. Here, their love is challenged by time spent apart, work and different expectations.

Simple plotlines make the best stories and this movie is testament to that. What the couple experience are problems all too common in relationships that many can identify with. How they rise above the challenge provides many lessons about managing priorities, loving oneself while sustaining a meaningful relationship, etc.

Except for a few instances of poor editing, the movie was technically well made. As for the cast, they were wonderful to watch. The leads definitely have chemistry and acted out their parts well. The supporting cast lent excellent support and were every bit parts of the film as the leads.

Nowadays, its common to see ads in movies. While in some movies ads are poorly placed and are too in-your-face, here the ads are seamlessly integrated in the story such that there is no need to even mention the brand name or take a close-up shot. The association of the product and endorser is enough to make the connection.

I immensely enjoyed the movie and am eagerly awaiting part three. Bring it on!

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies

Thanks to Gibbs Cadiz, I was able to watch the last show of UA&P-Kultura's production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown! today.


Let me start by saying that I know very little about Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. Although a well syndicated comic strip, it has never been a favorite because either I don't get the joke or don't find it funny at all. But I'm a fan of musical theater and that drove me to email Marie Puyat, as per Gibbs' instruction, to get a free ticket.

And I'm glad I did for now I have a better appreciation of the comic strip and because watching it made me feel good. I laughed out loud, sang along and applauded like many in the audience.

All the cast members/characters had their moments but I could identify most with Lucy van Pelt played by Pam Imperial. Memories of how I taught S5 how to spell her name or eat queso de bola came back to mind.

Presented in sketches, the play talks about many things, issues confronting both children and adults, like failure, timidity, honesty, friendship, insecurities, etc. It ends by saying that there are many things to be happy about.

And one of those is this, a free ticket to a musical! Thanks again to Gibbs Cadiz, Marie Puyat and UA&P Kultura for a wonderful afternoon!

Labels: theater

I've been meaning to try Sugarnot! since Doc Emer recommended it in my entry to Litratong Pinoy's Balingkinitan vut the unhealthy diner in me always won over the healthy eater in me.

Armed with a newfound resolve, I finally tried it today after clocking in 45 minutes on the treadmill at the gym.

Sugarnot! prides itself in offering low carb, low fat and low calorie dishes. It has two sets of menus, the regular one and one especially for diabetics. Both present each dish with a photo, a description and a nutrition label. The latter shows how much calories are in each dish and its components in terms of fat, protein and carbohydrates. Because of this, the diner makes an informed choice. It would have been better, however, if the sodium content was also listed.


The server recommended their bestseller Supreme Sugarnot Pancakes (PHP 228), whole wheat delicious pancakes with Glucerna SR's special blend served with Torani Syrup and banger sausages. I love that its 147.23 calories is less than what I burned on the treadmill, that it has all the items of a meal (some carbo, some protein and fruits too) and that it kept me full until dinnertime, some 7 hours away. It was quite good too but people who prefer sweet syrups will probably be disappointed.

Although they get a sizeable crowd during peak hours, they have few customers in between. But that's not really a surprise considering that most of us live dangerously because leading a healthy lifestyle is hard work.

One has to start somewhere and I'm happy that Sugarnot! offers us ways to do that. I'm definitely coming back unless I find a cheaper alternative which also offers healthy fare.

Labels: taste test

Sporty is something I'm not. I've never been into competitive sports but played chess once upon a time in grade school. Volleyball, softball and badminton were sports taught in high school but I only did enough to fulfill the requirement. In college, I survived PE by signing up for bowling, aerobics and folk dance. But maybe I can change that. Does the treadmill count?

Are you sporty or not?

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This is my 32nd contribution to Aloha Friday.

Labels: aloha friday

I'm a late convert to American Idol, having only followed it religiously last season. Before that, I would just see snippets and yet even then I've always liked Simon Cowell. I love his wit and how he tells it as it is, without holding anything back.

Watching it religiously has also made me appreciate Paula Abdul. Although some quarters question her judgment, I love that she always injects something positive in her comments.

How they judge may be considered extremes but I think they complement each other very well.

Photo from this site.

Sometime ago, I installed the Wowzio live activity feed. I love that it tells me where my readers are from, where they're coming from and what they're reading.

Today, I was surprised to find that somebody found Pulse through Bigby's Cafe and Restaurant. It turns out that my review was picked up and posted in the site. Not only that, my review was also cited in The Pepper Blog of Pepper Lunch.

That said, I'd like to reiterate that none of these were paid posts. I paid for the meals myself.

You can be assured that the reviews in this blog are my honest opinion and that makes them real.

Labels: taste test

When The Last Song Syndrome posed the question what would you advice a fresh medical graduate, I knew precisely what to answer. It's something passed on to me that I would like to pass on to others too.

First, let me clarify. Although TLSS mentioned fresh graduate in her call for posts, I am taking this to mean doctors who have finished training, whether med school or sub-specialty, and are about to practice in the real world. After all, residency and fellowship are like being in school still.

Everything changes when a doctor finally hangs a signage and gets a clinic to call his own. There, he waits and waits with a lot of time in his hands, quite unlike the culture of toxicity he has since been accustomed. For it takes time to build a practice, all he can do is wait. While waiting, he is faced with the realization that being in training was having it easy. After all, with training one is at least assured of parental support or at least a monthly, although paltry, salary. And now that he's practicing in the real world, there are bills to pay: rent, secretary, etc.

But my advice isn't about how to jump start a practice or to escape financial woes, it's about looking at this slow time from a positive point-of-view.

In my early days of practice, I met a mentor who asked how I was doing and if I was already big time. When I told him that I was big time in the sense that I was getting bigger from being sedentary and that time was all I got, he told me to savor the moment because when practice gets busy, as it eventually will, you'd miss these days.

So my advice to a medical graduate is this: Love the downtime. Life is not all about medicine. Consider it as an opportunity to reconnect with friends or family or even yourself. These emotional investments are worth much, much more and will prepare you for the busy days ahead.

This is my entry to The Blog Rounds March edition: Letter to A Medical Graduate hosted by The Last Song Syndrome.

Labels: group writing project, the blog rounds

It's pageant season once again and gorgeous ladies are sashaying their stuff in swimsuits or whatever. Although I don't really follow local competitions, I make it a point to tune in to Ms. Universe.

My favorite portion is the opening number where the girls parade in their national costumes. It's a very pretty sight. However after that they announce the finalists and my enthusiasm to watch is somehow dampened if the Philippine candidate failed to make the cut.

More than the swimsuit competition, I like the evening gown portion of the show where the contestants look so elegant. Aside from that, I like seeing different gown designs and usually pick a favorite, not among the girls, but among the dresses.

For me, last year's winner's walk as she recounts her journey is a highly charged moment.

Always much talked about is the question and answer portion. Here candidates can either make it or break it. There have been pretty insightful answers too to tough questions.

Do you like beauty pageants?

I've wanted to see He's Just Not That Into You since I saw its trailer. First, because it's a chick flick. And second, and more importantly, because Bradley Cooper is in it. But Tom Cruise, Isla Fisher, work and travel got in the way.

But yesterday, after a stressful morning, Zara and I decided to unwind and see it finally. Although we initially wanted to catch You Changed My Life, we thought that that would probably still be on next week.


He's Just Not That Into You is a collection of stories about love and relationships. The characters lives intertwine as they struggle to get into or out of relationships.

The cast is star-studded. Each actor is gifted in his own right yet agreed to an ensemble movie. There are no stand outs because they were all good and able to breathe life into their character.

Now, about Bradley Cooper and the character he plays, I like his smile most of all and can understand why most women would fall for him. What I cannot understand is how some women persevere even when told that their object of interest is taken. And more appalling is how other women encourage them to pursue a married man.

There are many relationship issues in the movie and they are as equally important as infidelity. They include how technology has changed courtship, marriage, differing interpretations of signals, the rules, etc.

But watching the movie was not all pleasant because the theater's air conditioner was not working properly. People were fanning themselves. That plus the heat were distracting and made the movie feel longer than it actually was.

Photo from this site.

Labels: movies