Saved by the Smell

I ran out of perfume and was window shopping a couple of days ago. My previous perfumes were all given to me by my sister abroad and I didn't have the slightest idea how much a bottle of perfume costs. I was stupefied by its prices after I window shopped. Sizes of around 90-100 ml of brands like Hugo Boss, Bulgary and etc. is almost Php 4,000. Fortunately, my sister arrived yesterday and as soon as she opened her luggage, I quickly grappled for 2 bottles of perfume - Hugo Boss and Bulgari. Wow, I just saved about Php 8000 plus worth of perfume! Between the two, Bulgari lasts longer and smells just right for me.

Christmas Station ID: ABS-CBN vs GMA 7

I saw ABS-CBN's Christmas Station ID and I instantly fell in love with the song. It's great. Its melody is high-spirited and kinda bouncy. If I would have to compare the song and its visuals, then the song still outshines the video. The song is great but the video is just ok. I still love the idea where there are many settings or scenes used. Para kasing nasa isang studio lang sila, the ABS-CBN Stars, then embellished it (the studio) with Christmas decors. The concept of Kapamilya stars mingling with the common tao, though it has been done a countless times in every station ID of both stations, is still ok since it depicts interaction, sharing and love.

Somehow, seeing the stars lip-synching with the song gave me goosebumps like who's who - sino ang may pinakamatagal na exposure at sino yung tipong panghuli. Sino yung may bigat ang dating ng exposure? Yung mga ganung factor hehehe. There are new faces like Coco Martin (wow, I can't believe it! he's here to stay na talaga), the stars of Katorse, Karylle, Susan Roces, Alesssandra de Rossi and Gabby Concepcion. Hey, was it Rafael Rossel there? For all I know wala syang projects or any TV shows, why the exposure? hala.... Angelica Panganiban, no Derek? Angel Locsin side by side with John Lloyd and Luis is in another row...why? Still hurts? At syempre pa si Bro...katabi nya si Miss President Charo Santos...lakas ah!

Why there is no Kris Aquino in sight?! No Claudine? I think Kris has a valid reason meron ata syang shoot or something (she explained it in SNN). Pero I think Claudine not being there...uhm, she dismissed the invitation perhaps kasi nga wala syang any projects na medyo matagal tagal na sa ABS...may konting pitik kumbaga hehehe

Here is the recording session and it was really awesome...to the creators of the song, you're all bloody genius! Ang galing! It's also funny to see the stars in their almost raw look - no make up with simple clothes on.

If there is ABS-CBN Christmas Station ID, of course, meron din ang GMA...

No, of course, the song itself is not comparable. For the nth time now, the effort in any TV station IDs GMA has produced is not as much as ABS-CBN's. The melody is just like any other song they have used/performed in the past. I could even change the lyrics and it could even be used in a soap. I couldn't elaborate more..it's too ordinary. The video is just like a montage of just about anything. They have used this concept before. Please...be more creative.

After comparing the two station IDs, parang may kakaiba akong naging feeling sa kapamilya stars. I wonder how it feels like yung isa ka sa mga stars ng ABS na kumakanta then the camera would focus on you. It would be a heck of an experience! Iba lang talaga pag kabilang ka sa kapamilya parang may sense of pride...parang may yabang factor! Very classy kumbaga!

Still, the song is really awesome. Sige na nga, napa-download tuloy ako ng BRO, IKAW ANG STAR NG PASKO sa ipod ko.

The SM Annex is the New Gilmore

My favorite place when it comes to buying electronic gadgets and computer accessories is the new SM Annex North Edsa. Before, I usually had to go to Gilmore hoping to score a low price. But comparing the prices between Gilmore and the SM Annex showed that Annex is more practical - with its price, comfort and safety. Why would you spend an hour or so roaming around looking for the lowest possible price in a pesky, crowded and reeky place when there's an alternative.

The SM Annex - where the place boasts its modern and sleek design. The surrounding is so comfy. All the branded products like Intel, Redfox, Belkin have their own respective stores where you could buy items at low prices. The cyberzone is a complete spot where all the products and its brands merge that define today's technology.

Prices of each store are competitive. Here's a tip to score a low price. Ask a store for your target item's price. Go to another store and ask the same item's price. Tell them that the other store has a lower price than them. Most of the store would try to lower their price until you decide which would give you the best reasonable price.

Carmina V: Kahapon, Ngayon At Bukas

People gathered around CrePes & Cream. At first, I thought there was a fight. Later did I realize that the commotion was caused by a shoot which starred Carmina Villaroel. I saw her from afar. Yes, she wasn't that young Cathy (her role in defunct show Palibhasa Lalake) anymore, but still that same Carmina. She is still that same girl who fell in love with a man-turned-woman Rustom Padilla a.k.a. BB Gandang Hari. The main difference...she's now more mature and wiser.

When I saw her, parang hindi ko na makita sa kanya ang nakaraan. The wounds were all healed. I still remember years ago when she was interviewed in the Buzz or Showbiz Lingo ata. The issue was about Rustom Padilla's sexuality. I remember her saying, "...siguro naman kung may makakapansin nun, e ako yung unang makakahalata. Pero wala eh..."

Ngayon, lahat ng mga haka-haka, lahat ng pagtatanggol, lahat ng mga tanong...nasagot na, tapos na. I just couldn't imagine how did she handled it all. I'm sure it wasn't only painful but traumatic. How the heck did she manage to fall in love again? Fortunately, it seems that everything worked out fine with her new partner Zoren Legaspi and seeing her with 2 kids, she seems to be complete.

Ano kaya nararamdaman nya everytime she would see BB Gandang Hari? Natatawa? May pitik pa kaya? How would she feel when she sees BB now all lady-like na minsan sa buhay n'ya she kissed and made love to this woman?

I thought I heard one time in an interview with BB Gandang Hari when asked if it's ok with her if she would star opposite Zoren Legaspi, BB said, "yes...but as a director". One thing I would suggest to Carmina, ok lang kung makatrabaho ni Zoren si BB basta nandun ka din. Baka mamaya after the movie ma-link yung dalawa maging BB-Zoren o Boren yung tambalan nila. Kasi, yung always togetherness ng kahit sino would always result to something like emotional attachment. Before I end up, let's reminisced this short clip when BB was still the hunky Rustom.

Mobility: Notebooks and Accessories

10 Years ago, only a few got laptops and notebooks. Now, you can see them just about anywhere. The prices reduced significantly. New brands also appeared. It's one of the must-have gadgets after cell phones. Computer notebooks most common accessories are bags and cases. There are various brands that offer comfort, endurance and safety for your notebooks. But what brand is really reliable yet affordable.

The most common brands for bags and cases for your notebooks are Belkin and Case Logic. These bags are affordable and they are designed to protect your laptops from simple bumps to accidentally dropping your notebooks. I have bought both brands for my Macbook Pro, 15". If I have to compare which brand is affordable and reliable, I have to choose Belkin bags.

Why Belkin?

Most Belkin products have sleek and minimal design. It's so simple and clean. There are variety of colors to choose from. If you compare the prices between Case Logic and Belkin, say you opt for 15" notebook bag, the latter is a tad cheaper than the former. The foam-like pouch that protect your notebook is surprisingly so much thicker compared to that of the Case Logic. This part of the bag is crucial since it protects your laptops from minor to major bumps.

I would also suggest to buy Belkin bags on its store. Don't you know that there is only one Belkin Store here in Asia? It can be found in the 4th floor SM Annex, North Edsa. I also noticed that if you purchased any Belkin product, example an FM transmitter for your car/ipod and you buy it in other store which has that item, Belkin store has cheaper price. Recently, my friend and I bought an FM transmitter. In Mac center, its price is Php 2,900. In Belkin store, the same item cost only Php 2,700.

Child of Pain

I just wanna share you a poem I wrote when I was on college. I was full of angst then. I saw the movie Interview with the Vampire and I was inspired by it. I was a vampire fanatic back then. I tried to taste my own blood. I even cut myself so that I could see my own blood dripping but I only did that twice and I was inebriated. If there were true vampires, I could have offered myself to be one of them. I found it very mystical yet very classy. I even bought Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. I was fascinated by vampires.

I never thought that there would be a vampire mania in the movies like The Twilight Saga and TV series such as True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. These shows are awesome. I can't get enough of them. Let's cut to the chase, here's my poem...

Drink my blood with all your heart

Let it drip on your luscious lips

Drink and your soul shall be ripped

Feel my pain and it shall be yours.

Hear my cries like that of hell

Hear my shouts like a ringing bell

Succumb in these palms of mine

And be my child wanted like a wine.

Let us dance my beloved child

Ask not what the music is playing but be wild

Cling to me your soul I shall build

Be triumphant, rejoice...you are my child!

Patient X: You really have to be patient!

"Nanunuod pa kayo?!" pasigaw na parang nang-iinsulto ng isang lalaki sa aking likod. Kasama nya ang buong barkada. Ito'y sinabayan ng halakhakan.

Anu nga ba ang ginagawa ko matapos ang halos isang oras sa panunuod ng Patient X? Ang naisip ko na lang, iblo-blog ko ito so kailangan kong matapos. Either natatawa ako at napapailing sa mga bagay na napapanuod ko. Madaming mga technicalities sa pelikula ang hindi naayos. Ugali ko na lumabas ng sinehan basta hindi ko nagustuhan and I rarely see a local film. Pero bakit nga ba ako nandito? Sino ang nag-udyok sa kin na gumastos ng mahigit isang daang piso para panuorin ito? Ito po ay si Kris Aquino!

I was watching The Buzz last sunday, November 1, and on their segment, POV, Kris blurted na maganda daw ang Patient X sabi sa kanya ng isang pari.

"Para isang pari ang magsabing maganda ang pelikula it means na maganda talaga yun," she said.

Oo nga naman, di ba? And she reiterated it before the show ends and Ruffa even reminded the audience again. So yun ang dahilan why I was compelled to see the movie.

The Opening Title Sequence. I love the idea that the movie is trying to make a difference, or at least, make an effort in its opening credits. They could've have done it in a simpler way like fade in and fade out the names of the characters but they made it very artsy. Though yung motion graphics artist na gumawa e na-excite masyado sa paggamit ng 3D environment ng After Effects (o kung anuman ang ginamit nya na software). Ok na sana yung blood splatter with the names on its side. Dun pa lang halatang 3D na at hindi na n'ya kailangang ipatagilid pa yung blood splatter unlesss another image would appear e kaso wala. Parang na-excite sya masyado at pinakikita nya na 3D yung whole title sequence. He could've made it simpler by not manuevering the camera (in After Effects) side to side that much. Dito sa ginawa kong opening title sequence para sa Behind the Scene ng Ouija, mapapansin nyo na I didn't move the camera too much. I just zoomed in and out the camera. Ayaw ko yung idea na yung blood splatter e tumatagilid pa kaya nakikitang flat yung blood splatter. It's not flattering.

The movie is trying too hard na maging tipong heart-pounding and makes you hold- your- breath type na pelikula. The director failed on this. I couldn't elaborate more kasi parang wala talaga. Trying hard na maging horror movie. I patiently waited for the movie to end. Kaya pala Patient X, kasi pati moviegoers would have to be really patient! The last time I saw a local film na natakot ako e yung Sukob. Wala sa kalahati nito ang Patient X. Kaya kung hindi kayo natakot sa Sukob at gusto nyong matakot, think twice baka kasi masayang ang pera nyo na sana pinangmiryenda nyo na lang at nabusog pa kayo. But if you were Richard's friend or in a way you're related...suportahan nyo naman yung tao.

Rating: C