Aside from learning how to ride a bicycle, my other childhood frustration was learning to play a musical instrument. If I be given a choice the two musical instruments that I would love to learn would be the piano and the cello.
Though it’s impossible to carry around, I chose the piano, because of its versatility. For me it’s the all around instrument. There have been a lot of magnificent songs and great musical masterpieces that were composed using the piano.
On the other hand, I chose the cello not for anything else but its aesthetics. Since I am more of a visual person, I like the cello because it looks so classy and sophisticated. However, I actually have yet to know a hit song or music that originated from exclusively using the sound of the cello.
This is a four-year old song but yet its message hits me. I guess if you have been trampled on or down trodden because of your personal conviction which is an unpopular choice or decision, this would be the best song for you.
Strip Me is the type of catchy music that I want to wear everyday…
Never did I posted anything about the new X Factor Australia winner, Marlisa Punzalan, while the show was running. It is because I don’t want to cause any sumpa (curse) or negative effect to her fate and universe.
x factor australia 2014 winner
But honestly, I have been watching this young lady ever since the X Factor Australia has started this year. I know for a fact that she is actually the first one featured during the audition segments of the show. I followed this newly concluded talent show, maybe because of the reverberating feelings of joy and my overindulgence in its 2013 version when the superlative Dami Im won.
A week before the grand finale, I already had the impression that this young lady will win. The reason is not because of her tender age, nor her looks and neither her amazing talent. Three coherent reasons rolled up into my mind right after the semi-final round.
Winning the Toughest Battle
This is because during the semi-final bout she defeated Reigan Derry, the most excellent and the most seasoned among all contestants in this series. I cannot imagine how perennial favorite Reigan Derry being beaten by the other 2 finalists, Brothers 3 and Dean Ray. Reigan with her incredible pipes would easily beat these two other finalists to smithereens in case Dean or Brothers3 would be at the bottom two and perform back-to-back with her.
best showdown of the series!
Thus, before the grand finale, Marlisa Punzalan has already successfully hurdled the hardest challenge she would be faced with during the entire run of the series. For me, the semi-final round was actually more exhilarating than the grand finale. The grand finale was just a matter of confirming Marlisa’s crown.
Australia’s Enduring Love for the Underdog
When Marlisa got into the finals, everybody thinks that she would simply end up being a third placer. Even judge/mentor Redfoo after the semi-final round immediately predicted that Dean is the one to beat. Even online betting website SportsBet predicted that Dean would be bestowed the 2014 title. Dean Ray exhales the funky rock of breath trough out the show that is why everybody expects him to win.
the three rays of sunshine…
funky rocker!
Nonetheless, the whole Australia was gearing Brothers 3 to possibly snatch the title from Dean because these “three rays of sunshine” got the ever reliable cutey-boyband formula. Also, they have been identified halfway through the live shows to have received the most number of votes. Moreover, it would have been a very good promotional angle of story in case the first ‘wild card’ contestant wins the show. Thus, Brothers3 and Dean Ray prior to the grand final were considered the un-proclaimed winners. They were simply the Goliaths of the program!
But Australians (like Filipinos) love an underdog. They would not let a simple-looking lady lacking of self confidence be simply in the side light. It is of human nature to feel that those who have less power are deemed virtuous and noble. Human beings in general love the underdogs because each of us knows what it feels like to be a loser, to be brushed aside or to be a David in a world full of Goliaths.
Let me cap this reason with Ronan Keating’s beautiful wisdom when he was commenting on Marlisa’s performance during the semi-final, which illustrates Marlisa being an underdog. That he is still faithful on the thought that not all good girls finish last. That statement I suppose struck a nerve to the whole of Australia.
Shining at the Right Moment
At the initial phase of the show, Marlisa exhibited good performances but nothing spectacular compared to other contestants. I particularly loved her performance during the boot camp portion of the program, Jessica Mauboy’s Never Be The Same. But during her performance in front of John Legend, who would assist Ronan on picking his top 3 contenders for the live shows, she faltered big time.
During the first few weeks of the live shows, she was simply sailing through. Viewers and even other judges/mentors were particularly concerned because Ronan could not seem to tap the right song that would best fit Marlisa’s age, tone and range.
She was lucky enough that other contestants gave inferior performances compared to her. She even performed the worst performance in the whole show when she sang Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi while suffering from severe illness, in which, she was nevertheless praised by the judges for her guts and professionalism. During these times, other contestants were delivering the best performances of their lives. They were peaking at those moments.
Unfortunately for these other contestants (except for the shoo-in Reigan Derry), they failed to sustain the high points in their performances while the show near its end. Fortunately for Marlisa, she seems to simply just starting to oil up. She was gaining confidence in her stage presence, she was starting to feel the mood/s of her song/s and Ronan is commencing to realize and tap the exact songs for her. She was slowly peaking up!
She only sparkled at the last four or five weeks of the entire series. I totally agreed with Danni Minogue who was stuck to her seat and would hardly stand up after every Marlisa’s performance week after week. That Marlisa’s rendition of Sia and David Guetta’s Titanium performed on the 9th week of the live shows was truly Marlisa and Ronan’s game changer. The Titanium performance of Marlisa made Danni stood up to her feet and cheered for the young lady!
All throughout the TV show, Marlisa seem to be the last contestant to shine. And what is so amazing about her shining is that she was able to sustain it and even progressed further every week! Australians then realized that something special was with this young lady.
Cancer (not the horoscope but the ailment) in which ever form, type, category or origin it is has gained the reputation of being a deadly and dreaded disease. It has claimed a considerable percentage of the human population. This disease is so deadly, it does not only attack the physical being, it also plagues the human emotion as well as drain a family’s bank account. Cancer nowadays is so prevalent everybody seem to know someone who had or have it.
Because of this, people in groups – may it be a foundation, an organization or a company – has come up with noble and novel ideas on how to help those affected. Case in point are the two ongoing projects situated at two ends of the planet. Their strategies may vary but their aim is the same. To kick cancer’s ass.
One is located in Manila, particularly the LJC Restaurants’ ‘Good to Dine’ promo. It is a strategy that lets you donate to the needy yet at the same time let you enjoy a penchant palatal experience. It is because for every ordered special dish included in the campaign, the patron gets to donate ten (10) pesos of his payment to the Philippine General Hospital’s Cancer Institute.
The campaign will run until the end of the year (2014) and the accumulated fund will be used to finance treatments of cancer patients. So when you plan to dine in a restaurant, might as well settle for these restaurants and order for these items…
order na! (photo grabbed from ljc restaurants webpage)
The other is located in New York. That is Hoda Kotb’s (host of The Today Show) direct-to-the-point fundraising and donation campaign. Usually quirky Hoda and her group tickle viewers’ sentiments and emotion by letting them watch and listen to a beautiful mashed up songs of two of pop superstars Sara Bareilles’ ‘Brave‘ and Cindy Lauper’s ‘True Colors‘.
Indeed, the song and the music video touches the heart. It will make you realize that you haven’t seen what a true character of ‘brave’ is until you’ve seen kids kick cancer’s ass.
All proceeds of Hoda’s campaign will go to grants for pediatric cancer research via the American Cancer Society. Click HERE if you wish to donate.
I know how much it takes to achieve a hot gorgeous body. It doesn’t only take few exercises and a good set of genes. It takes a lot of physical workouts, a pretty good knowledge about concepts of human musculature and isometrics, good knowhow about nutrition and of course loads and loads of time, sacrifices and attitude. And once you achieved your goal you must not stop. It again takes loads of what I just enumerated to maintain it.
That is why I praise and applause all those human beings who were able to achieve their physical goal and successfully maintains it.
Just like Nick the Gardener. Here’s an enjoyable clip when powerful Ellen pushed for Nick to be included in a Hollywood movie.
I have not seen the movie Magic Mike. But after that, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he got at least a small part in the movie. And because of this, it looks like there will be a pretty good chance that I will be watching the sequel.
Nick the Gardener must have worked so hard to achieve that. Good for him!
As a way of showing huge gratitude to this adorable Canadian (with Greek descent) guy for loving the Philippines so much, let me feature two of his enjoyable videos on my blog. I have been so captivated by Flip Stavy’s YouTube videos which features his fondness and adoration towards the Filipino language, food and people.
First is a very funny video, which I guess, only Flips can laugh about. I always find it so cute and hilarious when human beings born of another tongue would utter Filipino expletives. Stavy looks so innocent and so clueless making this video a riot! And by the way, the genius dichotomization and extraction variations of the invective ‘put*ng in@’ at the latter part of the video is so brilliant.
But here’s a Filipino language vocabulary video of Flip Stavy discussing about family. I never thought of Filipino genealogy labelling in this very cool manner. How I wish my Filipino teachers taught me my language in this very refreshing style.
Flip Stavy’s adorable videos would not have been possible without his Filipino buddy whom he calls Pao-Pao. I hope Pao-Pao would stay as friendly and supportive as he is now to Stavy. He definitely exemplifies the Filipino’s in-born warmth and hospitality.
From my own personal observations and from what I have seen so far, pink movies usually have tragic or sad endings. It usually has too much or prolonged erotic scenes, it is fully packed with emotional wallop and it’s either too heavy or too flamboyant in terms of plot and characters. Everything seems too extreme making gay movies too cinematic.
Glad to note that all of these observations about a gay movie are not present in the Brazilian feature length film entitled The Way He Looks (original title: Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho) directed by Daniel Ribeiro.
About two or three years ago, I saw on YouTube the short film version of this movie where it was adapted and directed by the same director. That is why when YouTube recommended on its page the full length movie’s trailer I initially got confused. I was telling myself I already saw that adorable film but the images of the movie and the appearances of the characters seem to have changed. I thought the teaser was a continuation of the short film version and that the characters have grown a bit. Out of curiosity, I searched for the film online. I only realized that the director did a re-make of the short film into a new full length movie after I have clicked and searched YouTube.
Luckily for me but unfortunately for filmmaker Ribeiro, the full length version is available on YouTube. This enabled me to watch and appreciate the beauty and excellence of the film. Everything about this movie (both the short and the full-length versions) though simply expressed and executed, seem so brilliant – the light, lovable and innocent quality of the storyline, the captivating fineness of the actors, the distinction of the editing and production design and of course the cleverness of the director.
Even the endearing soundtrack is so merit-worthy. I am now so in love with the song ‘There’s Too Much Love’ by Belle & Sebastian. My favorite scene in the film includes the playing of this song! For me it was not the light kissing scene that is the most tender and most charming part of the movie. Rather it was when Gabriel was teaching the blind Leo how to dance while ‘There’s Too Much Love’ tune is playing.
Another appealing and impressive things about the movie is that it is not just about young gay romance. It is also about delightful family relationship, super friendship, boosting of self-worth and the quest for independence.
This movie deserves to be released commercially here in the Philippines. And if it does, expect me to be queuing at the box office and I would definitely be the first person in line.
I often suffer from high levels of laziness. And when I do, I would simply lie down on my bed and do nothing but surf the net. Usually, my surfing the net would lead me to either watch an indie short film or watch the circus-like hearings and privilege speeches done at the Philippine Senate as downloaded on YouTube.
alan peter cayetano
I am glad to note that out from watching those giddy senate hearings and speeches I am able to contemplate and deduce who shall be the candidate whom I will vote for in the upcoming Philippine presidential election. Thus, if the election will be held tomorrow, I would vote for Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
The Philippines as a government already has a lot of development strategies and economic plans. Some of which will be left fragmentary and incomplete while some will be left untouched/un-started by the present administration. And for these developments to continue, another individual who is held beyond suspicion of wicked wrongdoings and malicious agenda is needed. Thankfully, there is one candidate that exists, thus, the present President need not contemplate whether to stay in power or not beyond 2016.
Cayetano as I observed has consistently pays respect when respect is due yet attacks when attack calls for it. What is so impressive about his style of attacking is that it is never below the belt and is conveyed in a very calm yet precise manner. The guy is simply an exemplification of buckets-full of wit!
His cerebral reasoning, critical debates, imaginative conjectures and significant inferences are usually freakin’ impressive. Though he confessed in one of the senate hearings that he is hikain (asthmatic), he is a no non-sense guy.
Cayetano is always extremely prepared, thus an impeccable professionalism. He speaks good Filipino and English languages. He is fairly aesthetically presentable dude (but I think he needs to hit the gym like his siblings). He loves the Philippines. And the most important of all he looks and sounds sincere.
Unlike my (thankfully) level of sluggishness and indolence that is very variable and erratic, Alan’s level of integrity and moral ascendancy (thankfully too) seems unswerving. I know that my candidate for the highest post of this nation is still subject to change. But may it be in 2016 or not, I can see the future of the Philippines in this guy’s hand.
photo grabbed from dam im’s official facebook page
Being a true blue self-imposed fellow of the Dami Army, I waited for this music video like a Gladiator. Now that it is finally released, the coming nights now seems brighter, my glass of sour wine now tastes better and the constant pit of fury in my gut now subsides.
Dami is one truly amazing talent. Another incredible song with a perfectly fitting and visually stunning music video!
More than a year ago, I wrote about Ella Henderson. After seeing and hearing her unique and magnificent rendition of Cher’s Believe in X Factor UK, I was immediately mesmerized. I continued and followed watching that show until the night Ella got eliminated. I ceased to watch it and never knew who won that year’s contest.
Just tonight while surfing the net, I got to see and be updated with the Ella Henderson goings on. I am glad that her new single Ghost is doing good and its official music video on YouTube already have more than 8 million views.
But what made me write again about Ella Henderson is this amazing video. I still can’t fathom how this great talent did not even made it to the contest’s finals! Her singing of the acoustic version of Ghost seem to turn the 2012 X Factor UK TV show a big joke. Watch!
Nengkoy 