33 Going on 13

As what everyone may know by now based on my last entry, I just had my birthday. And for the first time in so many years, I had the most fun celebrating!

Truth be told, I was a bit anxious about my birthday this year since it has been joked about by some friends that turning 33 would usher in a rather trying year. The 'crucifixion year', as any Catholic/Christian would probably understand. Luckily, I know who to go to to allay my fears...

The first thing I did to celebrate my birthday was to go to Baclaran church as a thanksgiving for another year. It has been a while since my last Baclaran visit and it felt really good to be there. So good that I decided to resume my long neglected devotion to do my novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help every Wednesday. My (late) momma would be proud!


Next, I gave myself my own post-Christmas/birthday gift: a Video iPod! After months of thinking over it and after finding an easier way to pay for it (a credit card deferred payment promo sealed my decision), I finally jumped into the iPod bandwagon. And I am loving every musical moment of it! So if you see me in the street walking like a supermodel sashaying with the rhythm, you can now figure out why.


My birthday this year was also a bit historic since I decided for the first time to temporarily suspend my usual stinginess (as if my iPod purchase wasn't enough). First, I invited my Club Madonna friends (AJ, Victor, Elg & Francis) to a birthday dinner to which my roomate Rolf and My Sunshine also joined. The following night, another birthday dinner with fellow MB Philippines members and a few days after, I treated my office friends to an after-work birthday lunch. My birthday celebration ran through several days and this cheapskate loved every minute of it! And I absolutely loved all the gifts I got! From a set of Sharon Cuneta videos, loads of Body Shop goodies and a personalized 'bling-bling' bracelet. But more importantly, it was so heartwarming to have my friends with me on my special day.

To cap off my 'birthday week', I went with my friend Liza's family to the Eurostar Carnival in The Fort, Makati and desperately tried to recapture my youth by feasting on as many, ice cream, hotdogs, popcorn and cotton candy as I can. It was so much like being a kid again (except now, I had to pay for my own sweets, hah!). Liza and I also dared each other to take on what we thought would be usual carnival rides but turned to be some nasty, gravity-defying, NASA-worthy and puke-inducing trips to hell. Whew!


Either the carnival rides have gotten really fiercer or I just am no longer that adventurous hotshot I used to be...

Whatya thinks?!?



Remember I was very young then,
And a year was forever and a day...




Birthdays
Life

Another Year Older...

Baby face, don't grow so fast...



Birthdays

Oh, Happy Day!

Today is a happy day!

I watched the telecast of the Golden Globe Awards today and I am glad to see that Brokeback Mountain won 4 awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Song). Alright, I have not seen the movie yet but from what I've read and heard, it is a really good film worth looking out for. And the fact that it's a gay-themed film, it's a must-see movie event for me this year. Movies like this don't come along too often (or at least as much as we would want to), so as a part of the LGBT community, I am bound to support it. Apparently, its Manila run would start on February 15. A perfect Valentine date movie!



Speaking of, I am also happy that Felicity Hoffman's performance in another LGBT film, TransAmerica was rewarded with a Best Actress trophy while Capote's Phillip Seymour Hoffman portrayal as gay writer Truman Capote was recognized with a Best Actor award.

And while we're on the subject of the Golden Globes, I also have a big smile on my face lately since I just got not one but 2 magazines with my beloved Madonna (herself a Golden Globe awardee) on the cover.






What a way to spend the eve of my birthday!!!


A smile... frozen in time...



MADONNA
Golden Globes
Brokeback Mountain
Movies

Time Goes By...

HAPPY 2006!!!

I know it's been a while since my last entry and though I did have a lot to talk about, I just wasn't in the mood to write.

You have to understand that while the holiday season was a hectic and fun experience for me, I couldn't help but feel melancholy as it was the first time that I and my family spent the holidays without our parents. Hard may we tried to feel jolly and upbeat, the emotional void still weighed upon us as we realize that this is how it's gonna be for the rest of our lives. Well...

It's a good thing I have a lot of friends to spend moments with around the holidays. At least, I found a lot of reasons to smile and enjoy the season.

Here are a few photos I have taken with friends and office colleagues the past few weeks...



at the MB Philippines' 2005 Holiday Gathering in Bayview Hotel with some of my greatest friends and 'gimik' buddies



at the Year-end Get Together Party with my Madonnista friends (pardon the 'psychedelic' shot)



at my office colleague and friend Darwin's wedding reception at Intramuros. I sang (!) at the Manila Cathedral hours before with my friend/singing partner Liza (in maroon) and I co-hosted the reception with Rheena (my left)



at our department's Holiday Party at CCP's Jumbo Kingdom Floating Restaurant




Nothing takes the past away like the future...



Life
Holidays

HOLIDAY...Celebrate!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Well, not really. But it surely is becoming one long MADONNA holiday for me! As if to officially usher in the holiday season, I spent most of my time lately watching Madonna videos and hanging out with my Madonnista friends.

It started Wednesday last week when I finally got hold of several VCDs/DVDs I ordered from my friend Madonnamazing who sells rare Madonna videos. From compilations of commercially unreleased music videos to M's live performances and her old films, I got really good stuff at reasonable prices. My friend was even nice enough to give me some 'bonus' items in consideration of my relatively large order.

But what really stood out among this set is a copy of Madonna's latest documentary film, I'm Going To Tell You A Secret. A sequel of sorts to Truth or Dare (In Bed with Madonna), Secret is a behind the scenes look at Madonna at the height of her 2004 Re-Invention Tour. I instantly fell in love with the film as it showcases how Madonna has evolved to a more mature and mellow individual juggling her roles as wife, mother, and entertainer all the while maintaining a semblance of sanity in her hectic life.



Watching the film, I couldn't help admiring her more as she opens up to the world a more intimate picture of what it's like to be in her world. Unlike Truth or Dare that sometimes feel contrived, Secret feels sincere and candid as she expands the film's focus not only on her show and her relationship with her entourage, but more importantly, her relationship with her husband, her 2 children and her aging father. At one point, I found myself crying while Madonna delivered a heartfelt speech to her dancers right before the last show of the tour. Somehow, in the middle of it all, it felt that I was a part of their group and that Madonna was delivering the words for me. Wishful thinking...

Secret also features some amazing footages of songs from the Re-Invention Tour that made me more restless waiting for the release of the concert DVD. Without a doubt, Madonna has not lost her touch in staging the best shows. From what I've seen, I especially loved her Nobody Knows Me performance. Simply extra-ordinary!

After seeing the documentary a few more times, I decided to bring the VCD to the Club Madonna Philippines year-end party last Saturday. Though technical problems prevented my Madonnista friends to watch the entire film, we nonetheless had the best time chatting up and watching other Madonna videos. We also had a Madonna trivia game (I WON!), a game of Charades and a mini-raffle where we won some rare Madonna items.

A few days ago, I received more Madonna stuff from my wonderful friend from San Francisco who brought for me my much-awaited copy of the Rolling Stone magazine with Madge on the cover along with a couple of US-edition Madonna CD's. I also met up with my Club Madonna friends who gave me VCD's of recent Madonna interviews and promo performances for Confessions On A Dance Floor.



This just makes me think that apparently, I have been good this year. Otherwise, Santa woudn't give me all thse stuff that I want!


Santa Baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight...



MADONNA
Movies

DIVAs' Weekend II

My past weekend went off on a good start as I took time off work last Friday to catch a concert of another favorite singer of mine, Regine Velasquez.

Entitled Reflections, the concert showcased medlies of songs of Regine's favorite singers as well as numbers that have become memorable to her since they were those that she sang during her 'singing contests' days. Clearly, this concert was much better than the last one I saw Reigning Still that did not have the best choice of repertoire and line up of musical guests.

I was so happy to hear Regine sing a medley of songs of my ultimate local fave, Sharon Cuneta (Mr. DJ, Dear Heart, P.S. I Love You and Kahapon Lamang), another medley of Mariah Carey's hits and as a part of her encore number, she performed Lucky Star, Borderline and Holiday from the Diva of all divas, MADONNA. I was like in heaven that night! And considering that Regine's voice that night wasn't exactly in its best form, she was still able to hit the high notes that she's been known for. What a trouper!

Her guests were the 1st Pinoy Pop Superstar, Jonalyn Viray who proved herself worthy of her title with such a lovely & powerful voice and singing comedienne Ai Ai Delas Alas who brought the house down with her wacky antics and her Regine-twenty-years-from-now spoof. Both of them really gave good performances without overshadowing Regine's own brand of stage presence.

I really had a great time that night. After the concert, we decided to go to Malate and spent some time checking out a new 'pink' shop Top & Bottom and got ourselves some rare gay-themed movies. My Sunshine, who was not able to come to the concert because of his work later joined us for a few rounds of drinks (that night was our 19th monthsary!).

My warmest thanks to a good MB Philippines friend, Dave, who was generous enough to give me (and Sonny) free tickets. Here's hoping it wouldn't be the last time!

And to you My Sunshine, thanks for the 19 wonderful months we've had together. I look forward to more love, laughter, lust, learning and leisure through the years!


Can we get together?
I really wanna be with you...



MADONNA
Sharon Cuneta
Regine Velasquez
Mariah Carey
Music
Love

Lo Money, Mo Problems

I am not much of a complainer, especially not in this blog. When something unpleasant comes, I choose to not write about it.

As they say, if you've got nothing nice to say, just shut up.

But please, indulge me...

Yesterday, I was really bummed when I received my 13th month pay and learned that it was much, much less than I expected. I was really pissed when I learned that it was because of tax deductions that ate up almost 30% of my pay! Yes, 30%!!! MotherF!@#!@$!!!!

I know it's not wise to count the chicks before the eggs hatch, but I already allocated my expected cash for stuff I intend to buy. Now, my plans have been thwarted. Sh!^%#!!!

I guess it's not gonna be much of a Merry Christmas then...


If you don't like my attitude, then you can F*** off!



Money
Christmas

A Boy Named Maxi

After reading about it in newspapers & magazines, I was finally able to see the much-acclaimed and anticipated 'independent' digital movie Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros).

I was supposed to see this film months ago when a college friend (who came up with the film's concept) invited me to catch its Cinemalaya festival run, but was unable to due to my work schedule. Soon after, I learned that it bagged the top awards and won special citations from various film festivals here and abroad. Luckily, a major distributor was smart enough to pick up the movie and release it in major theaters. The public deserves this cinematic masterpiece! After seeing supposedly good digital movies that turned out to be just over-hyped pieces of trash, Maximo promises to be a refreshing breath of fresh air for the local film scene.



Ang Pagdadalaga is a sweet and funny story about Maxi, a gay adolescent whose father and two brothers make a living as petty thieves and crooks. Being left as the only 'girl' in the family, Maxi has taken on the role of mother by willingly and ably taking care of the household. Fortunate to have a family who has accepted his sexuality, his world revolved around his father and brothers until he met the first love of his life, Victor, an honest and idealistic cop. Soon, he was faced with the hard choice between protecting his family and that of pursuing the 'blossoming' relationship he thinks he's having with Victor.



The movie was effective in tackling issues of homosexuality, poverty, corruption, love and (most importantly) family in a humorous yet realistically poignant approach . It is really touching to see how Maxi's family maintain an admirable love and affection with one another amidst their depressing slums surrounding. It is also good that the film seem to not take itself too seriously with funny moments spread through out the movie aiding to get the message across rather than distracting from it.

The entire cast was superb, but the show was definitely stolen by Nathan Lopez, Maxi herself. That this is his first movie (and that he's actually straight) only highlights the very promising talent he posseses. I hope for greater things to come for this teen thespian.


After countless local gay films that center around the tired subject of male prostitution, I am glad that Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros is experiencing its own taste of success. It's only right that Filipinos would get to meet and appreciate Maximo before the rest of the world fall in love with him.


Little girl, dont run away so fast...



Movies
Gay