One of my favorite songs. I discovered it by watching American Idol - it was performed by Kelly Clarkson during Idol Gives Back in season 6 then by Crystal Bowersox in the finale of Season 10. It was the Bowersox cover that made me search for the original version, and while those two Idol versions were good, Patty Griffin's original just cannot be touched.
video uploaded in youtube by realimghty
"Up to the Mountain" is also called the MLK song because it draws upon
themes from Martin Luther King, Jr's famous "I've Been
to the Mountaintop" speech that he gave a day before his assassination. Patty's clear yet haunting vocals showcase an amazing depth of emotion and deliver the song's powerful lyrics that create such vivid imagery:
The peaceful valley
Few come to know
I may never get there
Ever in this lifetime
But sooner or later
It's there I will go
A truly amazing song by a brilliant artist.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Movie time
A week ago, I promised my nephew that I would take him to watch both "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Ice Age: Continental Drift". So when I saw that "The Dark Knight Rises" came out last week, I figured I had to ensure we got to watch those two movies before they get dropped from the cinemas altogether.
I first watched "The Amazing Spider-Man" with both my nephews and my mom. I'm a fan of superhero movies in general but I am also a fan of the first two installments of the Tobey Maguire-headlined series (I didn't like Spider-Man 3...) so I wasn't sure how this reboot would stack up against those. Somehow, I actually enjoyed it just that bit more. Most people like seeing their superheroes be super and just bash away against the bad guys but I'm a bit different in that I actually enjoy it more when I can see the human side to these characters. That is exactly what you get when you watch "The Amazing Spider-Man". While 'Spidey' eventually comes into his own as a superhero, it was great seeing his angst, pain, and fear, and how some life-changing events make him realize that maybe it is his job to protect the city from threats. This wouldn't have been possible if not for the brilliant performance of Andrew Garfield, who delivered a very believable transformation of Peter Parker from shy, self-absorbed teenager suffering from daddy issues to a confident, young man whose guilt and sense of responsibility propel him to try and make things right. His onscreen (and apparently off-screen) partner Emma Stone is equally good, and the chemistry they have makes the relationship of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy almost just as compelling to watch as Spider-Man's battles with the Lizard. I do think both Andrew and Emma deliver better performances than Tobey and Kirsten Dunst, and I hope that they are both asked to reprise their roles in the sequel which is slated for 2014.
The next day, I watched "Ice Age: Continental Drift" with only my nephew Ciera. It was a fun movie, with a couple of storylines running in parallel and a lot of new and interesting characters, such as Manny and Ellie's daughter Peaches, Sid's Granny and her 'imaginary pet' Precious, a whole bunch of pirates led by Gutt, and those little furry creatures that reminded me a lot of the ewoks from Return of the Jedi. I wasn't all that interested in the storyline about Peaches trying to fit in and impress the 'cool boy' and his 'cool friends' before realizing that her family and her true friends were more important, but I figured this is a movie for kids so it actually makes for a good lesson for the young people watching. I also really enjoyed the animated short film about Maggie from the Simpsons that was shown right before Ice Age started.
I'm pretty happy that I'm doing better this year in terms of movie-watching. I've seen nine films now, including Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, Avengers, Battleship, Wrath of the Titans, Hunger Games, Chronicle, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. While Avengers may be this year's biggest hit, I think my favorites so far are MI4 and The Amazing Spider-Man.
I first watched "The Amazing Spider-Man" with both my nephews and my mom. I'm a fan of superhero movies in general but I am also a fan of the first two installments of the Tobey Maguire-headlined series (I didn't like Spider-Man 3...) so I wasn't sure how this reboot would stack up against those. Somehow, I actually enjoyed it just that bit more. Most people like seeing their superheroes be super and just bash away against the bad guys but I'm a bit different in that I actually enjoy it more when I can see the human side to these characters. That is exactly what you get when you watch "The Amazing Spider-Man". While 'Spidey' eventually comes into his own as a superhero, it was great seeing his angst, pain, and fear, and how some life-changing events make him realize that maybe it is his job to protect the city from threats. This wouldn't have been possible if not for the brilliant performance of Andrew Garfield, who delivered a very believable transformation of Peter Parker from shy, self-absorbed teenager suffering from daddy issues to a confident, young man whose guilt and sense of responsibility propel him to try and make things right. His onscreen (and apparently off-screen) partner Emma Stone is equally good, and the chemistry they have makes the relationship of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy almost just as compelling to watch as Spider-Man's battles with the Lizard. I do think both Andrew and Emma deliver better performances than Tobey and Kirsten Dunst, and I hope that they are both asked to reprise their roles in the sequel which is slated for 2014.
The next day, I watched "Ice Age: Continental Drift" with only my nephew Ciera. It was a fun movie, with a couple of storylines running in parallel and a lot of new and interesting characters, such as Manny and Ellie's daughter Peaches, Sid's Granny and her 'imaginary pet' Precious, a whole bunch of pirates led by Gutt, and those little furry creatures that reminded me a lot of the ewoks from Return of the Jedi. I wasn't all that interested in the storyline about Peaches trying to fit in and impress the 'cool boy' and his 'cool friends' before realizing that her family and her true friends were more important, but I figured this is a movie for kids so it actually makes for a good lesson for the young people watching. I also really enjoyed the animated short film about Maggie from the Simpsons that was shown right before Ice Age started.
I'm pretty happy that I'm doing better this year in terms of movie-watching. I've seen nine films now, including Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, Avengers, Battleship, Wrath of the Titans, Hunger Games, Chronicle, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. While Avengers may be this year's biggest hit, I think my favorites so far are MI4 and The Amazing Spider-Man.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Nadal out of the Olympics
Four days to go until the 2012 London Summer Olympics and I'm really looking forward to it. The most popular global sports like basketball and football, while included in the event, somehow take a backseat to other sports such as swimming and track and field.
The only downside for me is that Rafael Nadal is not going to be playing. He is currently battling knee tendinitis and he claims that he is not in any condition to play competitively. Darn!
I am now hoping that Andy Murray wins. Federer is the odds on favorite to win, but with Andy Murray losing four Grand Slam finals (3 to Federer, 1 to Djokovic), he is arguably the best player in history never to win a Slam. We all saw how much it pained him to lose the Wimbledon final, so I hope he can finally break through in a major event. It won't be a Slam, but an Olympic Gold in his own country (by country, I mean the United Kingdom and not England as Andy Murray is from Scotland :)) would be a spectacular win and a great moment both for him and for the UK.
The only downside for me is that Rafael Nadal is not going to be playing. He is currently battling knee tendinitis and he claims that he is not in any condition to play competitively. Darn!
I am now hoping that Andy Murray wins. Federer is the odds on favorite to win, but with Andy Murray losing four Grand Slam finals (3 to Federer, 1 to Djokovic), he is arguably the best player in history never to win a Slam. We all saw how much it pained him to lose the Wimbledon final, so I hope he can finally break through in a major event. It won't be a Slam, but an Olympic Gold in his own country (by country, I mean the United Kingdom and not England as Andy Murray is from Scotland :)) would be a spectacular win and a great moment both for him and for the UK.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Reconnecting
It's been about half a decade since I last saw my cousins Joy and Charmaine who are now based in Canada. Charmaine just got married and their wedding was held here in the Philippines so it was a good opportunity for me to catch up with both of them. I wasn't able to join them for the wedding ceremony itself as it was held out of town but they organized dinner last Sunday for the family, to make sure we all got to see them. Unfortunately, it was on a Sunday night and one of my nephews was in a bad mood that night so my family and I couldn't stay long.
Thankfully, they organized dinner with their cousins on both sides of their family on Friday night. It was raining very hard that evening but I was determined to make it even if I was very late. As it turned out, I got there before a lot of other people because everyone got stuck in storm-induced traffic as well. Anyways, as there weren't a lot of people with us that night, it was a good chance for me to catch up with both my cousins and their significant others - Charmaine's husband and Joy's boyfriend who also came to the Philippines with them from Canada. I also got to see my other cousin Jessica whom I haven't seen in an even longer time! After about three hours, we decided to call it a night, especially since they were all flying out the next day. It wasn't a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, but it was time well spent together. I do hope I get to see them all again soon, whether here on in Canada.
Thankfully, they organized dinner with their cousins on both sides of their family on Friday night. It was raining very hard that evening but I was determined to make it even if I was very late. As it turned out, I got there before a lot of other people because everyone got stuck in storm-induced traffic as well. Anyways, as there weren't a lot of people with us that night, it was a good chance for me to catch up with both my cousins and their significant others - Charmaine's husband and Joy's boyfriend who also came to the Philippines with them from Canada. I also got to see my other cousin Jessica whom I haven't seen in an even longer time! After about three hours, we decided to call it a night, especially since they were all flying out the next day. It wasn't a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, but it was time well spent together. I do hope I get to see them all again soon, whether here on in Canada.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Barber of Seville
Apparently, it's the first time in Philippine history that three operas were staged in the country in the same year. Amazingly, I was there to watch each one! :) I watched "The Barber of Seville" last Saturday, and it was incredible!
"The Barber of Seville" is an opera buffa, or a comic opera, by Gioachino Rossini. It tells the story of Count Almaviva who is trying to woo the beautiful Rosina. He disguises himself as Lindoro, hoping to make Rosina love him for himself and not for his money. However, Rosina has very little freedom as the ward of Dr. Bartolo. Bartolo aims to marry Rosina himself so he can lay claim to her dowry. Count Almaviva then runs into Figaro, the Barber of Seville who also used to be the Count's servant. Figaro advises the Count to disguise himself as a drunk soldier to gain entry into the Bartolo household. Bartolo and Don Basilio, Rosina's music teacher, are very suspicious of Lindoro, and as they have a confrontation with Rosina, Lindoro, Figaro, and Bartolo's housekeeper Berta, their noise attracts the attention of the Officer of the Watch and his men. The officer arrests Lindoro, but as Lindoro shares his real identity to the officer, he is freed.
To regain entry into the Bartolo household, Almaviva disguises himself as a substitute music teacher and tells Bartolo that Basilio is ill. The lie is threatened to be exposed when Basilio appears but Almaviva bribes Basilio to feign illness. Bartolo's suspicions deepen and he throws everyone except Rosina out of his house. He tells her that Lindoro is just a humble servant of Count Almaviva and he calls for a notary to draw up the marriage contract between him and Rosina. During a thunderstorm, Figaro and Almaviva enter Rosina's room through a ladder in the balcony, and it is here that Rosina learns that Lindoro and the Count are one and the same. They are so caught up in their love for each other that they pay no attention to Figaro's initial attempts to get them to leave and by the time they do try, the ladder on the balcony has been removed. They are still in the room when Basilio and the notary arrive. Almaviva is able to coerce Basilio to act as a witness to his marriage to Rosina, and as Basilio and Figaro act as witnesses, Almaviva and Rosina both sign the marriage contract prepared by the notary. Bartolo enters the room too late, but his disappointment is short-lived as he is told that he can keep Rosina's dowry.
Everyone who performed in the opera were vocally amazing, and I especially loved the fast-running notes - and believe me, there were many - as these required (to quote my friend Marie who also watched it) "so much vocal agility and stamina." It was even more impressive that these were often done in unison or in harmony. While everyone was great, I was especially impressed by Mario Cassi, who played Figaro. His voice had such strong projection and really carried throughout the theater but he made it seem so effortless. His swagger and panache made his performance even more memorable. An equally memorable performance was that of Marco Filippo Romano, who played Bartolo. He was such an entertaining scene stealer and I especially loved it when he would mock Rosina by sarcastically repeating her words in falsetto. That said, it was a true ensemble performance and everyone really held their own.Major props of course have to go to the director, Antonio Petris, for achieving this.
Probably the most interesting experience I had in the show is the discovery that the popular aria "Largo al factotum" is from this opera. What is that aria, you say? Well, it's in the one where the singer keeps singing 'Figaro'. In popular culture, this has been featured in the Whale who sang at the Met, Woody Woodpecker, Tom and Jerry, and in the opening credits of Mrs. Doubtfire. If you want a more professional performance than those, here is Mario Cassi performing "Largo al factotum":
video uploaded in youtube by MrFigarofi
The fact that "The Barber of Seville" is a comedy makes it a different experience from the other two I have watched. They must also have had a ton of sponsors because programs were given for free before the show and several magazines like Lifestyle Asia, Mega, and Travel, were also distributed to people in the audience. (Although "La Traviata" probably had just as much, if not more, sponsorships because their ticket prices were about half the cost of this one and also of "Madame Butterfly".) Then again, it's not surprising. Rustan's was a co-presenter and they are celebrating their 60th anniversary. Several Italians were in the show - including the conductor, Ruggero Barbieri - and this is also because this year, we are celebrating 65 years of Philippine-Italian Diplomatic Relations as well as the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Italian Association. Pretty cool!
I wonder what the next opera will be. Phantom of the Opera, which will also be staged in CCP in a little more than a month's time, doesn't officially count as an opera, although I am equally excited for that.
"The Barber of Seville" is an opera buffa, or a comic opera, by Gioachino Rossini. It tells the story of Count Almaviva who is trying to woo the beautiful Rosina. He disguises himself as Lindoro, hoping to make Rosina love him for himself and not for his money. However, Rosina has very little freedom as the ward of Dr. Bartolo. Bartolo aims to marry Rosina himself so he can lay claim to her dowry. Count Almaviva then runs into Figaro, the Barber of Seville who also used to be the Count's servant. Figaro advises the Count to disguise himself as a drunk soldier to gain entry into the Bartolo household. Bartolo and Don Basilio, Rosina's music teacher, are very suspicious of Lindoro, and as they have a confrontation with Rosina, Lindoro, Figaro, and Bartolo's housekeeper Berta, their noise attracts the attention of the Officer of the Watch and his men. The officer arrests Lindoro, but as Lindoro shares his real identity to the officer, he is freed.
To regain entry into the Bartolo household, Almaviva disguises himself as a substitute music teacher and tells Bartolo that Basilio is ill. The lie is threatened to be exposed when Basilio appears but Almaviva bribes Basilio to feign illness. Bartolo's suspicions deepen and he throws everyone except Rosina out of his house. He tells her that Lindoro is just a humble servant of Count Almaviva and he calls for a notary to draw up the marriage contract between him and Rosina. During a thunderstorm, Figaro and Almaviva enter Rosina's room through a ladder in the balcony, and it is here that Rosina learns that Lindoro and the Count are one and the same. They are so caught up in their love for each other that they pay no attention to Figaro's initial attempts to get them to leave and by the time they do try, the ladder on the balcony has been removed. They are still in the room when Basilio and the notary arrive. Almaviva is able to coerce Basilio to act as a witness to his marriage to Rosina, and as Basilio and Figaro act as witnesses, Almaviva and Rosina both sign the marriage contract prepared by the notary. Bartolo enters the room too late, but his disappointment is short-lived as he is told that he can keep Rosina's dowry.
Everyone who performed in the opera were vocally amazing, and I especially loved the fast-running notes - and believe me, there were many - as these required (to quote my friend Marie who also watched it) "so much vocal agility and stamina." It was even more impressive that these were often done in unison or in harmony. While everyone was great, I was especially impressed by Mario Cassi, who played Figaro. His voice had such strong projection and really carried throughout the theater but he made it seem so effortless. His swagger and panache made his performance even more memorable. An equally memorable performance was that of Marco Filippo Romano, who played Bartolo. He was such an entertaining scene stealer and I especially loved it when he would mock Rosina by sarcastically repeating her words in falsetto. That said, it was a true ensemble performance and everyone really held their own.Major props of course have to go to the director, Antonio Petris, for achieving this.
Probably the most interesting experience I had in the show is the discovery that the popular aria "Largo al factotum" is from this opera. What is that aria, you say? Well, it's in the one where the singer keeps singing 'Figaro'. In popular culture, this has been featured in the Whale who sang at the Met, Woody Woodpecker, Tom and Jerry, and in the opening credits of Mrs. Doubtfire. If you want a more professional performance than those, here is Mario Cassi performing "Largo al factotum":
video uploaded in youtube by MrFigarofi
The fact that "The Barber of Seville" is a comedy makes it a different experience from the other two I have watched. They must also have had a ton of sponsors because programs were given for free before the show and several magazines like Lifestyle Asia, Mega, and Travel, were also distributed to people in the audience. (Although "La Traviata" probably had just as much, if not more, sponsorships because their ticket prices were about half the cost of this one and also of "Madame Butterfly".) Then again, it's not surprising. Rustan's was a co-presenter and they are celebrating their 60th anniversary. Several Italians were in the show - including the conductor, Ruggero Barbieri - and this is also because this year, we are celebrating 65 years of Philippine-Italian Diplomatic Relations as well as the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Italian Association. Pretty cool!
I wonder what the next opera will be. Phantom of the Opera, which will also be staged in CCP in a little more than a month's time, doesn't officially count as an opera, although I am equally excited for that.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Broken suitcase
After 14 years of heavy use, the very first suitcase I bought - a handcarry-size Samsonite - finally succumbed to the wear and tear of travel. I used it over the weekend and after lugging it around in the morning, I noticed that the combination lock mechanism was no longer attached to the bag. Eep!
I have to give props to that suitcase though. It outlasted a lot of my other bags. I probably broke two large suitcases and 1 medium-sized one (I may have broken more medium-sized ones but I normally use either the big or the small one when I travel so the medium-sized one is not as heavily used). While Samsonite is a relatively expensive brand, based on my experience, it is clearly sturdier. As such, I will probably replace my broken suitcase with another Samsonite. Given my recent big ticket purchases though, I need to be more conscientious about my spending now. As such, I probably won't buy a new one until my next trip.
I have to give props to that suitcase though. It outlasted a lot of my other bags. I probably broke two large suitcases and 1 medium-sized one (I may have broken more medium-sized ones but I normally use either the big or the small one when I travel so the medium-sized one is not as heavily used). While Samsonite is a relatively expensive brand, based on my experience, it is clearly sturdier. As such, I will probably replace my broken suitcase with another Samsonite. Given my recent big ticket purchases though, I need to be more conscientious about my spending now. As such, I probably won't buy a new one until my next trip.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
International Shopping Spree
So I've turned into one of those people who travel abroad just to shop. Scary. Or well, not necessarily...
I wrote about my need for a massive gadget update several months ago. I have been at odds with my personal laptop for the better part of a year now. My recent trips to Batanes and Cebu/Bohol (which I have yet to blog about) have emphasized my need for a new camera but it was also in these trips that I discovered that my mom's camera now has the same 'smudge' problem that my camera has. Clearly, I needed to get my new equipment ASAP.
I did some research online and I finally decided what laptop and cameras to get. However, I know that electronics are cheaper in Singapore than they are here. So I asked a couple of my friends over there if they could find out how much these items cost in SG. As it turns out, if I bought all items over there, I would save P17,000. That is massive! I quickly look at airfare costs and I was able to find a flight that would set me off by about P8000. Even if you add the airport tax of P1,620 and the passenger service fee o f P550 and I'd still have a lot of savings. Clearly, this was a good enough reason to fly to Singapore.
It took me all of three hours in Funan to get my new gear. While the only freebie that came with my laptop was a carrying case, the cameras came with a lot of add-ons. I also got to claim a pretty substantial GST refund at the airport. Cool!
Add to this my new phone and my gadget update is now complete. :)
*****
Of course, my exceedingly short trip to SG, while primarily meant for shopping, wouldn't have been as great if I didn't get to meet up with any of my friends. Amazingly enough, in just 48 hours, I managed to meet up with six sets of friends: Kog, Ina, and Anna for a very late dinner and drinks on Thursday night, Majel for Friday lunch, Che, Tonette, Om, Anna, Tim, and Alvin for Friday dinner, Ben and his mates for Friday night drinks, Denise and Kleng (and her family) for Saturday brunch, and Sarah, Dawid and their daughter Ania (and Anna again) for Saturday early afternoon coffee. "That has to be one of the most jampacked personal trips I have taken. But it's amazing how so many of my friends were able to make time to meet up despite the very short notice. I am one very lucky guy. :)
I wrote about my need for a massive gadget update several months ago. I have been at odds with my personal laptop for the better part of a year now. My recent trips to Batanes and Cebu/Bohol (which I have yet to blog about) have emphasized my need for a new camera but it was also in these trips that I discovered that my mom's camera now has the same 'smudge' problem that my camera has. Clearly, I needed to get my new equipment ASAP.
I did some research online and I finally decided what laptop and cameras to get. However, I know that electronics are cheaper in Singapore than they are here. So I asked a couple of my friends over there if they could find out how much these items cost in SG. As it turns out, if I bought all items over there, I would save P17,000. That is massive! I quickly look at airfare costs and I was able to find a flight that would set me off by about P8000. Even if you add the airport tax of P1,620 and the passenger service fee o f P550 and I'd still have a lot of savings. Clearly, this was a good enough reason to fly to Singapore.
It took me all of three hours in Funan to get my new gear. While the only freebie that came with my laptop was a carrying case, the cameras came with a lot of add-ons. I also got to claim a pretty substantial GST refund at the airport. Cool!
Add to this my new phone and my gadget update is now complete. :)
*****
Of course, my exceedingly short trip to SG, while primarily meant for shopping, wouldn't have been as great if I didn't get to meet up with any of my friends. Amazingly enough, in just 48 hours, I managed to meet up with six sets of friends: Kog, Ina, and Anna for a very late dinner and drinks on Thursday night, Majel for Friday lunch, Che, Tonette, Om, Anna, Tim, and Alvin for Friday dinner, Ben and his mates for Friday night drinks, Denise and Kleng (and her family) for Saturday brunch, and Sarah, Dawid and their daughter Ania (and Anna again) for Saturday early afternoon coffee. "That has to be one of the most jampacked personal trips I have taken. But it's amazing how so many of my friends were able to make time to meet up despite the very short notice. I am one very lucky guy. :)
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I won a phone! :)
I was getting ready for work when I got a phone call. I didn't recognize the number so for a couple of seconds, I was tempted not to pick up. But I figured it could be important so I answered anyway. Thankfully, I did. The person on the other end of the line told me I was I had just won a raffle. I didn't really understand what I won, and all I could hear was 'Beats Audio'. I figured I won some really cool earphones so I told the person I would be able to get my prize the next day.
So imagine my stunned surprise when they hand me this:
I said out loud, "It's a phone!" and told the person who gave me my raffle prize that "I thought I just won earphones!" She said that I won a phone that came with earphones LOL. I am now the owner of an HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio. I read a review online and my new phone seem to be pretty good. I obviously have to spend some time trying to figure out how to use it. :)
So now I have a smart phone. I'm not - or well, I wasn't - really a fan of touch screen phones because I like the idea of being able to text with one hand while not looking, but as I wrote almost a year ago, I have been meaning to replace my mobile phone. I guess this is the world's way of telling me I need to keep up with the times and advances in technology. :)
So imagine my stunned surprise when they hand me this:
I said out loud, "It's a phone!" and told the person who gave me my raffle prize that "I thought I just won earphones!" She said that I won a phone that came with earphones LOL. I am now the owner of an HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio. I read a review online and my new phone seem to be pretty good. I obviously have to spend some time trying to figure out how to use it. :)
So now I have a smart phone. I'm not - or well, I wasn't - really a fan of touch screen phones because I like the idea of being able to text with one hand while not looking, but as I wrote almost a year ago, I have been meaning to replace my mobile phone. I guess this is the world's way of telling me I need to keep up with the times and advances in technology. :)
Monday, July 09, 2012
Wimbledon wraps up
Another year, another Wimbledon. Congratulations to Roger Federer, who won his 7th Wimbledon title. He reclaims the #1 ranking, tying him this week with Pete Sampras for the most number of weeks at #1, but as he will certainly not drop his top ranking next week, he will surely eclipse Sampras' record.
I was rooting for Andy Murray, though. I have felt for the last few years now that if Andy Murray played in another era, he could be holding a couple of Grand Slam titles already. Unfortunately, he plays in the era of Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, who have a combined 33 titles among them (that number is just staggering!). Most tennis aficionados think of Andy as the best player to have (so far) not won a Grand Slam (this was his 4th final). He has been a consistent and solid world #4 but the top 3 are just too dominant. If Murray won, it would have been a fairy tale ending to his 2012 Wimbledon experience and would have been a great way for him to finally break though to win his first major. Alas, he ran into a player who used this event to further cement his case as the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.).
Murray's runner-up speech has to be one of the most emotional I've seen on a tennis court. While the loss surely made broke his heart, it didn't help that he was playing on 'home turf' and probably feels like he let down an entire nation. Check out his speech here:
video uploaded in youtube by user HollywoodRocket1
I do hope that Andy Murray does eventually win one Grand Slam event. Would be even more awesome if it he gets to win Wimbledon.
*****
Of course, I didn't get to watch the final since Skycable dropped Star Sports. Oh well. I still haven't decided whether to get a digibox or switch to Cignal...
I was rooting for Andy Murray, though. I have felt for the last few years now that if Andy Murray played in another era, he could be holding a couple of Grand Slam titles already. Unfortunately, he plays in the era of Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, who have a combined 33 titles among them (that number is just staggering!). Most tennis aficionados think of Andy as the best player to have (so far) not won a Grand Slam (this was his 4th final). He has been a consistent and solid world #4 but the top 3 are just too dominant. If Murray won, it would have been a fairy tale ending to his 2012 Wimbledon experience and would have been a great way for him to finally break though to win his first major. Alas, he ran into a player who used this event to further cement his case as the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.).
Murray's runner-up speech has to be one of the most emotional I've seen on a tennis court. While the loss surely made broke his heart, it didn't help that he was playing on 'home turf' and probably feels like he let down an entire nation. Check out his speech here:
video uploaded in youtube by user HollywoodRocket1
I do hope that Andy Murray does eventually win one Grand Slam event. Would be even more awesome if it he gets to win Wimbledon.
*****
Of course, I didn't get to watch the final since Skycable dropped Star Sports. Oh well. I still haven't decided whether to get a digibox or switch to Cignal...
Thursday, July 05, 2012
How to paint the Mona Lisa with MS Paint
This video is amazing! The artist is absolutely brilliant!
video uploaded in youtube by EclecticAsylumArt
And here I thought MS Paint was just good for very basic stuff. :)
video uploaded in youtube by EclecticAsylumArt
And here I thought MS Paint was just good for very basic stuff. :)
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
SBC's Omelette and French Toast
It all started with me watching on youtube an episode of The Delicious Miss Dahl where she cooks an Omelette Arnold Bennett. This led me to watching a clip of Jacques Pepin cooking two styles of omelette. Before I knew it, I was craving this wonderful egg dish.
Anyways, I was driving home one evening when I felt hungry and wanted to get something heavy enough to fill me but light enough that I won't stuff myself before I go to bed. My craving kicked in again and I remembered that Seattle's Best served omelette dishes. So I made my way to the nearest Seattle's Best and ordered their Ham and Cheese Omelette with French Toast. And may I say, it was a surprisingly pleasant discovery! So much so that the next day, I ordered it again. :)
Thankfully this is now in my radar because it makes a perfect midnight snack for me. I'm pretty sure I'll be having this dish on a more regular basis. Maybe I will even try some of their other omelette dishes. :)
Anyways, I was driving home one evening when I felt hungry and wanted to get something heavy enough to fill me but light enough that I won't stuff myself before I go to bed. My craving kicked in again and I remembered that Seattle's Best served omelette dishes. So I made my way to the nearest Seattle's Best and ordered their Ham and Cheese Omelette with French Toast. And may I say, it was a surprisingly pleasant discovery! So much so that the next day, I ordered it again. :)
Thankfully this is now in my radar because it makes a perfect midnight snack for me. I'm pretty sure I'll be having this dish on a more regular basis. Maybe I will even try some of their other omelette dishes. :)
Friday, June 29, 2012
Nadal out
What a horrible result. Rafael Nadal is out of Wimbledon. In the 2nd round! Ugh...
No one had really heard of Lukas Rosol prior to that 2nd round meeting with Rafa. So it was incredibly unlucky for Nadal that Rosol was playing on a different plane. His serve was practically unplayable. He was hitting his groundstrokes with as much power as I've seen on a tennis court. And he kept that level of play for practically the entire match.
It didn't help, too, that the match was put on hold when Rafa finally seemed to have found his rhythm and his return game. It was getting dark but since the tournament officials wanted to complete their match that evening, they decided to close the roof so play could continue. However, it would take 30-40 minutes for the roof to close and the court to be set up. By then, all the momentum Rafa built in winning the 4th set and breaking Rosol twice was gone. And unfortunately, Rosol didn't let up.
Which meant that Rafa Nadal, for the first time in years, was trundled out of the second round of a Grand Slam. It also means he will drop to #3 in the world. Oh well. He still has a shot at another important grass court tournament soon - the Olympics.
No one had really heard of Lukas Rosol prior to that 2nd round meeting with Rafa. So it was incredibly unlucky for Nadal that Rosol was playing on a different plane. His serve was practically unplayable. He was hitting his groundstrokes with as much power as I've seen on a tennis court. And he kept that level of play for practically the entire match.
It didn't help, too, that the match was put on hold when Rafa finally seemed to have found his rhythm and his return game. It was getting dark but since the tournament officials wanted to complete their match that evening, they decided to close the roof so play could continue. However, it would take 30-40 minutes for the roof to close and the court to be set up. By then, all the momentum Rafa built in winning the 4th set and breaking Rosol twice was gone. And unfortunately, Rosol didn't let up.
Which meant that Rafa Nadal, for the first time in years, was trundled out of the second round of a Grand Slam. It also means he will drop to #3 in the world. Oh well. He still has a shot at another important grass court tournament soon - the Olympics.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
My new game boards!
My friends Joh and Raffa usually order lots of stuff from the US and have them shipped by bulk to Manila, and sometimes I 'piggy back' on their shipment. Last year, I ordered a lot of CDs and DVDs. This time, I ordered a few board games: Settlers of Catan, 7 Wonders, and Ticket to Ride.
I learned all these games through my friend Mike, who's a big board game fan, but he moved back to the US. I was initially planning to get my own 7 Wonders here in Manila but I found out it cost more than P3000 in Hobbes and Landes and it costs about half of that on Amazon. As such, I figured I would buy my board games on Amazon instead.
Next step: figure out which of my friends here in Manila are interested in these strategy games. What follows should be hours of fun! :)
I learned all these games through my friend Mike, who's a big board game fan, but he moved back to the US. I was initially planning to get my own 7 Wonders here in Manila but I found out it cost more than P3000 in Hobbes and Landes and it costs about half of that on Amazon. As such, I figured I would buy my board games on Amazon instead.
Next step: figure out which of my friends here in Manila are interested in these strategy games. What follows should be hours of fun! :)
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Losing channels
This is so upsetting. Skycable keeps dropping its channels. I could deal with the channels that have been dropped in the past: BBC, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Cinemax, to name a few. But now, Starsports, ESPN, and Fox will be dropped effective July 1. Crap!! I now need to have a digibox set-up ASAP. Otherwise I won't be able to watch Wimbledon which is airing on Starsports right now, straight through to the first week of July. Oh well. I guess that is really how business works. Maybe I should just switch to Cignal...
Monday, June 25, 2012
Nephew time
I promised my nephew that I would take him to watch Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted this week. Since my mom also wanted to watch Rock of Ages (the movie, not the live musical which is also being staged in Manila right now), we all went to Powerplant to watch. We got there about 10 minutes before the next Madagascar showing and thankfully there was practically no line when we got there. I quickly buy two tickets for Madagascar, and one for Rock of Ages that was going to start about an hour later.
Madagascar 3 was a really fun and funny movie, with enough heartwarming moments to make it entertaining and appealing to people of all ages. I loved the circus angle (especially Vitaly the tiger's backstory), the ferocity of Captian Chantel Dubois, and the visuals - from the awesome car chase scene to the spectacular circus show. I watched it in 2D but there were a lot of scenes that I think would look great in 3D
Since our movie ended before my mom's, we decided to swing by Power Station where we tried a whole horde of games, including air hockey, go go balls, some shooting games, and Mario Kart.
By the time we finished playing, Rock of Ages was over so we all headed to Milky Way for dinner before heading home. It's always fun to have these relaxed days and I'm happy that I once again find some time to visit the cinema. :)
Madagascar 3 was a really fun and funny movie, with enough heartwarming moments to make it entertaining and appealing to people of all ages. I loved the circus angle (especially Vitaly the tiger's backstory), the ferocity of Captian Chantel Dubois, and the visuals - from the awesome car chase scene to the spectacular circus show. I watched it in 2D but there were a lot of scenes that I think would look great in 3D
Since our movie ended before my mom's, we decided to swing by Power Station where we tried a whole horde of games, including air hockey, go go balls, some shooting games, and Mario Kart.
By the time we finished playing, Rock of Ages was over so we all headed to Milky Way for dinner before heading home. It's always fun to have these relaxed days and I'm happy that I once again find some time to visit the cinema. :)
Saturday, June 23, 2012
'Madame Butterfly' in CCP
I enjoyed my first opera experience when I watched La Traviata a few months. As such, I made sure to get tickets to Madame Butterfly, which was shown this weekend (June 22 and 23) in the CCP.
Madame Butterfly is an opera by Giacomo Puccini. It tells the tale of Cio-Cio San (Madame Butterfly), a young Japanese woman living in Nagasaki. She marries B. F. Pinkerton, an American naval officer who was looking for a wife for temporary companionship while he was based in Japan. Eventually, he returns to the US and marries an American woman. But Cio-Cio San doesn't know this, and continues to hang on to the belief that he will come back for her. When a letter from Pinkerton is delivered to her by Sharpless, the US Consul in Nagasaki, to inform her that he is coming back to Japan, she becomes so excited and reveals to him that she has a son with Pinkerton. Her anticipation of Pinkerton's arrival means that Sharpless is unable to share all the information in that letter with her, which is mainly that he has a wife.
When Pinkerton learns about his son from Sharpless, he visits Madame Butterfly along with his wife and with Sharpless, but he then learns that she is still deeply in love with him. He is unable to face her and promptly leaves her house remorseful and just as Madame Butterfly appears, and it is at this point that she meets his wife who then asks her to give her son to them so they can provide a better future for him in the US. Heartbroken and disconsolate, she agrees to give up her son if Pinkerton comes back to see her himself. As she ushers her son out, blindfolded, she kills herself with her father's hara-kiri knife just as Pinkerton returns, too late.
If this story sounds sort of familiar, it is because the London West-End and Broadway Musical was inspired by Madame Butterfly. I forgot about this so I still bought the program, but I guess it is nice to read more information about the opera, the production, and the cast. Another interesting thing about this opera was a translation of what was being sung was projected on a small screen at the top of the stage in CCP, making it easier to follow what was going on.
The opera was headlined by Mako Nishimoto, a multi-awarded Japanese soprano, and she didn't disappoint. I guess the fact that she is from Japan makes it easier for her connect to the character and the story. While the songs and arias in Madame Butterfly are not as difficult (I think) as those in La Traviata, the role of Madame Butterfly / Cio-Cio San is difficult to portray just because she sings so much throughout all three acts. Of her supporting cast, I was also impressed with Camille Lopez Molina, who played Suzuki (Madame Butterfly's aide), and Andrew Fernando, who played Sharpless.
The one thing about this opera I didn't like was the "Humming Chorus" at the end of Act II. You can see one interpretation of this humming chorus here. However, the director wanted to give an artsy, contemporary take on this sequence, which meant that he had singers and dancers performing while wearing strange, neon-light-fitted costumes. Maybe this means that I'm not artsy enough and lack an appreciation for modern and performance art, but I just thought it was cheap and inappropriate. I found myself wishing that the direction of this scene could have been kept clean and simple.
Nevertheless I was still very pleased and impressed with the opera. The standing ovations and thunderous applause received by the cast, especially Mako Nishimoto, were well-deserved. I also think it was cool that I was in the same audience as National Artist Benedicto Cabrera (popularly referred to BenCab). I think it's great that more operas are coming to the Philippines. While I had always wanted to watch one before, I now have watched two in a matter of a few months. The Barber of Seville will be performed again in CCP in mid-July and I will be watching this opera too.
Madame Butterfly is an opera by Giacomo Puccini. It tells the tale of Cio-Cio San (Madame Butterfly), a young Japanese woman living in Nagasaki. She marries B. F. Pinkerton, an American naval officer who was looking for a wife for temporary companionship while he was based in Japan. Eventually, he returns to the US and marries an American woman. But Cio-Cio San doesn't know this, and continues to hang on to the belief that he will come back for her. When a letter from Pinkerton is delivered to her by Sharpless, the US Consul in Nagasaki, to inform her that he is coming back to Japan, she becomes so excited and reveals to him that she has a son with Pinkerton. Her anticipation of Pinkerton's arrival means that Sharpless is unable to share all the information in that letter with her, which is mainly that he has a wife.
When Pinkerton learns about his son from Sharpless, he visits Madame Butterfly along with his wife and with Sharpless, but he then learns that she is still deeply in love with him. He is unable to face her and promptly leaves her house remorseful and just as Madame Butterfly appears, and it is at this point that she meets his wife who then asks her to give her son to them so they can provide a better future for him in the US. Heartbroken and disconsolate, she agrees to give up her son if Pinkerton comes back to see her himself. As she ushers her son out, blindfolded, she kills herself with her father's hara-kiri knife just as Pinkerton returns, too late.
If this story sounds sort of familiar, it is because the London West-End and Broadway Musical was inspired by Madame Butterfly. I forgot about this so I still bought the program, but I guess it is nice to read more information about the opera, the production, and the cast. Another interesting thing about this opera was a translation of what was being sung was projected on a small screen at the top of the stage in CCP, making it easier to follow what was going on.
The opera was headlined by Mako Nishimoto, a multi-awarded Japanese soprano, and she didn't disappoint. I guess the fact that she is from Japan makes it easier for her connect to the character and the story. While the songs and arias in Madame Butterfly are not as difficult (I think) as those in La Traviata, the role of Madame Butterfly / Cio-Cio San is difficult to portray just because she sings so much throughout all three acts. Of her supporting cast, I was also impressed with Camille Lopez Molina, who played Suzuki (Madame Butterfly's aide), and Andrew Fernando, who played Sharpless.
The one thing about this opera I didn't like was the "Humming Chorus" at the end of Act II. You can see one interpretation of this humming chorus here. However, the director wanted to give an artsy, contemporary take on this sequence, which meant that he had singers and dancers performing while wearing strange, neon-light-fitted costumes. Maybe this means that I'm not artsy enough and lack an appreciation for modern and performance art, but I just thought it was cheap and inappropriate. I found myself wishing that the direction of this scene could have been kept clean and simple.
Nevertheless I was still very pleased and impressed with the opera. The standing ovations and thunderous applause received by the cast, especially Mako Nishimoto, were well-deserved. I also think it was cool that I was in the same audience as National Artist Benedicto Cabrera (popularly referred to BenCab). I think it's great that more operas are coming to the Philippines. While I had always wanted to watch one before, I now have watched two in a matter of a few months. The Barber of Seville will be performed again in CCP in mid-July and I will be watching this opera too.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Jessica Sanchez sings the Star Spangled Banner
Check out Jessica Sanchez singing the Star Spangled Banner in the 2012 National Memorial Concert.
video uploaded in youtube by PBS
While she had difficulty with the lowest notes of the song here, I think it's a better overall performance than her rendition during the Pacquiao-Bradley fight.
video uploaded in youtube by PBS
While she had difficulty with the lowest notes of the song here, I think it's a better overall performance than her rendition during the Pacquiao-Bradley fight.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Father's Day
It's the first time my family celebrated Father's day without Tatay. It's been exactly 6 months since he passed away so we decided to visit him in the cemetery.
Actually, I have been to the cemetery on almost a weekly basis for most of the year. It's not easy for Nanay to go to the cemetery unless someone drives her there so I try to bring her there every Sunday. (Obviously, I wasn't able to do it a lot recently because of my sprained ankle.) But while a lot of those trips are just me and Nanay, this time, a lot of my family joined us.
After visiting Tatay in the cemetery, we had dinner in Adarna. We ordered a few items we already tried before but we also got to try a couple of new dishes: the Ensaladang Puso sa Gata and Grilled Chicken Breast with kesong puti boursin, bacon, and mango salsa. Both were really good! I love the fact that the ensaladang puso sa gata had tomatoes and vinaigrette mixed in because the acid cut through the richness of the coconut and added an additional dimension of flavor. The Grilled Chicken breast was also really good. The chicken itself was so well cooked and tasty, and the kesong puti didn't have the heaviness of other cheeses mixed in with food. I really love this restaurant and how the dishes served are Pinoy meals from all over the country but with a twist.
I also got the two Sugarhouse cakes I purchased at a good discount from Deal Grocer: Concorde and Cashew Toffee. (I initially intended to claim them for Mother's Day but that was when I had just sprained my ankle and couldn't walk, so I decided to claim them now instead.)
Tatay wasn't with physically with us today but his spirit was definitely present as we celebrated Father's Day.
Actually, I have been to the cemetery on almost a weekly basis for most of the year. It's not easy for Nanay to go to the cemetery unless someone drives her there so I try to bring her there every Sunday. (Obviously, I wasn't able to do it a lot recently because of my sprained ankle.) But while a lot of those trips are just me and Nanay, this time, a lot of my family joined us.
After visiting Tatay in the cemetery, we had dinner in Adarna. We ordered a few items we already tried before but we also got to try a couple of new dishes: the Ensaladang Puso sa Gata and Grilled Chicken Breast with kesong puti boursin, bacon, and mango salsa. Both were really good! I love the fact that the ensaladang puso sa gata had tomatoes and vinaigrette mixed in because the acid cut through the richness of the coconut and added an additional dimension of flavor. The Grilled Chicken breast was also really good. The chicken itself was so well cooked and tasty, and the kesong puti didn't have the heaviness of other cheeses mixed in with food. I really love this restaurant and how the dishes served are Pinoy meals from all over the country but with a twist.
I also got the two Sugarhouse cakes I purchased at a good discount from Deal Grocer: Concorde and Cashew Toffee. (I initially intended to claim them for Mother's Day but that was when I had just sprained my ankle and couldn't walk, so I decided to claim them now instead.)
Tatay wasn't with physically with us today but his spirit was definitely present as we celebrated Father's Day.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Two-part Yaminoy reunion
It's not very often that I get to see my Yaminoy friends. Recently, however, Fred moved to Manila and since it was around the time of his and Eliza's respective birthdays so that was more than enough reason for us to meet up.
Our first get-together was scheduled in Little Asia at the Piazza. However, since it was on the same night as the Lifehouse concert here in Manila which both Yam and Meg were attending, we decided to schedule another dinner a few weeks after. I met up with Eliza, Marie, and Anj that night - most of the others ended up having last minute stuff that prevented them from joining - but despite the fact that there were "only" four of us, the conversations were extremely fun and exciting. After all, it was just shortly after the American Idol finale. :)
Naturally, American Idol also factored into the discussion in our second dinner which we had in Kitchen in Greenbelt 3. For this reunion installment, I was joined by Beck, Meg, and Fred. If the first dinner lasted three hours, this second one lasted more than an hour longer! LOL Clearly, the Yaminoys love catching up and talking about TV, music, movies, and just pop culture in general.
Hopefully we get to meet up again soon, this time with more people in tow. If groups of four made for incredibly fun discussions, I can imagine if more of us are together. :)
Our first get-together was scheduled in Little Asia at the Piazza. However, since it was on the same night as the Lifehouse concert here in Manila which both Yam and Meg were attending, we decided to schedule another dinner a few weeks after. I met up with Eliza, Marie, and Anj that night - most of the others ended up having last minute stuff that prevented them from joining - but despite the fact that there were "only" four of us, the conversations were extremely fun and exciting. After all, it was just shortly after the American Idol finale. :)
Naturally, American Idol also factored into the discussion in our second dinner which we had in Kitchen in Greenbelt 3. For this reunion installment, I was joined by Beck, Meg, and Fred. If the first dinner lasted three hours, this second one lasted more than an hour longer! LOL Clearly, the Yaminoys love catching up and talking about TV, music, movies, and just pop culture in general.
Hopefully we get to meet up again soon, this time with more people in tow. If groups of four made for incredibly fun discussions, I can imagine if more of us are together. :)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Happy Philippine Independence Day
Happy Independence Day to Filipinos all over the world! Apart from the appreciation of the fact that I did not have to work today, I also appreciate the courage and sacrifice of our forefathers, led by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, in declaring, and fighting for, our independence.
I also love it that Google commemorates this important Filipino holiday by displaying a Filipino-flag inspire Google page. And I'm not just talking about google.com.ph (which of course also sports this Pinoy-inspired logo); the main Google.com page also features it. Cool! Obviously, it will change by tomorrow, but I took a screen cap. :)
Thank you, Google! And once again, Happy Independence Day to the Philippines!
I also love it that Google commemorates this important Filipino holiday by displaying a Filipino-flag inspire Google page. And I'm not just talking about google.com.ph (which of course also sports this Pinoy-inspired logo); the main Google.com page also features it. Cool! Obviously, it will change by tomorrow, but I took a screen cap. :)
Thank you, Google! And once again, Happy Independence Day to the Philippines!
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