So bad, they're good

LG-sponsored fake soap opera and a fake Russian billionaire. Too much fun for one day.

DirectTV - Opulence / I haz it - (2010) :30 (USA)

Toxics in, toxics out

I'm a cyberchondriac; don't scare me! Watch this.

Cats

Not the musical running at CCP now. Just the real thing.

Cafe by the Ruins

Welcoming all from artists to zealots

Cafe by the Ruins is a Baguio institution.

SM Baguio

Compact and airy, with a view. They've got it all, including souvenirs, at SM Baguio.

musamanila

I'm following musamanila.

Thinking 'Bout Somethin' + a memorable Happy Birthday song

See if this doesn't make you smile. The musicians are slightly nutty and in this age of the flashmob, dancing in the streets takes on a different character.

This music video is dedicated to my little Gavroche, Jme Z., whose birthday it is today. Taylor Hanson will always be her first love, alongside our dear Sir Beni. Funny that this is Hanson's homage to "Shake Your Tail Feather" because we danced to that song (among others in a Blues Brothers medley) for a class.

And now I present to you ... Nick Dreamer!

Soltera by Vivian Limpin

M read this at Bliss Cafe's anniversary party, then posted it on Facebook and tagged her friends. It's so honest and true.

Tinatanong mo pa rin hanggang ngayon
kung bakit hindi pa ako nag-aasawa.
Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi na ako natawa
Luminga akong naghahanap ng mga sagot:
Baka nakalista sa aking mga tula.
Baka nakaguhit sa aking mga pintura.
Baka nakaeksena sa aking mga pelikula.
Pinilit kong tandaan
kung ito ba ang pinagpilian:
ang kamera kaysa sa kaserola,
ang kanbas kays sa kuna,
ang talinghaga kaysa asawa.
Tinatanong mo pa rin hanggang ngayon
kung bakit wala pa rin akong kasama.
Kahit kelan di ko inisip
na ang pag-iisa ay isang sumpa.
Hindi na muna ako lilinga,
magtanong ka man isang beses pa.
Baka ang darating na sagot ay matagal pa.

Take home

When your friend flies across China to give you the best tea he can offer, and gives you a tea set to go with it, there is simply no way to refuse his gifts. When we parted ways at People's Square, I almost cried watching him wave goodbye from across the street.

I bought this for my mentor. This is what he calls me.

Commercial break

Do indulge me, as this will not happen again for some time. I worked on this month's GH cover story. The magazine is on newsstands and bookstores now. End of plug.

Nanjing Road

The Bund at night

WYD

Not World Youth Day but Why You Do What You Do. Seventeen episodes and counting. I hope they keep it up. Check it out.

[via Plus 63]

10 Fun Microsoft Facts You Might Not Know

Mashable tells us a few things we probably don't know. I didn't expect #8. More than employee art exhibitions, and artist lecture and film series, they have the real deal. But of course, that's because they can afford it.

Men of the week

I'm in a cybercafe (with no coffee) at Sta. Lucia East Mall. Why on earth am I here? There's no Internet at home and I have work to do.

When I stepped out in a t-shirt and jeans, my neighbor commented, "Masang-masa ka ngayon." Just trying to blend in. It's not a good time to wear a dress.

Shout-outs to the guys who populated my week in front of screens:

1. Mark Zuckerberg. Because the theatrical trailer of The Social Network is out and he needs some love from Facebook users.

2. The much loved, hated and parodied Old Spice Guy, Isaiah Mustafa. He's on a horse (and a boat). On a bike. On a boat (again). Talking to Ellen, Rose, Alyssa (x4), mrskutcher, Guy Kawasaki Perez Hilton and more than 100 other people. Responding to your voicemail. Silver fish hand catch!

3. Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon Levitt, for making Christopher Nolan's intelligent but cringe-inducing over-scored film bearable.

4. To C, R, K and N. A few words from you are enough. Thank you.

Uh-oh

I Write Like says:

I write like
James Joyce

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

For my job, that's not a good sign. I used my Boracay post for my colleagues from last week. Using the short post before this one, it's Stephenie Meyer. I'm not sure which one is worse.

[via BoingBoing]

Back and gone

I came from here Saturday. Yesterday, I became aware of how tired I really am. Now there's backlog from work and I have to catch up. I wish I had superpowers. But since I don't, I'm taking a blog leave. Coming back when it becomes humanly possible. A few days should do the trick.

Origaminagerie

Mostly animals in folded paper. [via hongkiat]

Cinemalaya 2010

I miss film. Being a character. Shooting until the sun is up. Saying the same thing over and over again because that's how it works.

I miss my freedom. Having my own time. Catching a film I won't see anywhere else. Setting my own schedule. I don't know why I gave it up. It's not for money. It's not for love. Maybe I just wanted to prove a point that I'm not even aware of.

I miss Cinemalaya. And I do feel an ache in my chest knowing I'm going to miss so much. You don't have to. Go.

Dear A team

This has nothing to do with the movie or TV series.

It's my third time in Boracay. For the third time, it's for work. I've been here three days and I haven't wet my feet yet. I go home tomorrow. I'll take a dip before I leave.

Here is the letter I emailed my workmates yesterday:

Hello a---- team,

As the plane flew into rainy Kalibo yesterday, a thought ran through my mind: the weather is good. At least we won't be miserable indoors thinking about what we're missing.

In Boracay, it was cloudy with a chance of free puto and fruit. On hindsight, I should have made the most of that opening session merienda buffet. I found out later that there's no such thing as a free dinner (or breakfast).

Checking into the apartment in the evening, I was saddened that I wouldn't have the chance to catch up on my TV viewing. Reception (via Ms Susan via Elsa via Patty) warned me that my next door neighbors are very sensitive to any noise. My fingers are tiptoeing as I draft this.

I woke up hungry at 230 am. With the aircon off, I could hear the crickets outside. And the occasional tuko. I opened the aircon so that the neighbor won't hear me munching on biscuits as I typed in the semi-darkness.

I'm not sure I'm looking forward to Saturday morning, when I will finally have time for the beach. Boracay has changed quite a bit since I was last here four years ago. The seaweed is not always greener on somebody else's beach (The Disney reference will escape some of you younger guys.)

Aalog-alog ang apartment. (The bed can sleep the editorial team; there's space for everyone's sleeping bags on the floor.) Wish you were here.


A Jonah's shake to you,
A.

Seen in Shanghai

Shanghai Museum