| Philippine TV's finest hour |
[14 Jul 2006|01:12am] |
GMA's documentary program i-Witness makes the claim about being Philippine TV's finest hour, and rightfully so. The show has won numerous accolades for such work as Howie Severino's Little Bad Boy: Batang Rizal sa Europa.
So naturally, the MTRCB had to step in. The board recently suspended the show because of another Howie Severino documentary, this time featuring a 200-year-old ritual of women playfully parading and displaying wooden phalluses during weddings. The episode, ironically enough, was titled "Hindi Ito Bastos" and featured the ritual's role of celebrating marriage and binding the community. The show was found to be offensive for “showing … exaggerated large phalluses and masturbation” which “do not fall within G and PG classification applying contemporary Filipino values and good customs as standards.”
(Can I just say that I loove the line about how that exaggerated large phalluses weren't part of good values? So if they had just shown small penises, that would have been ok?)
You can follow all the fallout over at Howie's blog. He also posted the YouTube link to the controversial documentary, as well as a link to a previous feature about Pepe's Myth.
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| Walang tulugan |
[02 Jul 2006|03:17am] |
Ok, so I was watching Master Showman earlier (oh don't judge me, I'm not a book), and I got excited when Kuya Germs's sidekick/boylet John Nite started talking about an "Internet diva" doing a return performance on the show. He was, of course, talking about Alyssa Alano of Keys Me fame.
After doing a rendition of The Corrs' "Breathless" (yeah, I know) with her trademark aplomb, Alyssa sat down with the Walang Tulugan crew, where she had to sit there smiling sheepishly as they peppered her with jabs about her previous performance. There was even this exchange between her and Shirley Fuentes (remember her?):
Shirley: "So, Alyssa, may nagbago na ba sa career mo mula nung kumalat yung video sa Internet?"
Alyssa: "Ah marami po... marami po ang natawa."
She was still breathing heavily after her performance (and it *is* a taxing performance, did you see her grinding it during Keys Me?), and now she had to take all this abuse from Kuya Germs and his army of has-beens and starlets. I mean, it's one thing to get ribbed by Joey de Leon on StarTalk (because at least, Joey's cooler than being cool), but having to take all that from John Nite and Shirley fucking Fuentes? She must have been thinking, "Tangina, ang hirap naman kumita ng pera."
(Actually, Alyssa's not bad-looking. She's prettier than, say, Keanna Reeves, and I guess she can't complain about all of these because Keys Me has absolutely made her career. But between Keanna winning PBB earlier this year, and now this, I mean, what the hell's happening to our country?)
While we're on the subject I figured I'd share some of my favorite Kuya Germs-related tidbits:
-- At GMA, employees get to go on a "birthday lunch with the president", where they set up a luncheon for the month's celebrants with the company's president as guest of honor. Kuya Germs always hosts these things (yeah, can you believe he's available, what are the fucking odds?) Anyway, I went for the free lunch last November, and I was having a hard time eating my spaghetti without laughing, because it was such a surreal experience trying to eat spaghetti while Kuya Germs, fifteen feet away from me, was talking in the background, doing a mini-Master Showman.
-- Kuya Germs loves to hang out at the old co-op canteen after his afternoon radio program. It's been renovated now, but it used to be this absolute shithole that everyone endearingly referred to as "Cholera". I saw him once there taking Mark Bautista for a snack after his show, and I remember thinking how Mark Bautista must have gone out of his way to go on his show, only to be treated by Kuya Germs to a bowl of spa-ketchup.
-- There's this Master Showman tarp just outside the GMA Network compound that absolutely kills me. It features the whole crew of the show, with John Nite dressed up as your garden variety New York hipster. I absolutely love it because I have no idea how to react to it. I mean, he probably has a stylist because it's not like he dresses up like a member of The Strokes on Master Showman, right? So what the fuck was the stylist going for there? Am I supposed to go, "Hey, John Nite looks cool in that photo, maybe I should check out Master Showman some time?" Like, who the fuck are they kidding?
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| Help the victims of the Leyte tragedy |
[03 Mar 2006|05:34pm] |
 You can help the victims of the Leyte Tragedy through The Philippine National Red Cross (contact numbers: +632-527-0000 and +632-527-0858) or through the GMA Kapuso Foundation (contact numbers: +632-928-4299)
If you know of any other organization that is involved in sending relief goods, monetary donations etc to Leyte, feel free to post a comment here so we can get the word out.
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| Kahit sulyap lang Tanya |
[02 Mar 2006|02:24am] |
 I was at Gateway tonight because I was planning to buy a couple of new CDs, Kamikazee's Maharot and Sandwich's Five on the Floor. The record store didn't have the new <S> album in stock yet (I'll probably get it this weekend at Megamall, maybe along with the new Belle and Sebastian if it's there, I just heard the new single and it's GREAT).
Anyway, I did end up with the Kamikazee CD, featuring the lead single Narda, which has been on heavy rotation in the music video channels. Deservedly so, because the song, quite simply, rocks.
I can't say the same thing about the rest of the album though. It's not terrible, by any means, but I was just a little disappointed because I liked their first album a lot. Except for the cover, the first album was a lot more kwela. Also, the songs are too long; their music works much better in doses of 2-3 minutes instead of 5-6.
But the album was still worth it, if only for Narda and a couple of other notable tracks (Chiksilog, Shoot Dat Bol, Petix). Plus, the fillers are hilarious. It's an enjoyable album if you like this kind of music.
At the record store, I also picked up a copy of the latest FHM. It had only been moments earlier when I saw on the news that Tanya Garcia was on the cover.
 I actually hadn't bought an FHM in about two years. I think I made that decision after waking up one day, looking around my room, and realizing that I had too many FHMs. (In my defense, I used to work in Ortigas, and I was at Megamall every other day, and I only bought those back issues half-price at the Filbar's in the basement.) Besides, I figured, there's always someone around who has the latest copy anyway.
Anyway, the issue was... nice, to say the least. I always love it when formerly wholesome soap opera stars pose on FHM to revive their flagging careers. I just chalk up the cost of my copy as a donation to the cause.
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| UNSPEAKABLE DANGER FOR PRESS FREEDOM |
[24 Feb 2006|06:57pm] |
NUJP Position on President Arroyo's Declaration of State of National Emergency
We demand that the Arroyo government allow journalists and media organizations the fullest freedom to air and print news and information about the current political crisis, and that it desist from undertaking repressive action against journalists and media organizations covering the crisis.
We also urge our media colleagues all over the country not to be cowed by threats, open or veiled, seeking to scare us from boldly performing our jobs as we must.
When unrest and confusion reigns, as is happening at the moment, it becomes ever more vital for the people and members of the media to jealously protect the freedom of the press and expression. Such is a lesson learned bitterly under the past brutal dictatorship, whose downfall, ironically, Filipinos commemorate today.
THE NUJP
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| Others grieve, while others curse, and others mourn behind a big black hearse |
[06 Feb 2006|04:01pm] |
Francis M wrote about the tragedy at Ultra at his blog:
Ako ay may mga katanungan...
Totoo bang hinikayat ni Willie at pinaniwala ang mga tao na itong said anniversary episode ANG PAG ASA at solusyon sa kahirapan ng tao? Na itong show ang mag-aahon sa kanila sa kahirapan?
Totoo bang may P10,000 sa first 300 na makapasok? (Kung 8 ang pamilya mo instant P80,000 yun, at ilang manonood ang ganun ang mentalidad?)
Totoo bang P10,000 lang at Smart celphone ang kabayaran sa buhay ng isang tao? Na tuwing tutunog ang celphone na iyon, maalala nila ang taong namatay?
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| Fireball fight, Richard Gutierrez version |
[24 Jan 2006|08:36pm] |
Separated from birth and fighting on different sides of warring tribes, Amante and Miguel grew up as differently as night and day. Ngunit sa muling pagkabuhay ni Apo Abukay, kinailangan magsanib ng puwersa ni Amante at Miguel upang mailigtas si Isabel, ang babaeng pareho nilang minamahal.
Join Miguel and Amante as they train to fight Apo Abukay, and save the woman they both love! Click to play the Sugo Online Fighting Game
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| Kwentong Pacman |
[24 Jan 2006|05:29am] |
Last Sunday morning, Leks, Jonas, Frank, JAm, Ivan and I all hied off to Megamall to worship at the Church of Pacquiao. We sat patiently through the undercards, made fun of Quinito Henson, watched the replay of the first fight as we pretended to be boxing experts, and made some more fun of Quinito Henson. I even paid 70 bucks for a large popcorn, and the dork that I am, even took a couple of photos inside the theater.
Of course everyone knows what happened by now, but let me just add a few more things:
-- The 300 bucks we paid was so, so worth it. As Leks put it afterwards, "Kahit 600 yun, sulit eh." Of course, it might have been different if Pacman had lost.
-- As early as three hours before the fight, everyone was cheering everytime Manny was shown on the screen.
-- During a long break prior to the fight, we got to talking about Manny's CD, which was being sold outside the theaters. The lead single was this awful, awful ballad called "Para Sa 'Yo ang Laban na Ito" (or something like that), which he sang (quite badly) with little prodding during some of his interviews before he left for the US to train. Then we started wondering what his entrance music would be, and someone joked that it would be his own song. So his actual entrance music? A remix of his own song.
-- Even as Jennifer Bautista screwed up the national anthem, everyone in the theater politely stood up and broke into cheers as she finished.
-- Was I the only guy who wished that after singing the Mexican and the US national anthems, Jon Secada had refused to give the mic back and instead start on "Just Another Day Without You"?
-- By the seventh round, when Manny had Morales on the ropes, it was so loud in the theater that no one could hear Quinito creaming his pants anymore. Everyone was screaming, high-fiving, and even hugging each other and it was like a college basketball game, only everyone in the place was on your side.
-- The best thing about the morning was of course Manny winning the fight? Why, Manny's post-fight interview with Mario Lopez, aka Slater from "Saved by the Bell". It went something like this:
Slater: "So Manny, what was the difference between this and the first fight."
Manny, thinking about the question for a moment: "In this fight, I knock him out in the 10th round and I win..."
Us: "Tangina Manny, buti na lang champion ka."
-- Not only were we spared GMA's post-fight interview, we (along with pretty much else in the theater) got to boo quite heartily when Chavit Singson and Mike Arroyo were shown on screen climbing the ring and congratulating Manny.
-- Almost as soon as the fight finished, the place lit up with cellphones, as everyone tried to text everyone they know about the results (I tried taking a photo of it, but it was still too dark).
After the fight, we decided to celebrate with pizza and beer at Shakey's. Hehe, how '80s (and early '90s)! But then, considering that Jon Secada and Mario Lopez were the entertainers present during the fight...
(At siyempre, tanghaling tapat pa talaga kami nag-inuman, 'di ba?)
 
And then after lunch we still hung out for about a couple of hours at Starbucks just talking about the fight very loudly, so much so that some of the yuppies there started giving us weird looks. We only stopped when it was time for Ivan and Frank to be somewhere else. As we were leaving, Leks quipped, "Shit, excited na akong mag-boxing message boards para magbasa ng comments tungkol kay Pacquiao."
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| The future of TV |
[03 Jan 2006|08:45pm] |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon has always been one of the most fascinating people in the television industry, and this week, in a guest column for TV Guide, he takes hilarious a look at the future of television:
Many people have asked me, "Joss, what is the future of television? What will we watch? And how will we watch it? Surely you must know, for you are wise, and slender." I usually smile and say nothing, because I wasn't actually listening to the question. But it's a good one, and I think it's time I let you in on a few highlights of Television-to-Be.
The networks will all be creating exciting, innovative new spin-offs of today's shows. Approximately 67 percent of all television will be CSI-based, including CSI: Des Moines, CSI: New York but a Different Part than Gary Sinise Is In and NCSI: SVU WKRP, which covers every possible gruesome crime with a groovin' '70s beat.
Oh, and the coolest thing about the piece? We find out he's actually a big fan of Veronica Mars.
Bonus link: Kristen Bell in pekpek shorts.
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| TGIS Forever |
[23 Oct 2005|04:23pm] |
Just a few moments ago, I received this text message from Karl:
"Astig pre katabi ko kanina d2 sa mobile1 sa podium si joaquin torres d 3rd!"
And then a few moments later, this:
"Hehe d nga c cookie ang kasama, mukhang c biscuit lang"
Poor guy. Even at the office while watching Encantadia, exchanges would go like:
"O, sino yung sumaksak kay Pirena, si Wacks?"
"Hinde, si Amihan, kasi akala niya si Hagorn si Pirena eh. Pero si Wacks yung pumatay kay Pirena pagkatapos."
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| Another candle fades away |
[13 Sep 2005|02:37pm] |
Former PCGG Chair Haydee Yorac passed away this morning. She was last year's Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service. I wrote last year about an interview with her by CNN Talk Asia's Lorraine Hahn:
[Atty. Yorac] discussed how, when she took over, there were only 13 lawyers with the government agency, so she went back to the University of the Philippines and recruited bright, young faculty members to join her in her crusade to recover ill-gotten wealth. Today, she says, the number of lawyers have increased to 41.
This prompted Lorraine Hahn to ask her, as idealistic as she was, if it weren't tough for her to expect the same kind of idealism and passion from the people she recruited to her cause. To this, Atty. Yorac simply answered that it wasn't, because as remarkable as her idealism and passion is, it wasn't unique to her. She wasn't cynical, she was never cynical, and she never believed that she was alone.
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| This is how we do things in the OC |
[11 Sep 2005|05:30pm] |
Sports Guy Bill Simmons had a spectacular email exchange with Josh Schwartz, the creator of my favorite television show, The OC. My favorite part:
Simmons: But here's the one mistake you made that was incomprehensible to me: Dumping Olivia Wilde (Marissa's lesbian crush) midway through Season 2. Not only was she the best actress on the show other than Seth's Mom, she was a Pantheon TV Babe -- right up there with Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith on "Charlie's Angels," Heather Locklear on "Melrose Place," Nicole Eggert on "Charles in Charge," Nell Carter on "Gimme a Break" and everyone else. HOW COULD YOU GET RID OF HER!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! This was like giving away Google stock four years ago! I will never get over this. She is going to be a huge star some day and we both know it. Please explain yourself.
Schwartz:Dude, I am right there with you. Whose idea do you think it was to have her in a relationship with Marissa? But the network was very nervous -- it was an extremely conservative time in our country (thank Janet Jackson for that) and everyone was freaking out. We had a whole episode where every kiss between them was cut out, just so I could get one kiss in the Rainy Day Women episode. I was literally on the phone with Broadcast, Standards and Practices bartering for kisses. It was a battle, and The Powers That Be are part of a big corporation, and were going in front of Congress at the time (every network was) -- so I understand they are all good people who were under a lot of pressure. But they wanted that story wrapped up as fast as humanly possible and Alex moving on out of the OC. But Olivia is a superstar. She was great in the part. I would have her back on the show in a heartbeat. And she's going to have a huge career, I totally agree.
But if you want Alex back, America -- you're going to have to VOTE BUSH OUT OF OFFICE.
Oh, and of course, this:
Simmons: Please confirm or deny whether...
You had to turn Luke into a good guy because William Zabka was threatening to sue you unless you paid him royalties.
Schwartz: That's how we pitched "The OC" originally. It was the Karate Kid without the karate.
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| Bleeding maroon |
[15 Aug 2005|12:28am] |
Kanina, natalo yung UP sa UST, 92-85 sa overtime. Sayang yung laro, dahil ang laki ng hinabol ng UP. 12 points ang lamang sa kanila ng UST bago pumasok ng fourth quarter, at sampu ang lamang nung 3 minutes na lang. Nakahabol nga ang UP, kaya nga nag-overtime, pero kinapos na lang talaga sila.
Minsan iniisip ko, ang lovelife ko, parang basketball team ng UP.
Kung tatanungin mo ako kung meron ba akong pag-asa sa kung sinumang bagong babae na magugustuhan ko, para mo na rin akong tinanong kung meron bang pag-asang makapasok sa Final Four ng UAAP ang UP ngayong taon. Technically, oo. Technically.
Minsan may panalo, minsan merong talo. Minsan, sa isang stretch mas maraming talo, minsan mas maraming panalo, pero nananalo lang ng kung ilan para maging buo ang loob at magkaroon ng pag-asa. Minsan nga, maniniwala ka na pwede talaga.
Kung maglaro lang ng ayos si Marvin, hindi yung tangina parang nami-miss niya si Jolens habang nagdi-dribble.
Kung maayos ko lang masabi yung mga iniisip kong sabihin at matawa siya kahit corny yung mga joke gimik ko.
Kung mahilig lang siya sa mga geek na mahilig sa libro at walang kotse (malay mo, yun yung type niya).
Kung mag-improve yung shooting ng mga guwardiya natin sa perimeter para ma-open up yung ilalim para sa mga big men (malay mo, magka-milagro).
Baka pwede...
Pero sa huli, kapos pa rin. Kulang sa diskarte, kulang sa experience, kulang sa depth, kulang sa height, kulang sa talent, at kung ano-ano pang ibang kakulangan na pabago-bago lang ng pangalan pero hindi naman nagbabago ang epekto. Tapos, 'pag tapos na, hihirit na lang ng, "Next time na lang!" at magtataka, dahil ba't nga ba umasa, eh UP Maroons yung involved, at ako yung involved, at sa simula pa lang, wala naman talagang kapag-a-pag-asa?
Tapos magjo-joke na lang, para naman hindi masyadong malungkot, tulad ng "Aba, kaya nga tayo UP Fighting Maroons, hindi UP Winning Maroons" o kaya "Aba, kasalanan ko ba kung mahilig siya sa panget?" Tapos magtatawanan at mag-iinuman at maglalasing hanggang limot na ang lahat.
Haay. 4-4 ang record ng UP Maroons ngayon. Kahit natalo sa UST, meron pang pag-asa sa Final Four. Sana makapasok tayo this year.
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| Feeling rock star |
[22 Jul 2005|01:17am] |
Things are already bad enough here at the office when we're up to our necks in work, but it's much, much worse when we don't have anything to do.
Take a look at what happened this afternoon when there wasn't so much to do. We just went out to 7-Eleven for some green tea when we suddenly felt like buying an eyeliner.
 
The thing is, there was a party at the office tonight, and the whole office was there. I almost forgot that my colleagues and I at the web team already had a crazy sub-culture the rest of the company wasn't aware of. Everyone kept asking us why we were wearing make-up, and we had fun with our answers. Kung ano-ano na sinagot ko, pati mga boss, mga crush, niloloko ko na.
"Uhm, nakatulog ako kanina, tapos pag-gising ko ganyan na."
"May nililigawan akong goth chick eh, may date kami mamaya."
"Sasali ako sa Rockstar INXS."
"Wala lang, trip ko lang, bakit, anong klaseng society na yung meron tayo na hindi na pwedeng mag-make up ang isang lalake dahil sa gusto niya?"
"Eyebags 'yan, sa sobrang puyat sa trabaho."
"Ganito raw talaga sir kapag nagda-drugs eh."
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| Shit |
[21 Jul 2005|04:14pm] |
"FOR a full minute, the nine-year-old boy could not speak. But when the words finally came, so did the tears.
"The soldiers had told him to start digging his own grave with his bare hands. They might as well kill him now, since he would probably join the New People's Army, anyway.
"It was an empty threat: The boy was later freed. But the trauma has remained weeks after that ordeal."
Full story
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