jun.anteola

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This video gave me goose bumps.

Yes, they aren’t just back on track. With Arnel Pineda, they are a new act altogether. From viewing and listening to this interview, it is pretty obvious that the group is very optimistic and excited, have gotten their energy anew, and is making magic once more. If I may point one difference Pineda brings to it, it’s youth. Or his youthful vibe and candid demeanor. Die hard Steve Perry fans who refuse to accept may keep insinuating that it’s not the same. Of course, it ISN’T the same. Journey has been REBORN.

After Charice Pempengco, she has expressed interest in having the new Journey vocalist, Arnel Pineda on it. I am thrilled, Ellen is recognizing that there is a huge amount of talent waiting to be tapped here in the Philippines. She isn’t the first to say so, of course. But I don’t mean to be overbearing, as I am also aware that it isn’t just Filipino artists being discovered through means never before imagined. Charice was spotted on Korean tv, Pineda on YouTube. And a multitude of non-Filipinos becoming instant sensations, too. The world is indeed getting smaller.

It happens that Pinoys are very enthusiastic denizens of the internet. We love to keep in touch, and it’s a cheap medium most can readily afford. It is creative. And it spreads fast. Hence, Happy Slip, the legendary CPDRC inmates dancing Thriller, the viral Renaldo Lapuz on American Idol 7th Season, the infamous Binibining Pilipinas Q and A, and the Papaya Song dance craze which got to Good Morning America.

Who else did I miss?

Here’s the Ellen deGeneres Show’s feature on Arnel.

I wonder if it qualifies as one other Cinderella story, but Arnel Pineda’s discovery by Journey’s lead guitarist Neal Schon is one seemingly impossible dream turned into evident reality, Pineda might still be pinching himself to check if it’s all true.

When the rock band announced its inclusion of Pineda, a Filipino, as its new lead singer, much speculation arose, mostly nitpicking from die-hard fans of Steve Perry, Journey’s original lead. Quite inevitable as the former’s voice has much similarity to that of Perry. While yet to be introduced to the core of their fans in the US via a live concert and an upcoming album, the group’s new lineup has received remarkable reception, meriting two encores at the Festival Viña del Mar 2008 in Chile, one of (if not the) biggest music festivals in Latin America. Hopefully, it’s a good sign.

… and if to see is to believe, go check this video of the renewed group doing Steve Perry’s signature song, Don’t stop Believing.

The complete set of performance videos are on this blog and at the Canal13 site, while very good photos are posted on this forum.

No, this isn’t about somebody hearing wedding bells. Though I had very recently been part of two wedding entourages, in the former as ninong(!) (sponsor) and the latter as abay(groomsman). But far from it.

Until my next proper post, I’d like to leave a HAPPY NEW YEAR greeting for all. Much like everybody else, I am grateful for all the goodness that came with the previous year, and I wish for better things to come in the new. And most of all, I pray that LOVE, unconditional and pure, will reign in our hearts. The way our children love.

Here is something old, from 1980 in fact. From the 3rd Metro Pop Festival (whatever happened to it?) . As kids, we used to sing this song by heart. Listen and enjoy. Continue reading this entry »

Here’s part of the dialogue:

MD: Susan, I know for a lot of women the word menopause has negative connotations. They hear aging, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire…
Susan: Before you go any further, can I check those diplomas? I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines…

thanks to migs for the excerpt.

I am sure this episode of Desperate Housewives was alluding to the Nursing Boards brouhaha in the country, but to say it like the entire show (Meaning producers, writers, directors, and yes, actors(Teri Hatcher). And whoever has anything to do with it) means to undermine the capabilities of Filipino and Philippine-trained medical professionals is more revolting than Susan/Teri’s harassment by the idea of menopause.

Even for satire.

For a show with an international following, including desperate housewives in the Philippines and such who feel like they can actually empathize with the show’s femme fatales, I believe they have an obligation to take into account the cultural sensitivities of their audience. I’m not being balat sibuyas (onion-skinned; overly sensitive). As much as I can, I try to comprehend nuances of American culture, too. Or any foreign culture, for that matter. If only to survive watching what they convey as true and universal, and modern.

I am offended, because I learned my profession in the Philippines, and I refuse to be told that all my hard work and sacrifice amounts to nothing more than mediocre, if not questionable. Specially if these impressions come from those who fail to see from my end, or at least check, and don’t know what they are talking about. My textbooks came from the US of A, if saying so will be of help to the Desperate Housewives’ understanding.

I can’t even speak for the millions of Filipino medical workers in America and all over the world, whose professionalism and skill have made them prime catch. And what of the thousands of foreign students who come in droves to train in the Philippines?

So mind rephrasing what you have just said, Teri Hatcher?

Or you can say sorry.

Pahabol: I had this as a comment somewhere in Multiply, I’d like to repost here

i am just disappointed at some who easily dismiss the issue as something common and expected out of a comedy show, that it’s alright. some even argue that we deserve it, being biased ourselves. some find it OA and immature for reacting to a line taken out of context, that it was wrong to see it as a generalization by the show.

well, if one is only to read it as it is, ” some med school in the Philippines“, it does seem harmless, legit even. in the sense that it only alluded to “some” (such as perhaps the diploma mills). it also doesn’t hit us Filipinos as a race, referring only to medical schools. and because that line came from a distressed character.

HOWEVER, viewing and listening to the clip gives one another picture. the same line could take another meaning. and it did. i reviewed the clip several times, and that’s how it came across… it was a sweeping generalization about those trained in Philippine schools… Filipino or not, doctors, nurses, or any other allied health professions. even if it came from a distressed Susan.

I’ve been tagged by Chuck, and before I run out of bloggies to pass it to, I better do this STAT. I’ve got a few more pending. There’s one that I had promised to do by Independence Day, but other things got in the way. And then I only noticed recently (through my Incoming Links section) that Jim and Jonas had tagged me as well. I’ve answered a similar tag earlier though. There are more, but those have passed their time, I guess.

The supposed title to this is “Ten Things I Hate“, but I find the term hate too strong. Let’s just say things I don’t agree with, or least like.

FOOD: Most fresh water fish. They stink, and I don’t know why but the smell makes me feel like I’m eating either dirt or rust. Not that I’ve eaten those before. And I specially don’t like it when fish is stewed/ in broth. What’s the point? Take a fish out of the water, kill it and put it back to float? And have you tried ostrich meat? It was like eating cardboard. Curiosity got me trying carabeef before, it’s pungent. (parang hindi nag deodorant si Enteng Kalabaw)

FRUITS: Tiesa. The color, the texture, smell, the taste…. everything is wrong about it. Marang. It makes me nauseous. It is sweet, but it smells like overripe… well, fruit. While most people abhor durian, I don’t. I don’t even find the odor offensive.

VEGGIES: I used to skip the veggies, but since I had to go on a diet I’ve learned to like them. It’s an acquired taste, I suppose, but only if they’re steamed, and stir-fried. My father is Ilocano but I can never understand his appetite for dinengdeng. The soup base looks like someone washed his dirty laundry with it. I know I’m missing something when I see him savor what he makes, enough to feed six, in one sitting. I can only name a few vegetables that I haven’t learned to like… alugbati and saluyot come to mind. And that gourd they make into loofahs? (I have forgotten the local name. Patola, it is, says Antuken) The mere mention of these makes me shudder.

PEOPLE: Backstabbers. Fair weather friends. People who only think of benefiting from a relationship. A few incompetent slowpokes at city hall/ in civil service. Social climbers who have no clue over where they’re at and what they’re doing. People who disturb/invade my peace and privacy. I am not a loner, just autistic self-contained, and I value my personal space. But I’m friendly.

EVENT/SITUATION/INCIDENT: When I’m made to do things and I’m not prepared. I like to take my time looking into details. But it seems that many achievements I’m most proud of came about when I’m rushed to beat a deadline. I don’t know why.

TV SHOWS/MOVIES: I’m quoting Azrael on this, “Wowowee, just coz of the host. I firmly believe he’s a dick.” Then there’s Kokey. He/it looks like a moving piece of sh**. Deal or No Deal, because of Kris Aquino. She’s irritating when she wants the attention all to herself. I don’t know why she is hosting? Just look at the big difference between her and Edu Manzano in Pilipinas, Game KNB? Not much talent there. She just thrives on intriga, either about her or her unwilling and helpless contestants. She and Ruffa must like dinengdeng. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, because of the Oompah Loompah. I wanted to puke.

MUSIC: The cursing and profanity in rap. Country music, except for LeeAnn Rhymes (she’s cute, and I love her songs). It makes me feel like I’m in a pub, alone. So alone.

HOUSEHOLD CHORES: Everything.

THINGS AROUND THE WORLD: War, and all acts of violence. In this day and age, when man should have already learned the lessons of wars past, we’re still at it. Because some still feel supreme, as others feel threatened. Because even as the world becomes smaller, we fail to recognize that our differences should make life enriched, rather than conflicted. All forms of abuse. Drug trafficking. Third world woes.

And then there are the likes of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Be afraid. Be very afraid for our children.

THINGS ABOUT MYSELF: I procrastinate. I can get over-confident with myself, of what I can do. And then expect too much, so that when I don’t measure up, I get extremely disappointed and frustrated, losing interest altogether. That should explain why I have a lot of unfinished business in my to-do list. Also, my temper flares up when I’m overwhelmed. When I’m in such a mood, beware… I lash out if people talk to me, if not give them the look.

 

Now, the fun part. Since lately I’ve been bloghopping (and made friends with) over fellow Bisaya bloggers’ pages, I’m spreading it to them…

Tinuod nga Botbot, Geda, Radueriel, Doc Norwin, Nep, Michael, GirlfromDipolog, Chase , Carlota and Jerry. Do as you please, guys… write as is, or in Bisaya. That would be interesting.

…ba’t nyo kasi nilalait si Britney?

Did you hear THAT?! DEAL WITH HER…errr… HIM???

I saw The Simpsons Movie recently, thanks partly to its hype, and because there wasn’t any better choice at the local cinema. I often catch the series on tv, and usually enjoy Homer’s idiocy. But an hour and a half of it was just overkill, and I was more annoyed than pleased. Because I was expecting it to be a comedy feature, I find it uncanny that my laughs were few and far between. I knew it was supposed to be satire without trying to be, but the funnies and the plot were predictable, the ending cliche.

Through Homer’s brashness, the story unfolds to near catastrophe, threatening to break up the family and endangering the whole town of Springfield. But he soon recovers after an epiphany and saves the town the Bruce Willis way.

I’d rather go back to watching the shorties, or gawk , if not laugh my a** off at Viktor & Rolf’s creations on them:

The scans above were stumbled upon at Painfully Hip, which has pictures of the Simpsons featured in the August 2007 issue of Harper’s Bazaar. The blog even took pains in putting the Simpsons spreads together with the original runway photos. Click on the first picture to see these. (Painfully Hip in turn got them from ohnotheydidnt, which has clearer pictures.)

La lune, trop blême, (the moon, too white)
pose un diadème (puts a tiara)
sur tes cheveux roux. (on your red hair)
La lune, trop rousse, (the moon, too red)
de gloire éclabousse (with glory splashes)
ton jupon plein de trous. (your ragged underskirt)
La lune, trop pâle, (the moon, too pale)
caresse l’opale (caress the opal)
de tes yeux blasés. (of your indifferent eyes)
Princesse de la rue, (princess of the streets)
sois la bienvenue (be welcome)
dans mon coeur brisé. (in my broken heart)…

- lyrics taken from Complainte de la Butte, by Rufus Wainwright

There are instances when we are caught unaware, we never see things coming. We may half expect but hope they never happen, because we have preconceived notions against certain experiences, people and things. In our prejudice, we try to veer away. As much as we can, we try not to associate with these. But then by chance they do come, and they become part of us.

Such instances when the more you try to find reasons to avoid, the harder it gets to dismiss. As we reach within our hearts, we learn to understand, let go of bias, to forgive and reconcile, and see beyond what the eyes can show, and appreciate how differences may complement the seeming perfection we are familiar and comfortable with.

Such as falling in love.

Click on the player to listen to the song quoted above.