Silent Waters

2009 Year-End Review and 2010 Goals

2010-01-02T22:06:00.008+08:00

So, 2009 has just ended and I have not written a blog entry in a very long time. Bad. I told myself I'd write more and I end up writing even less. Oh well... time for my annual year-end review. Here goes...

2009, I would say, was leaps and bounds better than 2008. 2008 saw the death of both my grandmothers and an aunt, bad career choices, and many failed attempts at... well... so many things.

2009 was a good year, to say the least. It had its ups and downs but at the end of the day, I can look back on it with a smile on my face.

Negative:

Still lots of unaccomplished goals. Business plans halted because of my current job. Also was not able to do the things I set out to do like learn a musical instrument or take up a fitness regimen. I keep giving the excuse that I'm too busy with my work. I just need to manage my time better.

Lack of creative output. Everything from my writing to my drawing seemed to be a at standstill. I told myself that for this year I would make 20 new artworks and 20 new short fiction. Artwork count: 0. Short fiction count: 0. Yes... that bad.

Flood. Ondoy. Long story short, my room was severely damaged. I managed to save my PC, my DSLR Camera, and the bag I normally bring to work containing my wallet, phone, IDs, and (thankfully) my Passport. Everything other than these found themselves drenched overnight in murky, smelly, muddy, sewage water. Yuck! 200++ books, diplomas, Wacom Pen Tablet, noteboooks full of ideas, drawing books, and many more... all had to be thrown out. Tragic! Outside my room, my sister Ria's stocks, my mom's kitchen, my sister Maita's fabrics, and my dad's documents were among the many material fatalities. Thankfully, nobody died or got sick. Our loyal driver and my Mom's staff swam to our house to help us bring stuff up. Thank goodness for small miracles. Crazy experience, simply unforgettable. But as they say, if it doesn't kill us, it only makes us stronger. I like to think of it as material bulemia. Been hording a lot of things, now it's time to purge. Letting go is so hard...

I gained weight!

Positive:

Travel!!! Yes, this year seems to be a very good year for travelling. I went to Donsol to swim with Whalesharks with my sisters and cousin for summer, then Hong Kong with my sisters, Mom, cousin and aunt in August. Then, the company sent me on a trip to the US, so I decided to do a little side-trip to New York! Meaning: BROADWAY!!!! Got to see "Phantom of the Opera," "Wicked," "Wintuk" (by Cirque Du Soleil), and the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular." Travelling is now officially another vice for me. It goes alongside books, video games, shopping, the theatre, and food. Geez! Why can't I just be content with cheap vices like a pack of cigarettes?

Fiancial Stability. So, with a job comes a monthly paycheck. It's such a comfort to know that my salary will show up in my ATM account twice a month. It's not much but it is enough to get me some small luxuries that help keep me sane. I'm thankful for that.

Diet. I tried out the General Motors diet and managed to stick to it for the entire week (I did not crack!). Sure, I almost lost my temper during an interview and I almost turned Mr. Hyde a couple time, but I did it and came out more disciplined and more patient than before. And guess what... I DID lose weight. A significant 5 lbs in one week without actually starving. So, I gained the lost weight back the next week. Point is, it can be done. I've proven it to myself. I've also learned to appreciate salads more now.

2010 looks like it has a lot of opportunities and possibilities in store for me. I have plans that I intend to pursue. It's not going to be easy but it will not be impossible. I've decided to do a lifestyle change. No, I'm not going vegan or anything as drastic as that. I just need to work on being more healthy: Be more conscious of how much junk I eat, exercise more, sleep more, and splurge less.

So, I present, the Things I Need To Accomplish In 2010 list:
Some of them are big goals, others are small and random, made just for the heck of it...

1. Start my business. I won't go into details here. But here's what I'll tell you: This venture has been on hold for an entire year. It's high time I actually push for it. No excuses.

2. Write at least 20 short fiction.

3. Create at least 20 new artworks.

4. Finish writing a whole novel.

5. Read works by at least 20 local authors.

6. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

7. Enroll in a class that's physical (fencing perhaps? how about pole-dancing? maybe some matrial arts?)

8. Go out on a real date (Yes, I've never been on a real date my entire life. It's sad, I know.)

9. Learn a new language (at least enough for me to check in a hotel, order from a restaurant, and go shopping)

10. Visit a new city in the Philippines.

11. Visit a new city outside the Philippines.

12. Be able to drive to work and to Greenbelt (even if I don't have my own car yet)

13. Lose 20 lbs!

14. Be a contributor to a Stock Photo/Image site.

15. Learn Flash (actionscript) and make a full-Flash website

16. Learn a musical instrument.

17. Write an article that will be published

18. Learn to cook a mean dish

19. Submit an entry to the Don Carlos Palanca Awards

20. Submit an entry to the Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards

21. Write a short fiction in pure Tagalog.

22. Write an article or essay in pure Tagalog.

23. Make a stop-motion short film.

24. Get a full Spa treatment.

25. Visit a museum

26. Go for an annual check-up

27. Flirt with someone

28. Reconnect with an old friend

29. Make a new friend who has not been introduced to me by an acquaintance, who does not work with me, and who does not interact with me on a regular basis.

30. Make an oil painting that I can proudly display on my wall.

31. Try an exotic dish

32. Vote in the elections

33. Take 50 artistic photographs.

34. Read a book belonging to a genre I don't normally read (no fantasy, no historical or paranormal romance)

35. Watch a vintage movie.

36. Listen to an album in a genre I don't normally listen to. (No Symphonic Metal, no showtunes, no rock, no '80s, etc.)

37. Watch an episode of a local TV series and actually make an effort to learn the story.

38. Play Talecraft at least 5 times this year and come up with great output.

39. Compliment somebody and actually mean it!

40. Watch 5 Tagalog movies I haven't seen before.

41. Go to a bar or club and enjoy myself.

42. Come up with a delicious alcoholic concotion.

43. Learn to sing.

44. Give a significant amount of money to charity.

45. Conduct an investigatory-project type experiment.

46. Write a research paper.

47. See 3 stage shows

48. Write a heartwarming letter or message and send it out in a balloon or put it in an airtight bottle and toss it to the sea

49. Cosplay or costrip

50. Travel to a different place and act out a different persona.

So, there you have it, readers. I hope you help me in accomplishing these goals for the new year. And I hope you all have a new year filled with adventure and dreams come true!

The Quest for the Elusive Butanding! (Donsol Part 2)

2009-04-21T01:21:00.008+08:00

It started off pretty bad. Our Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO), Romel, came at around 7 AM, while we waited for our breakfast to arrive. After hastily swallowing our meal we went off, all a-flutter, to see some Whale Sharks. Romel warned us that the Whale Sharks this morning would be difficult to spot since it rained early that morning and the Whale Sharks tend to swim deeper once they taste the fresh water near the surface. Still, we were optimistic. The Spotter took his place on a high beam in the front of the boat. You have to admire his stamina. He stayed up there balancing on a single bamboo pole, like a tight rope, for most of the trip, in the heat of the summer sun. Every time our spotter pointed to a possible sighting, we all jumped out of our seats with my cousin shouting “Gear up, girls!” only to find that we lost it or that another boat has beaten us to it. We've had several Dolphin sightings but they were quite far. To say the least, we were all disappointed.

Now, the rules clearly states that each boat can only take a 3-hour trip. As time flew, my heart sank lower and lower. These Butandings were the only reason I came to Donsol. If I did not see any, I just wasted a lot of money and 2 days of vacation leave. Romel could see how downhearted my companions and I were,and we could see the sheer frustration in Romel's face. He assured us that we would extend the 3-hour limit for us and that we would not be going home until we saw a Whale Shark. Still, my optimism could not be revived. Whale Sharks were abundant in the morning and it was fast getting late. I stood at the front of the boat trying to find some comfort in the sea breeze when I heard Romen shouting orders in Bicolano to the boat's driver. I turned to see my companions quickly putting on their gear. I followed, not knowing if this was yet another disappointment. We sat on the side of the boat on either side of Romel, as instructed.

The signal came: “Jump!”

I plunged ad swam as fast as I could away from the boat, afraid to get caught in the propeller. Then, Romel said quickly: “Look down!” Not bothering with my mouthpiece, I drove my head into the waters...

The Butanding swam slowly, not 2-feet beneath me. If I extend my leg, I could have probably grazed its dorsal fin. It was enormous! Romel later said that it was around 7-meters long. Wow! We followed it as it swam deeper and deeper, until it was out of sight. It was bliss!

We continued on, eager smiles and hands closed over our swimming masks. I made my way to the front of the boat once more, hoping to be able to spot another. In a few minutes, another signal came frm the spotter. Romel shouted directions to the driver: “Left! Intersect! Neutral, NEUTRAL!!!” I hastily fumbled into my mask and sat on the side of the boat. “JUMP!” I did. My mask was askew, I swallowed murky, plankton-rich salt water. There was water coming in my nose. I struggled to adjust my mask. It was chaos! Romel barked instructions and I, coughing and kicking, tried my best to follow.

“Look down! Look DOWN!!!!” came Romel. I sucked in a deep breath and plunged... All became silent...

How to describe that feeling when my head disappeared into the water that second time? Fear? Excitement? Joy? Shock? All the words seem like an understatement compared to what I truly felt. Awe, perhaps, is as close as it gets. As soon as my head dove under the surface, it was as if everything stopped: time, sound, people around me. Right before me loomed the face of the most magnificent giant I have ever seen (I am not exaggerating!). The width of its head was over twice the width of my body and its mouth just as wide. It was large enough to swallow me effortlessly and it was coming straight at me! Instead if scurrying out of its way, I was frozen on the spot, too awestruck to be afraid. I just stayed that way for several seconds, as if the whole world did not exist. Then, I began to take notice of a little blue box tied to my wrist! My disposable underwater camera!

“Picture! Picture!” My head screamed. Even my brain was too stunned to form complete sentences. I fumbled with my camera, trying to take a few shots before the Butanding went down and swam under me. I pursued. I could have followed it further down if not for the dratted life vest (Damn safety precautions!).

Simply beautiful! Magnificent! Majestic! Graceful! Huge! I could go on and on. The experience was breathtaking. Spiritual, even. It was like being face-to-face with a creature of myth or fantasy. When you've been able to swim with a Butanding, riding dragons or petting unicorns don't seem too far fetched. When you can swim with giants, you can conquer the world!

As the late, great Steve Irwin would say: “Crikey! What a Beauty!”

We had no more sightings after that. Too bad since on other days, a boat can have up to 8 sightings in one morning. But we were lucky. Other boats who set out with us had to turn back without a single sighting. Besides, I don't think others came as close as we did. We returned at around 1:30 pm, cheerfully relating our own personal experiences. It was only day 2 and the trip was already well worth it!

I am definitely making another trip to Donsol in the future.

Rolly's Amazing Optical Illusions and Other Bicol Experiences (Donsol Part 1)

2009-04-21T00:44:00.023+08:00

Last year, my sisters and I made a pact that each year, we would visit a place we have never been to before: one locally, one internationally. For this year's local trip, the destination was Donsol, located in the province of Sorsogon, in the Bicol region. After much planning, the day of departure finally came.

My Companions:

Ria – My older sister; somewhat whiny, not a fan of adrenaline-pumping activities, doggie-paddler.

Maita- My younger sister; zodiac sign: Pisces, enjoys the beach, wildlife activist, food enthusiast.

Lala- My cousin; Fashionista, shoe-a-holic, cosmetics hoarder, adrenaline lover.

And then there's me: dot, dot, dot...

17 April 2009

It all started in the plane. I took my preferred spot beside the window and before I could doze off, the pilot announced that we were landing. I looked out the window and saw Legaspi's top view. It was a very vibrant shade of green. It felt like the time I got my new PC and played a movie in my brand-new Samsung LCD monitor: Ridiculously Clear! Had-to-be-Photoshopped Real! It didn't have the gray mistiness of the Manila view.

We arrived in Legaspi City a little before 7 AM. The plane landed around 10 minutes ahead of schedule. We were not due in the resort until 1 PM. It was clearly too early. We asked some of the parked tricycles for suggestions on places we can visit in Legaspi. We ended up in the Cagsawa Ruins, an old Church that was destroyed by the Mt. Mayon eruption. Out came the cameras. Photo time! I rolled my eyes and half-heartedly ran over to join my companios. While I enjoyed posing for photos (why bother denying it?), I found it quite pointless to take a 20-minute tricycle ride just so we could take snapshots. I ran up to the tower shouting for my sister to take a photo of me and the entire tower.

I suppose the fact that our shots were so... amateur... did not go unnoticed. A young man approached us and offered to take our photo. He later introduced himself as Rolly. He walked about the ruins with us, all the while relating the history of the place to us, telling us what used to be the convent, where the altar used to be. Then, he directed us to a spot, told us to sit on the steps and took a beautiful shot with the tower ruins in the background. Pretty soon, he began taking the role of director, telling us where to stand and how to pose. Many of his photo concepts involved optical illusions, making us look like giants and superheroes.

It was loads of fun! Too bad Mayon Volcano was obscured by a bunch of clouds. Rolly certainly made me, the Mass Comm graduate with 2 photography subjects, look like a total noob. A big blow to my ego but it felt strangely good. Despite giving Rolly a generous tip, I felt bad about not giving more. I had an idea on how much photographers and creative directors made and I knew that with proper training and skill-polishing, Rolly could click it with the best of them. Hm... only a few hours after landing and I was already having a blast.

We took the public van to Amor Beach Resort in Donsol. We arrived at our destination at around 10:30.

We made our way to the Tourism office where we signed up for the Butanding Interaction and the Firefly Cruise.

We were picked up in the beach front of our resort at exactly 6 PM for the Firefly Cruise. We cruised the mangroves slowly in the dark. I enjoyed the darkness. Then, our guide pointed us to a tree filled with fireflies. Wow! It was like a Christmas tree except the lights are much tinier and they move around a lot. It was romantic! It would have been nice to watch the fireflies with a significant other. Being a sucker for romance stories, I made a silent prayer asking to find “The One.” We stayed there longer, watching the fireflies dance as our guide told us of firefly mating habits. It is the females who shine brighter and blink more frequently since they are the ones who set off and seduce the males. After mating, the male firefly eventually dies. Poor things. At least they died happy.

We also go the guide to talk about local folklore. She told us about Santilmos and children buried beneath the resort we stayed in. Soon, we headed back to the resort for dinner.

Not bad for our first day.

2008 Year-end Review

2008-12-31T23:48:00.000+08:00

This year has been a whirlwind for me. Lots of stuff happened. 3 deaths, a trip abroad, finding a job and letting it go, returning to a previous employer...

Hm... I guess it was easy for me to say early on that this year (2008) was not my year. Circumstances were against my favor and the things I set out to do did not turn out so successful. *sigh*

2008 Highlights:

February - Dad's By-pass
Yup, after numerous hospital confinements, Daddy's doctor finally told him that a heart bypass was the only way to fix him. And so, the operation took place. Me, being unemployed at the time, took the rolde as Daddy's head nurse. As such, it was my task to make sure he took his medicines, eat right, rest, and sneak his favorite doughnuts past my aunt's watchful eyes.

February - Nanay's Passing
About 4 days after my Dad's bypass (he was still confined in the hospital), we received word that Nanay (our Grandmother, my Mom's mother) died. That was about 10 am. Based on accounts, she was ballroom dancing 'till 1 am. At 8 am, during breakfast, she asked to be taken to the hospital since she couldn't breathe. The next thing we know, she's gone. That was fast.

April - Hanoi Trip
While vacationing in Davao during Christmas and New Year, we came upon an ad on the newspaper that said that Cebo Pacific was offering flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh come April. I have an aunt who lives in Hanoi and she immediately offered to house whoever was willing to go visit. My sisters bought tickets right away. They got a roundtrip ticket for a bit over 4K (all in). I was still unsure of working by then so I put off buying my ticket until March. I got it for a bit over 5K.

Hanoi was fun. It was a different culture entirely. It was interesting to see the thing people do or carry on motorcycles. I saw them texting or carry things like refrigerators, king-sized beds, full-length mirrors at the back of a motorcycle. Scary! My aunt brought us to the silk village and we did some shopping. Also went to Halong Bay, the Water Puppet Theatre , and my favorite Hoan Kiem Lake (the coolest place to go shopping!).

June - Toy Con - Baby Moon Launch
Just like last year, we joined the Toy Con to sell my sister's Talecraft cards. But this time, we decided that having just one product in the booth wasn't enough. My other sister, Maita, has always wanted to go into the business of Gothic and Lolita Fashion. So, we made some mini hats that were popular in Japan's Gothic and Lolita scene and sold it during the Toy Con. By noon of the first day, we were out of hats and were worrying about what to sell the next day, a big smile plastered on our faces. We called that project "Baby Moon Lifestyle." I helped design many of the hats.

Since then we've joined 3 more conventions and did fairly well. We've expanded into Victorian bonnets, headbands with cat or bunny ears, eyepatches, and many more. Maita is looking into selling at shops or department stores in the coming year. I'll keep helping with designs.

October - Auntie Lin Passing
At the end of October, we experienced another death in the family: My Auntie Linda (my Dad's sister). She was already pretty sick but it was shocking and sad anyway. That turned out to be a wake-up call. I flew to Davao to spend more time with my Amah (grandmother) who was also pretty sick.

November - Jenelyn
With the passing of Auntie Lin, the members of the family decided that it would be best to have Auntie Lin's only daughter, Jenelin, stay in Manile. She was to live with us, the Lu's. And so, I sunndenly found myself having a new, boy-crazy, teenage little sister. She's trying her best to adapt to a quirky, geeky, wierd family. And we're doing our best to tolerate excited squeals over hot Chinese guys.

December - Amah Passing
On Christmas eve, my other grandmother, Amah, died. It was sad. We were very close to her. We grew up living with her. Noche Buena was pretty gloomy, despite our efforts to be happy. The next day, our parents flew to Davao for the wake and burial, we spent Christmas reminiscing. Being with family helped.

And so... On to the NEW YEAR!!

2008's end comes nearer. As soon as I finish blogging, I'll run outside and watch the fireworks. I'm pretty optimistic about 2009.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Cheers!
Here's to a past that began with "Once Upon A Time..."
Here's to a present finding lost treasures and slaying monsters,
To epic journeys and a fellowship of good friends,
To secrets, dreams, illusions, magic, and fantasy,
To a life filled with fierce dragons, and handsome princes...
And here's to a future that, no doubt will end in "Happily Ever After..."
-Marie Lu-

Christmas Eve Tragedy

2008-12-24T23:11:00.002+08:00

December 24, 2008

At 1:15 pm, Christmas eve, my grandmother died. What a way to spend Christmas!

She has been sick for some time. We expected this. But it doesn't make the pain any easier to bear.

The last time I saw her was last November. She seemed fine.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a hot compress pack for her legs. Just like the one my sister bought from Japan. She liked that. She always had pain in her legs. My dad sent some packages to Davao for them yesterday. I forgot to include my gift. I promised myself I that I'd ask my parents to give it to her the next time they went to Davao. My parents are flying to Davao tomorrow, nobody to give it to anymore.

I miss her so much. I didn't talk to her a lot but she didn't seem to mind. There was nothing to be said, she understood that. She knew how much I preferred to listen. She'd tell me stories about her childhood or about the telenovelas she watched or about her day to day life. I enjoyed listening to her.

Our phone conversation is always short and always the same: She would say "Hi Cute! How are you?"
And I would answer: "Cute pa rin!" (Still cute!)
To which she would add: "Mana sa Lola!" (Just like her Grandma!)
And that was it. It was our way of telling each other not to worry, we're fine. I expected to have a conversation like that tonight, when we'd call her to say Merry Christmas!

I miss seeing her laugh whenever I played with her wheelchair or dance around with her cane. She would make me sweet bananas or gulaman with milk since she knows how much I love them. She was a fantastic cook!

There's been quite a lot of deaths in my family this year. Last February, my other grandmother (my mom's mother) also passed away. At the end of October, it was my Auntie Linda. And now, another grandma.

It's Christmas eve and the house is trying to keep the Christmas spirit. A quit sob can be heard here and there. I was hoping to get dressed and look pretty for tonight. It's kinda hard with red, puffy eyes. I feel like we're not allowed to celebrate. But with a tradgedy like this, who could? I wonder how Noche Buene will be like.

Tomorrow is Christmas day. The plan was that our cousins and aunt would come over and we'd all have Christmas as a family. Now I'm not sure if the plan will push through. My parents are leaving for Davao first thing tomorrow. Incomplete during Christmas. That sucks!

Amah, you will be missed!

Disney Dedicated to Me?!!! How Cool is That?!

2008-12-12T11:08:00.003+08:00

Now this is what I call a celebration!!

Trese - Review

2008-11-28T14:53:00.004+08:00

Category:	Books
Genre:	Comics & Graphic Novels
Author:	Budjette Tan & KaJo Baldisimo

Since last year's Komikon, I've heard of this new comic called "Trese." I heard some pretty good things about it; a mix of crime and paranormal. I'll admit I haven't been the biggest fan of the newer local comics. I see them as either manga spin-offs or Marvel imitations. But this Trese intrigued me. So, this year's Komikon, along with my quest to find the 16th part of "Pasig," I made it a point to buy a copy of Trese (I ended up buying the first 2 graphic novels).

The story revolves around Alexandra Trese, a Malate bar-owner who helps the police when crimes take a paranormal twist. She conducts her investigations by interrogating the creatures of local folklore (many of whom have managed to integrate themselves into mainstream society). Acting as her bodyguards are two mask-donning, gun-wielding half-breeds referred to as the "Kambal," twins who are half human, half... uh... something else.

The first story begins, like many crime stories, with a murder. But not just any murder. The victim was someone who supposedly died during the 1930s. The victim was a White Lady. From there, Alexandra Trese makes her way through a Nuno living in a manhole, to an Aswang who buys babies in exchange for finely ground mermaid bones.

As I finished the rest of the first volume, I got to see drag-racing tikbalangs, kaluluwa traffickers, and a Darna-esque homage to Mars Ravelo. Cool!

The story was pretty unique and also well-written. It gives a feel of a sleuth-type mystery but still keeping the paranormal edge. Art-wise, I love it! The black and white drawings (no greys or screentones) with the heavy shadowing kinda gave it a creepiness that fits so well with the story.

It is interesting to see that Filipinos are coming up with more original stuff. I'm definitely looking forward to more Trese and more good reads from Filipino comic creators. I do hope Filipinos will shed their colonial mentality and see the potential of local works. With support, more and more comic artists will create newer and better works.

Bloggers Invited to Tour of Cutting Edge & "Dayo"

2008-10-05T14:02:00.018+08:00

Yesterday, a group of Pinoy bloggers, along with my 2 sisters and I, were invited to take a tour of Cutting Edge Productions, the company who is producing the much anticipated animated film "Dayo" (which will be released internationally as "Wanderer").

It tells the story of Bubuy, a child who goes on a quest to save his abducted grandparents. He meets Anna, a teenage manananggal who helps him enter the enchanted world of Elementalia, a magical place populated by creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. There, he embarks upon a great adventure that would change him forever.

Over lunch, we spoke to some bloggers about the state of Philippine folklore today. Children nowadays were no longer familliar with creatures like Kapres or Tikbalangs. The creatures that elders used to threaten us as children (Magpakabait ka! Kung hindi, kainin ka ng Aswang!) has now been replaced by threats that are a bit closer to home (Magpakabait ka! Kung hindi, huhulihin ka ng pulis!). Because of that, children of this generation do not have vast imaginations and creatures of folklore have become endangered species.

After a satisfying lunch courtesy of Cutting Edge (catered, by the way!), we were taken to the studio where the main animation took place. Wow! Each animator sat in front of a Wacom tablet/monitor animating with what seemed like ease. Talk about cutting edge! I cannot be sure how many units there were but I would put an estimate at 15 units in that room. That was pretty impressive. Many of the animators and other members of Cutting Edge were more than willing to answer many of our questions regarding the equipment, the characters, and the story (without giving too much away).

We also got to meet some characters from the movie: There's Buboy, a kid who dreams of flying; Anna, a mananaggal (manananggirl) who claims to be vegetarian; and Narsi, a very vain and narcissistic Tikbalang (thus the name Narsi). They also pointed out that the manananggals in this film have 2 sets of wings, so they don't need to keep flapping when they want to just hover. The second set was loacted on the lower back and beat rapidly, like a humming bird. Nice!

The next part of the tour took us to the area where coloring was done. Again, I was impressed. Adding the colors and shadings seemed to bring the characters to life. After that, we went by batches to a smaller room where the music was being created. We met "Dayo" composer and Executive Producer Jessie Lasaten, who showed us the "Dayo" trailer along with some exclusive, never-before-seen clips from the movie. He also treated us to a sample of the score and a preview of the song "Lipad," of which there are 2 versions: one sung by the talented Lea Salonga and another sung by an up and coming band from SonyBMG. We were also informed that the score will be recorded with a full orchestra in a few weeks time. He even informed us that they had a recording with Joey Ayala the day before. Wow! Lea Salonga and Joey Ayala in a film about creatures of Philippine folklore. No other combination could have made me want to watch a movie so badly!

Last on the line-up was a session with "Dayo" director Robert Quilao. He showed us more exclusive never-before-seen clips from the movie (though many of them were still unfinished). This production used some big names in the industry to bring the characters to life. These include: Michael V, Peque Gallaga, Pokwang, and Johnny Delgado. We were shown a clip introducing Narsi, the narcissistic Tikbalang, which I thought Michael V portrayed very well (Definitely better than his role in the other animated film "Urduja."). Like everyone else in Cutting Edge, Robert Quilao was more than happy to answer all our questions. Yes, they are planning sequels.

After the tour, we said our goodbyes and made our way home.

So, here are my thoughts on the company and the upcoming film:

-I like the fact that from the trailers and the few clips we saw, it was easy to see that the characters have... well... character! I mean, a vegetarian manananggal and a self-obsessed Tikbalang! Imagine that! Even Buboy seemed to have this tactless innocence about him when he referred to Anna as a halimaw. I hate to compare "Dayo" with "Urduja" (okay, that's not true) but the latter seemed to have characters that were so... generic. Where are the quirks? And don't get me started on historical accuracy!

-Music is great! I may be a bit biased because I'm a huge fan of Lea Salonga and Joey Ayala, but the score was wonderful. And we've only been treated to a digital rendition. I can only imagine what it sounds like with a full orchestra.

-Buboy looks like a character from my elementary textbook. It's not a bad thing. They wanted a Filipino feel to it... there you go!

-Good marketing strategy.

Bloggers can be the worst critics. They have no limitations or censors and readers can get the most honest opinion about any topic from them. And so, Cutting Edge has decided to invite the bloggers over to their studio for a tour and to answer all of thier questions. My sister thought it was a pretty devious strategy. I cannot help but agree. I think it was also a very smart move on thier part. Make the bloggers feel special and they can definitely say something good about you. Put their guard down with a good meal, then wow them with high-end equipment and big names. I was certainly impressed. But what truly struck me about the tour was their dedication to the project. It really showed!

On the way home, my sisters and I talked animatedly about the tour. My sister turned to me and asked: "Are you just saying all these nice stuff about them because they fed you?" That made me think. The names and the equipment were great. Joey Ayala and Lea Salonga really helped give me a good impression of the production. So did the freebies! :-) But at the end of the day, it was their passion for "Dayo" that won me over. They believed in it so much, it made me a believer, too. But the food definitely helped!

"Dayo" is an official entry to the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival and will be shown in local theatres sometime December. Definitely a must-see!

On Pay-Cuts and Rain Dancing...

2008-08-31T21:55:00.003+08:00

The Problem:

On the 22nd of August, 2008, my bosses (I call them 'the direks') announced a 50% salary reduction for the company's regular employees. Okay, to begin with, my salary was 25% lower than my salary at my previous job. Now, it's being reduced even lower. Fine, I understand about the economic crisis. Both my parents are into business. My lifestyle is basically dictated by economic trends. I know when belts have to be tightened. But what happened here was totally wrong. The direks were practically boasting that they had little or no monetary investments in the company. But there were investments involved... ours! Because the direks refused to shell out money, we had to suffer for it. Any business needs a capital! Argh!!! I'm so upset! Now, I have to do extra work just to make a little bit more. I have to work long hours (including weekends) just to get a little bit of extra. Not fair!

So, why am I still here? I'll see how it goes for a couple of months. I'm doing Production Assistant work for a bit of extra cash (which I'll probably get in three months time at least). I'll learn as much as I can and get as much experience as possible. Then, I'll think things through again. Thing is, the production industry is a pretty hard industry to penetrate. It requires contacts to get into (which I don't have). I'm already here, I'm reluctant to give it up easily.

But now I'm thinking: do I really want this job? or am I just keeping it because it's hard to get? I've seen what the industry is like. Do I really want to be a part of it? Or am I really just afraid my Mass Comm education will be wasted in a job that doesn't require the skills I gained in college? I certainly don't want to be a Production Assistant for a long time. But if I've proven myself worthy of ascending the ranks, what then? Do I still want what's next?

I don't know. I have a lot of thinking to do!!!!

Better News:

Today is a Sunday, a day of family and rest. Where was I? I was in Antipolo, location-hunting for an upcoming AVP shoot. Working... on a Sunday! I basically spent the day under the heat of the sun, taking (sometimes stealing) shots of houses and buildings. I'm not a very sunny person and I hate the heat! So, I did not have a good day. I was so tired that I told myself I would fall sleep as soon as I get home. When the location hunt was over, the service dropped me off at a convenient place near the gate to my subdivision. It was starting to rain lightly. Being tight on money, I decided not to take a tricycle to my house. I decided to walk under the drizzle. I love feeling the rain on my skin! Rain energizes me (provided it doesn't flood since my room is the first place that gets flooded). By the time I got home, I was feeling much better. Later, the rain fell harder. My mom told us how she used to run in the rain when she was much younger. I remembered a time when I did that, too. And so, my sister Jade and I went out in the pouring rain and had a bit of fun. My mom went too but she found it too cold and went back in abruptly.

Jade and I played in the rain, dancing our own version of a rain dance, laid down on the sidewalk, pretended we were Gene Kelly, and sang in the rain. It was bliss! The most realxed I felt since that unfortunate announcement I mentioned.

I'm hoping to start writing again. I miss writing fiction. Need a story! More thinking!!! This is the type of thinking I like, though! I'm hoping the rain-dance helps.

I hope for better opportunities! For now, I'll take this one day at a time. If things become unbearable, I'll just dance in the rain. Lots of thinking to do. I pray for the best!

To Clowns, Costumes, and a Better Class of Criminals

2008-07-21T12:41:00.002+08:00

Yesterday, I got to watch the much-anticipated Batman movie. Today's Yahoo news says it broke the record for biggest weekend box-office ever.

I found the movie pretty impressive. It had all the makings of a great comic-based film: adrenaline-pumping action, props & costume upgrades, a tormented hero, and a story that will keep you at the edge of your seat. But what really impressed me here were the villains. As the Joker put it: "a better class of criminals."

The late Heath Ledger immortalized his acting career as Batman's psychopathic arch-nemesis: The Joker. This was the last film he finished before his untimely death last January 2008. This is not the comical Joker you've seen in old Batman movies and cartoons. This is a twisted, depraved, psychotic, clown with a wit and cunning that makes him worthy of being the great detective's most dangerous foe. *Just a warning: this movie is not for small children.* Joker's criminal ways will make serial killers on death row seem like petty thieves and the smudged make-up and villainous quips will make any child (even adults) pretty scared of circus clowns. And I thought Jack Nicholson's Joker was twisted.

Fantasic performance from Heath Ledger!

Harvey Dent is Gotham City's efficient crime-stopping District Attorney who ends up in the shoes of the villain after the cops fail to save his girlfriend from getting blown up by the Joker. It is interesting to see how a villain becomes what he is. It adds depth to the character and it allows the audience to see his motivations. I thought this Two-Face is definitely much better than the one Tommy Lee Jones portrayed.

Hm... I'd like to see how they portray Harley Quinn next. She's one of my favorite Batman villains. Maybe a femme-fatale feast! Think about it: Harley, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, and Bat Girl
together!

Quotable Quotes from the movie:

"This city deserves a better class of criminal and I'm gonna give it to them." -Joker-

"Do you want to know why I use a knife? You see, guns are too fast. You can't savor all of the little...emotions. In their last moments, people show you what they’re really like. So in a sense...I knew your friends better than you did. Would you like to know which of them were cowards?" -Joker-

"One thing I've learned is if you're good at something, never do it for free." -Joker-
"The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming." -Harvey Dent-

"You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." -Harvey Dent-

"The world is cruel. And the only morality in a cruel world is chance." -Harvey Dent-

The Urduja Story I Read As A Child

2008-06-26T21:44:00.004+08:00

I've read a good many versions of the story of Urduja. With the release of the animated movie, I thought I'd share it. It's pretty different from the story they portrayed in the movie. Here goes:

Once upon a time, there lived a Datu who had a daughter named Urduja. She was ugly and acted like a man (If I recall correctly, I believe the term the book used was she 'spat and squatted like a man'). She was also very educated.

One day, a foreign scholar passed through their village. Urduja and her father welcomed him with open arms and showed him hospitality. The young scholar was fascinated by Urduja, not only because of her bravery in battle but also because of her intelligence. Urduja also found herself drawn to the scholar and his tales of foreign lands.

The time came when the young scholar had to leave their village and move on to other places. Urduja was saddened by this but she could not bring herself to tell the scholar how she feels because she felt that her ugliness would only result in rejection. So, she simply said her goodbyes and watched him go.

Because of her feelings for the scholar, Urduja went to a witch and asked to be made beautiful. The Witch placed a spell on her and told her that she will be beautiful for six months. After six months, she will return to her old self.

Urduja followed the scholar to a neighboring village. The scholar was smitten by her beauty but recognized the princess that fascinated him. They were married and lived together happily.

The stories I've read differed when it came to the ending. I decided to share both.

Ending # 1:

When the six months were almost up, war broke out in that village and the scholar was badly wounded. Before he died, Urduja transformed back to her old self and told the scholar about the spell. The scholar told her that he loved her even before she became beautiful. Then, he died.

Ending # 2:

When the six months were up, Urduja told the scholar about the spell and she transformed back into her old self. The scholar told her that he loved her even when she wasn't beautiful. They lived happily ever after.

**************

Urduja - Movie Review

2008-06-22T00:58:00.005+08:00

The movie tells the story of the chieftain's daughter, Urduja.

In the village of Tawilisi, independent and headstrong Urduja suddenly finds herself betrothed to the arrogant Simakwel. It is her aged father's wish that she marry Simakwel, whom she openly dislikes. One day, she meets the Chinese pirate Lim Hang, who saves her from a Batyaw assassin. Sparks fly and the two immediately fall in love.

Despite the old chieftain's dislike of foreigners, Lim Hang, together with his stoic Japanese friend, Daisuke, and their rodent companion, Kukut, gain the gratitude and trust of the village by helping end the conflict with the tree-dwelling Batyaws.

Desperate to secure the throne and Urduja, Simakwel turns to Wang, a Chinese general who has been trying to capture Lim Hang. Wang threatened to invade the village of Tawilisi if Lim Hang was not surrendered. In an act of selflessness, Lim Hand gives himself up to save Urduja and her village. However, Wang goes back on his word and attacks the village anyway.

With the help of Kukut and Daisuke, Lim Hang escapes and returns to Urduja's village. With the aid of skilled Batyaw warriors, Lim Hang, Daisuke, Urduja, and the village of Tawilisi triumph against Wang and his army. Urduja and Lim Hang marry and live happily ever after.

**********

Finally! It's good to see that the Philippines is stepping up when it comes to animated films. The last full-length animated film we produced was "Adarna." That was, what, over 10 years ago? It's no secret that foreign companies like Disney outsource many animation work here in the Philippines. At least now we're making our own.

Here are my thoughts:
Animation quality could use a lot of improvement but I wouldn't call it bad. It's just that it follows the style of Disney very closely. When the trailer was shown, I could swear it was a combination of Pocahontas and Mulan. Watching the movie, I was able to pinpoint similarities to Tarzan (swinging through vines), Pocahontas (the wind, the waterfalls, the trees, the way Urduja looks, and many more), and Mulan (swords, the Chinese). It's okay to take elements from other works, but this looks like they copied entire scenes and just switched characters.

I have no complaints about the cast. As far as voice acting goes, I think it was acceptable. However, I don't think it was a good idea to have Cesar Montano sing duets. It wasn't bad. I'd say he can sing. But if you put his singing alongside a pro like Regine... well... let's just say it didn't turn out to be as climactic as it should have.

The music was alright. Not exactly unforgettable, but at least it was appropriate.

The story was very predictable. I don't think that's a bad thing. I love a good happy ending.

I've read the story of Urduja as a child. Many versions of it, in fact. The story here does not, in any way, reflect the old legends or the historical account. Maybe there was another version I wasn't familiar with?

Characterization could use some work. I honestly didn't get a feel of who the characters really were. Who was Daisuke and how did he end up with Lim Hang? Why did Lim Hang become a pirate? How did Urduja's mother die? Why does Simakwel want the throne so badly? Why did Mayumi have so much boyfriends? Why did Wang want Lim Hang so bady? Who was the Chinese trader who helped Wang?

What on Earth was a Chinese pirate (who looked like he belonged with the Huns in Mulan) doing with a Japanese Samurai? Maybe a brief background of how that came to be could have been presentd. Honestly, I was under the impression that some of the creators were Anime fans who thought putting a sword-wielding Samurai (Rurouni Kenshin style!) would be cool.

Despite all the bad things I said, I found that I still have something good to say about this film: The fact that this film is out there, being promoted by big names and big companies, is a big step. We're not quite there yet but we're on the way. My Mom used to tell me that artists start by copying, then, eventually gain their own style and become unique. Despite the fact that the film looks like a bad Disney imitation, I have no doubts that eventually, Filipinos will develop their own style; a style that is unique, inspiring, and world-class.

I look forward to more Filipino animated features. Good job!

Thoughts on the Bb. Pilipinas Winner

2008-03-13T10:42:00.007+08:00

Okay, so she came from a humble background and she isn't fluent in speaking English. So, why shouldn't people just leave her alone? Because a humble background isn't an excuse to make a booboo that big!

So now, the net is full of her infamous question-and-answer video with people both bashing her and supporting her. Should he have won? Here are my thoughts:

1. Yes, people are saying it's not an English fluency competition. But, come on! She didn't even answer the question! Nerves? Not an excuse! She said she was confident. I didn't see any of that. I think she should have just spoken in Tagalog. She would have been more comfortable and would have been able to express herself better. For heaven's sake, it's Bb. Pilipinas, not Miss America!

2. So what if she's 17? She seems to be making a big deal of her age. At 17 (and even younger), anyone can answer a simple question. Not an excuse!

3. It is important that we are represented by a good English speaker. We are competing with India in the callcenter industry. At the moment, it's helping a lot with our economy. We pride ourselves in being able to communicate fluently with foreign clients. All of a sudden our representative talks about being in the 'Taf Ten.' If I were an investor, I'll definitely go to India. There goes the callcenter industry. Then, there goes our economy.

4. What were the judges thinking? If this competition was "Luto," at least make sure the winner looks and sounds like she deserved it. If anyone is to blame, it would be the judges. I'm sensing a conspiracy here. Let's see who the judges are, shall we?
- Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte (why him? what does he know about pageants?)
- US Ambassador Kristie Kenney (Hm... maybe getting a foreigner isn't such a good idea)
- Japanese Ambasador Makoto Katsura
- Philippine Ambassador to Spain Joseph Bernardo
- United Breweries Group Chairman Vijay Mallya
- Chateau Petrus's Jean Moueix
- Entrepreneurs School of Asia founder Vivienne Tan
(she asked the infamous question, she should have done something about it!)
- Sofitel President Oscar Salvacion
(he seems like a smart guy, I thought he'd put more importance in brains)
- Marian Rivera
(perfect! if anyone knows anything about brains and beauty, it's actors! *note the sarcasm here*)
- Dennis Trillo
- Chris Tiu
Okay, so where are the former beauty queens? They should know a lot about pageants and what it takes to represent the country. Also, why the foreigners? As if they know what the true embodiment of a Filipina is.

*sigh* What is our country coming to? Politics already stinks. Now, our pageants are starting to smell as well. If it's any consolation to Ms. San Miguel, I saw her in an interview last night on TV. She seems like a nice girl, not ashamed of her humble origins. She also seems to be taking all these comments quite well. I can only hope she stays strong.

I think Rufa Gutierrez gave some good advice to Ms. San Miguel. She said that since the Ms. World pageant is still 7 months away, Ms. San Miguel should use that time to improve herself with voice coaches and ways to make her more confident. Coming from a former beauty queen, this advice should not be ignored. She knows what she's talking about.

Online Burol: Taking Internet Convenience to the Next Level

2008-03-11T13:27:00.005+08:00

With the invention of the Internet, so many things can be done without leaving the comfort of your desk. You can now shop, sell items, trade stocks, send mail, and pay bills with a click of the mouse. With social networking sites, you don't need to be sociable in order to meet people. Almost anything can be done on the Internet. And now, it seems this virtual city of cyberspace has just had another occupant and has taken Internet convenience to another level.

I was browsing through the local newspaper last week and was more than surprised to see an ad in the obituary section of the paper. “ONLINE BUROL (Online Wake)” it said. So, it seems that now, you don't need to leave your desk to visit a wake. Strange yet interesting.

I'm not really sure how this thing works. I assume that a site is dedicated to a deceased person and a visitor simply enters the website and sign the guestbook. Perhaps they placed an online multi-player mahjong or card game (a crucial part of wakes here in the Philippines). I don't know.

A concept like this has its good and bad points.

Negative:

-It makes people lazy.

-It could take away the solemnity of the occasion.

-When the family of the deceased is grieving, it usually helps to give a kind work and make them feel that their deceased was loved. Hugs and pats on the back help, too. You couldn't do these things over the net.

-You can't see the corpse. Pictures may be posted, but it's not the same thing.

-A wake is a social gathering where people comfort each other and remember the deceased. You can't do that if you're sitting in front of a monitor.

Positive:

-It's convenient.

-Less hassle. You don't need to worry about food, flowers, or location.

-People from out of town or abroad don't have to travel all the way to where the wake is held.

-You don't need to send flowers.

-It's not as depressing. When you go to a wake with people sobbing and weeping, you can't help but take that depression with you. There's possibly less chances of that happening in cyberspace. If you end up crying anyway, at least nobody gets to see you.

Several weeks ago, my grandmother, Nanay, passed away. She was 85. I was unable to fly back to Davao for the wake and funeral. Seeing this ad made me think “Hm... wouldn't it be nice if Nanay had an online wake so that I could at least show my support to my relatives in Davao?”

At the moment, I'm having mixed feelings for this online wake thing. But I do give credit to the company for being able to come up with this.

Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight

2008-01-20T23:14:00.000+08:00

In November of 2006, I began reading a battered, second-hand copy of the book "Dragons of Autumn Twilight." It was the first book in the vast Dragonlance series. Since then, I've been hooked on this amazing world created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

Last 15 January 2007, Paramount Pictures released the Dragons of Autumn Twilight animated feature film on DVD. I admit I've been waiting for this film ever since I heard of it's production early last year. After viewing the film I am more than glad to share my insights on the production.

Story
Unlike other novels that were turned to film, Dragons of Autumn Twilight was quite true to the book. For a thick book to be compressed into a 90-minute film, a lot of scened had to be cut off. Despite that, the storyline was intact. I was also glad that they were able to present the stories of the gods of Kryn and the fall of Istar.

Character Design
At first glance, the character seemed like they belonged to those cartoons shown during the 1980's like "Masters of the Universe" or something. But I guess that had a bit of charm (to me, at least). The characters were quite different from what I've conjured up in my head when I was reading the novel. It does tend to grow on you, though.

The elves, who were described as youthful, beautiful, with sharp features were drawn quite differently in the film.

On a positive note, I found that they did justice to their design of Goldmoon, Tika, and Laurana. Even Bupu fit the part.

Animation (2D)
The animation style used for Dragons of Autumn Twilight was a mix of traditional 2-dimensional animation and computer-generated 3-Dimentsional animation. The 2D animation in itself was not too bad. It was quite rough when it came to the character movements. However, it was fairly tolerable if not acceptable.

Animation (3D)
The 3-dimensional animation, which consisted mostly of dragons and draconians, was quite alright. My big complaint there was that in one scene where there was a large number of draconians assembled, the draconians looked like they have all been copied and pasted off one model. All of them moved the exact same way.

Animation (Overall)
The overall animation disappointed me very much. Individually, the 2d and 3d animations were alright. Combined, it was a disaster. The 2 animation styled were not blended very well. Even during the fight scenes where the 3D draconians were interacting with the 2D heroes, it seemed like 2 different films being forced together.

The animation was done by a company from India. Hm... Could this be a reflection of Indian outsourcing quality in terms of animation? I hope not.

Music
The music was the only element in the film I truly liked. The opening theme and the Qualinesti hymn were personal favorites. Based on featurettes shown in the movie website, I could see that the composition and recording of the music was not compromised. The result was fantastic!

Dubbing
To give life to the characters, they made sure to use some big names for the voice actors. Kieffer Sutherland plays the dark-souled mage, Raistlin; Lucy Lawless plays Goldmoon; and Michael Rosenbaum plays Tanis Half-Elven. I admire them for their sense to use these big names. Lucy Lawless did a wonderful job with Goldmoon. Michael Rosnbaum was not so bad as Tanis.

My problem when it came to the dubbing was that their accent was too 'American.' Nothing against the American accent. I just felt like a world with such a diversity or creatures should have a range or accents just as diverse. Besides, it was almost painful to hear Kiefer Sutherland pronounce Raistlins' spells.

The elves should also have had a much thicker accent.

Overall
Overall, I would only rate the film 2 out of 5. So many things disappointed me and I know that they could have done a better job.

An Introduction...

2008-01-11T15:07:00.000+08:00

Greetings, dear Reader! Allow me to introduce myself. You may call me Marie. I am a lover of art, books, technology, and a good many other things. In terms of fiction (books, movies, plays, comics, etc.), I am open to pretty much any genre. However, I find that I am quite at home in the realm of Fantasy. Such is also the case when it comes to my reality. When I've had my share of the real world's dramas and disturbances, I simply sit back and make my way back to my fortress in the sky (or wherever it pleases me to be at that moment). My imagination is where I truly reside.

I begin this blog as a way of starting the new year. Here, I will be posting some of my opinions and thoughts on subjects that are meaningful to me, topics that interest me, and other things I feel the need to write about. I may also post some of my short stories, poems, and creative snippets to hopefully get some feedback on them.

And so, I welcome you, dear Reader, into my realm,
where Thoughts swim like mermaids in the sea,
and Imagination runs as deep as Silent Waters...