Todd Wedding
It would be a busy day for me. Everything has to be done like clockwork...
1) Bring car to Honda for its maintenance check. Me and Manong drove in convoy, with me driving my car and Manong using my brother's car.
2) Bring walkie-talkie units for repair at Pasig. I borrowed Manong, my brother's driver, so I can bring the walkie-talkie for repair before the warranty expires.
3) Watch Sweeney Todd.
4) Have Manong pick up my car.
5) Attend a wedding.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a musical drama movie. A barber's life has been ruined because of a lustful judge. Several years later, he returns to take revenge.
Just having Johnny Depp sing is a treat. And I can't imagine any actor that would best portray the character of Sweeney Todd other than Johnny Depp who is noted in portraying odd characters, like Captain Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands, Willy Wonka, among others.
Not to be outdone is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's accomplice who makes diabolical meat pies.
After the movie, decided to look for a blouse I would wear for tonight's event. Else, I would be wearing all black. Was able to find a blue-gray satin blouse at Perks in
The Landmark.
Was able to arrive home in time to freshen up and ready my (camera) gear. The wedding and reception is at
Gloria Maris in
CCP Complex. While waiting for the event to begin, we had an eyeful watching the shooting of ABS-CBN for one of their telenovela starring Heart Evangelista.
Manfrotto
Just so...
Sinulog sa Cebu: Day 4
Today's the day! It is the
Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel, the Mardi gras Philippine version.
The parade of floats,
higantes (translation: giants), dancers (or contingent) with their Sinulog queen would be marching their way to a 7-kilometer road. It would start and end at the
Cebu City Sports Center. The first contingent would be performing for the judges at the stadium, then march their way along the 7-kilometer stretch of road. Once they reached the stadium, the first contingent would again perform, signifying the end of the parade.
But, we do not plan to finish the parade as we would be leaving Cebu via
Cebu Pacific flight 5J574 at 9:50PM. Thus, at 6PM, we left the
Teo-Fel Pension House and walked our way to
Colon to catch either a taxi or a jeepney.
We managed to get a jeepney ride to
SM Cebu where we had our dinner. From there, caught a taxi to bring us to the
Mactan International Airport. It took some time before we were able to get a taxi (it seems
kontratahan is the "in" thing). But then, we were able to be at the airport two hours before our flight.
Oh! There was a 40-minute delay...
Sinulog sa Cebu: Day 3
Only nine of us would be riding the boat and join the
fluvial procession. The rest would be waiting at the pier for the image to arrive. As early as 4AM, we are ready to leave.
While waiting for the first batch infront of the
Teo-Fel, we saw teenagers running towards us and then a large BANG! (sound of a gun). We immediately went back inside the pension house and knelt (leaving the cameras by the pension house's door). A bullet hit the hanging of the pension house where we are standing earlier. Good thing, the bullet was aimed high lest one of us would have been hit by the bullet. Thus, instead of walking towards
Pier 1, we took a taxi.
We managed to ride a boat allotted for the media--we heard one camera club rented a tug boat so they would be able to join the parade. Even without taking pictures, riding the boat and joining the fluvial procession is already an experience!
Unlike other fluvial procession wherein the image is in a barge while the rest of the devotees attempt to ride said barge (which usually causes accidents), the Sto. Nino is in a separate boat. It would be infront of the other boats participating in the procession. The boats are decorated lavishly and have people in costumes carrying the Sto. Nino image, moving it to the beat of the drums. Many devotees are waiting at the bridge, wall, pier, etc. Everytime the boat with the image passes, you can see people waiving or lifting their Sto. Nino image as if it is dancing.
As soon as the boat containing the image docks, group dancers would be infront of it as it the image is led to the
Basilica del Sto. Nino. As advised, we must be already inside the Basilica before the image enters it else we would not be able to come in.
At the Basilica, there is also a re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon.
Had an early lunch at Chowking and proceeded back to Teo-Fel for some rest. The
solemn procession would begin around 2PM. We managed to join the procession and positioned ourselves above the altar.
Around 6:30PM, it would be the start of the
Sinulog Festival Queen 2008 at the
Cebu City Sports Center. But first, we had dinner at
Mango Brutus.
Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of Sto. Nino. The dance moves two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums.
The candidates for the Sinulog Festival Queen are presented to the audience. They were judged according to three categories: personality (the judges have earlier met the candidates), the dance (3-minute dance with their contingent), and how graceful the queens dance the sinulog (individual).
After we are satisfied with our shots, decided to rest and go back to Teo-Fel. Caught the announcing of winners on the TV.
Sinulog sa Cebu: Day 2
The group decided to go to
Kawasan Falls (another option is to go to Bohol), an almost three hour ride from Cebu City. We stopped at
Carcar to buy our lunch consisting of
puso-puso (rice wrapped in leaves shaped like a heart), seaweed,
lechon manok and Cebu's famous Cebu
lechon.
The Kawasan Falls is a three-tiered cascade of mountain springs. There are huts where you can rent for picnic. There are also rooms available if you prefer to stay overnight. While some of us are busy taking pictures, the rest took a dip.
Since we still do not have pictures for our IDs for the fluvial and solemn processions as well as for the Grand Parade, used my mobile phone's camera and had it developed.
As soon as we arrived back to Teo-Fel, the group separated for activities needed to prepare for tomorrow's Fluvial Procession, Solemn Procession and the Sinulog Festival Queen 2008. We had dinner at Jollibee... (",)
Sinulog sa Cebu: Day 1
Woke up really early as it would be our flight to Cebu for the Sinulog. We would be taking the 8:40AM flight 5J563 of
Cebu Pacific. We were there at the
Manila Domestic Airport at 6AM. As soon as we checked-in, we learned that the plane for an earlier flight is still there; thus, opted to take said flight.
We would be staying at
Teo-Fel Pension House at Olive-Perez Building, 4 Junquera Extension, Cebu City. Someone from our camera club arranged our accommodations. As soon as we arrived at Teo-Fel, had our breakfast, rested, and waited for the rest of our group. Three of us would be taking the Sunday flight back to Manila; the rest would be leaving Cebu on Monday.
We had our lunch at STK to have a taste of the local cuisine. Then, we went to the
Sinulog Foundation at Cebu City Sports Center to register for the photo competition.
Since we wouldn't have time to buy souvenir items and some
pasalubong, we separated from the group.
First stop is at
Magellan's Cross. It is the site set to commemorate the erection of the cross in Cebu by the expedition of Magellan, "when King Humabon of Cebu and his queen, son and daughters, together with some 800 of their subjects were baptized by Father Pedro Valderrama."
Next is the
Basilica of Sto. Nino, which is right next to the Magellan's Cross. The Basilica would be where most of the activities would take place.
Then, it's time to buy some
pasalubong. Near the Basilica is
Shamrock (it is similar to Colette's where you can buy native delicacies as
pasalubong).
Took a taxi ride to
Tabuan where one can buy Cebu's famous
danggit and dried
pusit.
For dinner, the group ate at Apurado (or is it Aprobado?) which is beside Robinson's mall.
Bye-bye Fifi
A day before my trip to Cebu for the
Sinulog, I noticed that Fifi, my fighting fish, is no longer swimming in his merry self.
The night before, I am not feeling well and can't describe the feeling that weird thoughts came to mind. But somehow, managed to sleep through the night. The following day, before eating my breakfast, that's when I noticed that Fifi is already dead (I usually give Fifi food before I have my breakfast). There's a belief that if you have a pet and you are sick, your pet usually "takes" that sickness from you. I wonder if Fifi did just that for me...
I am Legend, Sydney White
With the scheduled trip to Cebu for the
Sinulog, decided to watch movies again that I might miss. But my first stop is at
My Diamond where I bought a
Nooka watch.
It is a new way to look at time...
First stop is
I Am Legend starring Will Smith. A sci-fi, action, adventure film about an incurable plague which destroys mankind. Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist who dedicated his life to find ways to reverse the effects of the virus which causes man to mutate. Will Smith is great--one can sympathize with him when he loses Sam (the dog who has been his companion), be scared when he is scared.
After the movie, decided to buy personal things I would be needing for my trip to Cebu at
The Landmark supermarket. I was also able to buy at the The Landmark department store a battery operated mini-fan; this is in case the weather at Cebu would be warm. Oh! Also found there a battery operated mosquito repeller.
My next movie is
Sydney White and the Seven Dorks. A comedy about Sydney White (Amanda Bynes) who joins the sorority where her mom once belonged to. But the sisterhood has changed, what with the sorority president taking steps to get her out of the house. Here's when the campus' outcasts take her under their wing as they plan to take down the sorority. The movie is fun, fun, fun. (",)
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Even if its raining, walked my way to
Ayala Center along Makati Avenue (my normal walk when I was still based at our Makati office) after taking care of my bills.
There are a lot of good foreign movies being shown this week (after two weeks of only Filipino movies being shown in the cinemas because of the
Metro Manila Film Festival), namely:
National Treasure: Book of Secrets,
I Am Legend,
Sydney White and the Seven Dorks, and
Bee Movie. Decided to start with National Treasure.
The movie is as expected. The way I enjoyed its first installment (which I find better than the movie The Da Vinci Code), I also enjoyed the second
National Treasure. This time, the Gates family has to clear their name, as one of their ancestors has been implicated in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
Italianni's.
Fiery Despedida
On the way to the office, saw the big black smoke rising. There's a fire at the squatter's area behind the Loyola. Being
uzi by nature, cars are moving slowly to have a glimpse...
Three more people would be leaving the company. According to the grapevine, since the merger, our Human Resource Department is in a backlog in processing resignation documents/clearance.
We decided to treat them at
Kamayan/Saisaki/Dad's at
SM Megamall for a
despedida lunch. Being a big group, we were able to avail the promo of one free for every group of ten.
Scan! Scan! Scanner!
Transferring to my new office in Ortigas leaves me wanting for the convenience available in our Makati office. One is the availability of a scanner. Since our work flow is mostly paperless (our company before the merger), the scanner is an important tool in routing documents. Since were still in the process of conversion, our systems still being used but eventually "retired" follow the paperless workflow (the process that was retained is mostly manual and routing of hardcopy documents... tsk! tsk!).
Good thing, I found a very portable scanner from
Compex. It is almost a foot long, 1 1/2 inch wide and about an inch thick.
Banal
Watching the five
Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entries at
Glorietta cinemas earned me a free movie ticket at Glorietta! The only movie I have not yet watched that is being shown in Glorietta cinemas is
Banal, an action, drama movie. Thus, after office, proceeded directly to the Glorietta movie house (after stepping off the
Metro Rail Transit at the Ayala Station).
Two cops who is totally opposite from each other in their beliefs/philosophy formed an unlikely bond when they met during their SWAT training. Cris (played by Paolo Contis) is idealistic and conscientious while Jayson (played by Alfred Vargas) is ambitious and corrupt. After a few years, their path crossed again. Their differing views would put them at odds as they uncover the plot to assassinate the Pope.
The two lead actors are talented and they complement each other. The movie added an actual event which one can mistake that the movie is based on a true story. (The same formula used in the Da Vinci Code wherein one fact is combined with another fact making the "theory" seemed a fact.)
Enteng (Enter) the Bahay Kubo
Nana would be going home for a short vacation. Thus, accompanied her at the
Ayala Center for her
pasalubong.
Our first stop is
Max's for our lunch. Then, went to
SM Department Store to show her the imitation (or what looks like)
Crocs I saw. The original Crocs cost around PhP1,700.00+, the imitation (made in China) is PhP250.00+
Then, proceeded to
The Landmark where Nana would be buying her
pasalubong.
Afterwhich, it's movie marathon! We would be watching two movies included in the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival. This way, I would also be able to drop my raffle ticket and have a chance to win PhP100,000.00! After buying the tickets, surprise! surprise! I got me a free movie ticket.
Bahay Kubo is a comedy, drama, family film about a poor provincial couple whose luck improved when they adopted a baby. Their luck increases as they adopt more children. Then everything changes when they move to a bigger house in the city. Can't help to shed a tear from time to time as relationships are put to the fore, a smile/laugh here and there, with its own appeal and charm.
After the first movie, we had an early dinner at the Food Choices. Then, proceeded to the theater so we would be comfortably seated. When the movie is about to start, that's when we learned we're in the wrong theater! LOL. The movie being show is
Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo (which I already watched). Immediately, we transferred to the other theater... hehehe!
Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko (The Beginning of the Legend) is a comedy, adventure, fantasy film. This time, going through time via a mirror opens the door for dark forces to come. Obviously, Enteng, with the help of his "enchanted" family, defeats these dark forces.
Desperadas
It would be the third movie included in the
2007 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) I would be watching.
A comedy/drama,
Desperadas (translation: desperate women) is about four half-sisters (from four different fathers), their travails, their relationships, their own personal hang-ups. One shouldn't look for much in the movie as it just attempts to give comic relief to its audience by exaggerating the four women's different personalities.
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
Italianni's. We had our usual Sicilian Chicken Salad and tried the new Rigatoni Bolognese.
Now, I need two more movies of MMFF so I can submit my raffle stub and hope to win PhP100,000.00! c",)
