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- Music:Vanessa Carlton - "Home"
Caught a couple.
To remember, Michael, here's my list of Top 10 Songs (and Videos).
10. They Don't Care About Us
9. The Way You Make Me Feel
8. Human Nature
7. In The Closet
6. Black or White
5. Scream
4. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
3. Remember The Time
2. Man In the Mirror
1. Will You Be There
As how a fan puts it,
"Maybe God wants you to have the privacy you deserve."
Thank you for your art and your philanthropic contributions.
Rest in peace.
- Music:Michael Jackson - "Man In the Mirror"
Noelle showed me this video
Nice!
Reason why Home is easier than Who's To Say is because the left hand stays the same throughout the entire song.
But the outro is the hard part
Flailing fingers
Thank God for this tutorial
So nice to play my keyboard again.
- Music:Maria Digby - "Miss Invisible"
My agent asked me to go to a VTR for Modess and Carefree Friday morning. It was in Paranaque. Unfortunately, I couldn't because I had to go to Ateneo. I'm glad she pulled some strings. According to her, the client would like to see me so they requested that I email my VTR instead,
After a long day of work (teaching then writing), I shifted to acting at 4 in the morning. My agent emailed the spiel so I memorized it. Did my make-up and changed my top first. I pulled out the digicam and shot a VTR.
I watched the videos and experienced firsthand what casting directors see whenever I go to VTRs or Casting Calls. Looks matter so much in this industry. I saw my assets as well as my flaws. Of course, I was frustrated by my flaws and wish I had more money so I could fix these but in the mean time, all I can really do is to accessorize what I have - and go from there.
- Music:Sarah Brightman - "Free"
Noelle Cassandra will be performing during the half time of the PBA Finals on July 13, Monday
- Music:Noelle Cassandra - "Explosive"
I feel very blessed, very fortunate, very happy. I love my work, I love my friends, I love my family. There was a period when I didn't work for about two years when I was about 25, 26, and I couldn't imagine what I would do with my life and that was scary. But now I have other things I love. I'm a pretty good kick boxer; I'm a pretty good writer; there are things I could fall back on. And you know how it is--the minute you realize that your options are unlimited, things just start falling into place all around you.
I checked out the trailer of his new film 2012. Kinda makes me wonder - will that be really the end? Nah.
After checking that trailer, I flipped through IMDB to update myself on the latest movie releases and upcoming flicks. When I was active in the acting scene, I barely read up on the coming flicks. I would just be surprised to see a trailer of a film at the cinemas or right in front of me when I'm reseaching. Now, since I'm typing away anyway, I relax by checking out movie news.
Hogi and Betsy recommended Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. I've been meaning to get a copy of the book but I still have books lined up here so it would be pointless to just buy another paperback and merely stack it up with the others. Next thing they told me, Peter Jackson was making it into a film. So cool! In order for me to have an idea, I cheated and searched for The Lovely Bones on Wikipedia. Then I clicked on the link to the movie page.
The Lovely Bones features Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, and Stanley Tucci. Ryan Gosling was supposed to play the father. He gained weight and all but the role was eventually re-cast and it went to Wahlberg. Here's how Gosling puts it:
"The age of the character versus my real age was always a concern of mine. Peter [Jackson] and I tried to make it work and ultimately it just didn't. I think the film is much better off with Mark Wahlberg in that role."
So The Lovely Bones joins the list of books turned to movies that I am looking forward to. The others are My Sister's Keeper and this:
Veronika Decides to Die
Paolo Coelho loves Sarah Michelle Gellar's performance as the title character. Now that says something. I still believe they should have stuck with the real age of Veronika in the book. 24. And cast a younger actress. There's something about being lost at 24.
- Music:Clint Mansell - "Lux Aeterna"
By Jerick T. Aguilar
Philippine Star
It has been more than a week since I left Egypt and I still and will always find the country and its 7,000-year-old history fascinating. Up until now, I still couldn’t believe that I have really lived there and have seen, among other things, the last remaining ancient wonder of the world – the pyramids of Giza – not just once or twice but several times, with each time giving me the same goosebumps from the surrealism of it all. I wasn’t able to selfishly take them with me so I just had to make do with marble and glass replicas as souvenirs for myself as well as family and friends.
Speaking of fascination, the ancient Egyptians were in fact fascinated with death. They basically built the pyramids for it. Underneath each pyramid is at least one tomb – a special and sacred place built (usually) for the pharaoh during his journey in the afterlife. For them, the pyramid represents a gigantic stairway for the pharaoh to join the sun god, Ra, as its tip geometrically points toward the sky. According to experts, the pyramids of Giza took over 80 years to build with an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 workers. The largest of them, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, is made up of over two million blocks of limestone or granite that individually weigh up to 80 tons.
After the Pyramid Age, the ancient Egyptians were not content with simply burying their dead six feet under. They had to dig out tombs oftentimes by carving them into bedrock up to three levels deep. These underground tombs were elaborately decorated particularly with scenes from Egyptian mythology. In Luxor, one can find the Valley of the Kings – a massive and glorious tomb complex in the desert where Egyptian royalty (including Tutankhamun) and nobility were buried more than 3,000 to 3,500 years ago. In Alexandria, similar underground tombs can be found but they date back much later from the third century B.C. to the first century A.D. during Egypt’s Graeco-Roman period.
Not only did ancient Egyptians spend a lot of decades and manpower building pyramids and carving tombs in veneration of death, but they also applied a similar principle on the dead person’s body. The Egyptian method of mummification is a complicated and tedious one. The process takes a total of 70 days which includes embalming and wrapping. Embalming refers to removing the internal organs and dessicating the body in a mixture of salts called natron to preserve it. Wrapping is covering the body in linen and then placing it in a sarcophagus or coffin that, like the tomb, is also full of elaborate decorations. For some, their sarcophagi are like a Russian Matryoshka doll, a set of two or three coffins of decreasing sizes nested one inside the other.
With all of the above information, it made me wonder – why all the fuss about death? Why the big deal for something that I think is not-so-important? Why utilize the resources of time, labor, ideas, materials, etc. to prepare someone after dying when the same resources could have been used to maximize one’s life while living? I mean, if I were an ancient Egyptian, I would not toil for many years constructing a tomb for myself let alone for someone else. I prefer to work hard on something that I can enjoy while I still can. Nor would I ask an artist to decorate my sarcophagus when I could instead request him to design my room’s interior so I can, at the minimum, appreciate the artwork while I am still alive.
These questions and thoughts reminded me of the anecdote of an old woman who died on her bed and underneath the mattress were a hundred thousand dollars. Nobody knows what she was saving for but everybody is sure that she was not able to derive some pleasure from her hard-earned money. I also remember my father who always wanted to travel abroad but he died when he was 40 so the farthest he had been to from his hometown of Atimonan, Quezon was Iloilo City. And my uncle who wanted to immigrate to Canada but he also died before joining his wife in Toronto.
They may have had reasons why they chose not to do the things they wanted to do and there might have been external factors why they weren’t able to do them. But if I were my father, I could have at least took a weekend off and flew to Hong Kong. And if I were my uncle, I could have applied for Canadian immigration much earlier. Yes, nobody knows the future and they sure didn’t. But the fact that we don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow only means, in my opinion, that we should do what we can today. But this is, of course, moot and academic as the both of them are no longer here.
It was not the case, however, with my other uncle and aunt who are alive and well. I invited them to go on a Caribbean cruise with me two summers ago. I already paid for the cabin so they only had to join me on the ship and not pay for anything. But they told me that they couldn’t afford skipping work and they would rather spend their vacation days working to earn extra pay. Again, they had their reasons but they are getting older and I honestly think they missed their chance to travel to that part of the world (as they normally won’t spend for something like this even though they want to).
Speaking of missing an opportunity, my grandmother almost missed hers. She was a very simple woman and one of the things she wanted was even simpler – to be able to ride a car (she insisted that a taxi is different). Her sister-in-law actually has one but she was too shy to ask her for a drive. I wanted to do the asking for her but she refused and told me that she would wait until I have my own. But glaucoma made her blind and, in her last few days of very old age (she was over 90), she was rushed to the hospital in her sister-in-law’s car.
Personally, I choose life over death. I am lucky because I was able to do the things that I always wanted to do. Whenever I want something, I tell myself two things – not to wait and the Nike slogan, “just do it.” I have no idea when my time is up but, before then, I am making sure I am doing and will do the things that I know make me happy (without certainly hurting anybody and happiness being a circumstance and not a choice – for me, that is) like traveling, being with friends, spending quality time with family, sharing my experiences through my writing, and shaking the world in a gentle way.
Source- Music:Smashing Pumpkins - "Today"
I watched this as a child and it scared me. Years later, I downloaded it and appreciated Dead Man Walking more. Top notch performances from Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. Was surprised to see Lois Smith (the grandma in True Blood), Peter Sarsgaard, and Jack Black. Kinda inspired me to keep my eyes on the prize. Tim Robbins direction was also riveting. Nice visual and angles. The emotions of the characters reach you and you too feel torn between the convict and the parents of the victims. I mean, naturally you'll go Death Penalty and Eye for an Eye that we forget these convicts have mothers and brothers who love them too. Then we go to the other side of the fence - the families of the victims. You want the convict to burn in hell. Here's where Sister Helen Prajean comes in. If you look at the movie through her eyes, you too will feel torn. Beautiful film.
House of Sand and Fog is a bad follow up after watching a depressing film - because it will only pull you down even more. But I enjoyed this film because of the performances. Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, and Shohreh Aghdashloo took on their roles perfectly. Like Dead Man Walking, I found myself shifting sides because of how the director presented the film. I sympathized both for Kathy Nicolo who lost her house and Col Behrani who just wants the best for his family. Along for the ride was Ron Eldards Lester Bourdon who falls for Kathy and helps her get her house back - but at a price. Then again, Behrani had a choice but he opted to go the other direction. This film reminds us of how connected we are that our actions and inactions affect those around us.
Perfect timing. Caught this on HBO after the depressing House of Sand and Fog. What I love about Martian Child is seeing John Cusack in The Sure Thing mode. He's boyish and at the same time very paternal in this film. I heart him here the most, topping his role in Grosse Pointe Blank as a sexy hitman. Haha. Bobby Coleman is so lovable and makes me wish that my future son be an actor.
- Music:The Last Goodnight - "Pictures of You"
Yesterday, it was just me and Yvonne. We have six boys. We were missing one. It was an intimate number yet again. Did games. By watching the boys, we were slowly getting into their personalities - those who are really enthusiastic about acting, those who are natural, those who still hold back.
Looking forward to meting and knowing these boys as the weeks progress. Am already thinking of a production for them but of course it's too early to write it. Peter Pan, just like Little Women, has been shelved. Only comes to show that it's really hard to plan. Sure it helps sometimes but things don't go the way you planned. Then again, it's easier for me now to just shrug these plan changes off.
Back to the boys, there's just something about being with children that I can't put my finger on. All I know is that I look forward to any acting class I teach, be it Ateneo, Make Believe, or Marillac. Teaching acting reminds me why I do it in the first place. There's also more motivation for me to constantly take classes - because I need to learn myself so I can teach these to them.
I'm glad I can do the gentle akbays and pats on the head. I'm so blessed to be around children at the end of a stressful workweek. They rejuvenate me. They also push me forward. They remind me to be more conscious when it comes to decision making. It's not just about the present anymore. I'm at that point where I think of the future. As I teach children, the dream of becoming a mom becomes stronger. Thus the balance. I must build a strong foundation for myself now so I can be the mother that I want to be in the future. And of course, to not lose myself in the process.
Then I stop thinking and just start feeling. I enjoy the presence of the boys. Their smiles, their kwentos, their jokes. Yesterday, I walked them to the gate and it was deja vu. It was like 2007 again with the boys chattering away, asking questions and sharing what they'll do over the weekend.
Yup, as the weeks progress, there'll be more maternal hormones kicking in for me.
- Music:Sheryl Crow - "Sweet Child O' Mine"
Sean will be on Jessica Soho Reports tonight
GMA 7, 8:30 PM
It's a wrestling thing
Kindly watch if you can
- Music:Red Hot Chilli Peppers - "Snow"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIB
ERM, MARK
Enjoy your day!
Here's to our candy store!
- Music:Jann Arden - "Wishing That"
My favorite women made it
25 Sexiest Voluptuous Vixens
25. Carmen Electra
24. Patricia Velasquez
23. Katherine Heigl
22. Tyra Banks
21. Catherine Zeta Jones
20. Rosalyn Sanchez
19. Gong Li
18. Janet Jackson
17. Mariah Carey
16. Jessica Biel
15. Jennifer Lopez
14. Paz Vega
13. Monica Bellucci
12. Beyonce
11. Scarlett Johansson
10. Manuela Arcuri
9. Aishwarya Rai
8. Vida Guerra
7. Eva Mendes
6. Kate Winslet
5. Dita Von Teese
4. Salma Hayek
3. Kim Kardashian
2. Laetitia Casta
1. Sofia Vergara
- Music:Hot Chocolate - "You Sexy Thing"
Mallows and Toby sound asleep.
I wanted to get the camera from the living room but that meant standing up and possibly waking them up. So I took this picture using the webcam of my laptop instead.
Anyway, this moment is just so precious.
Thing is, Mallows and Toby aren't allowed inside the house. This very night, I was surprised to see my brother home before his shift. He went back home to change clothes because he had an interview for a higher position. Anyway, he scolded me for letting the two big dogs in.
And I let them in again this very night.
I guess I can be indulgent. I feel for Toby and Mallows whenever they have to stay outside while Lindt can go in and out of the house whenever she pleases. Personally, I think it's fair that they get their time inside the house too - even if it would be just a couple of hours. I have to let them out before my siblings come home, hehe.
Just as I give Lindt treats once in a while. I mean, if I eat dogfood day in and day out, I would get tired. I also give treats to Toby and Mallows.
So letting the dogs in and giving them treats are two no-nos set by my siblings but I can be indulgent. My dogs know this. Just as my team knows it too.
But yesterday, I sent them an email. It sounded firm. I can't be as lenient anymore after seeing that they weren't delivering topnotch work.
It makes me think of what kind of a mother I would be. Will I be strict? Indulgent?
I'll be a balance of both
- Music:Michael Jackson - "In The Closet"
A Year Ago
Gearing up for Cinemalaya. One month at DIWA. Was juggling corporate and theater. Preparing for Dorine and Dina. Indulged Lesley's wish to form a band. Patched things with Sean. Enjoying the company of DIWA co-workers and Tartuffe co-actors. Auditioned for a Chito Rono film. Started playing the flute again. Will was jealous of my excitement with Baby Angelo. Watched Baby Angelo with Hogi, Toby, Topher, and Darwin. Isa met Sean. Watched Baby Angelo again with my siblings, Sean, Isa, and Richie. Trailer of Maaalala Mo Kaya was shown. All three films I'm in were shown on the same day - Philippine Bliss, Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa, and Baby Angelo. Watched Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa with Sean and Toby. Rough patch with Sean again.
Two Years Ago
Blogged about my Bangkok blow-by-blow. My sister broke up with her boyfriend. Role in Erik Matti film was changed to officemate. The Original Lara and I hung out with Dok. Will changed The Care Giver to Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa. Back to auditioning while Sean was concentrating on making videos. Auditioned for Theater Down South - ran into Lesley, Roan, and Mika who were all in the same waiting area.
Three Years Ago
Bonding with my eldest brother. Received nice feedback about A-List from Mel, a co-worker at Convergys. Bonding with the Original Lara and Gino. Tito Bany passed away. Was playing the piano again. Watched The Interpreter with my eldest brother.
Four Years Ago
Filming 69. Met Pinky and Yas. Meng and I watched Wicker Park. UNO won Best Magazine at the PMEA. Was promoted to Junior Editor of A-List. My sister and her boyfriend helped me with the pull outs. Live8. My sister's building was right across mine. Bonding with Pinky.
Five Years Ago
Hooked on America's Next Top Model. Adrianne Curry phase. Bonding with Alma. Watched Mean Girls with Charisse. Watched Veronica Guerin with the Carrie Club. Bonding with Maam and Maita at the PolSci dept.
Waiting. It's like I'm always waiting. Waiting for my turn to read. Waiting for the FX, jeepney and bus to just go and move it. Waiting for my loved ones. Waiting for the right time. Waiting for the right opportunity. Waiting for that text message. Waiting for topics to write. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
But something inside tells me that I will make sense of all the waiting in the end.
It is interesting to note that around this time, I met three dear girl friends - Hogi, Pinky, and Yas. 
Bangkok Girls
Re-posted it here to serve as a post-it.
- Music:Michael Jackson - "Man In The Mirror"
'Coz I'm a Noelleian beaming with pride
Noelle Cassandra is about to record her sophomore album
Watch out for this talented harpist-singer-songwriter
So excited!
- Music:Noelle Cassandra - "Always and Forever"
To celebrate our anniversary, Arkeofilms invites you to a special screening of BABY ANGELO plus a dialogue with Arkeo's directors and producers this Thursday, July 9, 7:30pm at FULLY BOOKED on Bonifacio High Street. It's the kick-off event for Baby Angelo's film club tour in Metro Manila.
There's lots more in store for you, our friends, and for film enthusiasts :)
RSVP - Mildred 0917-3227536 or 8994504
- Music:1F Girls - "Birit ng Pag-ibig"
From Joan's camera
- Music:The Verve - "Bittersweet Symphony"
My earliest memory of Michael Jackson was through my brother. He would unbutton his polo, revealing his white sando, then do a Michael Jackson. He would lift his pants higher, made it look bitin, and did the moonwalk. His nickname was MJ and he would claim it as something he shared with Michael Jackson. He was a fan of the King growing up.
So over the years, I listened to Michael Jackson songs. I appreciated his music but I wasn't really a fan. I admired his work but lost my respect for him when he was accused of molesting a child. I hate to admit it but I still think it's true. Going back to what I wrote here before, I didn't like his "outer transformations" as well.
But then after listening to Brooke Shields, we don't know Michael Jackson. At least, I don't know Michael Jackson - so who am I to judge? It's funny how one mistake can completely change your perception of a person. I think that's what happened to me - on how I see him or used to see him. Now that he's gone, the world is mourning. He touched our lives. We grew up to his music. We imitated his dances. He was active in social issues. He cared. He shared. He was passionate.
Wacko Jacko or King of Pop, he lived. We're so fortunate to receive the gift of Michael Jackson in our lives.
I cried when Princess Diana died. I was also affected when Tita Bibot passed away. I was going through the YouTube videos and was choosing which video to watch to remember Michael Jackson by. I clicked on Will You Be There, a track I heard from Free Willy. This song is also my favorite Michael Jackson song.
I was crying while watching the video.
Hold me
Like the river jordan
And I will then say to thee
You are my friend
Carry me
Like you are my brother
Love me like a mother
Will you be there?
Weary
Tell me will you hold me
When wrong, will you scold me
When lost will you find me?
But they told me
A man should be faithful
And walk when not able
And fight till the end
But I'm only human
Everyone's taking control of me
Seems that the world's
Got a role for me
I'm so confused
Will you show to me
You'll be there for me
And care enough to bear me
(lead me)
(lay your head lowly)
(softly then boldly)
(carry me there)
(hold me)
(love me and feed me)
(kiss me and free me)
(I will feel blessed)
(carry)
(carry me boldly)
(lift me up slowly)
(carry me there)
(save me)
(heal me and bathe me)
(softly you say to me)
(I will be there)
(lift me)
(lift me up slowly)
(carry me boldly)
(show me you care)
(hold me)
(lay your head lowly)
(softly then boldly)
(carry me there)
(need me)
(love me and feed me)
(kiss me and free me)
(I will feel blessed)
(spoken)
In our darkest hour
In my deepest despair
Will you still care?
Will you be there?
In my trials
And my tribulations
Through our doubts
And frustrations
In my violence
In my turbulence
Through my fear
And my confessions
In my anguish and my pain
Through my joy and my sorrow
In the promise of another tomorrow
I'll never let you part
For you're always in my heart.
- Music:Michael Jackson - "Will You Be There"
- Music:New Radicals - "You Get What You Give"
- Music:Marie Digby - Invisible Woman
