Meme: Page 123

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Mark the fifth sentence. Pick up the next three sentences and post. (In other words, post sentence nos. 6-8 on page 123.)
4. Acknowledge the book and the author.
5. Tag 3 people in turn.


The superlative degree is used to compare three or more persons or things. Add est to form the superlative. If the adjective ends in e, just add r for the comparative and st for the superlative.

As I've told you, Carl, this is gonna be one corny tag for me. The nearest books I have around are English books for my lessons. Tingnan mo naman, the post above was about "Comparison of Adjective". Corny, di ba? Hehehe...

I'm not really much of a book reader; movie person kasi talaga ako. But there are light-reading books that catch my fancy from time to time. No novels for me, though. La ako tiyaga for it.

Tagging Acy, April, & Ate Yang!

Goodbye, Noreen!

Da Bin Jung
March 4, 1980 - February 10, 2007

Korean Actress Da Bin Jung died on February 10, 2007. The police found her lifeless body in the bathroom of her boyfriend's aunt's home. They suspect that she committed suicide because she was found hanged using a towel tied around a clothes line.

According to friends, they went out drinking the night before with her boyfriend. They went home by 3 AM. By the time her boyfriend woke up, she was already dead. The police believed that she died between 3:30-3:50 AM.

Aside from that, what confirms the suicide was the last post she made in her journal entitled "Ending".

I thought I was going to die because it was so frustrating.
I kept getting mad with no reason..and it was driving me crazy.
I was so tired..as if I would always get nauseous..
My head hurt so much, I cried.
I almost became a slave to bad-temper and moodiness.
Lauging, then crying..it was enough to drive me crazy.
I finally began to think that I was losing myself..
And I began to lose touch.
Suddenly, like being electrocuted..Suddenly, I became peaceful.
The lord came.
He gives me strength, he strengthens my foolish self..
He teaches me strength, and makes me realize things that are close to me.
He raises me up when I was about to give up..
And he tells me that it's now alright.
I'm alright.

However, the police are still not ruling out the possibility of foul play. According to the same friends she went out with, the post on the journal showed conflicting ideas. Also, she was very excited about her upcoming projects. She wished to choose her works carefully. DBJ's family, who was opposed to an autopsy before, agreed on a postmortem analysis that would finally shed a light on the true cause of her death.

Pinoys knew DBJ as Noreen. She became part of our consciousness through her series Attic Cat (with Rae-won Kim) and My Sister-in-Law is 19 Years Old. She also starred in the movie He Was Cool. I liked her a lot!

So, goodbye, Noreen! May you find the peace you are looking for in the next life...

My Mega Valentine Two

My Mega Valentine Two started late and slow even though Sharon opened with an upbeat song. She went on stage by herself without any dancers to back her up. Maybe due to the fact that the show was an hour and a half late, the opening was not well-received by the audience. Or maybe it was just because the song sounded unfamiliar. It was only during her "Isn't It Romantic?" medley that the crowd started to warm up. We sang along with her. That first act felt very intimate and could've worked better in a smaller venue. Besides, Mega wasn't in her bubbly and lively self then. As it turned out, she got sick days before the concert.

However, the show picked-up when Pops Fernandez entered the stage with her 80's-90's dance hits medley. Even with no back-up dancers to accompany her, she was able to put the audience on their feet. From then on, the fun and entertainment didn't stop. Sharon also started to warm up; cracking jokes every now and then as she always does in her shows. (Sumusundot siya ng nakakatawang pangangampa paminsan-minsan.) Apo Hiking Society's medleys were also a blast! Napaluha kami sa kakatawa.

The show had its memorable moments. First was Mega's letter to Pops. It was so heartfelt and touching that Pops (and some of the audience) couldn't help shedding some tears. She said that it was the best appreciation she got from anybody. True enough, Sharon wrote the letter so beautifully that any heart could melt even if it wasn't about them. Mapapa-awww ka talaga! (Sige na nga, like ko na rin si Pops. *wink wink*) Second, Vilma Santos' appearance in the audience. S'ympre, laking pasasalamat ni Mega at nandun ang idol niya para panoorin siya. She and Pops reminisced the times when they used to look inside Ate Vi's backyard just so they could get a glimpse of her. (Stalker ba ang mga ito?!) Back then, magkalapit lang ang mga bahay nila in Dasma. Then Shawie made one of the funniest remarks that night. "Alam ko, Ate Vi, ikaw not just once but twice... Pero wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska!" Humagalpak kami sa kakatawa sa mga salitang 'yun! She apologized afterwards saying that it was a part of her job. Third, the wonderful medleys that Sharon and her guests did. Better selections than the first MMV concert. (Sharon and Pops's "Where Do I Begin" duet was to die for! Ganda talaga! Sana isama ni Shawie sa next album.) They truly fitted the ocassion. Maski kami ni Biboy ay napaluha sa ibang awiting kanilang kinanta. Pang-Valentines talaga, ika nga. (Of course, what added to the emotions was the fact that it was my birthday and our anniversary that night. Feeling tuloy namin, hinaharana nila kami. Hehehe.)

Kahit late nagsimula ang palabas, bumawi naman si Mega! She gave us a two hour and a half show that ended at 12:00 AM. Nag-alisan na 'yung iba sa pag-aakalang tapos na 'yung show after singing "To Love Again". But then, tuloy pa rin si Mega ng pagkanta ng dalawang awitin pa. Her final song was "Friends", a fitting tribute to all her fans who supported her - she'll be celebrating her 30th year in the business. (Aba, magkasing-edad kami ng career niya! ) According to her, it was the first time she ever sang it in a concert.


MMV2 was even better (and memorable) than the first one. I am so glad that we didn't miss this one! (Muntik na!)

Anyway, here is the two-part video I took with Sharon and Apo singing the latter's medley of songs. (Screw you Araneta bouncers!) If I had a bigger memory capacity, I could've recorded more parts. Sayang!


During the concert also, Shawie talked about the duet that she did with her musical director, Louie Ocampo, in passing. It was from the album "Sharon" called "Ewan". Ah, si Louie pala 'yun. Nice! :-)


Shawie, thank you for such a memorable night! T'was a money well spent. What a way to end my birthday and our anniversary!

An Ode to Thee

During the past few years, whenever I get to attend friends's wedding ceremonies, I couldn't help getting misty-eyed. Mostly, it was because of sentimental reasons. Another time has passed. Another journey has began for friends. However, behind it, how I wish that someday, it'd be me and you who'd face the altar someday; proclaiming to the world the feelings we have for each other; promising to be together till the end to one another. It may sound cheesy but that's how love and marriage could get most of the times. Yet, no matter how baduy it may be, it is what most people aspire for - a love to last a lifetime bonded by matrimony.

With a love that's different like ours, I am not sure if we'd ever get to see that day or if it'd be in our lifetime. Let me assure you, though, that we're as good as being married. So, till then, I'd gladly dedicate this song to you. You have asked me if it was okay if you call me yours four years ago so let me give you these two words this time.



In a while, in a word
Every moment now returns
For a while, seen or heard
How each memory softly burns
Facing you who brings me new tomorrows
I thank God for yesterdays
How they led me to this very hour
How they led me to this place...

Every touch, every smile
You have given me in care
Keep in heart, always I'll
Now be treasuring everywhere
And if life should come to just one question
Do I hold this moment true?
No trace of sadness
Always with gladness
"I Do..."

Now a song that speaks of now and ever
Beckons me to someone new
Unexpected, unexplored, unseen
Filled with promise coming through.
In a while, in a word
You and I forever changed
Love so clear, never blurred
Has me feeling wondrous, strange.

And if life should come to just one question
Do I face each moment true?
No trace of sadness,
Always with gladness
"I Do..."

Never with sadness...
Always with gladness...
"I... Do..."

On this day, let me thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for walking out on me when I'd told you that I wanted just to be friends at that moment. Thank you for insisting that you'd rather not be friends if I won't be with you. Thank you for not letting me make the biggest mistake of my life. Thank you for not giving up on me.

I've had four wonderful years with you and am still looking forward to more years.

If we're in a different place or time or in alternate universe, I'd still say "I do..."

Si Manang Sa Sharon

"Guest si Lea sa taping ng Sharon tomorrow. I have only one slot available. I put your name on it. 7:30 ang call time. Text me if you can make it," was the message that I got after coming out of the Huseng Batute Theater. It was from Gigi of Sharonians Online. Buti na lang at hindi niya ko nakalimutang imbitahin. I managed to ask her if she could squeezed Biboy in and she agreed the morning after.
Excitement crept all over me! Lea and Sharon, together? Lea on Sharon? Ay, grabe! Heaven ito! Better than sex talaga! Hahaha!
As expected, Sharon didn't fail to amuse us fans with her funny antics and comedic dialogues. Ika nga ni Biboy, watching her is like watching a stand-up comic. Mega-laugh ka talaga sa mga pinagsasasabi niya off cam. "Sabi ko sa n'yo, masaya rito pag taping, eh. Dami kayong malalaman off cam tungkol sa 'kin," she said while on a break. Her fave jokes are about her ex'es, her weight, and Kiko.

However, s'ympre ang special that day ay si Ms. Lea Salonga. I haven't seen her or watch her that close. She even interacted with the audience from the AFLS group. Nasabi nga ni Acy, "Sarap manood nang malapitan!" She almost cried during Robert Seña, Isay Alvarez, Michael Williams, and Lea's performance of Miss Saigon songs. "Ikaw ba naman manood ng Miss Saigon ng libre sa balcony at hindi pa si Lea ang Kim," she added while reminiscing the day she went to see the play in CCP. Pagkalayo-layo nga raw nila dahil complimentary lang ang ticket mula sa munisipyo ng bayan nila. The MS alumni sang "Sun and Moon" and "Last Night of the World".

The whole show can be summarized as a mini-concert conducted by her brother, Gerard Salonga with the Global Studio Orchestra. During the opening, Sharon and Manang (as what her legion of fans fondly calls her) sang "It Had to be You." It was followed by "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal" to which the audience gladly sang with her. "Oh they remember the song and the movie," Manang blurted out. Sagot naman ang Acy sa tabi namin, "Oo naman! Gusto mo Dear Diary pa, at Pik Pak Boom, eh!" (Incidentally, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal will be showing on QTV11 this Saturday at 9PM. Buti na lang at miss ko na ito! Wala pang new release nito on video.)
Then I answered back, "Next song naman 'Please Naman'."
"Ano 'yun?" Acy asked. Ay, hindi niya naabutan ang kantang iyun. Napahiya naman ako! Lumabas tuloy 'yung edad ko. Hehehe! (Anyway, eto, pakinggan mo ang "Please Naman".)

Afterwards, she sang her Inspired debut single called "Promise Me" followed by her soon to be Fantine song "I Dreamed a Dream". At the end, she and Mega sang "Sana Maulit Muli." Hay, kung lumabas sina Poknat at Bokbok, mas sulit! Hahaha!
During the interview, Sharon fondly remembers how they were together in a film but not exactly together. It was in Captain Barbel where Lea played Tenten's (Herbert Bautista) love interest while she played Darna. "Oy, naging Darna rin ito minsan, " Sharon jokes. "Hahanapin ko nga 'yung picture ko n'un at ikakalat ko!" Then, nagkantiyawan nang ipalabas ang message ni Bistek. "Honestly, he never made his intentions clear before," Lea reminices. "Either that, or I was too naive to realize that he was already courting me." In his My Favorite Show interview though, Bistek said that not admitting to Lea his feelings towards her was his biggest regret until now. He was too torpe back then that every visit he made in their house, he would end up talking to her dad all day.
Sharon thanked Lea for the wonderful rendition of her songs that she did in her Songs from Home concert. "We really didn't do much arrangement on them. They were good the way they are. We believe in the saying, 'If it's not broke, why fix it', right?" (Listen to her "Sharon Cuneta Medley" on My Playlist. Truly magnificent!)
So, yun! T'was an unforgettable night, indeed. Sa sobrang saya ko, nakalimutan kong isipin na baka pwedeng ma-meet siya backstage. Nakibuntot sana kami kay Gigi uli.
Anyway, I hope to meet her on her Uncut concert on the 11th. Excited na ko!
Watch Lea's guesting on Sharon on Sunday after Rated K!

Revisiting Gabriel & Carmina

Even though I have seen some snippets on the news about the upcoming Richard Gutierrez-Angel Locsin starrer, I had no idea about it. I haven't read nor heard anything about it. Until I saw its trailer a week ago. Lambutsingan ever pa lang nina Richard-Angel sa maisan (maisan nga ba 'yun?), huling-huli ko na ang pinaggayahan! But of course, I may be wrong so I did some research on the net. As it turns out, The Promise is based on the same film that one of my favorite films was loosely based on - Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Moreover, the film was made because Annette Gozon-Abrogar fell in love with the same film back in 1991. Kaya naman may-I-ask siya sa taong sumulat rin ng adaptation ng pelikula, Tita Raquel Villavicencio. According to Tita Raquel, The Promise is more based on the book rather than the 1991 movie. While the movie was mostly adapted from the film 1939 film. Bigla akong napaisip -- ito na ang isa mga signs ng pagtanda - nire-remake na ang mga awiting at pelikulang minahal mo nung kabataan mo. Paksyet talaga everchu!


Anyway, the movie I am referring to is Carlos Siguion-Reyna's Hihintayin Kita sa Langit. The first time I saw it was on betamax -- movie shot copy pa! (Even back then, uso na ang pagkopya sa sine. But it's easier to make copies now than before. Putting a copy on betamax would take you as long as the film's running time.) But it didn't stop me from appreciating the film. When the original video came out, buy ako kaagad. Then I bought another copy when it came out in the VHS format. (I wouldn't tell you anymore what great lenghts I had to do just to have the VHS copy. Maski ako gusto ko nang limutin!) Sadly, it hasn't been released on DVD, nor on VCD. Kaya naman nang hagilapin ko pa sa aking koleksyon ngayon, napagtanto ko na napalakayo nga talaga ng kalidad ng VHS sa DVD. When before, we all thought that the said format was fantastic! Hay, so ano pa nga ba ang pwede kong gawin kundi pagtyagaan ang kopyang VHS. As if I have any other choice! (Calling Reyna Films! Kikita pa kayo if you'd release your movies on DVD!)

Above anything else, I fell in love with the film because I was a Richard-Dawn fanatic back then. (Actually, in love muna ako kay Richard bago sa kanila ni Dawn. In love, however, was an understatement. I was obssessed with him! Sino ba naman ang hindi sa mga panahon 'yun?!) But then there were so many things to love about it. First was the arresting shots of the great Romy Vitug of the breath taking Batanes scenery. It was the time when Reyna Films made Pinoys realized that Batanes is a place to die for! That beyond the constantly alarming storms lies a serene and welcoming locale.

Second was the ensemble acting of the four leads, Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Eric Quizon (Allan), and Jackie Lou Blanco (Sandra). Despite the weakness in some scenes of each of the actors, they complimented one another well. Each of the them fits together like a puzzle. Plus the undeniable acting support of Ms. Vangie Labalan as Yaya Dora who was the only witness to the undying passion of Gabriel and Carmina, and Michael de Mesa who made life hell for the couple as Carmina's brother, Milo.

As I was watching it, I realized that there was something chauvinistic about Goma's acting. He was (and, maybe, still is today) the epitome of a Pinoy macho man -- a man who's so passionate in love and in anger. He portrays his characters most of the time like he owns the one he loves. Sobra magmahal sa isang babae pero pag galit, kung makasigaw at makasakit ay akala mo kung sinong hari! Siguro 'yun ang dahilan kung bakit bihira siyang manalo ng awards. Syempre ngayon ko lang napansin 'yun dahil I'm sooooo over him na talaga! Graveh! With Eric naman, hay naku, he screams like a girl! Kung makasigaw talaga ay kala mo bading na nagreregla! The best thing, though, about Richard and Dawn's acting was their transformation from teens to adults. In their teens, hagikgikan ever sila even while in bed. When they finally confessed their feelings for each other years later, they wistfully made love.

The script and the dialogues, which sounded so old-fashioned with its use of the old Tagalog terms (uso 'yun dati), were cheesy but nevertheless, heart-wrecking. Tumatagos sa puso, kumbaga. "Di mo ba ko kayang mahalin mo kahit kaunti lang, kahit kapiraso, kahit tira lamang..." were the words of Sandra to Gabriel when she learned that he is in love with Carmina. (I swear, sasabihin ko rin 'yun kay Richard sa mga panahong nababaliw pa ko sa kanya. But today, neknek niya!) For a 2-hr film, it was well-paced.

Third was the haunting score of Ryan Cayabyab. Idagdag pa ang theme song! Sobrang nakakapangilabot pakinggan ang Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan ni George Canseco. (Theme song sang by Richard Reynoso)

Lastly, who could ever forget the direction of Carlitos? The character's movements seemed to be calculated. They moved from left to right to show their reactions and emotions. It seemed stage yet it was flawlessly captured on screen. Carlitos is also known for his mirror images where one character would be looking in a mirror while talking to another character. I love those artistic shots! They worked absolutely well rather than doing the usual shot by shot.

With that, I promise myself to see The Promise. Not only to see how it would fare to my favorite but to see how Richard and Angel could pull off such adult/mature characters.

The Promise is a joint venture of GMA Films and Regal Films, under the direction of Mike Tuviera. Showing on February 14. Say it again, Feb-yoo-wa-ry 14! Not Feb-ra-ry! Please lang! It's my month so say it properly. :-)

Semikalistas

When I turned semikal during the last week of December, I wanted some change. Call it a statement or what-have-yous. But I was just pretty stress out these last few weeks at ang napagbuntungan ay ang buhok ko. Actually, I have been contemplating about it for a few months already especially when I saw my pic with the same haircut back in 2001. Na-miss ko lang. Then, I realized how stress-free this haircut is! Pag gising sa umaga, di na kailangang magsuklay. Pagkaligo, di na kailangang ayusin. It saves me a lot of time when going to school.


What I didn't realized, though, was the craze it would create amongst my students! Last year, you'd never see one guy who would sport such a hair cut. Mga teenagers kasi, maporma! Mahihilig sa mga anime-look. But since last week, unti-unting nagsulputan ang mga semikalistas! Some of those guys were even the cuties in school.

Ang tindi talaga! Mga gaya-gaya! Kainis! :-)

Kakaibang Ada

Isang taon na mula ngayon, si Tuxqs Rutaquio aka Ada ang mapalad na nilalang na sumusubo at lumulunok araw-araw at gabi-gabi ng pagkalaki-laking batong nagmula pa sa malikot (at kung minsa'y pagkahalay-halay) na imahinasyon ni Carlo Vergara. Siya ang nagbigyan ng pagkakataon na isalba ang sambayanang Pilipino sa pagkalugmok sa kalungkutan at pagkabalisa kahit man lamang sa kaunting sandali. Nagagawa niya ang pagka-bayaning ito sa pamamagitan ng pagsasavaklah e este sa pamamagitan ng katauhan ni Zaturnnah. Inihagis niya, isinabog, at ikinalat pa sa madla ang tabletang ZZZ na sinimulang gawin ng lumikha nito. Ito ang naging dahilan ng pagka-adik ng mas maraming tao rito.

Ngunit kaiba ang gabi ng Enero 28, 2007...

Mala-vaklah man e este bayani man ang katauhan ay isa pa rin siyang nilalang. Isang tao lamang na ang natatanging kasalanan ay kanyang pagiging tao -- marupok at may angking kahinaan. Kahit pa ang nagmamahal ng lihim at nagpapakabayaning si Dodong ay di siya kayang isalba sa napipinto niyang kapahamakan.

Nang gabing iyon, nawalan ng boses si Tuxqs...

Marahil sa kalakihan ng bato ay nagasgas ang kanyang ngala-ngala. Marahil sa palagiang paggamit niya ng mikropono [(no) pun intended] ay pinarusahan siya ng langit. Marahil sa mala-diyosa niyang tinig (na bumighani kay Dodong) ay kinainggitan siya ng mga diyosa. Marahil tulad ni Ariel, ibinenta niya ang kanyang tinig kay Ursula ng gabing iyon upang ipagpalit ang kanyang buntot para sa talaba e este paa. Ngunit ano man ang maging dahilan, ang natatanging tanong ay kung sino ang nilalang na papalit sa kanyang puwesto sa huling gabi ng pagtatanghal. Isang utaw na sing-galing at sing-tapang ng sikmura na suungin ang mga taong naghahanap ng kaligayan sa gabing iyon.

Dalawang oras bago ang nakatakdang pagtitipon, walang ibang pagpipilian kundi ang taong nagbigay ng letra at musiko kay Tuxqs...

Enter Vince de Jesus!


Ay naloka na ng tuluyan ang mga adik at sabog sa ZZZ nang magsimulang pumilantik ang mga daliri ni Mamu Vince! Ito ay kasabay ng kanyang pagkataranta dalawang oras bago mag-alas-otso hanggang sa pagkakataong iyon. Nangarag ang beauty ng lola mo sa harap ng entablado. He became at a lost for words, literally! (Josko, ikaw kaya magkabisado ng dalawang oras lang! Tingnan ko lang kung hindi sumabog ang gray matter mo sa labas ng ulo mo!) Pero ganun pa man, carry'ng-carry ni mamu ang gabi! Siya ay naging victoria! Winner! Tagumpay! Kabugera ang lola, eh! Kaiba ang kanyang lebel kina Tuxqs at Rustom. Hindi na magiging kataka-taka kung sa mga susunod na gabi ng Hunyo ay siya ang magsusuot ng korona paminsan-minsan. Ang tarush!

Ang pagkakaganap ni mamu ay hindi maaaring ihambing sa unang dalawang Ada. Iba ang atake niya rito. Kakatuwa at kakatawa! Tulad ng aking nabanggit sa kanya, simple malandyi ang kanyang Ada. Aayaw-ayaw kay Dodong ngunit kung makangiti naman ay waring sinusundot ang puwitan! Kung kiligin ay kala mo'y babaeng nagdadalaga. If Tuxqs is A, Rustom is B, then Vince is C. Sana naging malinaw ang aking analogy.

There were many firsts that night aside from mamu's performance. Sa wakas at sa unang pagkakataon, napanood na namin si Arnold Reyes bilang Dodong! In fairnez, delicious talaga! Kakinis! Ka-sexy! Lean but meaty. Yum! Yum, everchu talaga!

Dina B. was not Wilma Doesnt that night but t'was Wenah. Performance was ok naman pero malaki ang kanyang boses sa pag-awit. Bagay na bagay talaga kay Wilma ang pagkabasag ng mga salamin habang siya ay umaawit. Ang original na Nora A. ay napalitan sa ikalawang bahagi ng pagtatanghal. Sumama ang pakiramdam niya. The sudden change was unnoticeable because the two actresses both fit Nora A. to a T.

Lastly, kaganda ni Ms. Eula V.! She gained some weight na mas ikinaseksi pa niya. Talaga namang magaling, magaling! Magaling na ako e este si Eula pala. (Si Mama talaga, oo! Painumin ko siya uli ng Neozep nang matigil!)

Anyway, 5th run will be on June at RCBC Theater. Watch ever na naman kami for sure!

P.S. 1. According to my correspondence with Tuxqs, nakadagdag sa pagod niya, maliban sa three-day performances every week, ay ang pag-eensayo niya with the new Dodong (Janvier Daily) several times during the week. Hmmm... Kantahan ever lang ba 'yun, lola Tuxqs? Hehehe...

2. I will post our pictures as soon as I get the camera from my sis. Plus, 2 video clips from the show!

Note: The last two music came from the first CD release of the play. Remastered version is now available in stores and through download at Digijooze.

English 101: English Ba Kamo?

Found this in a blog of a fellow Pinoy DVD'er. Thought that it'd be a good way to practice my pronunciation. I had to consult the dictionary several times for some of the words. This is harder than the tongue twisters we had in class recently!

A little anecdote though: "Multinational personnel at North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters near Paris found English to be an easy language ... until they tried to pronounce it. To help them discard an array of accents, the verses below were devised. After trying them, a Frenchman said he'd prefer six months at hard labor to reading six lines aloud."

So try them yourself. Let's see how you would do...


The Chaos (1922)
G. Nolst Trenité
Dearest creature in creation,
Studying English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.
Pray console your loving poet,
Make my coat look new, dear, sew it.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written.)
Made has not the sound of bade,
Say - said, pay - paid, laid, but plaid.
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Hear me say, devoid of trickery,
Daughter, laughter, and Terpsichore,
Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles,
Exiles, similes, and reviles;
Scholar, vicar, and cigar,
Solar, mica, war and far;
One, anemone, Balmoral,
Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel;
Gertrude, German, wind and mind,
Scene, Melpomene, mankind.

Billet does not rhyme with ballet,
Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet.
Blood and flood are not like food,
Nor is mould like should and would.
Viscous, viscount, load and broad,
Toward, to forward, to reward.
And your pronunciation's OK
When you correctly say croquet,
Rounded, wounded, grieve and sleeve,
Friend and fiend, alive and live.

Ivy, privy, famous; clamour
And enamour rhyme with hammer.
River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.
Stranger does not rhyme with anger,
Neither does devour with clangour.
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,
Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,
And then singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge,
Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.

Query does not rhyme with very,
Nor does fury sound like bury.
Dost, lost, post and doth, cloth, loth.
Job, nob, bosom, transom, oath.
Though the differences seem little,
We say actual but victual.
Refer does not rhyme with deafer.
Foeffer does, and zephyr, heifer.
Mint, pint, senate and sedate;
Dull, bull, and George ate late.
Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,
Science, conscience, scientific.

Liberty, library, heave and heaven,
Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven.
We say hallowed, but allowed,
People, leopard, towed, but vowed.
Mark the differences, moreover,
Between mover, cover, clover;
Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,
Chalice, but police and lice;
Camel, constable, unstable,
Principle, disciple, label.

Petal, panel, and canal,
Wait, surprise, plait, promise, pal.
Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, chair,
Senator, spectator, mayor.
Tour, but our and succour, four.
Gas, alas, and Arkansas.
Sea, idea, Korea, area,
Psalm, Maria, but malaria.
Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean.
Doctrine, turpentine, marine.

Compare alien with Italian,
Dandelion and battalion.
Sally with ally, yea, ye,
Eye, I, ay, aye, whey, and key.
Say aver, but ever, fever,
Neither, leisure, skein, deceiver.
Heron, granary, canary.
Crevice and device and aerie.

Face, but preface, not efface.
Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.
Large, but target, gin, give, verging,
Ought, out, joust and scour, scourging.
Ear, but earn and wear and tear
Do not rhyme with here but ere.
Seven is right, but so is even,
Hyphen, roughen, nephew Stephen,
Monkey, donkey, Turk and jerk,
Ask, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.

Pronunciation -- think of Psyche!
Is a paling stout and spikey?
Won't it make you lose your wits,
Writing groats and saying grits?
It's a dark abyss or tunnel:
Strewn with stones, stowed, solace, gunwale,
Islington and Isle of Wight,
Housewife, verdict and indict.

Finally, which rhymes with enough --
Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?
Hiccough has the sound of cup.
My advice is to give up!!!

So how did you do? Mind you, the poem above is just the short version. Check out the unabridged version! If you want more, go here. Let's see if you'd stay sane afterwards!

Coolness! (Movie Reviews)

Eragon (20th Century Fox, 2006)
Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Rachel Weisz
Stefen Fangmeier
Rating: 3/5

Wouldn't it be cool to have a dragon as a pet, friend, and companion? Eragon, Book One of the Inheritance Trilogy, is just about that - dragons and their dragon riders. Written by Christopher Paolini when he was 15 years old, Eragon is a childhood fantasy come to life via the book and the film. However, maybe because he is at a young age, the story lacks depth, maturity, and enough grip to make a lasting impression. It is mostly a kid's movie but that is not to say that it can't be enjoyed by adults. It is enjoyable and entertaining. However, one needs to remember that it isn't The Lord of the Rings.


Night at the Museum (20th Century Fox, 2006)
Ben Stiller
Shawn Levy
Rating: 4/5

How cool is it to have your toys come to life? Remember The Indian in the Cupboard back in 1995? It is about a toy indian which comes into life when put inside a magical cupboard. How about Small Soldiers in 1998? These are toy soldiers coming into life because of a military chip. I enjoyed it so much that I have collected some action figures of them. This 2006 brings Night at the Museum. It is way cooler than the said two films because toys are not the only ones that come to life but all creations in the museum - from fossils to stuffed animals to prehistoric humans to historical wax figures! Imagine what you could learn from these creatures and how much fun you can get from them! That is so cool, isn't it?

Night at the Museum is a fun-filled ride that would leave you wanting for more! Now, if only I could get my hands on that tablet!

Blood Diamond (Warner Bros., 2006)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou
Edward Zwick
Rating: 3.5/5

I do not know much about the history of blood diamonds but somehow, this movie sheds light on it. It isn't the best storytelling because it drags every now and then. But it has a great ensemble of actors that makes up for what it lacks. Leonardo DiCaprio, who already showed great talent when he was still young, shines his brightest in this movie. The lines on his face adds more dimension and exquisiteness in his acting. With his Oscar nomination, he'd rightfully gained the respect that he deserves as an actor. Cool!

This is his follow-up to his another cool performance in another cool film with an ensemble of really cool actors called The Departed (one of 2006's best)!

P.S. Jennifer Connelly looks a lot like Madonna in here! Now, if only Maddie could act like Jen...

Saw 3 (Lions Gate Film, 2006)
Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith
Darren Lynn Bousman
Rating: 4/5

Jigsaw is back! This time, he's more focused and more twisted as ever! This is such a great way to end the trilogy. It is better than the sequel which, in my book, should have never been done. It is a teen-slasher flick wannabe. The plot is better and grittier. It makes one hell of a nail-biting thriller that is more gruelling than the first and grosser than Hostel, another fave thriller of mine. Hold on to your seats and wait till you get to know what Jigsaw truly plans to happen. It will rip out your senses once it ends!

But no matter how cool it may sound, no one has the right to teach people lessons in life the way he does!

Biboy asked me why do I love watching these kinds of movies? I don't know. I just do! :-)

The Descent (Lions Gate Films, 2005)
Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Mendoza
Neil Marshall
Rating: 4/5

Six women went on an unknown cave for an adventure. What they didn't know was that they'd get more than what they expect. Aside from the almost near-death experience they got from finding their way out, they met these unknown creatures that would end their lives if they do not stay together and fight till the end.

The Descent starts out slow during the first half. However, it was able established the characters well enough for the audience to care about them when the thrills pick up during its second half. Even though the characters are all women, the film avoided the stereotypical characteristics. They don't whine or cry or shout their lungs out the moment they encounter difficulties. They stayed focused and strong till the end. If ever one breaks out, it is called for by the situation or their characterization.

Aside from that, the film was able to capture the claustrophobic feel of the cave. It would make you feel as if you were there. Not to mention how terribly creeping the crawlers are!

The Descent is a cool chick film that kicks ass! Girl power indeed! Can't wait for the next installment!

P.S. Natalie Mendoza is Pinoy! Can anything be cooler than that!

She's the Man (Dreamworks, 2006)
Amanda Bynes, Tatum Channing
Andy Fickman
Rating: 2.5/5

Viola pretends to be her twin brother, Sebastian, to play for the soccer team in the rival school of her school where she's supposed to be at. She gets accepted, and gets to befriend the team's captain who happens to be his room mate, Duke. As Sebastian, Viola meets Olivia who falls in love with her - as Sebastian. Duke, who likes Olivia, asks her, as Sebastian, to set him up with Olivua. She willingly obliged until she realizes that she's in love with Duke after she, as Viola, and he kissed in the carnival.

Sounds complicated? Actually not. A girl pretending to be guy and falling in love with a guy as a guy is a plot that has been done with over and over again. She's the Man has nothing much to offer in terms of how fresh it tackles the used plot. The scenes weren't as funny as one would expect.

Loosely based on Shakepeare's Twelfth Night, She's the Man's best bet is the hottie Tatum Channing! He's this year's new his hottieness till the next stud comes along! Yum yum!

Kairita!

I am absent today in school. Di ko feel pumasok because I'm sorta not feeling well na rin. Yesterday was quite a terrible day. I haven't had much sleep since we came in late the night before. We (Biboy and I and some of my good friends) saw Sharon's b-day concert in Araneta. I was late for school (about 15 minutes, my time is 8:30 AM). When I arrived, imagine my shock when I only saw five students inside the room! According to them, the others are still outside doing whatever it is they are doing.

So s'ympre wait lang ako patiently. 9 AM passed and no sight of the others yet. Until 9:15 AM, unti-unti nang nagdatingan ang mga mokong! Quiet lang ako. Pikon na ko, eh. Pag pasok nila, others greeted me good morning. I stood up and wrote an exercise on the board for them to do. Quiet pa rin ako. Until the last few arrived at mega-daldal ang ginawa as if they did nothing wrong! After I wrote the exercise, I added, "Work on it QUIETLY!!!" Kaya ayun, natahimik na rin ang mga hinayupak.

Nawindang sila sa exercise! Some were asking what to do pero deadma ako. I didn't want to speak kasi baka kung ano pa ang masabi ko sila. Nagpupuyos na ang damdamin ko sa kaloob-looban ko!

Five minutes before ten, after I took their papers, di ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Talagang sinabon ko na sila! I told them that they are the only ones who did what they did to me. Kung sa pakapalan din lang ng mukha, they won by default! With flying colors pa!

I wouldn't mind it if only a few of them were late but it was 95% of the class! Then, papasok sila sa room, walked casually as if what they did was no big deal. Dadaanan-daanan lang ako at mag-iingay sa loob ng class. Aba aba aba! Di ko mapapalampas 'yun.

When I got to my other class, medyo nag-iinit pa ko. Buti na lang at matino 'yung klase na 'yun. I have asked them to check the papers that we were supposed to check in my previous class. Pinagbigyan naman nila ako. That few minutes of checking (and not thinking so much) had calmed my nerves down.

I thought that the earlier incident was the end of it. Mas matindi pa pala 'yung huli kong klase! Late na nagdismiss 'yung teacher nila -- 12:30 PM na ko nakapasok when our time is 12 PM. Then inabutan kong hindi sila kumpleto. Anyway, continue pa rin ako. We have checked their Prelim exams. Ang matindi ay nang dumating ang iba -- they stood outside the room contemplating on whether to go inside or not, decided not for whatever reason, then walked around the campus! Wow! Winner talaga ang mga lolo!

Pagkatapos naming mag-check, I saw the boys outside the room. Napasigaw na ko talaga! "Papasok ba kayo o hindi?! Kanina pa kayo, ah!" I swear, habang sinesermunan ko sila, ilang beses ko na silang minura sa isip ko! Napagsalitaan ko na sila ng hindi magaganda. At tagalog kung tagalog ang monologue ko! Nung umaga, nakakapag-ingles pa ko, eh.

I have reiterated to them several times how bad their grades are with me. Judging from the results of the exams, half of them will fail my subject. Tapos may ganang pa silang magpa-bondying-bondying?! Well, pasensyahan na lang kung hindi sila magtitino. Bagsak kung bagsak ang gagawin ko sa kanila. (I was lenient with my grades last semester. Pinasa ko 'yung ilan kahit hindi deserving pumasa.) I even told them na hindi ko malubos maisip kung bakit sila pumasa ng English 1 (I wasn't their teacher last sem)!

It wasn't my intention to humiliate them. I just want them to know their class standing and this isn't the time to take things lightly. Hindi nila sineseryoso 'yung subject ko. I wouldn't mind it if they don't pay much attention in class or they're absent most of the time, as long as they have something to offer during recitation, exercises, quizzes, and exams. Kaso hindi. Kung mag-aasta akala mo alam na nila lahat.

Because of that, s'ympre napunta na sa kanila ang korona ng kakapalan ng mukha from the other class. Mas matindi sila! But mind you, iisang course lang 'yung pinanggalingan ng dalawang class na 'yun.

I've told them, kung ayaw nila sa akin o nahihirapan sila, lipat na lang ako sa klaseng gusto ako maging teacher at sa kanila na 'yung teacher n'un.

I went home very tired and so hungry. I haven't had any food eversince I woke up. It was already past 2 PM. Pag uwi ko, wala pang lutong pagkain! Ay, winner talaga! Muntik na kong mapaiyak.

Nampucha!

I have so many pending posts these past few months especially movie reviews na hindi ko matapos-tapos. Tamad na tamad akong magsulat nung una pero sandamakmak ang nasa utak ko. Pag nakaharap na ko sa PC, nawawala sila na parang bula. Then, when I felt like writing naman, my PC crashed down for the nth time! Deadma na kong ipaayos siya kahit pa marami na kaming pinagdaanan. (Ilang beses na rin siyang naging mitsa ng pag-aaway namin ni Biboy!) I've realized that on our first day (that was in 1999), problematic na ang relasyon namin. Umpisa pa lang, nagkatopak na siya! (That is what you get usually when you buy an assembled PC instead of buying parts and assembling them - on your own or through the technician.) Pwede ko namang gamitin ang laptop ng dad ko pero di ko masyadong feel mag-type dun. After I used it for my Mo's entry below, it crashed down. 'Yun naman ay may problema na rin. It was sent to the technician for repair. After a day or two, my sis's PC naman ang nasira! Kaloka talaga, I swear! Isa-isang bumigay ang mga computer sa bahay! Conspiracy ba ito?!?

Anyway, I bought a new PC - with a 17" LCD monitor, 160gb Sata hard disk, 512mb memory, at kung anik-anik pang hi-tech specs (courtesy of my mom - thanks!). Ang ganda niya, grabe! Sarap nang mag-download! Sa laki ba naman ng hard disk ko (with additional old 40gb hard drive), in heaven na talaga ko! Malaking disk space talaga ang pinakaimportante sa 'kin, the rest are secondary.

Ngayong masarap nang magsulat, naknamweteng naman ang DSL connection! Di ko maaruk ang kabagalan! Nubanaman ito?! Kalokang talaga! So 'yung mga pending posts ay mananatiling pending muna. Di ko carry ang kabagalang ito!

By the way, Happy New Year to all! c",)