slow mo' revelries

An e-mail has been circulating over Manila regarding an 8.1 earthquake. The said earthquake was predicted by a guy named Juseleeno Nobulega DaRoose, a 47-yr old citizen of Brazil. Supposedly, it will hit the Philippines tomorrow, July 18, 2008. At what time? It wasn't mentioned.

I should know, since I was one of the many who received such mail last Sunday (Take note: a beautiful Sunday morning turned sour after reading it).

Manila-standard-column

2 comments

More abominable news?

I simply don't get the logic of people forwarding such news to as many people as they can. Scare-it-forward is the funky stuff that's been going on: you're scared, so you forward such news to as many people you know with hopes of sharing the same fears.

Such disappoints.

(FYI: I didn't forward it. Instead, I replied to ALL of those who forwarded it with an In-your-face-reply-I-can't-believe-you'd-forward-such-a-thing-kind of tone.)

And for me to post about it is idiotic too; however, along with my idiocy is a memoir I'd look back a year from now (in case, of course, should I survive an 8.1 earthquake!) and say to myself: hey, despite such news, life is fabulous.

Predictions are predictions, that's all I'm saying. At the end of the day, we have a choice to believe it or not. In my case, I don't.

I believe that God (to some, they call it "Nature") has plans in this world and we should let Him be. If we have faith, if we strongly believe on a Higher Being, let every waking day be "Thy will be done" . Or to simply put it, "Let Nature take its course". 

It dismays me how most predictions usually lean people toward fear & anxiety. Let's face it: predictions, oftentimes, are ugly. Thus, these questions in mind occur:

Why is it always about death? Or tragedy? Or pain? Or chaos? Or misery?

Why can't it be good?

Are people too hopeless or faithless to begin with?

Sigh.

Now I can't help but think that the people behind such predictions possess some kind of subconscious cynism from all things positive and good. And though I'd rather not pity them, subconsciously, I do.

Should predictions (like this one) be true or not, then let things be. Either way, I believe all the more to the Higher Being that faith has led me into...because aside from the ugliness that this world slowly reveals, I know that in the end.. there's an assurance that things will be beautiful.

They. Just. Will.

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(Warnings are good, yes. But warnings are simply cautionaries. It's how people react to it. Take heed or not. Get the facts straight or join the bandwagon. It's how WE react. It's how WE get through the whole process.)

Though I have every right to expand on the subject, I'd leave it the way it is. Not to classify myself as mysterious but rather, remind myself that time isn't manageable.

I am. 

OMBD

A happy kind of shocked, that's what I am right now. And yes, my fellow blogger and friend, Mark, so says it: above was not a paid entry. I have to back that up, not in a conceited kind of way... but in a way that's so touching, I'm lost for words (the poetic kind!)

More of the entry?

Truth be told, I'm reading less than ten blog sites outside VOX. Most of these people are random people... except that from Mark's and others of which will remain unnamed until the opportune time comes. 

Mark has been a friend since college, and I have to confirm that there has been a connection that time we got together. Some people do hit it off I guess, sans the seldom-ness (?) of seeing each other. But when they do? They just "mark the spot". I guess it's a classic connection that remains unseen yet felt.

Oh well. I'm grateful and thankful and all the good kinds of "ful" there is to say... or type. And to Mark, cheers! I'm glad you arrived safe here in Manila, all the way from New York. You sure have lots to tell and you better tell them soon!

..but I'm happy I did it. Thank God.

What I did? Not everyone must know.

But what I did? I'm glad I did.

Because if I didn't? Then somebody else will.

But yeah, I'm cheerful about it because....

Who would've thought by having to do it, it'll lead me to a new door of opportunity wherein there's much work to do?!

And I'm not complaining.

In fact, I think that I may have to do something about it this weekend.

Just because I did what I was suppose to do.

Aren't you glad I did?

Dog-cat

Cats and dogs are a classic example of the animal kingdom's "sworn enemies". Of course, such animalistic tradition isn't written in stone; in fact, these species tend to become the greatest of friends.

I've seen news and documentaries of how these furry little creatures coexist peacefully. Despite the oddities in habits & interests, at the end of the day, they still manage to live under the same roof.

Such ideal platonic affection, you reckon? I do.

Until....

...a couple minutes ago, after grabbing a pancake brekky at McDonald's, I witnessed something unconventional and bizaare:

I saw our neighbor's dog trying to get it on with a cat. Layman's term: Humpy - dump - dump - doggie - style. (Absolutely no pun intended!)

I double-checked to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks. And from what I saw? It certainly weren't.

NOW THAT, my friends, definitely put the "crossbreed" term up a notch. Or maybe hundreds.

--

That this time, I just might make it.

... warming up the supposed infinite cold.

Penelope

Strangely enough, for the past two days, I've been waking up at the craziest hours of the morning. 

I resort the blame to the undeniable comfort my bed brings, along with my recently acquired Will & Grace DVDs. So shoot me.

I checked my phone soon as I woke up. I thought to myself: 2:09 am? Great.

Thus, I dragged myself out of bed, went downstairs to pee and fixed myself an early morning breakfast, which by the way, constitutes of hazelnut coffee & a sinfully-luscious chocolate cake.

Then I went back to my bedroom, turned on the TV and popped on my Penelope DVD.

--

Now onto criticism.

NOTE: Truth be told, I'm not much of a critic --- at least not that I know of.

Frankly, I like the movie. It is a comedy-fantasy film about 25-year old Penelope (CHRISTINA RICCI), our heroine, who was placed under a family curse. That & a preposterous mom (Jessica Vanderman played by CATHERINE O'HARA) who, like any other moms*, wanted the best for her daughter: she hired a matchmaker in hopes to find her daughter a blue-blooded husband to wed & bring end to the curse.

*YEAH RIGHT. Any "other" moms who suffers for a daughter placed under a family curse. That kind of mom.

For five years, Penelope underwent such an ordeal of matchmaking only to find herself alone & lonely... until Max Campion (JAMES McAVOY) came. Then starts her adventure.

(Much as I would like to "spoil" the whole thing, I'd rather not. Teaser? Ahhhhh BITE ME!)

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The film premiered in Canada way back 2006, shot fully in London and released worldwide April 2008. I was wondering why it didn't create much of a "bang" here in Manila, but I'm glad I was able to get hold of the DVD.

The chemistry between Christina Ricci and James McAvoy was believable; I could actually picture them as a real-life couple --- only if McAvoy was single. I liked how both actors delivered their lines in such intense manner, coupled with stunningly expressive eyes.

Other supporting casts such as Catherine O'Hara, Reese Witherspoon (PENELOPE' FRIEND, ANNIE/ FILM PRODUCER) and Peter Dinkage (LEMON) also portrayed their characters beautifully. They didn't have much movie lines as the two main characters had; yet, they played their roles just as fine.

The flick moved me, although I have to say that at some level, it lacked something. However, the "void" was not a big factor for the movie to be unlikeable. On the contrary, Penelope is a lighthearted film: sweet, whimsically humane and downright contemporary.

And the best part of it all?

Last chapter

It is a fairytale.

A beautiful one.