Queen Meryl

If your life story would be featured in a film, who among the actors and actresses would you want to portray your character?  Since it will take metric tons to depict my charm, appeal and personality, it will take a true thespian, prolific performer and sensational artiste to take on my character.  I actually think that no living male actor can do my role.  But one actress (for that matter), I guess, can level up and take on the extreme challenge of being my character.  I would certainly choose the most celebrated actress of all time, Meryl Streep.

Meryl Streep is so good, give her the character of a chair, she can certainly act like one.  And you will be left stunned and entertained at the end of her characterization of being a genuine chair.

queen meryl

queen meryl

I personally have lost count on how many Meryl Streep movies that I’ve seen.  But in each movie, she was simply frank, authentic and valid.  She is so effective you would actually forget that she is Meryl Streep, the actress.

And just yesterday, I was again extremely impressed by Meryl Streep when she rendered a very powerful speech when she was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Golden Globes.  It was intense, it was true, it was charming, it was emphatic.  Such a poignant speech actually shook the whole America out of its wits!  It is because, what she was saying seem to shake and wake them all up.

Why was Meryl so effective and made a buzz all over the world in her yesterday’s speech?  It was because everybody – at the back of their brain – seem to be being told, lectured, chided and harangued by Miranda Priestly, Margaret Thatcher, Sister Aloysius Beauvier, Florence Foster Jenkins, Joanna Kramer, Violet Weston, Sophie Zawitowski, Donna of Mama Mia and The Witch of Into The Woods all at the same freaking time!

That is how powerful Meryl Streep is!  She’s so powerful she should be crowned and dubbed as the Queen of America!

Aydol! Ibang lebel kung tumira si Ateng!

Stupidly Expecting for Dami Im

In my recent journey to New Zealand, I got to spend a very short period of time in Australia.  It is because my flight from Manila to Queenstown was via Sydney.  It was a 3 hour layover at the land down under.

While at the Sydney airport, I was ecstatic because despite the fact that chances of bumping into my favorite Aussie celebrity was like asking for the heavens to give me the greatest love life I don’t deserve, I was still positively expecting some mystic phenomenon to happen.  I was not expecting to bump into Kylie Minogue or Hugh Jackman nor Cate Blanchett or Chris Hemsworth.  I was not expecting Australians to bestow me a red carpet welcome.  I was not expecting the mayor to hand me the key to their city.  I was actually hoping to see Australia’s singing diva, Dami Im!

dami-im

dami was not popular yet during my visits in sydney...

dami was not popular yet during my visits in sydney…

I know it’s stupid but as soon as my feet landed on the grounds of Sydney, my bizarre and inexplicable hope for Dami Im to be at the airport!  And since I don’t have any photos to show, it means this longing did not transpire.  I guess the heavens was smart enough not grant such a wish, otherwise, I would not have left the airport in time for my journey to fresh Queenstown.

Let me just satiate and mollify this stupid wish by posting and listening to Dami Im’s latest single “Fighting for Love”.  I actually prefer Dami’s live performance during the X Factor TV show than the actual music video of the song…

Na-aning-aning lang sa Sidni…

11 Blocks by Wrabel

wrabel (photo taken from his fb page)

wrabel (photo taken from his fb page)

Hey! Look and listen to who I discovered! His name is Wrabel.  I don’t know if he’s an indie or a mainstream artist.  And I have yet to look and listen into his body of work.  But one thing is for sure… I love his single entitled “11 Blocks”

I peeped into Wrabel’s Facebook and found this poignant and soulful expression on his page…

tonite i quite literally set the past on fire.

ready to move on.

ready for change.

ready for new.

ready to leave for this tour and ready to share these songs and these stories and my head and my heart with whoever will listen.

hehe this is a bit dramatic.

but sometimes it just has to be

Listen to 11 Blocks before everybody is singing it and before this song blows out of proportion.  I really like this and I hope you do too…

May potenshal… Super nays ‘di ba?

Happy Chemicals Caused By The Robert & JT Moves

It’s already midday Tuesday in Manila before night time falls in California.  Does this means that we in Manila needs to be more patient and takes more time to wait before we could watch the next dance routine of JT and Robert?

a magical tandem

a magical tandem

a great storyteller

this cute boy is a great storyteller

That’s exactly what I thought when I patiently waited for the airing of SYTYCD: The Next Generation season after they were gone for 2 weeks to give way to the airing of the Summer Olympics.  And when I saw the phenomenal Mr. Jobangles routine, my impatience just suddenly vanished.  It was worth the wait!

JT and Robert on the dance floor are simply magical!  They’re the best thing I’ve ever seen on SYTYCD!  Their partnership is something so joyous.  Their routines week after week speaks volumes!  Their routines are no longer about the technicality of their dance moves.  It’s no longer about their having good lines and flexibility.  It’s already about awesome and touching storytelling in which happy chemicals are emitted by the people who sees their dance performances.

Now watch and be touched…

https://youtu.be/oHUCtdv3Hj0

Ninakaw ng dalawang ‘to ang puso ko.

Dory and Doris

There are two interesting and colorful characters I knew after watching two heart-felt movies this quiet weekend.  One is a blue fish who is suffering from short term memory loss while the other is an old lady who is diagnosed with compulsive hoarding.

The blue forgetful fish is Dory from the movie Finding Dory (voiced by Ellen De Generes) while the loony yet passionate old lady is Doris from the movie Hello My Name is Doris (played by Sally Field).

I can totally relate to both characters!  It is because aside from their being single, loveless, perky and fun, both are serious mental cases.  And after watching both movies and trumpeting explosions of laughter, one thing is for sure, I adore both characters!finding dory

doris 2Though Dory and Doris may have different issues in their lives, one similar aspect in the wide spectrum of their being is that both are searching for their own self-sufficiency, individuality and life’s happiness. Both characters through their story relays that it is okay to make mistakes and that the search for joy, identity, and self-sufficiency can sometimes be achieved through some unique and unexpected ways.

Dory and Doris are some potent characters who will pull you out from your comfort zone so that you can move on to the next chapter of your life.  And because of these, it’s indeed so nice knowing Dory and Doris!

Kaloka ‘tong dalawang ‘to! 

Could Have Been a Magical Damivision

I woke up at three and got my ears pregnant!  That is after watching the intense and high-valued production numbers of 42 countries competing for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

Though I am gutted because she did not win, I am very proud of Dami Im for making it to second place.  She actually garnered a landslide of a vote from the international jury, which is 50% of the votes.  How I wish I was at the arena for me to witness how shocked and sputtered the crowd have been after Ukraine was announced the winner.  Ukraine’s entry was neither the top choice of the international jury (which went to Dami) and neither the viewers’ choice (which went to Russia).dami im eurovision 2016

I personally feel that Dami should have been the winner!  She clearly was the one to beat.  For me, close second would be Sweden (super nice song that is easy to the ear) then followed by Lithuania (such a danceable track!).

Dami’s entry was awesome!  The song was great, the production was awesome, the high fashion overall look was impeccable, the megawatt voice was enchanting and Dami’s radiating charm and multi-cultural background is what Europe needs. Eurovision this year could have been a magical Damivision.  And the news headline could have been “Australia Invades Europe!”

Anyhow, Dami clearly won the hearts of Europe!  Massive congratulations Dami Im!  One Pinoy member of the fierce Dami Army here is no doubt so proud of you.

‘Di pa redi ang Yurop sa talento ng lola mo…

The Saddest Eyes of Eli Lieb

the heart-pricking stare of eli lieb

the heart-pricking stare of eli lieb

This is the very heartbreak ballad that I don’t want to sing ever!  But since the exhibited emotions of the singer (Eli Lieb that is) is so raw, this video then deserves to be in my blog.

Those eyes are the saddest.  You can actually see and feel that this guy is going through with something.  Try to notice his subtle sigh at the end of the video.  It happened in a split a second yet you can actually feel the intensity of sadness and sorrow when he blew air out from his mouth.  Such a glum and doleful moment.

I have seen a number of videos of Eli Lieb in the past but I haven’t seen how sad his eyes looks like like the way this beautiful video did.  If indeed his going through with something, I hope him well…

Halatang may pinagdadaanan si kuya.

A Pinoy Looking Forward to Eurovision This Year

(photo captured from eurovision website)

(photo captured from eurovision website)

Eurovision is a very popular song contest participated mostly by the members of the European Broadcasting Union.  Though it is widely popular even to non-member countries like USA and China, I, being an inhabitant in the southeastern portion of the planet is not keen and familiar about this contest.  News on who won in this prestigious contest would oftentimes be brushed-off in my country.

But for this year, I would have to go off a tangent.  It is because I am very excited to see the talented Dami Im on the stage performing this year’s song entry by Australia.  I am looking forward on seeing the dazed, dumbfounded and bewildered reactions of the audience after watching and hearing Dami sing. And I am most eager to witness how she would blow up the big stage in Stockholm with her amazing set of pipes during the night of the competition.

I have been a member of the Dami Army since day one of X Factor Australia 2013 (press the LINK for proof).  And for this year I would have to admit that I would be cheering for Australia to win.

Though Philippines is not a member and participant in this contest, let me then initiate the casting of the Philippine vote for 12 points to Australia.  Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi,Oi, Oi! Here’s this year’s Aussie entry as performed by the fantastic Dami Im…

Dami por da win… ‘yan na ang panalo!

That Liberating Feeling Channeled by Queen Madonna

I may not be aware but as far as I know, I don’t curse.  Uttering expletives and swearwords is really not my cup of tea.  That is why while I was watching the first night of Madonna concert (Rebel Heart Tour) here in Manila I was surprised and was in disbelief by Madonna who generously peppered us with the “Mother F” words.  It initially felt awkward.

What is even more uncomfortable is that Madonna wanted us (the audience) to answer her questions in the affirmative by shouting “F@#k Yeah!” It was indeed super unpleasant at first.  But as the show develops to become more spectacular song after song, answering Madonna with such profanity seem so liberating.

I was like un-caged for a while and did not care who would react to such profanities that I was blaring.  And since everybody was in such a happy mood and because everybody else is doing it, no one cared, no one got offended and no one was hurt.  And that is the beauty of being able to scream out something that is unusual yet astonishingly redemptive and unshackling.

liberating aside from being spectacular!

liberating aside from being spectacular!

happy!

happy!

My shouting “F@#k Yeah!” that night actually became a bit of therapeutic.  It is because I was luckily able to channel and vent out all my worries, anxieties and desperations in my screaming!  I did not seem to care what Madonna was asking her audience but when it was time to respond and shriek with the rest of the spectators, I was pouring out all my angsts!

Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour I guess lived up to the title of the concert.  My heart indeed became temporarily rebellious from the norm because my civility would seem fly out the window every time I shout to respond to the Queen.  But the cathartic effect of screaming expletives that night was really comforting in the end.  No, I did not changed by starting to utter expletives from now on,  but that night, I left the concert cheering and ecstatic yet deep within me I was feeling calm, quiet and free.

I don’t know if my troglodyte-like writing and relaying these thoughts makes any sense but my shouting “F@#k Yeah!” that night was indeed one unusual liberating experience!

Pak Ya! Hahaha!

Manny Pacquiao Is One Serious Disappointment

With the present psyche of the Philippine society being backed up by extreme and ambiguous religious belief, I have long accepted the fact that legalizing same sex marriage in this country would be so remote.  Thus, asking a famous boxer and part-time politician in a country where the majority of its populace are unfortunately not in the side of reason, if he agrees or disagrees on same sex marriage is nothing but pointless.  The system will not change in case he agrees with same sex-marriage anyway.

There has been a lot of people who opposes same sex marriage but these people were prudent and human enough not to compare LGBT people to being inferior to animals.  And though I disagree with them, I respected these people’s stance. But what broke my heart was Manny Pacquiao’s cruel statement of comparing the LGBT to being worse than animals.

the personalized shirt i would use during boxing events of manny. i don't know what to do with it now... its eating some precious space nn my cabinet...

the proof of my being a fan. the personalized shirt i would use during boxing events of manny. i don’t know what to do with it now… its eating some precious space in my cabinet…

Manny Pacquiao uttering this insensitive and idiotic idea made my respect for him simply fade away.  My being a fan simply vanished out into smithereens.  He is definitely awful and is one serious disappointment.  To those who think that what he said was okay, I’m sorry to all of you because Manny himself know that he was mistaken.  He would not apologize if he knows that he was not off beam.

Yeah, he has apologized but sorry the emotionally wounding damage has been done and though it may heal (hopefully soon), forever will remain one ugly scar.

And from the last time I checked prior to Mr. Pacquiao’s atrocious statement, my married LGBT friends who are living in a peaceful and productive lives has not in any way hurt or even negatively affected the boxing and political career of Mr. Pacquiao.  I don’t see the reason why he would disappointingly hurt them then?

Sabi nga ni Manang Madonna… “Bits get op may powl”!