Sunday, December 28, 2008
Xaymaca Bar's Last Hurrah
At times like these, I can't be more sentimental and I think most of the people among the crowd last night are in the same bus as I am...going down to one's memory lane of Xaymaca as it was years back. So I went to Xaymaca with my friend Ayr from another party (at Bar42, Tomas Morato) and met up with long time BMR-faithful friends: sexynomad, adam mordo, koryn and michelle and needless to say, we had fun just like old times.
For posterity, I video-ed the last two songs the band played. I will upload it soon... but right now...I'm ready for shut-eye. If you like listening to BMR, then watch out for it because the band went crazy...even the seem to be timid Onard (Brownman Keyboardist)!
until then, x.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Movie: The Kite Runner
I've seen the story of the two brothers, Amir and Hassan, on film a few days ago and I still find it as moving as the novel where the excerpts were taken.
Some people would say that the movie doesn't give justice to Khaled Hoesseini's best seller novel "The Kite Runner". I agree but on the other hand I never expected the movie experience to surpass the novel's charm. In fact, I never ever did have that expectation with past novel-based movies. They can never be more enchanting than the book where the stories were derived from. It would take longer than 3 hours to watch if every event in the book was to be put into film. I am not going to watch a film longer than 3 hours. But even so, this movie is a must see!
My eyes welled-up with tears during the entire length of the film, right on the first frame to the last, I, without exaggeration, did tear up. The director really took time in choosing excerpts to show from the novel. As I, having read the book and needless to say am very familiar with the story, connected with the portrayed scenes and even scenes omitted in between but I have to fill in the missing details for my sisters who haven't read the book yet.
The first hour of the film was generously allotted to depict events from the first page up until Hassan and Ali leaves the house then more scenes were left out after that event. I was hoping to see more of Sohrab's issues (losing all hope in the world) but most are conveniently left out. Leaving out, most especially, Sohrab's failed suicide attempt. Which I think is very important to express Sohrab's helplessness and weariness explaining his aloofness towards Soraya and Amir.
But I can never say it enough, I LOVE THE FILM. Go and see the movie, it is not to be missed.
Favorite Lines:
"For You, a thousand times over"
"...there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft...when you kill a man, you steal a life, you steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness..."
"There is a way to be good again."
Stills taken from the movie:
1. Hassan knowing where the kite will land.

2. Hassan and Amir watching a western film.

3. Hassan-the kite runner saying "For you, a thousand times over."

4. Amir provoking Hassan to fight back.

5. Rahim Khan giving his birthday present to Amir.

6. Sohrab with his slingshot hits Assef on the eye.

7. Amir, Soraya and Hassan flying a kite together in a park.

8. Baba forgiving Hassan for stealing Amir's watch. Ali and Hassan decides to leave Wazik Akbar Khan.
Monday, December 08, 2008
The Devil and Miss Prym
This story of temptation is a thought-provoking parable of a community devoured by greed, cowardice, and fear—as it struggles with the choice between good and evil.
The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini has won me over with his first novel, "The Kite Runner". He is, in my books (pun intended), one of today's phenomenal story tellers and I say it without exaggeration. I couldn't put the book down and read it, from cover to cover (with minimal sleep) in 3 days because I was so eager to find out where the events would lead.
Reading the novel is like opening a door to Afghanistan's history and culture, that in itself is already a devastating story to start with. The novel tells the story of Amir's childhood in Kabul with Baba (his father), Ali (servant), Hassan (Ali's son) and Rahim Khan (Baba's friend who, to Amir's eyes, understands him more than Baba).
Amir recollects the painful events he has caused Hassan's (his kite runner) family; his desire for Baba's complete attention and approval; his jealousy over Baba's affection on Hassan; Hassan's courage, Rahim Khan's endearing presence and his search for redemption.
I don't really want to say more about the story as I might be revealing too much to spoil it (spoiler alert here).
There are numerous materials available online of and about the novel. I'm downloading the movie and the audiobook right now as these contents were not available at the time I've read the book. But if you haven't read the book yet, go get a copy. If you have, well then get Hosseini's second novel, "A Thousand Splendid Suns".
The story, "The Kite Runner", reminds me of my childhood -the '80s to '90s (yeah!!!) with my cousins. At that time, although we have gaming consoles like Nintendo Family Computer, Game n' Watches, joy sticks games, the games of choice are the really tiring 'It Games' like Tumbang Preso, Pepsi 7-Up, Touch the Color, Monkey Monkey, Langit Lupa, Pussy Cat Pussy Cat, and etc. I can go on on in this list of games. (I will, just you wait! LOL). We get repremanded to play around the time dinner is ready (yes, the time when the entire family eats together) and disobedience means a beating(LOL). Only when we are sent home do we really play with the gaming consoles.
Games back then were more DIY. We used to make and fly our own kites in our backyard with walis ting-ting, pastic grocerybags and our lola's sewing thread (hahahahaha). We make our own bubble fun in numerous fashion depending on the availability of the materials needed and where the modus operandi will take place. If we were out in the garden, we would crush gumamela leaves and flowers to a slimy paste and add water sometimes adding manang's detergent for maximum effect and a looped walis ting ting or hallow papaya leaf stalk, when in the bathroom with cousins, we just dab a tiny amount of Johnson's Baby Shampoo on our lips and start blowing and then weeeeEEE! We do get in trouble a lot and get a scolding from Manang because sometimes we use too much detergent for our bubble fun and the mysterious thinning of the walis ting ting.
Friday, December 05, 2008
What's Your Favorite Color?
Dear Paris Hilton,
You're no longer in preschool where teachers would think it cute that toddlers wear their favorite color all over. Are you doing this as a motion to convince Crayola to rename Pink to Paris?
Were they bought on sale? Wait, that's not right... did you just shop at your own store?
Esthero - Everyday Is A Holiday With You

Title: Everyday Is A Holiday With You (see video on youtube)
Artist: Esthero
Album:2006?
Met him on Sunday
Loved him by Tuesday afternoon
Woke up on Friday
Changed my whole life
to make some room
Around a quarter to two
I have remembered all of my lines
I say when I think of you
Your'e like a favorite song to
That melody, that melody I love
And it goes
La da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da
La da da da da
La da da da
Hopped on the Metro
And I'm on my way home
But I can't get him out of my mind
No matter just how hard I try
And if the rumors were true
I could look forward to some
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/RZq ]
Better days and get aways
Are so nice 'cause when I am with you
You're the cresendo to
that melody, that melody
I love
La da da da da da da da da da
Better days and get aways
'Cause every day is a holiday with you
La da da da da..
Better days and get aways
'Cause every day is a holiday with you
Gotta let them know
Gotta know for sure
Dont leave me I'm in the cold
Gotta know for sure
La la la la..
When I think of you
Better days and get aways
'Cause every day is a holida with you
La da da da da da da da da da
Better days and get aways
'Cause every day is a holiday with you
La da da da da..
Maria Mena - Just A Little Bit

Title: Just A Little Bit (see video on youtube)
Artist: Maria Mena (read interview)
Album: 2004
just a little bit stronger
just a little bit wiser
just a little less needy
and maybe i'd get there
just a little bit pretty
just a little more aware
just a little bit thinner
and maybe i'd get there
clearly, clearly i remember
hiking up my skirt
and asking for your time
clearly, clearly i remember
nervous if ever confronted
and questioning myself
oh perhaps, perhaps if i got better
perhaps if i challenged myself
perhaps if i was...
just a little bit stronger
just a little bit wiser
just a little less needy
and maybe i'd get there
just a little bit pretty
just a little more aware
just a little bit thinner
and maybe i'd get there
clearly, clearly i remember
pulling up my shirt
and staring blank ahead
clearly, clearly i remember
days of useless crying
and almost feeling dead
oh perhaps, perhaps if i was smaller
perhaps i could control myself
perhaps if i was...
just a little bit stronger
just a little bit wiser
just a little less needy
and maybe i'd get there
just a little bit pretty
just a little more aware
just a little bit thinner
and maybe i'd get there
just a little bit stronger
just a little bit wiser
just a little less needy
and maybe i'd get there
just a little bit pretty
just a little more aware
just a little bit thinner
and maybe i'd get there
oooahhhh oooahhhh oooahhhh oooahhhh
just a little bit pretty
just a little more aware
just a little bit thinner
and maybe i'd get there
Lenka - The Show

Title: The Show (see official video on youtube)
Artist: Lenka
Album: Lenka (2008)
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why
Slow it down
Make it stop
Or else my heart is going to pop
'Cause it's too much
Yeah, it's a lot
To be something I'm not
I'm a fool
Out of love
'Cause I just can't get enough
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why
I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show
The sun is hot
In the sky
Just like a giant spotlight
The people follow the sign
And synchronize in time
It's a joke
Nobody knows
They've got a ticket to that show
Yeah
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I dont know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why
I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show
Just enjoy the show
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I dont know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why
I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show
dum de dum
dudum de dum
Just enjoy the show
dum de dum
dudum de dum
Just enjoy the show
I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show
I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show
Monday, September 08, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
My response to Jaeyoun Kim's Essay
My email response goes...
Good day everyone!
I have read the Korean's Essay and I find it inconsistent and maybe I don't share the same opinion with you.
I don't agree that Filipinos do not love their homeland and that being "the problem" of our country. I don't agree also that judging one's national patriotism on one's desire to live and work in another country other than your homeland as a sign of lack of love of the country. In this case, Filipino OFWs are questioned on their lack of love for the Philippines. It just doesn't ring true to my ears.
In the essay it was also mentioned that during a very hard time (40 years ago) in Korea, Koreans left their country to Germany to work and that they came back to Korea years after. We also have sent teachers, nurses, care givers, domestic helpers, foremen, security guards, miners, cooks, cruise workers, name it, we've sent them all over the world and after some time, OFW come back to the Philippines -balikbayans. Even if they left the country, I do believe that in every Filipino OFW's heart is a yearning to go home and a burning love of the country. I don't doubt that. (Of course a visiting Korean student wouldn’t know about that in his short visit to our country)
Who is this Korean dare judge Filipinos that way? Make conclusions based on an afflicted Filipino prisoner. Of course these prisoners would want to be off their burden thus wanting to leave and never come back. It isn't a secret to the world that our prison's state is so bad. I think the writer should have sought another Filipino like the ones who are OFW or just not in prison.I am a teacher, I wished the writer asked me and maybe he would think differently. I wished the writer met my student to prove that Filipinos are patriotic. Although at the moment I am not affiliated in any school but I consider myself still a teacher. The same logic applies to any OFW even if they are not in the Philippine Islands, they are still Filipinos and proud at that. But anyway, going back to being a teacher, I taught in Island Home International Primary School (A British International School) in Boracay Island. My students are foreign in nationality and some are of Filipino descent having one Filipino parent. Although they have difficulty in speaking Filipino, they are proud of their Pinoy heritage. They know their flags and some were taught by their parents to sing Pinoy nursery rhymes. You will be surprised, they have bright plans only a loving Pinoy child citizen would dream for their neighborhood, city, and the Philippines. So what is this Korean talking about?
Ask athletes maybe. Ask them how it feels to carry and wave the Philippine flag on a foreign country and represent Philippines. Their victory is not a selfish one, they shout "Pilipinas" with all their heart; “Ginto Para sa Pilipinas” with pride. They cry too, and their tears roots from this well of Filipino pride. We all have this well in our hearts and I hope we take good care of it, let’s not think so badly of our own countrymen. (Let the Koreans do that –I’m kidding).
My point is, his claim isn’t valid. Why of all people would you ask a prisoner deprived of freedom and then generalize his desire to fly out of the country never come back be true to all Filipinos. I think any prisoner would say that even a Korean.
Regards,
Maria Jasmin Maramag
PROUD FILIPINO TEACHER
To all Filipino bloggers out there, I wish you would write your insights too on your blog about this.
