Jagged Little 'Spill'

Filed under News | Environment | Travel


It's all over the local news now that the Philippines has just experienced its biggest oil spill yet. The potentially catastrophic environmental disaster happened just off the coast of the Visayan island province of Guimaras when an oil tanker (commissioned by Petron) carrying 2 million liters of fuel, sank and started leaking oil into the ocean.

While I do not consider myself a genuine environmentalist, I can say I am a nature lover. So naurally, my heart sank upon learning this news. Not only will this 'accident' ruin the pristine waters and coastline of Guimaras, one of the country's best tourist attractions, this will also affect the livelihood of thousands of fishermen in the area.


And personally, this broke my heart since in two weeks, my friends and I will be taking our trip to the Visayas and Guimaras is part of our itinerary. We've been looking forward to this trip since March when we already bought our plane tickets to take advantage of an airline company's promo. It would have been our first time to visit Guimaras to experience their wonderful beaches and taste their 'sweetest-in-the-whole-world' mangoes. We still have to decide whether we would modify our travel itinerary as a result of the oil spill incident but in any case, this has inevitably dampened our excitement for the trip...


Tropical the island breeze,
All of nature wild and free,
This is where I long to be...
- Madonna, La Isla Bonita




Guimaras
Environment
Oil Spill
Travel

Happy Birthday, Your MADGEsty

Filed under MADONNA | Videos


Today, Her Madgesty reaches another milestone as millions and millions of her royal subjects all over the world sing and scream in unison... HAPPY 48th BIRTHDAY, MADONNA!!!





To mark this special day, allow me to present a video clip of Madonna's controversial performance of Live To Tell from her record-breaking Confessions Tour that is proof that almost 25 years into her unprecedented career, she continues to not only push the envelope, but practically tear it apart!



video taken from Madonna Nation courtesy of muzik_freek



I have a tale to tell,
Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well;
I was not ready for the fall,
Too blind to see the writing on the wall...
- Madonna, Live To Tell




MADONNA
Birthday
Confessions Tour
Video

DIVAs' Weekend v.3

Filed under Sharon Cuneta | Television


Last night, I saw a special episode of my Mega idol's show Sharon wherein her guest was no other than Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez (another favorite of mine). I have been waiting for this episode to be aired since I knew that they have taped this more than a month ago (even before the 'Sharon' taping that I had the privilege of going to). The episode was made even more special by the fact that Regine is celebrating her 20th year in showbusiness.



photos taken from Pinoy Exchange Forum


It was such a treat to see these 2 amazing women together on one stage. Sharon opened the show by singing Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigan Ka where she was later joined by Regine. As Sharon's way of paying tribute to Regine's 20 succesful years as the country's premier diva, several other Regine hits were sung throughout the show with some short interviews with her and those who have known her even before she became famous.

The highlight of the show was when Regine turned the tables on the Megastar by saying that it was Sharon who inspired her to dream of becoming a singer (the first song she ever memorized was Mega's classic hit, Mr. DJ). She then began her own song tribute to Sharon by doing a medley of Mr. DJ, Dear Heart, P.S. I Love You and Kahapon Lamang. As expected, Sharon was unable to hold back tears as she listened to Regine while watching a video montage of her early movies .

I've already heard of this medley performed by Regine in her concert that I saw last year and I remember being moved by it back then. But witnessing Regine on TV reprising the number for the benefit of OUR idol, I found myself crying along yet again.

If only Sharon's show was longer than an hour, she would have had more time to interview Regine and do more duets with her. That would have made the night much more wonderful (not that it wasn't amazing enough!). But so far, this has been the best Sharon episode yet!


At sana'y nakikinig siya,
naaalala kaya niya?
-Sharon Cuneta, Mr. DJ




Sharon Cuneta
Regine Velasquez
Television
Music

A BATTLE To Be Won

Filed under Blogging


This is a battle! A War! And the casualties could be your hearts and souls!
- Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society


Well, I'm just being a little dramatic...

I have recently decided to get on a battlewagon, so to speak, with just my blog as my ammunition. I am talking about Blog Explosion's Battle of the Blogs. And interestingly, despite my not-so-promising standing to date, I am enjoying the benefits of this harmless 'war'.





As of now, I have lost more battles than I won but it hasn't stop me from pitting my Material Boy against the others. I guess, Resiliency is my middle name.

Besides, I am reaping some benefits with this Battle. I get more credits, I get more traffic and I'm checking out really great blogs along the way. So at the end of the day, there are no losers. Talk about looking at the glass half-full?!?

Incidentally, I just realized that it has been exactly a year since I joined Blog Explosion and I am enjoying the ride so far...


And if at first you don't succeed,
here's some advice that you should heed...
-Madonna, Over & Over




Blogging
Blog Explosion

Over The BORDERLINE

Filed under MADONNA | Music | Videos


Several months ago, I have heard that Rob Thomas, the former frontman for Matchbox 20, sang his own version of Borderline in one of his live performances to promote his solo album. At that time, my office PC did not have access to live audio or video streams so I was unable to hear nor see his take on Madonna's classic hit.

Finally, after a long time, I got the chance to download the said performance... and I love it! I normally cringe when I listen to other artists' cover of Madonna's songs but Rob sang it well and made it his own. I've also been a fan of Matchbox 20 and I think Rob has a distinct voice and to hear him sing a much-loved Madge classic is really very entertaining.

And for those who have not seen it yet, here it is for your viewing pleasure...



Many special thanks to fire_incarnate of Madonna Fanzine for this and many other videos I recently got a copy of


This is also my way of celebrating Madonna's birthday month (she's turning 48 on August 16th). I have also decided to play ONLY Madonna songs and videos on my iPod, DVD player and my PC Media player for the whole month of August. Yes, I am having my own Madonnathon! For the past several years, I have done so but only on the day of her birthday. But now, I have taken it to a whole new level!



...feels like I'm going to lose my mind,
you just keep on pushin' my love
over the Borderline...
-Madonna, Borderline




MADONNA
Rob Thomas
Music
Videos

SECRET Be Told

Filed under MADONNA | Friends | Madonnistas | Music | Movies


After months of waiting, I finally got my hands on Madonna's I'm Going To Tell You A Secret CD/DVD.





The CD contains the live audio recording of select songs from Madonna's 2004 Re-Invention Tour while the accompanying DVD is the documentary that premiered on MTV late last year and which I already saw last year through a 'bootleg' copy from my friend Jheck.

Like most of Madonna's fans everywhere, I can only wish that the CD contained ALL of the Re-Invention songs. Just the same, it's still great that Madonna finally has her own live CD (albeit some of the vocals have been pre-recorded). Meanwhile, though I have already seen the documentary directed by Jonas Akerlund (Ray of Light, Music), it was still exciting for me to watch it again, this time in much, much clearer definition. The DVD also offers never-before-seen footage of some behind-the-scenes moments during Madonna's Re-Invention Tour that were cut from the original TV broadcast.

Much like 1991's Truth Or Dare, the Secret documentary is amusing to watch if only to see how the 'Madonna machine' works especially in the stressful process of mounting a high-profile world tour. Say all you want against her, but there's no denying that Her Madgesty works hard for her money and works way harder for her fans! And amidst all that, she still finds time to have fun with her band, her dancers and most importantly, spend time with her family (her daughter Lourdes is just so precocious, her son Rocco is simply adorable and hubby Guy is well..., YUM!!!).

Now if only Madonna and Warner Records will finally release the entire Re-invention Tour concert video which all of us have been clamoring for for 2 years now, that would really be heaven. However, now that Madge has embarked on a new tour, this is turning more and more into just wishful thinking.


Anyway, I would like to thank my very good (new-found) friend, Benster for taking time to get me a copy of I'm Going To Tell You A Secret as well as the maxi-single CD of Get Together. You truly are 'Seattle's Best'! Who knew that I would find yet another fabulous 'sistah' through Madonna?! Can't wait for you to get here to Manila!






Can we get together,
I really, I really wanna be with you...
- Madonna, Get Together




MADONNA
Friends
Movies
Music

Gone Too Soon

Filed under Office | Friends


A very sad update on my last entry...

Our office is still grappling with the shock and grief for the sudden and senseless death of our office assistant Leigh.

She was mercilessly killed early Friday morning on her way to work when she was held up in a jeepney by 3 still-unidentified men. Witnesses say that she resisted and struggled with the robbers and was fatally shot in the process. Since her bag was taken by the criminals, authorities were unable to immediately contact her family.

It goes without saying that this is such a horrible incident and our hearts are still in pain over the loss of such a beautiful and promising young woman. Our thoughts and prayers will surely be with Leigh and her grieving family.



Like a rainbow fading in the twinkling of an eye,
Gone too soon...
- Michael Jackson, Gone Too Soon




Friends
Office

Without A Trace

Filed under Office | Friends


Our office is under stress today and it's not because of our usual concerns with our clients and on-going projects...

We were greeted with the news that one of our assistants, Leigh, has been reported missing since Friday morning. She left for work as early as 4:30 a.m. (her mom walked her to where she took her usual jeepney ride) but she never got to the office and no one has seen or heard from her since. Several calls have been tried to her mobile phone but there was no answer and later, the phone became unattended/out-of-reach.

Checks have been made with the police and several hospitals, but there is still no word as to her whereabouts and her condition. Naturally, her family is in complete panic and worry while we here at the office is doing the best we can to help.

We just pray that she is okay and that she'll find her way home very, very soon. More than at any time, we are hoping for a happy ending...



Office