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?

That Liberating Feeling Channeled by Queen Madonna

Posted on February 26, 2016 by heavenliner

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!

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!

The Seabin Project

Posted on December 26, 2015 by heavenliner

Being an archipelago, most of the parts of my country is surrounded by water. It is however dismaying to know that considerable portions of these waters are now dirty and polluted. An immediate solution to this pressing problem needs to be addressed.

Aside from developing a heart for the environment and massive change in discipline, the invention by Australian surfers Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski is exactly what my country needs to keep its sea, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water clean.

It’s called ‘seabin’, a trash bin that floats in the water. A water pump maintains constant water flow into the bin, bringing with it floating garbage and debris. These refuse items are then caught in a strainer-like net bag. The water is then sucked through the bottom of the bin, into a water pump and then pumped back into the sea.

It is a simple yet brilliant ocean cleaning system that could easily be implemented in seaports and harbors around the country. The inventors have Indiegogo Campaign site that has been set up to collect funding so that they can carry out large scale production and commence with cleaning bodies of water.

Visit seabinproject.com for more details or go to www.indiegogo.com if you would like to donate.

Ilang Sibins kaya ang kailangan sa Manila Bey?

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Posted on December 5, 2015 by heavenliner

translated by jay rubin

Norwegian Wood is the first Murakami novel I’ve read. And this will certainly not be the last.

Each of the character in Norwegian Book were so distinct, so life-like and were so richly depicted. The author has a unique way in making you feel how each character truly felt. It has a very nostalgic feel to it yet the interactions in the book seem so real. Murakami’s words create perfect pictures without becoming too descriptive. And the thoughts he pulls out of the reader tend to suck the energy out for a little while.

And though the story is simple, the range of emotions the characters experience seem so complex making this book so elegant and sophisticated. At first it seemed like a normal beautiful love story, until you reach the story’s dark spin to it. The ending actually left me feeling like my intelligence was raped or I was mind-fucked by Murakami.

Because of Murakami’s beautiful way with imagery perhaps the best thing about Norwegian Wood is that it is open to the reader’s interpretation. I doubt if two people after reading Norwegian Wood will settle with the same interpretation of the events that transpired and the characters’ respective motivations.

Payb stars… ay layk it…

If you’re not touched by this song, you are not a human being!

Posted on October 17, 2015 by heavenliner

Let me be very short and precise on this. This song has been my song for quite some time now. The poignant lyrics hits right through the innermost center of anyone’s heart who has been left by someone, may it be a friend, a family, a person of secret infatuation or a loved one.

If you’re not touched by this song, then, you are not a human being!

Pucha, nakakaiyak naman ‘to!

The Abe Wing of the National Museum

Posted on September 24, 2015 by heavenliner

Last Tuesday night, the few pieces of artistic neurons present inside my cranial cavity were happy to have witnessed one historical event in the “Philippine art scene”. I was present during the formal turnover ceremony of artworks of Emilio Aguilar Cruz to the Philippines’ National Museum for Fine Arts. The event was coined as the biggest donation in the history for an art collection by an artist to the country’s national museum.

And from the poignant speeches I heard during the ceremony, this generous and selfless act was decided upon so that future generations of the Philippines would be able to see and appreciate contemporary yet refined works of Filipino visual art. This is aside from the fact that these valuable pieces would definitely be protected, preserved and maintained by the state.

EAC Gallery (Abe Wing)
photo grabbed from National Museum FB page

Aside from the formal turnover of donation of EAC art pieces, the program also includes the formal inauguration of the Emilio Aguilar Cruz Hall. Also known as the Abe Wing inside the National Museum, this hall exhibits the donated paintings, sketches and water colors done by EAC.

Activating the art connoisseur in me, from among all the art pieces hanged inside the Abe Wing, the two works of art that charmed and bewitched me were:

portrait of a lady, 1989 (oil on canvass)

This painting is a true representation of a Filipina beauty. Though the only color used was the varying colors of brown, the monochromatic shades – from lighting, to the clothing and to the color of the woman’s skin – were all so fascinatingly beautiful and captivating.

Paris, 1980 (watercolor on paper)

This watercolor is small but very engaging. The colors are so alive you would wonder whether such piece was recently been done when in fact it is already 35 years old. Onlooker would be able to appreciate it more if seen from a considerable distance (which for me is a typical EAC style).

Like any other great works of art found in the museums around the globe, EAC’s art pieces would someday, in some foreseeable future, shall become valuable tools for the next generation to better understand its past. Kudos to the family of Emilio Aguilar Cruz for such a generous donation!

Koloring buk ko kaya tanggapin kung i-doneyt ko sa nashonal myusiyum?

The Book of Mormon: An Expensive Item in My Bucket List

Posted on April 27, 2015 by heavenliner

Four years ago, when I saw the stunning rendition of “I Believe” by Andrew Ranells from the musical Book of Mormon during the 65th Tony Awards, I promised myself that when I reached New York in the future I would definitely see this musical extravaganza. This personal promise was reaffirmed a year after when I saw the opening number of the 66th Tony Awards which featured the song “Hello”. Seeing the 2011 and 2012 Tony Awards then was like listing The Book of Mormon among my life’s bucket list.

[youtube:https://youtu.be/GVJgmp2Tc2s&w=350%5D

[youtube:https://youtu.be/OKkLV1zE8M0&w=350%5D

Four years later, such personal promise came true. One item in my long, arduous and complicated bucket list was accomplished. I saw, I heard and I enjoyed The Book of Mormon!

My New Yorker friend Jhong knows that months prior to my visiting New York, the one I specifically would like to do was to see this musical. We never talked about the sites to see (except for the 66 Perry Street), the rides to take, the food to taste or the people to meet. We simply talked about the musicals that I want to see. And The Book of Mormons was right there on the top of our conversations.

my view and my playbill

Jhong somewhat discouraged me because The Book of Mormons right now is considered the “King of Broadway”. Their ticket seats are ranked among the most in demand and the most expensive musical in Broadway now. You can actually buy 2 good seats of a different musical in Broadway for the price of one mezzanine seat of The Book of Mormons. It is so in demand, viewers cannot purchase tickets on the day they want to see the show. Tickets must be purchased online days before they would like to see it.

When Jhong and my new friend Lee purchased the ticket for me and told me how expensive a mezzanine seat was, I told them to go ahead. I simply said yes, closed my eyes and changed the topic for I don’t want to ponder and go nuts on how my New York travel budget has gone bloated.

it was all worth it!

And right after seeing the show, while I was standing up, clapping my hands and was shouting “Bravo!” I knew that my purchase of such expensive ticket was well vindicated. This 4-year old item in my bucket list was one hell of a wickedly funny musical show!!!

Kahit mahal, mapapa-mura ka sa galing!

The Complete Elements of Junior New System

Posted on April 24, 2015 by heavenliner

What do you call the dance when you put all the elements of modern dancing? Answer: Junior New System!

My goodness! These kids can rock the dancefloor! All dance elements are so present it is considered “unique”. If you love to dance, you should watch their performances. And if you didn’t liked it, then there must be something very wrong with you…

What I love about their choreography and concept is that their dancing could be uniquely genderless. These guys can perform moves from the wide spectrum of gender-role dancing. Their moves can cross over from the rough jagged power motions of a bloke, to the electrifying dancing grace of a dame, to the attitude and flair of the androgynous.

the high heeled shoes that paved the way for them to reach the grand finals (photo taken from jns’ fb page)

I hope these guys win the first edition of Asia’s Got Talent competition. Because if not, then there must be really really be something wrong with Asia.

Na mis ko bigla ang aldeger sisters at wea twins.

TED Talk about a New York Style Pork Adobo

Posted on April 18, 2015 by heavenliner

I don’t cook but if I am to give a TED talk, one possible topic that I would discuss would be the event when I cooked Adobo. A pork adobo for that matter. It is because this is the first time ever that I cooked such a Filipino dish and this happened not in the Philippines but no less than the high-end, well-heeled and sophisticated New York.

I would talk about the feelings of anxiety on how such ingredients would end up being edible and be fit for human consumption. I would talk about the various moods I felt when I was being instructed to the point of being obligated by my friend (Jhong) on what to do as well as the tips on how a perfect adobo would be like.

jhong at times square, my preferred venue for my pork adobo TED talk

jhong at times square, my preferred venue in case my TED Talk talk will become a reality

Super Sid and the secret ingredient

me at jhong’s crib, the birthplace of “new york style pork adobo”

I would talk about the joys of learning how supportive another friend (Sid) became and gave a cooking-adjustment-advise during the duration of my cooking when the dish is turning to become salty and tough to the bite. I would talk about the pleasures of slow cooking and low-fire culinary technique as well as the innuendos of having to wash the dishes while waiting for this amazing dish to cook. I would talk about the thrill of discovering the secret ingredients that I learned so that the dish would be considered the best adobo ever.

hilaw pa

luto na. tadah!
new york style pork adobo

I would talk about the ecstasies, the bliss and the delight when friends considered my first time Adobo to be such a great adobo dish! We all finished it! Jhong even brought some to his office as a “baon” (packed lunch).

And by the way, I’ve tagged this adobo as the New York Style Pork Adobo. I’m pretty sure, I would gain standing ovations and be invited to various TED talk events and venues if I would talk about it. Even Mr. TED of TED talk, whoever he may be, for sure would love my pork adobo.

Naka-tsamba lang ng masarap na luto gusto na kagad mag-TED tok. Hahaha!

The Sheer Epic-ness of Jeremy Jordan

Posted on January 21, 2015 by heavenliner

This has been one entertaining YouTube video that I have been watching every night for multiple times for the past five days. I instantly became a big fan after watching this. It’s funny, it’s impressive, it’s adorable and it’s obsessing!

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a big round of applause to the sheer epic-ness of Mr. Jeremy Jordan!

photo grabbed from jeremy jordan fb account

Bravo!

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

Tag Archives: rare talent