Tuos: An Exotic 2016 Cinemalaya Entry

Posted on August 11, 2016 by heavenliner

I have always believed that a superb art no matter what medium it is should be something that emits emotion subject to the sensors’ perception. It should be an art that is open to the subjective interpretation by the people who experiences it.

This precept is especially true of the Filipino film entitled Tuos, an official entry in the 2016 Cinemalaya Film Festival presently running at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The conduct of the story as well as the moods of each of the characters in the film are all subject to the interpretation by the viewers.

cultural!!!

exotica!

Directed by Derick Cabrido, I consider Tuos as one of the most exotic Filipino film from among the Filipino films that I have seen. Though the movie has the tendency to get quite dragging, some of the rich colors of the Filipino customs and culture were shrewdly presented.

And aside from the impeccable acting of the legendary Filipino actress, Nora Aunor who plays Pina-Ilog in the movie, what particularly impressed me by Tuos were the additional layers of art that were fittingly mixed in the story. The landscape presented in a modern visual art and the haunting old folklore of a song mixed together during the animation portion of the movie were pure brilliance. These layers of art added up to the already rich texture of the movie.

When the movie ended and was already rolling its credits, I was left s mystified, stunned and thinking. With my limited cerebral capacity, I tried interpreting the scenes and the narratives that were presented. And there’s one last thing that I realized about Tuos, that it is indeed one exotic and powerful movie that only the smart and brainy human beings would be able to appreciate.

Sori na lang sa mga bobo, pang matalino lang ang pelikulang ito.

Excited for Celias Café

Posted on July 9, 2016 by heavenliner

People living in Alaminos, Pangasinan (and those who would visit this fast developing city) has something awesome to look forward to. Celias, a new modern Filipino coffee shop, is due to open on Saturday, July 16, 2016.

egzoited!!!

I am excited because the last time I visited Alaminos, Pangasinan, there seem to be no decent café or coffee shop where we could enjoy good coffee and some sumptuous meal. I and my friends (after touring the Hundred Islands) settled on eating at a trivial fastfood joint inside a trivial shopping mall.

What I’m most excited about Celias Cafe would be their all-day-breakfast Pinoy food offerings as well as that of their coffee concoctions. I am excited because I know, on a personal level, the owners of this café. And I know that these owners has lived for years in Osaka, the culinary capital of Japan. Hence, these new proprietors knows what good food is and I believe they have acquired impressive palatal sense. They know what delicious is!

I will definitely be heading to Celias Café and will give you my two cents on what this new exciting café has to offer! Celias is located beside the SSS Building along Marcos Avenue, Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

Si yu der…

Pancit Batil Patung at Shallots-All-You-Can Joint

Posted on July 3, 2016 by heavenliner

The usual main aim of an out of town adventure is to see and experience for yourself the scenic view of your planned destination. While the food in your destination would usually come in as an additional perk to an already awesome adventure.

But this is not the case with my recent out of town adventure in Tuguegarao, Cagayan province. I, MJ, JB and Willie (my officemates) went to Tuguegarao for a long weekend with two major aims in mind: to visit the majestic Callo Cave and to take a bite of Tuguegarao’s unique noodle dish.

super special batil patung at jomar’s

Pancit Batil Patung on my first chomp was like an explosion of flavors in my palate. The delicious mixture of ingredients was so awesome it will make your taste buds wanna grow hands for it to give a good round of applause.

But let me digress from the as-expected delicious taste of this dish to that of the surprising and unique experience we had when we went and ordered our Pancit Batil Patung at Jomar’s Panceteria (panceteria: English translation, noodle house).

Jomar’s Panceteria only serves Pancit Batil Patung and there’s nothing else in the menu. Thus, you would really conclude that their noodle dish is one of the best since it’s the only dish that keeps their store alive. Nevertheless, their pancit are of three varieties, i.e. regular, special and super special. All four of us of course did not settle for less and opted for the Super Special which only costs eighty pesos (or less than US$ 2).

happy tummy… (with mj, jb and willie)

Our astonishment in the restaurant was further driven when we noticed at one corner of the dining area was the presence of a ginormous chopping board, several knives and a huge sack full of pungent shallots.

While we were having the first bite of the pancit (egg noodle), we noticed people were actually proceeding to the monster chopping board and were actually peeling off and mincing the shallots. After which they would place it on a small saucer and bring to their table. We then saw them pour soy sauce and scooped a generous amount so as to top it on their Pancit Batil Patung.

We then asked our companion Willie to peel and chop red onions for us. And when he could no longer take it he went back to our table serving a meager amount of minced shallots with uncontrollable tears in his eyes. We on the other hand were laughing so hard!

big portions!!!

extra challenge part of the adventure!

pose muna with the “cusinera“

That’s when we realized that Jomar’s Pancit Batil Patung was a shallots-all-you-can panciteria! I was actually telling my companions that Jomar’s should replace the knives and chopping board with a food processor so that it would be “no-more-tears” and would be easier for their guests. But then again, I realized that if electric food processor would be installed, the odd extra-challenge, fun and uniqueness of the whole experience would be expunged.

Where in the world would you find a restaurant that has this kind of an offering? Pancit Batil Patung at Jomar’s was definitely one unique, enjoyable and tummy-filling part of our adventure in Tuguegarao.

Sibuyas pa mor!

Cool Tuguegarao Adventure 2016 Video

Posted on June 28, 2016 by heavenliner

Worry. That is my initial feeling when the plan to go to the province of Tuguegarao has finally been confirmed. I was worried that my super hot body might assimilate with that of the hottest place in the Philippines. I was worried for it might have an effect on mankind and the environment I was worried that the integration of my mega hot body with that of the blistering climate of Tugegarao may cause the planet to explode!

my gosh… that is one hot dude! (in my dreams) hahaha!

But I was wrong because by the time I stepped on the tarmac at Tugegarao airport all I could feel was coolness. I knew right away that this super hot spot in the Philippines would be one cool place to stay. I was wrong because the only blazing hot was the weather everything else were sooo cool and refreshing. The people, the food as well as the beautiful scenery were something to chill about!

To summarize my adventure with colleagues MJ, JB and Willie, here’s one refreshing video. I hope that Ben Rector would equally be cool about my using his awesome song entitled Brand New (no copyright infringement was intended) in this video…

It was a blast!

Sa sobrang init, gusto ko nang mag dyaket!

The Word for Today is Kafkaesque

Posted on June 6, 2016 by heavenliner

Our word for the day is ‘Kafkaesque’. Meriam-Webster defines this adjective as “having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre or illogical quality”. And still according to Meriam-Webster, this word is “often applied to bizarre and impersonal administrative situations where the individual feels powerless to understand or control what is happening”.

The feeling of being Kafkaesque is what I believe is what majority of the Filipinos are at in the present time. This is most specifically exact with regards to the socio-political environment of the Philippines now that Rodrigo “The Punisher” Duterte, the president-elect, is about to head the country. The Pinoy populace has gone Kafkaesque despite the fact that the incoming head of state has:

cursed and condemned the United Nations during his most recent press conference
called the Pope a son of a whore during its 2015 visit in the country
ridiculed Mexicans in front of the Mexican Ambassador
uttered misogynistic comments and called himself a womanizer
talked about his libido and sexual prowess during his campaign trails
pronounced that he could not live without Viagra
admitted to have permitted vigilante justice
joked about wanting to be the first to rape a brutally murdered Australian missionary
threatens to abolish the Congress if it plans to impeach him
voiced out that he is to pardon himself to mass murders
admitted his involvement with death squads
catcalled on a respectable lady journalist during a press conference
so used to using the Filipino-Tagalog term for “son of a bitch” as if it is one conventional and tolerable expression

kafkaesque ang peg natin dito kay manong

I don’t want to analyze and justify why he won the country’s presidential election and continues to be so loved and be so popular in this country despite all those atrocious and despicable rhetoric. And I know that my not trying to analyze and justify does not make things better. Maybe it is because like the majority of the Filipinos, I myself has gone Kafkaesque.

Mind you, the use of the word Kafkaesque is not the first time in this blog. I have utilized this word in one of my blog posts some three and a half years ago. Click this LINK (kafkaesque) to find out…

But seriously – as if the enumerated speechifying by Duterte are nothing but light, easy and cheery – the reason why I chose the word Kafkaesque is because of a recent video posted by New York Magazine in its Facebook page.

Watch this and be amazed by this stunning piece of art which commemorates Franz Kafka, the dude whose surname was the origin of the word of the day…

Parang pang sosyal naman yang word na yan!

Resolved Craving for Patupat

Posted on June 5, 2016 by heavenliner

Americans may crave for the tasty mac & cheese, Italians may hanker for an authentic margherita pizza and Japanese for a shot of sake. This is a common desire and appetite if they people have been out of their country for a considerable span of time. I for one yearned for the texture, flavor and smell of Patupat.

Being a child of a Pangasinense, I grew up chomping on the sweet molasses flavor of this glutinous rice wrapped in coconut leaves weaved into a bag. Patupat during my childhood was a usual chow readily available inside our ref every time my father’s relatives living in Pangasinan visits Manila. And because of this, my DNA was programmed to crave for such if my nutritional intake has been Patupat-deficient. I can confidently say that Patupat in a way defines me. It’s in my tradition, it’s in my subconscious, it’s in my roots.

i have to steam it! just like me... it's best consumed when sticky and hot!

i have to steam it! it’s best consumed when hot and sticky!

patupat defines me…

I could no longer recall the time when the last time I ate a bag of Patupat. I have been craving for it! That is why when I learned that Thatcher (my niece) will be arriving in Manila from Pangasinan, the foolish request I asked her is to bring me loads of this tasty, sticky and gluey delicacy.

Now my craving has been resolved because my hearty breakfast are two bags of Patupat. I guess… Patupat defines me. Patupat is tasty, hot and sticky just like me! Yummy!

Walang kaduda-duda, Pinoy nga ako!

Shut Up! That’s How Nengkoy Loves Me!

Posted on May 8, 2016 by heavenliner

My mother loves me. Case in point is what just has happened.

I was too lazy to answer my phone. But after ringing like a million times, I knew that it’s my mother who’s calling. She’s the only one whom I know who has the patience and tolerance to wait that much amount of time of allowing numerous ringing of a telephone before finally giving up. But this time, I was starting to feel a headache out from the unstoppable ringing, I did not have the choice but to answer it.

And when I answer “hello”, Nengkoy’s first utterance over the phone was a question of what time will I be going to her house. I did not answer her question but instead greeted her warmly by saying “Happy Mother’s Day!” She answered back by saying an annoyed and sarcastic “Tse!” (English translation: Shut Up!)

She started telling me stories over the phone, who were already in her house at that moment and what food she has prepared. We concluded our conversation by assuring her that I will be in her house later in the afternoon. That’s how Nengkoy loves me!

Happy Mother’s Day Nengkoy!

Hapi Mader’s Dey sa lahat lahat!

The Sameness and Difference Between A Madonna Fan And A Duterte Fan

Posted on May 1, 2016 by heavenliner

A fanatic is someone who is enthusiastically devoted to something or somebody. They are the type whose supposed reasoning and realistic views are often clouded by their strong affection, uncritical adoration or excessive enthusiasm towards the object or person of their devotion.

filipino fandom

I for one is a fan. Lots of friends and relatives know that the person of my fanaticism is the Queen of Pop Madonna. I have done senseless things in the past on my being a fan of Madonna. That is, from hanging huge posters or framed photos in my room to cutting and collecting clippings of articles written about her to buying all her records.

I am a fan because whatever Madonna does, I still admire her. My reasoning, logic and judgement tends to get murky when it comes to Madonna. Whatever she does, whatever she says and whatever she thinks, no matter how bad, evil or crazy it is, such will just be fine, tolerable and acceptable with me.

I can always reason out or justify why she utter a thought or does things no matter how stupid it may be. I can even think of meanings behind what seem to be symbols in her wardrobe, in her songs or in her music videos. That is how fanatic I am about Madonna.

This is the very idea that led me to think about the new fandoms that has emerged in two countries where the presidential election campaigns are ongoing. I am talking about USA and the Philippines.

In US, it can no longer be denied the existence of hardcore devotion towards the Republican front runner Donald Trump. And here in the Philippines, we have the presidential front runner and likely victor Rodrigo Duterte, whose despicable utterances and vile conducts make Donald Trump look like a polite and obedient boy.

And since I live here in the Philippines, let me focus the fanaticism towards Duterte. Otherwise known as “The Digong Phenomenon”, this fandom is something new here in the Philippines. According to social analysts, this new fanbase crisscrosses the social status spectrum, i.e. from class A to E.

And despite the fact that he has gone fickle in admitting to have hidden wealth, he disrespect the elders, challenge the foreign allies, admitted to have killed thousands of people, joked about rape and death of a slashed neck woman, call the Pope a son of a b, and does not seem to have concrete plans about the Philippines, his fans still would not mind. The fanatics still profess to vote for him in the coming election. They would even threaten to fight and stage a revolution in case he loses.

Yeah, I am the same of a fan-tard of Madonna as what multitude of Filipinos to being fan-tards of Duterte. But what’s the disturbing difference? I can think of only one answer.

The big difference would be the effect of such fanaticism. My devotion or Madonna fans’ adoration would not shape or influence the future of a nation. While the Duterte fanaticism could actually affect everyone in the Philippines may a citizen be a fan or not. Madonna’s utterances, actions, triumphs and failures would basically affect her and her alone. But Duterte’s actions, decisions, would-be-achievements and most-likely-transgressions would obviously affect every Filipino may they be based here or abroad.

similar yet very different

And since I am not a fan, the thought of Duterte being my President makes me so anxious and nervous. The result of the upcoming Philippine election definitely is a very critical event. Whether I like it or not, it will be part of my life in the next six years. The future of the overall situation of the nation where I breathe is at stake. And the thought of Duterte being my President makes me shiver! That is why in my humble effort, I would try to dissuade people from voting for Duterte.

I know that (like my unbending illogical adoration towards Madonna) the Duterte fanatics will never, in any way reverse or even bend their fanaticism towards Mr. Duterte. And in case Duterte is proclaimed the President, I would just have to accept and assent to the impending menacing circumstances.

I will most probably lynched or will have to shower offensive slurs in the next couple of days because of this piece of writing – because Duterte diehards can somewhat be rude, insulting and odious – but I truly hope and pray that Duterte fans are outnumbered by voters who chose a different candidate.

Aside from being the same on being illogical, unbending and absurd. I just hope that Duterte fanatics are outnumbered, the same way that I being a Madonna fan is outnumbered.

Santa Maria!!! Hwag naman sana!!!!

Diwata Made Me Smile

Posted on April 11, 2016 by heavenliner

Last night, to ease down my post holiday blues, which I think was caused by an awe-inspiring trip to Israel, I opted to switch on my Spotify and searched for a Filipino-Tagalog song. I supposed a local-flavored tune would in some way ease my sudden drop of mind-set from a consistently exhilarating euphoria during my trip to significantly low levels of despondency upon my return.

While trying to search for some upbeat happy Tagalog tune which would hopefully try to bring me back to my senses, I happen to bump into a very charming and engaging song. The song is entitled Diwata sung by Chito Miranda (lead singer of Parokya Ni Edgar band) and sizeable portions of the song was rapped by Abra.

I don’t remember when the last time I wrote or reviewed a Tagalog song. But Diwata (English translation: Fairy) is totally something fresh and easy to the ear. The message is not too sweet neither too tragic. The lyrics may be profound and arduous yet the tune and jingle is adoringly unfussy and uncomplicated.

Diwata did not only make me smile. It actually made me want to listen to it again and write about it!

Saang ilalim ba ng bato ako napatira at ngayon ko lang narinig anf kantang ‘to?

Craved for Rice & Shopping Mall in Tel Aviv

Posted on April 4, 2016 by heavenliner

My being a Far East Asian cracked up and transcended when me and my sister were in Tel Aviv. First was when both of us were craving for rice, the staple food of Far East Asians. After a couple of days gobbling over falafels, hummus, schnitzels and loads of bread and pastry varieties, part of my sleep were dreams about munching on a bowl of hot and freshly cooked rice.

These was further amplified when both of us where hankering whether a shopping mall exists in Tel Aviv. Yeah, the biggest shopping malls on the planet are found in our part of the world! Thus, a week without going to a shopping mall for Far East Asians like me and my sister makes us intensely loony.

So as to resolve our impending bouts of madness we scrambled on googling the net so as to determine where’s the nearest mall and where rice are most likely sold. Thanks to the ever reliable google and google map we found Dizengoff Center, the first mall in Israel. Luckily, this mall was only a couple of minutes walk from our hotel. In this mall was when our rice-cravings was resolved. My theory that Filipinos loves or needs shopping malls was validated because in Dizengoff Center did we saw the most number of Filipinos in Israel.

craving for rice, we passed by dizengoff square a few steps away from the dizengoff center

having fun inside a tel aviv bus!

And after a couple of days, me and my sister bravely rode a bus and headed to the most modern and one of the biggest malls in Tel Aviv known as Azrieli Center. This complex houses three iconic modern towers of Tel Aviv simply known as the Circular, the Square and the Triangular towers. Circular Tower is the tallest building in Tel Aviv and at its top-most floor is where the breath-taking Azrieli Observatory is located.

a ceiling shot of the mall... now try to find the triangulat, square and circular towers

a ceiling shot at the center of the mall… now try to find the triangular, square and circular towers

spectacular view from the Azrieli Observatory. The Mediterranean Sea at the far end!

spectacular view from the Azrieli Observatory. The majestic Mediterranean Sea at the far end!

beautiful!!!

pa-kyut

jackpot!

2 happy pinoys in tel aviv

I love Azrieli Observatory!!!

Discovering the malls of Tel Aviv by ourselves was one advantage of not booking a tour package for our entire stay and trip to Israel. Going and planning on our own, enables me and my sister resolve these kinds of insane issues. I’m pretty sure those expensive yet inflexible tour packages basically offers the more popular Israeli destinations which of course would not include moments inside a mall. And those who availed those rigid package tours failed to see other dimensions of what Tel Aviv or Israel as a whole got to offer.

Without rice and the absence of a shopping mall experience for the entire trip to Israel could have made me and my sister gone mad and demented at the end of the trip. Thanks to Dizengoff and Azrieli Centers for keeping the both of us sane.

‘Yun nga lang, walang Tosilog sa mol nila.

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

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