AI 2011 Begins!

It's inevitable, American Idol fans and non-fans will compare the previous judges with Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. As an AI fan, I honestly think that the new judges are credible and worthy of the job because they themselves are icons of the world music scene, the details of which are unnecessary here because we all know who they are.

As I devoted two precious hours of my time last night to watch the premier, I found myself wanting for more. The contestants are always the same highly diversified group - from the deathly boring to the insanely uncontrollable crazy - with really good singers in between. The very Pinoy story-telling of miseries and difficulties of a number of contestants is still there, and yes they do get to Hollywood! I particularly liked the story AND singing of Melinda Ademi, whose family moved to the US from Kosovo as war refugees. It was heartbreaking but not too cheesy.

Also a personal favorite is Devyn Rush, a New York singing waitress. She's got an awesome, soothingly powerful voice. I like the fact that she's cool and down to earth and takes the praises AND criticisms of the judges calmly, unlike the others who go overboard on screaming. I'd definitely see how far she goes into the competition.

Going back to the judges, I think they were great. Steven Tyler is the man of the hour. He is a pro at saying NO creatively and shows great appreciation for the truly talented. He sings with the contestants and gives out animal-like sounds when he's not liking them. It's funny and gives the show a fresh vibe despite the routine format.

I was never a J Lo fan. Sure, I watched her movies, but I never really liked her songs and dancing, and sometimes her outfit. But tonight slowly made me come full circle. I love her! She looks amazing, she speaks from the heart, and she knows what she's doing. Although she has difficulty rejecting semi-talented contestants for now, it's expected that she will learn how to deal with them as the show progresses. Here comes the comparison part: her compassion is so much like Paula Abdul's, but she doesn't talk like her blood reeks of sedatives. J Lo's comments are clearer and more direct to the point.

It was weird to see Randy in Simon Cowell's place in the panel, but currently it's the best arrangement possible, I'm sure you'll all agree. He's the same truthful, sometimes painfully constructive guy, and the way he'll handle the entire judging panel is yet another exciting thing to look forward to this season.

American Idol is on Star World Thursdays and Fridays live at 6 pm with a primetime episode at 8pm.

Just as Human

I have recently been watching Pinoy Big Brother Double Up because of the quite stir that it's making in my everyday environment - the commute to work (especially in the trains), the patients, the nurses and other employees - even my husband got hooked.

I especially like this episode when Sharon Cuneta went in to bring the housemates food.



Note that in 5:30, Sharon begins to gradually sweat until a stream is visible on her upper chest. It's not a very pretty sight, but it happens. Some people just get sweaty when they are in a stressful situation, especially when the spotlight is on him or her. For Sharon, being the center of attention may come as second nature, but this is a different environment. The housemates are almost celebrities in their own light, but at the same time are very starstruck fans who can't help but scrutinize her.

For me, the spotlight thing happened when I promised God, in front of friends and family, that I'd spend the rest of my life with Noy. But of course.



Isn't it comforting to realize that celebrities, even someone as big as Sharon (pun not intended) are just as human as you and me?

A Day of Firsts

Last tuesday, September first, was my first day at my new workplace. I decided to move because it's a lot nearer to home; this way Noy and I won't have to live in a clinic anymore. There's so much to say about my new workplace, it is literally new because it's revamped and made over. I don't know what the room used to be, but it sure looks cool, comfortable & quite stylish with its high ceilings and wood details which gives it a modern rustic feel to it. I kinda like the way they made the ancient ceiling fans blend with the new look well. And they do make the room much cooler by scattering the draft from the airconditioning units.

I especially like this view of the garden from my table (which I share with the outgoing doctor - or is it the other office's? - haha). It's a readily accessible breath of fresh air when I need it. In case I'll be needing it. My plan is to put in some orchids from mama's garden if the boss would approve of it. Right now, it's just all green, but serves the purpose nonetheless.


I have yet to memorize the names of the people I'm going to work with, but so far they're all nice and accommodating, albeit shy. (The next day I understood why - my boss introduced me to the staff as their new boss, which I never expected. It's quite a complicated story, and I'd rather not divulge it here no matter how much I wanted to.)

Since a lot about this work is confidential, let's just say I did some extra work on this day. I didn't mind because 1) my lunch is free (what a way to spend my first day!) and 2) it's field work that takes me much closer to home, which cuts back my transportation expense about 90%. This extra work took me to the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, where we vaccinated their employees. I caught a glimpse of this exciting new hotel in the Ortigas area, and enjoyed the work there. Unfortunately we didn't get to see & experience their services well, save for the egg sandwiches, but I'm sure looking forward to their next doses. =)


Since Crowne Galleria was already near home, I was excited at the thought of having more free time before dinner since we were done at about 4. Passing through Shang Plaza, I imagined myself reclining on the day bed to snooze when I realized I left my keys at home. Noy isn't coming back until the morning, and my brother is attending bar review and won't be home until 10.

This is the first time I ever had problems with a key (I guess that's what living in a clinic could do to someone huh?), and since I needed cash too I decided to line up at the BDO ATM there while I think about my options. After 2 solid hours, 4 long-playing attempts (read: ultra loooong lines) at obtaining cash, and an episode of a matrix-like thing appearing on the ATM screen (really scary I thought my card got busted or something), I am still cashless at 6 pm.

Tired, hungry and with feet so painful they'd leave me had they been detachable, I went up the cinema and had a brilliant idea - watch a movie! That'll kill a lot of time and when it's over, dear brother will be on his way home. Luckily, the BPI ATM was kind enough to let me have some of MY cash (I am sooo opening an account next week! I am sick and tired of BDO already!) that I was able to grab dinner from McDonald's and buy a ticket for one to The Time Traveler's Wife.

It was my first time to eat the usually fun to eat cheeseburger by my lonesome in the cinema lobby (Shang only allows food in their Snackbar to be brought in). Interestingly, it was also my first time to watch a movie ALONE. For some reason, it was only this late that I realized it wasn't scary at all. In fact, I can't remember why I never watched a movie alone before. But finally, I'm a big girl!

I've never read The Time Traveler's Wife, but I was intrigued, fascinated even, by the trailer and the reviews. So there I was, enjoying myself and feeling good & bad at the same time. It's such a sad movie that felt heavy on the chest (but I'd rather not tolerate it) but then, it's happy too because it's possible to physically be with a loved one who already died, albeit "on strict schedule" and "for a very limited time only".

I hate quoting Kris Aquino, but I agree with her hands down, that when you lose someone, you'd kill for 5 days, or 5 minutes, heck even 5 seconds, of time again with that someone. Just to be with that someone. I've never lost someone I love, and that is one of my greatest fears. This movie just reinforces my daily aim to let my husband and family know that I love them in any possible way - a kiss, a hug, tweet, SMS, email - any acceptable way. If I do get to time travel, this I won't mind doing for the first time every time for the rest of my life.

It's Never Too Late

One of the girls at the clinic is wearing her engagement ring for the first time today - after three years of marriage. Sounds funny, right?

You see, theirs was sort of a hurried wedding. They both wanted to get married already but he could not propose because he wasn't financially ready. Meanwhile the girl was on the verge of frustration, already wanting a child of her own. They did get married, ceremony and all, just to get it over with. There was no proposal.
Three years and a baby boy later, the husbands gingerly finds a ring that will suit the marriage bands a prinicipal sponsor gave them as gifts. I think it's just sweet. It's a thoughtful way of showing he's determined to make things "formal"and that he really meant to marry her after all.

Which reminds of this lovely movie I saw on DVD a few weeks back -

Harvey (Dustin Hoffman) meets Kate (Emma Thompson) at the time when everything seemed to fall apart for Harvey and when everything seemed to be too stagnant for Emma. In their 60's and feeling the end of it all, they start a friendship that's controversial at the start but poignant and endearing as days went by. They eventually change each other's lives for the better without them knowing it.

I especially love the part when Harvey bravely takes the microphone away from her daughter's stepfather when it was time for the father of the bride speech at her wedding. It was a triumphant moment for Harvey after the many failures he's been through.

It's never too late to start anew and strive to change for the better.

Noy proposed to me at a time that I thought was a little too early. My engagement ring was quite unique in that it had little "waves" coming out of the spot in which the diamond was set. I loved it and flaunted it quite a lot. When it was time to look for wedding rings though, we could not find a design which would fit the engagement ring. We could not go for something custom-made because a) we didn't have much time preparing for the wedding and b) we didn't have the budget for something custom-made.

So my mother-in-law, who had a jewelry business herself, had my engagement ring re-shaped so I could wear it with my wedding band. I said goodbye to the wavy ring with eyes tightly shut. I miss it still, but I know that something had to be done for the better.

I will probably have it reshaped yet again, under no one's preferences but mine, once I have the money for it. I can wait. After all, it's never too late.

Five is Not Enough

While everyone was clamoring for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince tickets, we lined up at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to watch one of the movies competing at Cinemalaya Cinco. Since all competing movies seemed very good and since we had very little time in our hands, we decided on Sanglaan just because it was shot in Pritil Market. This was where Mama bought most of our needs when we were living in Tondo, Manila.

Sanglaan has quite a number of closely connected characters each with his or her own life issues, and the Sanglaan (pawnshop) is the common place surrounded by these issues. Or was it the other way around? I'm not good at reviewing movies (if I'm good at reviewing anything at all!) but it's one of those seemingly simple movies that end up not quite fully but you leave the theater so satisfied you can't wait to tell your friends.

In our case, we were sad (we look happy in this photo though, haha!) because we wanted to see the other movies but we still had to meet a friend up for coffee.

Kristine brought us to Chocolat, where the simple menu is lavishly screaming of good chocolate. Since we were very full from an Almon Marina Dinner, Noy and I shared a slice of their sugar free chocolate mousse and a cup of cappuccino. Both were smooth and light but decadent at the same time. It's perfect for an after-dinner conversation. Everything is reasonably-priced too.


Bitin (left hanging), I know. I really don't know what's up with our crazy schedules. We seem to be in hurry all weekend long :( I do believe there's room for an update. Who knows, I might just get a day pass to watch 5 movies and savor the sinful items over at Chocolat afterwards next weekend. Keeping my fingers crossed...