Well, now that the SCBWI NY conference is officially over, it's time for our pity party to come to an end.
I had a great time. You know what they say...misery loves company. And I enjoyed whining with all of you. Really.
I was going to give out individual awards, but I'm too depressed about missing the conference to think them up award them. So you've all earned the coveted Pity Party Participant Award instead. I hope you can find a good use for it. I hear it's great as a bookend.
And if you join us next time, you'll have a complete set (because, as depressing as it may sound, I will most likely not be at the next conference either, so I'll be hosting another pity party then).
Surgiu a oportunidade de homenagear este filme que já assisti zilhões de vezes. Bom para encerrar a noite de trabalho e abafar todo o ruído. E para refletir.
Not that I would actually go to it if I was at the conference (mostly because of the extra $$$ it would cost), but still...
On a happy but completely unrelated note, I am very very very very close to finishing a working first draft of my WIP. Like, I-should-be-done-this-weekend very very close. Wahoo!
Last year, when my boys still in pre-kindy, they will have their homework on week day, twice a week. After i finish work, reach home, quickly had my dinner, then i have to coach them with the homework.
This year, they are in their kindy one, first week at school, they already bring back homework to do for the weekend. 8 pages of 3-10, it's still consider ok, as they wrote that in their pre-kindy, maybe this is just revision. Slowly, second week, i can see they also got some chinese homework, then they have to memories four lines of sentences, then some write one alphabet on one page, some kind of revision for them again? Come third week, i can see got some colouring to do, chinese homework, alphabet to write, sentences to memories.
Last week, i cannot believe i just sit there to coach them homework for nearly 2 hours +, do revision on the Bahasa, writting chinese, and i want them to learn recognise the chinese word and not by looking at the picture, and make sure they pronounce it correctly. I nearly choke myself when i point at the "cat" word and they read it as "meow", milk as "nen nen". Some words they pronounce in funny accent, that really make me laugh.
Back to english, memories sentences, so far they are ok, but, last week i got a shock when i see this word, "myrrh". OMG! I thought i see some alien word, but it is the word. I don't know how to read and how to get my boys to read and memories. Quickly i message my friend, Vivian, how to pronounce it. She ask me, do i get the correct word, i said YES! hahahhahah. End up i think of this terror english tuition teacher, Cleffairy, i sent her an sms and ask her how to pronounce, she helped me! So three of us start learn how to pronounce it, and later on i google and found out what is the meaning. :( Now mummy also learn the new words, see how not to stress over the weekend?
see the word i circle, i don't know how to read!! hahahahha
Beside than school homework, i have to guide them with music homework and piano practice. There goes my lovely weekend. That also said why i slow down on my bento making on weekend.
Yes, I see you. Hiding back there in the corner of my mind.
Well, stop it. Quit lurking and go away.
Yes, I know that Writer A just got a new book contract. And I know that Writer B just got his/her editorial letter. And you don't need to remind me that Writer C just shared his/her book cover with the world.
I'm trying not to think about it, so stop reminding me.
Now, shoo. I'm trying to be productive. But you are eating away at my confidence, and I don't like it. Yeah, I know my book has been out on submission for awhile without much to show for it. But I don't need you whispering in my ear about that book deal you just heard about from that publisher I had high hopes from, though the deal was for another book and not mine.
I'm certain that some editor somewhere is gonna LOVE my book. So there.
Don't smile at me like that. It's unnerving.
Yes, I'm talking to you, Jealousy. I don't need you here, so go.
Last week i fixed a bento lunch for my boys. Now i'm getting lazy and also busy on weekend, that's said i slow down on the bento fixed. This is a quick and easy one.
Rice in bird shaped, sweet and sour meat and my boys all time favourite anchovies and rose apple. Since soup of the day is corn soup so i "peel" out the corn and put it as deco. :)
Let me ask you this, you think it's easy answering the questions on a game show? Think again! :) At home, you can answer the questions without any hesitations or butterflies in the stomach. Playing THE ACTUAL GAME is something entirely different.
My Mom, Ninang (Pinky), Miguel, and I guested on Family Feud and we played with the "Fantastic 4 Honor Guards" (Actually one is a sub since one of them was assigned in Isabela that time). It was a fun experience but I'm glad it's all over.
At the start, we were briefed on the rules and all that but we forgot about assigning a team captain... In the end, all eyes were on me... I didn't want to but I had to obey my Mom and Ninang...
I was praying to Lola and I asked her to help me answer the questions. Good thing I was able to get an answer in round 1! All of us were praying to her actually. In the last round, it boiled down to me. It was for the game! Grrr!!! Pressure much? But my relatives and I agreed na walang sisihan. Haha. Plus majority said Pag-ibig... Had I chose Miguel's answer "Kalusugan", we would have won the game. But Tita Kris said it best that Lola would have wanted the Honor Guards to win :) And I was happy that they won and got the jackpot!
Ding Dong Dantes was a very humble and classy guy. He even bought flowers for my mom and her sisters. It was apart from the flowers from the network. He's a good guy and we all thought he's a good host.
Joining a game show was fun but I tell you... The butterflies in the stomach, the nervousness and tension... Hay... It's something else!!!
Ang Panday (Mac Alejandre, 2009) English Translation: The Blacksmith
Somewhere out there, Carlo J. Caparas is beaming with a brand new dose of pride and self-confidence. Caparas, whose status as National Artist for Visual Arts and Film has been tainted because of several procedural lapses in his selection and a widespread and thoroughly convincing opinion among artists' circles that he does not deserve such honor considering that he never drew any of the comics he's most famous for and that his filmography is limited to exploitative films about sensationalized massacres and morally questionable political figures, has again gotten what his naysayers can never get, box office triumph. As it turns out, Mac Alejandre's re-do of Ang Panday (The Blacksmith), based on the very popular comic book written by Caparas and translated to film several times before, is quite a hit.
Caparas, however, cannot and should not claim sole ownership over the phenomenon that is Ang Panday. He may be credited for creating a near-empty vessel, a character that is so simplistic, so archetypal that it readily morphs into an entirely different entity depending on the actor who takes on the role. Fernando Poe, Jr., who is regarded as king of Philippine movies who was charismatic and popular enough to have actually threatened to take away the presidency from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in an election despite having no political experience prior to his presidential campaign, portrayed the role of Flavio, the blacksmith who was prophesied to rid the land of evil, in several movies in the early eighties, improving Caparas' empty character and turning it into a cultural, if not political icon, a champion of the masses who singularly wages a righteous war against the forces of evil who have enslaved the poor people of the land. Bong Revilla, Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada would later on portray derivatives of the Panday character in Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes' Dugo ng Panday (Blood of the Blacksmith, 1993), about a descendant of the original Flavio who inherits the mythical blade, and Caparas' Hiwaga ng Panday (Mystique of the Blacksmith, 1998), about a gunsmith who discovers Flavio's sword and converts it into a gun, respectively. Matinee idol Jericho Rosales adds youthful vigor to Flavio when he took on the role for the television series. Ultimately however, Poe remains to be the quintessentialFlavio as his slow yet assured demeanor, his stylized poses and fighting styles, his undeniable charm, his trademark quietude that makes every word he speaks invaluable have become irreplaceable adjuncts of the character.
In Alejandre's Ang Panday, Revilla graduates from portraying a mere descendant of the legend into stepping into the shoes of the legend itself. It's a tricky proposition, one that Revilla, who is also the main financier of the film, quickly deflects by dedicating the movie to Poe (sympathetically ending the dedication with a statement about Poe being the one and only Panday). Whether or not the dedication is actually heartfelt or an automatic reiteration of what is expected from anyone touching the franchise is beyond the point. Revilla has volunteered himself to be compared against Poe, to be scrutinized for whatever he lacks, to be criticized for whatever changes or modifications he introduces. It really is a daunting task, one that Revilla accomplishes by putting in what essentially is a very safe performance, a performance that is so carefully and deliberately engineered that it is neither wondrous or obnoxious, just inexplicably dull and unoriginal. However, to expect a myth-changing performance by Revilla is close to impossible. Revilla has never been or never pretended to be an accomplished thespian. What he is is an action hero who is gifted with age-defying good looks and an unwieldy heft that makes him a logical replacement for Poe.
Alejandre manages to tie things together with a thread so loosely spun that a minor misstep can cause the entire thing to fall apart. Screenwriter R. J. Nuevas' update on the narrative is understandably simplistic, episodic and quite easy to follow and digest. There's enough room for humor, usually provided for by cameos by some comedians (John Lapus as a gay mananangal; and when a young adventurer throws an insult on his ridiculously long hair, with stoic ease, he retorts with "nakapangasawa ako ng mayaman (I married a rich man)"), but not enough to relocate the film from derivative adventure into camp territory, an experiment that I thought would have made for a far more interesting movie. Obviously, the point of the movie is not to reinvent the wheel (Panggay, veteran comic Joey De Leon's flamboyantly gay version of iconic hero is a funny although short-lived parody; while Guiller, Estrada's gun-slinging variation of the character is an imaginative but half-baked creation) but to embellish a classic with the best special effects, production design, and other technical details Philippine money can buy. It somewhat works, at least to create an experience that nearly resembles the ones offered by Hollywood's expensive epics. The visual effects (from the beautifully animated opening sequence to the computer generated effects that are generously sprinkled throughout the film), the gorgeous musical scoring, and the delightfully meticulous production design display the extent of Philippine talent given a budget that is a mere fraction of what it needs to make one of Michael Bay's bloated extravaganzas.
Alejandre's Ang Panday is, at best, a showcase of Philippine ingenuity. The movie, probably deservedly, is getting a lot of criticism for being a hodgepodge of Hollywood influences (Philip Salvador's Lizardo is an uncomfortable mix of Jack Nicholson's outwardly insane and Heath Ledger's inwardly insane Jokers; Lizardo's dreary castle seems to inspired by Sauron's tower in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Ringsseries; in fact, much the movie's mise-en-scene (Lizardo speaking to his army of goons atop his castle is a convenient copy of Saruman speaking to his army of orcs atop his tower) are borrowed from Jackson's famous epic). However, Philippine mainstream cinema can never claim originality, since the formulas used, from the slapstick to the heavy dramas, from the horrors to the romantic comedies, are patterned after those that have worked for Hollywood and other Hollywood-type markets in the world. Capitalist logic dictates that those in the entertainment business should create entertainment to survive; and when pressed against competitors that are bigger, brighter, and fancier, the tendency is to bridge the gap, not with money but with sheer craftsmanship.That said, Ang Panday is probably one of silliest films in the decade (and as an aside, Caparas, for all his intuition on what stories the masses are willing to pay to follow, should not mistake artistry with mass appeal) but it's a step forward for Philippine mainstream cinema in its ambition of finally churning out a film that can be at par with the Hollywood blockbuster. Whether that is good or bad in the long run is a different matter altogether.
A year ago, the family heard mass for the last time with my Lola on her birthday. It was just a small group. I remember serving during that mass and at the end, Lola thanks each and everyone who dropped by to pray with her. She was always the type of person who would never forget to say thank you.
Towards the last few months of her life, I would be one of the people who would accompany her while walking. I'd always offer my right arm to guide my Lola and she would always say thank you afterwards. Even in the hospital, she would never fail to say thanks to the nurses.
Last Saturday, as I was watching MMK, I couldn't help but miss her when I saw Bea Alonzo portraying her. Bea did a great job in being mahinhin and she had that kind face just like my Lola. I know how much of a loving mom she was to my mom and her siblings. If you watched the show, she played mom and dad since Lolo Ninoy took care of the country. That was the split, family-Cory, country-Ninoy. Pretty tough huh?
Yesterday, I went to the Cory SWATCH watch launch at the Ayala Museum and there was this flash presentation of he pictures. I saw a picture of me with my Lola and she was carrying me. I felt sad and happy at the same time. It has always been like that. Happiness and Sadness contradicting each other. I miss Lola very much but at the same time you feel that happiness since so many people love her.
Today, I went to work, and I went to mass at lunch. I prayed for Lola on her special day. It's the first time I don't have a card for her on Jan 25. But I guess this time, it's just a small tribute in remembering her on her birthday. She would have been 77.
Happy Birthday Lola. I love you and I miss you everyday... Thanks again for everything! I know you're spending it for the first time with Lolo after so many years. Please say hi to him for me...
i celebrated my day with my three princes. Just a "very quiet" dinner at Munakata Japanese restaurant in town. Had read so much about this Munakata Japanese restaurant, but i am actually a bit disappoint with the food they serve. A la carte buffet RM77++ (they just increase the price this year) for adults and kids 4-10 years RM45++. For the price we are paying, not much choice given, and the food portion is really small, we have to keep order and order. To make it easier we order one time in big portion, but it easily finish by me and hub, so you can imagine how big is the portion per serving.
Their service a bit slow too, i mean to serve the food, we have to wait quite a while for the food to come, what we had most are sashimi and tempura. Ok, no picture to show. :)
My boys are funny, when i told them we will go out for dinner, they get so excited, they keep saying, "today mummy's birthday! Happy Birthday mummy!!" To them, happy birthday means party, party means will have a lot people and got party packs, got food, got things to play. When they realise mummy's party means only go-out-dinner, they got disappoint. LOL!! While on the way back, they ask me "why mummy birthday no birthday cake??" I ask them "why you no buy for me the cake?" They answer " i got no money!" hahahhahahhaha
I'm happy and glad surronded by a bunch of wonderful friends and blogger friends. This year i receive few very meaningful birthday pressie. One day before my actual birthday this mummy was msn with me, after chatting a while i see no reply from her, i was wondering where she go. Suddenly my handphone ring, she called and told me she is downstair at my office, can i go down a while. She give me a shock and she pass me a pressie. Thanks Elaine!!! She know i love cornflakes cookies, her first attempt to bake cornflakes cookies and pass to me as birthday pressie, so thoughtful and sweet of her.
On my actual day, this hot,sexy and talented mummy called me early in the morning while i just step into office. I was wondering why she called me early in the morning and she said "hey! I was downstair, can you come down??" Now is in trend? Sent pressie to the door step? Thanks Sasha and Mott for the lovely gift. Sasha hand-sew a bag for me! How not to feel so honour to receive such a precious pressie?
This sweet, young and funny mummy wrote a post for me on my birthday, i nearly shed in tears! Thanks Cleffairy, although i just know you (i mean just start read your blog).
Thanks everyone!! I feel so loved and happy like a small girl, receive gifts, cut birthday cake, wonderful dinner and the company!
Pressies from my girlfriends (La Senza- some girl stuff, cannot share it here.:P) Red colour wrapping paper - From Elaine...
Pressie from Elaine - her homemade cornflakes cookies and a CD (she know i love music) :)
Pressie from Sasha & Mott - a handmade bag.
my younger sil and hub's sister bought me this Charles and Keith's bag.
In about a week, all the somebodies in the kidlit world will be basking in glow of all the really big somebodies at the 2010 SCBWI National Winter Conference in New York.
Sadly, I am STILL a nobody.
Therefore, it's time for another pity party. (FYI, you can see our first pity party here, which I only hosted on my LJ blog. This time I'm hosting here as well.) Please come join me, all you lovely nobodies! This week we will be sitting on our couches at home, eating bon bons while we allow small sighs (and even a few tears) to escape as we think about all the fun we are missing.
And, of course, at my pity parties I like all of us to know exactly what we are missing. So, here's all the links I could find, so we can weep and wail together.
The Official 2010 SCBWI Winter Conference Website: the official place we can check in to see what the somebodies have planned. The SCBWI Official Blog: here we can get up-to-the-minute info on everything we are missing. Twitter Search: in case you want to follow the somebodies tweeting about the fine time they are having while we are left at home. The Conference Schedule: so we can know at any given hour what the somebodies are learning without us. The Faculty: all the really big somebodies
I hope you'll all show up to my pity party. There WILL be awards, you know! If you don't believe me, check out our first official Pity Party awards. (Sure, they are useless, nobody awards, but they are OUR useless, nobody awards.)
Those were good times. Good times.
Anyway, check in anytime this week and leave a comment about what you are particularly upset about missing. As for me, gee. I would really really really like to be there to hear Libba Bray and Jane Yolen speak (Jane Yolen, if you must know, is a late addition and isn't on the schedule, but you'll hear all about it if you check out SCBWI's blog). That and I'd like to see New York at least once before I die. So I'm totally whining about the fact that the conference is in NY. *pouts*
Today mark i am another year older, title said it all, that is how "OLD" i am. Hopefully it's another year "wiser" but not body getting "wiser". LOL
Last night i had a great night out with my girlfriends, they celebrate my birthday. This year it happen my chinese calendar birthday fall on yesterday, it just one day apart from my actual birthday, so this year i got double celebration. :)
We went to Monte's @ Bangsar Shopping Centre for dinner. It had been sometime since i last went there. We had a great time, eating, chatting, kapoing, laughing, camwhoring, all feel "young" again! hahahah
view of the restaurant....
had some Patchi chocolate before our dinner....yum yum...
soup - chicken soup and farmer soup (all is vege, that why it call farmer soup)
salmon salad....
calamari rings...
bun goes with the soup...
baked potatoes skin, previosly i love this, but i don't know why this time it taste so "curry" inside.
black pepper chicken chop for sharing....
Mix Combo - LOBSTER and steak!! Ahem! You all must thought this will be my main course?? NO!!!! Find the answer at the last pictures. :)
cod fish!! This is so so yummy!! two thumbs up!
Aglio Olio
this is my pasta, clear sauce with clams....i remember when the last i dine there, they use to put a lot white wine, now become clear soup??? Taste still not too bad.
pasta marinara
tender and juicy lamb shank!!!
Tada!!!! My Black Sesame Birthday Cake!!!!!! It taste so yummy and soft. When you eat the cake it's like eating "tong yuen" with black sesame filling. Something new to me. :) Thanks for the girls and boy getting this "unique" cake for me... And look at the candles!!!!!! I know i'm old, but no need to do this to me...very shy.
my best buddy - vivivan, organiser for this birthday dinner. :) Thanks vivian!
"are you sure you want to put so many candles for me??????"
They sing really loud in a "busy and romantic" restaurant, make me so "paiseh", so old still sing and blow candles and cut cake. LOL
must post for the camera cutting the cake.
finally...there is a group pictures, all my best girlfriend.
do you think two of us look alike? Even my this girlfriend said when she saw me she think i look a lot like her. She is my long old friend, we use to work in same company then become close friend, then when i become mummy, i still don't know what blogging is, she is the one that taught me on how to take care babies and give me a lot advice, always come to my house and visit me. Now two of us always busy with our own kids, i'm glad that she can join us last night, i have not see her for so long, but we still keep in touch. I always call her my sister, because i don't have a sister.
Another group pictures. Here is the answer on who is having that big plate of "LOBSTER AND STEAK!!!" The only guy in the picture. LOL
While i'm enjoy my dinner, enjoy my "me" time, my two boys "sadly" waiting for me at home. When i reach home about 10pm+, they still awake, waiting for me, when they saw me, they ask me "where did you go mummy? why you come back so late?" Adoi!! Guilty? Feel bad? My mum told me this morning, last night she called, my sons pick up the call, my mum ask where am i , they answer in sad tone " i don't know where mummy go, no come back. :("
Tonight i will celebrate with my three princes, we will go out for dinner. :)
Thanks again for the warm birthday wishes, lovely gifts, dinner, sms, msn. I feel so loved! This year i received some really meaningful gifts, i shall blog about my gifts in another post. :) Thanks everyone. (is it getting older can get more gifts and more surprise???) LOL
