our daily bore

I will be posting some videos tomorrow or this week.. But for now, these pictures first. The Talahib album launch last friday, December 9, @ 70s Bistro. World music and some taste of reggae. Hymns of war and love. 

Here are the pictures taken yesterday, the FWGP 1st christmas party and poem reading session:

here's the video, the full transcript and mo twister's explanation via tweetdeck..

here's the transcript of what he said:

"ITS 28TH OF JULY 2010, FIRST TIME IM DOING THIS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY. UM, MAYBE ONE DAY YOU'LL WATCH THIS. JUST TO REMEMBER HOW HORRIBLE OF A DAY IT IS. YOURE IN SINGAPORE, YOU'VE BEEN CRYING ALL EVENING BECAUSE TOMORROW MORNING, YOU AND RHIAN WILL GO TO THE HOSPITAL HERE AND GET RID OUR BABY. IT DOESN'T MATTER NAMAN WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THIS WAS HER CHOICE. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'LL KEEP THIS AS A SOUVENIR, BUT THIS IS THE TEST. (WHISPER) THIS IS WRONG. THIS IS THE HARDEST THING (CRYING) THIS IS THE HARDEST THING YOU'VE GONE THROUGH BEFORE AND YOU'VE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE TO BLAME OUR JOBS FOR THIS? THIS INDUSTRY THAT JUDGES YOU FOR THESE THINGS. THIS BUSINESS HAS MADE HER BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LIFE OF OUR OWN CHILD BECAUSE NO ONE WILL FORGIVE HER FOR THIS. THAT THIS JOB WILL RUIN HER, SO WE AGREED THAT WE'D COME HERE AND GET IT DONE. BECAUSE YOU LOVE HER AND YOU JUST WANT HER TO BE OKAY. ITS NOT LIKE RHIAN IS HAVING AN EASY TIME WITH THIS TOO. ITS HARD ON ALL OF US. SHE SAID ONE DAY WE WILL SEE THIS AGAIN. AND MAYBE OUR JOBS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND MORE ACCEPTING ABOUT IT. ONE DAY YOU'LL LOOK AT THIS VIDEO, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU WILL STILL BE TOGETHER AND IT WILL STILL HURT. IT WILL STILL HURT LIKE HELL. (CRYING). YOU'LL BE SORRY FOR THIS YOUR WHOLE LIFE. I'LL BE SORRY FOR THIS MY WHOLE LIFE. IM SORRY FOR THE BAD CHOICE WE ARE ABOUT TO MAKE. ITS HARD FOR BOTH OF US. NOBODY WANTS TO DO THIS. I KNOW OTHER CELEBRITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCEED AFTER THIS PROBLEM, IF IT IS EVEN A PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PROBLEM. BUT YOU KNOW, HER PARENTS ARE TOUGH ON HER. HER STATION, HER CHANNEL, HER MANAGER IS SO TOUGH ON HER THAT IT HAS MADE HER FEEL THAT HAVING THIS BABY, IS JUST NO OTHER OPTION. I KNOW RHIAN IS YOUNG. MAYBE ONE DAY WHEN WE'RE OLDER, WHEN SHE IS OLDER, THAT WE WONT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. I DON'T BLAME HER. THE PRESSURE ON HER IS SO GREAT. THAT I KNOW SHE FEELS LIKE SHE HAS NO CHOICE. SO THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT RHIAN. ITS NOT. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO BE YOU IN HERE, IN THIS SITUATION. ITS JULY 28, 2010 AND IM SITTING INSIDE THE HOTEL. THE RITZ-CALRTON IS SINGAPORE AND WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING ALL NIGHT ABOUT THIS. IM DOING MY BEST TO TRY TO KEEP YOU SAFE. AND ALL THIS FIGHTING IS TAKING A TOLL ON US. I WISH WE COULD HAVE THIS CHILD. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS. THIS JOB IS SO DIFFICULT. ITS SO DIFFICULT. IM SO SORRY. I'LL BE SORRY FOREVER. AGAIN, ONE DAY YOU'LL WATCH THIS. MAYBE WHEN YOURE AN OLD MAN. YOU'LL REMEMBER HOW DIFFICULT TODAY WAS. AND I HOPE YOU WATCH THIS AND I HOPE BY THAT TIME I'LL BE MARRIED AND I'LL HAVE A FAMILY THAT I CAN TRY TO MAKE IT UP TO. YOURE GOING TO DO SOMETHING REALLY WRONG TODAY. IM SORRY FOR THAT. THIS IS BUSINESS IS SO SO HARD. THIS BUSINESS IS SO HARD ON ITS EMPLOYEES. I GUESS ALL BUSINESSES ARE. I DON'T KNOW. ITS OUR FAULT I KNOW. WE CANT REALLY BLAME OUR JOBS BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE DID IT. BUT UM, I UNDERSTAND"

and his explanation via tweetdeck:

Let us forget first that we are christians, or roman catholics, or whatever religion affiliations we have. Let us assume that we are men of logic. And well, of emotions. Then we pose the question of being and nothingness. What if there is none whatever after death? Or should we put it -- after life? Just like before we were born. It is a sad premise but not unthinkable. Because the opium that is religion, like love, makes us believe of things unknown and impossible.

     Of course, there is nothing wrong with believing. In fact, it is stronger than doubt. But the universal eventuality called death is not only melancholic, but also tragic. Specifically when we hope and believe that conscious spirit is what we will become after death. I mean, in the after life.

     But there's none a single empirical data that there is heaven or hell. Well, precisely because those are states of consciousness and spirituality, rather than a physical place. So attempts, if there's any, will just be that -- attempts.

     Not only the religious teachings are saying these angles but as well, the new age perspective.

And thankfully, Studio 23 is in some sort of rebranding. From the poshly channel to a more manly mood. Think NBA, PBA, UAAP and NCAA, etc. In the continuing streak of creating segments for the Kabarkada network, from Wazzup Wazzup to Eow Pohwz, and some other short lived shows; from the most trivial to the more political subjects; from the wackiest and the naughtiest to the most serious tone; the joys and tears; some travels and sleepless nights.. Here, is another fruit of mainstream entertainment:

When Jofti, a friend from FWP, told me about this project of commemorating Ondoy and writing something of whatever value regarding environment, I must admit.. It didn't give me a hard on! Sorry for the euphemism but that was my honest reaction. Of course, the eagerness is on writing. But environment? Call me apathetic but it doesn't excite me much like social activism on art and the secular philippines, underground music and indie films, language and shallowness, etc. Of course, it doesn't sound right saying this. And I am sorry.

     Two years ago, we were in a small but decent house in Batangas. Some steps away in the main street leading to South Super Highway. It was raining hard outside but we never noticed that something was cooking. When dusk approached, I decided to buy some canned goods for the meal. And fuck, that was the only time I realized what was out there! Water from the nearby mountain was rushing in the highway. And yeah, big time! It wasn't unthinkable but striking. It wasn't impossible but a rarity.

Let us first forget about our critical selves that want deep stories of Oscar worhty movies. Let us, for this time, just enjoy the ride. Those maistream entertainment fare without complicated plots or brain-fucked endings. What we have now is a story that we already know the resolution even before the problem started. But I am not complaining.

Friends with Benefits is shallow yet unpretentious, cool and charming. The first scenes was a bit slow and dragging despite some witty banters. But after that first salvo, everything went as expected. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are beautiful non-couple with mutual understanding of sex and friendship. And it goes well. Or so they thought. Because, again expectedly, it turned out that they have feelings for each other. More than friends, that is. 

     And how can you get more mainstream and cliché than that? Complications and bruised ego, the cute dance number like our 80's Regal Films, the oversimplified solution to heartaches and family problems, etc.

Perhaps, more than a million songs heard. A thousand books and comics read. Hundreds of movies, TV shows and theatre plays watched. A great number of acquaintances turned friends. A couple of heartaches, pains and glees. Countless stories and poems that mirrored the soul's sentiments. Many laughs and a lot more smiles. Awesome memories. Emotional and intense encounters. Cheesy lines. Unforgettable blunders. Numerous soft-drinks, beers, intoxicating liquor and other spirits. Bottomless iced teas. Reckless busses and jeep rides. 3 decades. 33 years.  A roller coaster life ride. Dark and colorful. Ambitious yet laid-back. Personal, and yes.. unimportant. Loud but shy. 

How do you count the days? By the minute and seconds passed? By the good and bad deeds done? By the fuck or love scored? By competitions won? By what?

The cliché topic of drug addiction and its awry shitty-shitty-bang-bang effects not only in the society but most evidently, to the self. In this raw and in-your-face docu, the audience will watch as 5 cases of drug addiction unfolds the screen. Its method, effects, climax and denouement to its sometimes bloody and painful ending or the goody-goody thank-god-I-quit resolution, will be seen, experienced and tasted by the drooling audience. This documentary will capture the blood, needles, sniffing, state of delusion, aggressive nuances, its hyper and lonely attributes and the unmatched feeling of natural high.  

Five lives of drug users will be depicted through real footage and full documentation of their daily hostile routine. Or otherwise their selves as the loving family man, "ideal" daughter, or just simply the individual as a God-fearing person. The documentary shall and will lay bare the physical process, personal struggle, emotional weight and the after effects of such actions and decisions. 

Some days ago, I saw an FB post from a good friend Rogelio Braga. It was a link to F. Sionil Jose's Philstar article, "Why we are shallow". His contentions are actually very valid, sound and logical. Except for the first part. The take-off. The premise. The most important part.

It could have been another interesting piece from one of my favorite book authors. But that double-standard perspective ruined it all. Here's what he wrote, that 1st part:

"..Recently, I was seated beside former Senator Letty Shahani, PhD in Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne, watching a medley of Asian dances. The stately and classical Japanese number with stylized movements which perhaps took years to master elicited what seemed to me grudging applause. Then, the Filipino tinikling which any one can learn in 10 minutes; after all that energetic jumping, an almost standing ovation. Letty turned to me and asked, “Why are we so shallow?”

Yes, indeed, and for how long?.."

Oh! Really?! Shallow are those people who exhibited more appreciation in tinikling over the Jap number? Not to discredit, of course, the classical Japanese dance! But to say that one is better than the other and throw judgement as if it's the standard of beauty is something that I find very disturbing. 

Before we watched it, I was wondering why this movie isn't getting raves. Its director is Steven Soderbergh, the trailer is awesome and lots of big stars! So why not, indeed? But after watching it, I know the reason now. Actually, while watching it.. the first minutes will tell you why. It is flat, impersonal and got no climax or at least a character to root for, to care, or to hate. This is one of those movies of intent. 

Contagion presents a look at what happens when an infectious disease threatens humanity through varied viewpoints from an ensemble cast, including Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, and Kate Winslet.

We've seen this treatment before and we are not complaining. The disapproval is not in the pudding. But in the main dish.

The movie presented a "big" problem that audience can relate but might not care. This big problem, or the disease that threatens humanity, for me, should be the starting point or a backdraft of a personal struggle and emotional conflicts. But in Contagion, it is not.

It's been a while since a local time slot captured my interest. And those shows were not local productions. They were Ghost Fighter and Meteor Garden. My eternal hallucinations of everlasting youth and the mushy mushy me. And later tonight, I will be anticipating another show, again.. and after a long time of none. It is "Nasaan Ka Elisa?" (Where are you, Elisa?)

I had the privilege, if you want to call it that way.. Of seeing it some months ago while it was in its infancy period. While it was still in the timeline of Avid Media Composer, the editing software ABS-CBN is using in TV Prod. News and Current Affairs, they told me, is using Final Cut. I was also able to view some of the episodes of the original Chilean telenovela "Donde Esta Elisa?" And boy! Absurd edit but fuckin' mature story. My good friend Yog Macan, who supervises the post production was quick to point out that in translating the Chilean telenovela, it should be tamed somehow to suit the sensibilities of Pinoy audience. But rest assured, he said, that its sharpness, hotness and boldness are intact. Somehow, at least. Plus, they have some edit improvements.

Sex, drama, intrigues and incest.. I was quick to doubt his "press release" hehe :) 

Samantha Sotto, the Filipina author of the book Before Ever After that was published in the U.S. and in circulation internationally had a chitchat with Freelance Writers of the Philippines (FWP) yesterday. She is a member of the group and for our first salvo of the monthly book talk, she talked about her "o.c." copy editor, her misquoted reaction on Time Traveler's Wife, and some kewl anecdotes.

Here are some of the pics and vids of what happened yesterday:

It was too malicious to be true, I thought. But 3 sources confirmed what happened. The party started quite usual with free drinks overflowing with flirty but casual social interactions. Later that night, the 13-year old girl took center stage albeit the obvious hesitation. It is not yet confirmed whether the mother was alerted by the girl or she investigated and found out where her daughter was. There was a total commotion when the mother arrived and saw her daughter in an uneasy situation. The nipples weren't showing yet but her breasts were visible that time.

We know this bandwagon. DSLR and photography. But I'm not complaining. In fact, I tried it :) Look ---}

This is one of those shitty compositions that you don't want to read but I want to post. It was a lonely rainy night of I-can't-remember-what-year that I thought I will die the following morning. I was (and still) not taking drugs or whatever chemical that can induce such notion. It just happened. So I wrote a poem to say my goodbye.

Alas! ,the following morning I did not die. This is the poem:

While it is true that CHED and DepEd taught us to use the English language, our values and perspective on things are decided by the self alone. We can speak english, french, or german.. or do karate or cook the most delicious foods in the international scene, or be famous in singing or whatever talent and skills,.. but boastfulness, just like in the case of Soriano, is a shame.

By this time, I think we all read the Manila Bulletin (MB) article written by James Soriano. And sorry for those saying that it was an attempt on satire. Year 2008, he also wrote a similar essay lambasting the use of Filipino language. Actually, the piece for the MB was a rehash of that 2008 blog post.

Here is the essay of Mr. Soriano, "Language, Learning, Identity, Privelege" but was removed from MB's website. I am not sure if it saw print. After the article is his year 2008's blog post, "Filipino as a Second Language".

English is the language of learning. I’ve known this since before I could go to school. As a toddler, my first study materials were a set of flash cards that my mother used to teach me the English alphabet.

My mother made home conducive to learning English: all my storybooks and coloring books were in English, and so were the cartoons I watched and the music I listened to. She required me to speak English at home. She even hired tutors to help me learn to read and write in English.

In school I learned to think in English. We used English to learn about numbers, equations and variables. With it we learned about observation and inference, the moon and the stars, monsoons and photosynthesis. With it we learned about shapes and colors, about meter and rhythm. I learned about God in English, and I prayed to Him in English.

Filipino, on the other hand, was always the ‘other’ subject — almost a special subject like PE or Home Economics, except that it was graded the same way as Science, Math, Religion, and English. My classmates and I used to complain about Filipino all the time. Filipino was a chore, like washing the dishes; it was not the language of learning. It was the language we used to speak to the people who washed our dishes.

It is like coffee and cigarettes in the midst of it all.

A temporary breather. 

Or when you're drunk, suddenly a lucid interval. 

A music video that a good friend Jeff directed few years back for a foreigner friend. Its title is Delam Mikhad. I remember the singer's name but I cant' spell it.

The Bore held the camera and framed its composition.

Anyway, you can drink now that coffee and light the cigarette.

Kapegarilyo (coffee-garettes). :) ,Here's the music video:

What caught my interest and imagination yesterday in the first organizational meeting of Freelance Writers of the Philippines was a comment from one of its founders. He replied that we should consider first what we can do to help the org more than what we want. Not that I want to raise a howl because honestly, I'm cool with everything that happened. Everyone's friendly thou some are shy. And most importantly, pardon the mushy tone.. We are all in one direction.

     Going back.. I think it raises existential and fundamental question of why we write and what we are as an artist. While it is true that needs, pressing and long-term, push us to work.. What's more important in all artist, I assume, is not the need but the want. I know, it is not as immediate as answering questions of "What should be the permanent name," "What should be the next steps," and other physical moves. But it may define not only the personality of the group, but the credo of each member. 

     The idea of selflessness in favor of the majority, for me, is not only overrated. Moreso, it is troubling. 

Of course, aside from the fact that artists are fighting now for its existence.. This Bagyo music video from the band Talahib is somehow connected with the recent issue. But I'm not telling what. And for those close friends and other people who know the answer already, please refrain from answering straight. Hehe :) ,You can give long-shot clues but no direct answer please :)

That makes it absurd :)

It was a sober discussion. No shouting match or heated arguments. Maybe I am just too excited to witness it live how the traditional media, social media, and online forums see this issue. Even the most insinuating, biased and illogical questions and comments didn't receive deafening uproar. Only gestures of disagreements, smirk, or small and unnoticeable side comments. Even the most ardent critic, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, was sober this time. Yes, it was a bore. For the sensationalist media that wants to capture sound bites of heightened emotion, there was none. Save for some intense but still mellowed voice on the part of the churchmen. 

     Dino Manrique posted in FB his disappointment when ANC cut short its live coverage in favor of a Justin Bieber news. It might be ratings. For there was no graphic or explicit happenstance, why not switch it to any other news? Or maybe you're right! It was at that moment when topic was on legal matters that ANC thought it wasn't in-line with their biases. Oops! I mean, story angle. Look at the stories today of PDI: "2 National Artists frown on Mideo Cruz's 'shock art'", "F. Sionil Jose calls Mideo Cruz immature, juvenile", etc. That's their preferred angle.

     So what should be the scoop and manner to be newsworthy?

The public fury against Mideo's artwork in the Cultural Center of the Philippines is understandable. We are in a country that majority of citizens are Catholic. Politicians riding the issue is understandable. They always do that! Congressman Bagatsing, the same lawmaker that pushes the legalization of jueteng, wants CCP Chairman Raul Sonico and other officials to resign. Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos said she was considering filing administrative charges against CCP officials. She called up Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing twice on Monday, to express her displeasure over the exhibit. Yes, Mam Imelda is the right person to define what is right and wrong in this country. Forget the abuses, martial law and human rights violations!

We can all understand that. It's in the system. But what I find very disturbing is yesterday's editorial of my favorite broadsheet -- Philippine Daily Inquirer. Amidst this latest issue, it said that violence, vandalism and setting of fire inside CCP is understandable. This is the paper that I read each day, trust and adore. This is the same journal that champions the poor, criticizes every corrupt politician of any party affiliation, always seeking truth, always condemning big crooked fishes, always logical, fearless and has sound judgement.

I might not agree with Inquirer's every stand but I always respect their views. Always a source of intelligent and intelligible opinion. But yesterday was a different case.

Just when we thought that that day's breaking news was the resignation of now Ex-Senator Miguel Zubiri, came the more trivial report: a certain Christopher Lao was rushing to go through a flooded street. His car floated then blamed MMDA and everybody around with now the famous line, "I should have been informed!"

Okay, call it nitpicking, but a friend told me about this and uhmm.. see for yourself. I mean, listen for yourself :) Specifically the chorus and the opening part.

It's raining for the past days so we asked around, "What are the things that we can do when it's raining?" And here are the top 10 answers:

Okay, disclaimer first: This is a total bore! But you may want to read in full PNOY's 2011 SONA courtesy of gov.ph. Also, an english translation after the original tagalog version:

Some years ago, when indie filmmaking wasn't a trend yet, I had this short and boring film entitled "The Relevance of Choi". You may want to check this out:

My friend Zee (whom we called amo) have this idea for a music video and will join a lomography contest. Yours truly shot and cut the vid and now I'm posting it with her permission. It is entitled my daily bore.

We used the music of Jeepney Joyride, "We Don't Want to be Famous". Yes, with permission.

Let's leave the digital grind behind! (Yeah, like this one! haha :)) ,and go outdoors! Feel the sun. Dance in the rain. Smell the pollution. Make some noise. Travel. Shoot some pics. Smile. See the people around. Hug trees. And pee on it?

Let's all eat, drink and be merry 'cause tomorrow we will die! :)

NBA all-stars will be playing tonight and tomorrow afternoon here in the country. I do not know if it's true but I heard Kobe Bryant will be their coach. Our Daily Bore saw one of their plays:

studio 23 interviewing FHM's sexiest

light moments with sam

as seen on TV :)

huwaattt? me? :)

aubrey carampel interviewing sam

mic pointing at.. uhmm..

regine's thinking something

Look! ,I'm not smiling :)

In the senate inquiry, Bishop Puebles said  “My actions have been misconstrued . . . cast a shadow of uncertainty on my dignity and moral ascendancy as a bishop.” And he also stressed that it was “service to the public” that motivated him.

     Again, that line! It was service to the public that motivated him. Are not the priest our church's foot soldiers? And the missionaries? The bishops are also doing the laundry work? And assuming that they are.. In the convenience of an SUV?

And now, another cause of concern (from inquirer.net):

There are 2 letters of apology that caught the nation's interest over the past days. One is from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and one, from Rafa Santos. 

     CBCP was caught in a controversy over bishops requesting SUVs and Rafa Santos over his tactless remark regarding cat food for theatre people. Here's the full text of their letters (as well, my illogical outburst):

Courtesy of inquirer online, I read what our good bishops' responses to the SUV controversy they are in:

Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla:

I don’t know why they take it against us and make it appear scandalous.

Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar:

(1) There are other beneficiaries who are not from the Catholic Church.

(2) Is it because of the bishops’ position on the RH bill?

(3) The CBCP’s individual members are “directly” answerable to the Pope. CBCP itself cannot sanction erring bishops.

I haven't watched the movie. I guess I'm not one of the core market this movie is cathering to. I can discuss some other time stories that I prefer to see. But who wants to know? haha :) Anyway, going back.. My two good friends saw it and have some things to say about the film. With their permission, I am posting their reviews.

     First is from Ninjaman, our head writer in many of the TV shows the past years. This is from his blog "Songs of the Salamander":

We should have started "Squid", a tattoo magazine but i don't know what happened that it didn't push through (yet). This is a draft of the editorial I was writing for the maiden issue. It was titled "The Birth of Squid". It is now "Squidless".

     How do squids give birth to another squid? The male and female squids ____ their brains out then natural-biological process forms the zygote inside the womb? And then this fertilize ovum upon conception now develops and eventually birth their so-called offspring? Assuming that I get the jargon right, do we give a ____?