second childhood…or childhood dream

come true?

Hahahaha, I asked a train set from Kris for

Christmas.  I dunno why, but I have always

wanted a train set since I was young.

Though toys weren’t scarce when I was a

kid (we had our share of Barbies, G.I. Joes,

Transformers, et cetera), asking for a train

set from my single-parent-father seemed

too much then.

Now, these things have affordable versions

already.  Add the fact that I finally got to

ride the Shinkansen, this Japanese train set

is just sooo perfect!  There are available

parts pa that we can make the tracks

bigger/wider and have different loops —

so, there are many stuff to look forward to

this joy-investment. Whooooopeeeee!

Thanks, hon!

Aside:  beside me is the “flame lamp” I

wanted for a long time now.  Shey and I

saw it in one store in 168 (Divisoria) and I

fell in love with it — ang cute na parang

pang Olympics kasi eh; minus the real fire,

of course!  However, it is honestly useless;

thus, I never bought so for myself.

Thank you soooo much, GP and Mel, plus

Shey, for getting me this for

TY-Token/Christmas!  Another childish

dream come true!

Gosh, second childhood na nga talaga

siguro….just rationalizing para dehins

lang obvious!

Hahahahahaha!

Hmmm, between Spiral and Circles, the latter seemed better for me.  I had high expectations for Spiral, but was disappointed sa variety, presentation, and arrangement ng food.  Parang maraming japanese food…pero kalat-kalat na buffet tables sila.  Kulang din ng tags, so most of the time, i wasn’t sure what I was getting. At least, happy ang dessert selection nila.  I am actually more satisfied with it than Manila Penn’s Chocolate Buffet (which until now I cannot believe walang giant chocolate fountain!).

All these aside, the reunion with good friends, chismisan, and political talk was worth the trip.  Grabe ang haba ng usapan that almost 1am na kami nag-hiwa-hiwalay!  I meeshya’all!

Wasn’t keen on watching this. Mr. Jericho Rosales as half-Spanish and Ms. Anne Curtis as pure indio…really, how can we believe that?!

Oh well, humor Kris.

First 15 minutes of the film, I just wanna leave the theater na — it’s so formula-ic that you already know what will happen the rest of the movie eh. Surely in that one love scene mabubuntis. Nabuntis nga! Surely madi-discover ang sobrang tagong pagbubuntis ni Feliza. Ayun, as if on cue talaga sa tummy, biglang dinugo scene! Surely sa tagal ng tiis and seeming matatapos na pag-hihirap ni Celso, mamamatay yan. Namatay nga — walang saysay na pagkakamatay pa! Hay!

Overall, the movie is like a high school play of the spanish era. The lines and the way they are said are so like in a play din — parang recital, full delivery, may pattern, may kasamang haplos-haplos sa kausap while being said. Also, puro black-out din for scene changes — wala man lang good transitions that can be done on film! Ang daming OA din na parang the required big movements on stage sila — eh since film nga, ayun OA talaga ang dating.

I can imagine Baler on stage — main set is the church; front part is a bahay kubo for the indoor scenes; and the other side is a garden for the ‘tagpuan’ scene. Then, they execute the same actions and lines. Perfect na…and I think way better pa.

Now, as for Ms. Curtis. Yeah, she was good; but due to her looks, she is, for me, a miscast.

WHEREFORE, I don’t endorse/recommend this movie.

photo and synopsis from: http://showbiznest.blogspot.com/2008/12/baler-is-upcoming-official-entry-of.html

Synopsis: Baler is a tale of an overwhelming love of a young Filipina named Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis) and Celso Resurrecion (Jericho Rosales), a Spanish-Filipino soldier, set in the backdrop of 1898 wartime action between a 57-man Rifle Batallion of the Spanish military and the Filipino forces, more popularly known as the Seige of Baler.

Feliza is the beautiful daughter of Nanding (Phillip Salvador), who’s a member of therebel movement. This is the very reason why she and Celso have to keep their love a secret.

Nanding, whose primary goal is to completely wipe out the Spanish soldiers stationed in the town of Baler, can never accept Celso, a half- Indio, half Spanish soldier who chooses to serve the enemies more than the Filipino insurgents who are struggling and fighting for their independence, their freedom.

Feliza is in love with the man her father despises but who and what could stop the two young people who are madly in love with each other?

While we are drawn to the endearing story of a classic love that knows no time, place and race, we are also glided into the historic past to take a peek on what transpired inside the walls of the church of Baler where the last Spanish contingent (who are not aware that the war had actually ended), heroically defended Baler against the Filipino forces for 337 long and grueling days.

While Baler is a story of conflict, betrayal, suffering, self-preservation, selfishness,obstinacy, and self-interest, it is also a story of heroism, courage, love of freedom, patriotism,endurance, chivalry, humanity and above all, it also tells about a noble story of love in time of war— the story of Feliza and Celso.

The movie also stars Phillip Salvador, Baron Geisler, Bernard Palanca, Carlo Aquino, Niki Bacolod, DJ Durano, Joel Torre, Mark Bautista, Michael de Mesa, and Ryan Eigenmann.

Ria-isms on October 9…

1.That is precisely what the pre-nup stands for:I have no interest in any of Kris’ properties nor debts before the wedding.

2. Worried for transportation for my barkada as we got tons of errands tomorrow and for my family’s use on the day of the wedding; and knowing I got nothing to depend on in Laoag, I really had van rental in mind.Despite jotting down the dates needed and the itineraries, magulo pa rin daw ako.Sigh, I truly do know how else should ‘asking’ be done in Ilocos!Crossing fingers that my rentals would push through.

3. Can’t wait for my thinking people — 0’96 barkada and Barnett will arrive tonight to help out sa final preps tomorrow. At last, thinking and doing people whom I can trust and rely on at walang maririnig na masasakit na salita.

4. Hectic-hectic: meet photographers for briefing; tour photographers at the church and the garden; transfer to Laoag Renzo Hotel in preparation for 096 and Barnett; deliver stuff to Palazzo de Laoag Hotel; look at preps in Sta. Monica Garden sa Sarrat  [i want geena silk sa super bare ceiling kasi --- idea from the photo taken during the Marcos-Araneta wedding (see photo)]; sundo sa airport.Sigh, the whole day black out din yesterday, ang daming computer-ables na hindi ko nagawa.Conspiracy na ‘to talaga eh!

The bare garden ceiling…

The inspiration….

Our outcome…pwede na rin!