Looking back…

I didn’t expect it to happen but 2011 actually turned out to be a pretty awesome year for me. There were so many blessings and so many new experiences that came along my way, and I sure am thankful to the Lord for everything. To cap off the year, I will list down the Top 10 things/events/happenings that made my year extra memorable:

1.      Voiceover Projects (and other work stuff)

It was a great year for work. I had my staple writing gigs (among other tasks) and had new clients who taught me new things, and they were pretty nice people too. I also had several hosting gigs this year which included corporate events and weddings. My favourite was when I hosted a company’s launch party in Republiq. And best of all, I just simply love my voiceover stints! 2011 was the year that I officially became a professional VO talent. It was so surreal to hear my voice on radio and television ads, especially when several campaigns played at the same time. Best surreal moment was when we were in a ferry at sea (in Cebu) and a shampoo commercial of mine played on the TV. It’s a blessing to earn from doing things that you love!

 2.      Joined a marathon

Last April, my friends and I joined Run for Japan (to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami), and it was my first time to join a real marathon. It was such a fun experience to wake up early and find lots of people running for a good cause.

I also joined a gym this year, and well, it’s fun too! Okay, I may not be a gym rat yet, but hey, the fact that I joined and do go at times, is a GREAT improvement! Hahaha

3.      Bolinao, Pangasinan

Last summer, I went to Bolinao, Pangasinan together with Jave (now Mr. Boyfriend) and my college friends (UBE). We had loads of fun there. We cooked our own food, played in the beach, toured the scenic spots, took lots of photos and videos, and ended it with an awesome food trip. Looking forward to more escapades with them in the 2012!

4.      Hair experiments

I started 2011 with straight hair and full bangs- something that I have never done before. Then some time during the middle of the year, I decided to get a digital perm! And here I am, ending the year in waves and curls! Haha.  I also tried coloring my hair this year, but nothing too obvious yet. Who knows, maybe in 2012, I’ll go blonde! Kidding!

5.      Saving up

2011 is the year that I really learned to save money. Of course, it helped that work was doing okay, but this year, I really learned more on how to handle my finances wisely and pay myself first. It starts with will and motivation, then rolls on to become a habit, matched by discipline. I am also thankful that somehow I am able to help with more stuff at home.

Special thanks to my Accountant friends who inspired me in terms of finances. They really taught me a lot this year! (You know who you are!)

6.      CANDID HEADLINES

This year, CANDID HEADLINES was born! And it’s not on WordPress.Com anymore. This is my baby and I really love sharing my stories with you guys. <3 Special thanks to Mr. Kenneth Mandar who helped me set it up. He’s the ultimate WordPress Wizard!

7.      Crime-fighting!

Please refer to this post for the rest of the details. But yeah, it felt good to do something good for the community. Girl power and citizen empowerment combined! Hayaaaaaa!

8.      Hong Kong Trip with my mom

It was my first time to travel out of the country and it felt more awesome because I was spending my own money. I travelled with my mom and although we were KKB on the initial expenses, I treated her for the rest of our stay there.

Of course, shopping went on top of my list, but aside from that, it was a great experience to see the sights and experience another culture. Hong Kong is a great place to visit! I envy their transportation system sooo much. Haha!

My favourite part of the trip was Hong Kong Disneyland. The inner kid in me was jumping for joy upon seeing the attractions and watching the show. And since it was near Christmas that time, there was even some artificial snow! I will definitely go back there! 

9.      Boyfriend.

2011 started rocky for me in terms of my love life. I was at a crossroads and tried to find my own way. I learned a lot too.. but after everything has been said and done, Jave and I ended up where we should’ve been all along. <3 (Yihee, mushy!!!!)

10.   Boracay with my girls 

Just a few weeks ago, 2011 decided that it wanted to be extra awesome, thanks to our all expense paid trip to Boracay care of SM Cinema! This was part of our prize package for winning their SM Cinekada Contest last year and even if it was a year in the making, the trip was well worth it. It was my first time to visit Boracay and I just love it! We had an awesome time in Boracay Grand Vista and we really felt like VIPs there. Aside from enjoying the gorgeous beach, my girls (Kizia & Clarence) and I went Helmet-Diving (AKA Reefwalking) and Parasailing as well. Fun fun fun! Boracay is truly world-class.

For 2012…

Thank you Lord for a GREAT 2011!!!

Next year, I hope that I will get to travel more. I also want to be wiser in terms of finances. And probably think about my future business (naks!). May I become a better person next year, wiser and more understanding.

I also want to update this blog more. Oh, and exercise more. Yeah. =))

Here’s to good health, love, success and happiness this 2012!!! May the world keep on rolling. We don’t want it to end just yet.

CHEERS!

Ladies and gentlemen, there is still hope for Philippine Cinema! Last night, the winners for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) were announced and good filmmaking prevailed. Nagwagi ang hari ng Tondo. Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story bagged major awards for the 2011 MMFF which include:

• Best Festival Picture
• Best Screenplay
• Best Director (although this one is a little tricky because of the whole Tikoy Aguiluz issue)
• Best Supporting Actor – John Regala (So happy with this! I really loved his performance in this film)
• Best Production Design
• Best Editing
• Best Musical Score
• Best Sound Recording
• Best Original Theme Song (La Paloma by Eli Buendia)
• Best Cinematography
• Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award

These results are a testament to how well-made The Asiong Salonga Story is. The sweep is also a well-deserved pat on the back to its filmmakers who risked pitching a black and white, action, period film against the usual festival giants.

Let’s all hope that this will set a trend for future festival entries and inspire them to prioritize artistry over box-office numbers. The Filipino people needs to be served healthy doses of great movies every now and then (if not all the time). It’s about time that we add more options to the palate of the masses and not just give the usual rom-com and teleserye-flavored storylines.

May this movie inspire other filmmakers to actually pay attention to great cinematography and not rush production, just to make money right away. (I’ve seen local films recently with really awful production value)

The 37th MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival 2011) is plagued by half a dozen movies that all aim for one thing- money. While most of these entries rehashed old MMFF movies (and actors) with tried and tested masa formulas, one movie tries to defy the norm. This year, Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story actually takes a shot at artistry and good story-telling.

But wait? Aren’t movie festivals supposed to be about those two things? Anyway…

The Story

Manila Kingpin profiles the life of Nicasio “Asiong” Salonga, a true-to-life badass from Tondo who lived several decades ago, back when gang wars were prolific in the notorious parts of Manila.

The movie shows Asiong at the height of his “career” and notoriety, and mixes it with an insider’s look on what it’s like to live like a true gangster boss.

The opening sequence shows how he had to fight his bloody way to the top of the ranks. He is shown delivering brutal revenge and is depicted a la Godfather, on how he treats his minions. The movie also takes a peak at his personal life. His pregnant wife always fears for his safety. His cop brother scolds him to take a straighter path. Even his parents show their disapproval of his lifestyle. As for Asiong, despite being fearless in the streets, he is wary of every knock on the door, packing a gun whenever someone enters his home, always ready to pounce on possible threats.

The film also shows his nobler side as Asiong tries to champion his neighbours and protect them from more abusive thugs. He gives alms to the poor, and even helps an old woman up as she falls down. Think Robinhood, but instead of a bow and arrow, Asiong uses a retro machine gun and some rusty daggers.

But of course, majority of the film showcases his badass fighting skills and uncanny ability to give ruthless orders not only to his friends, but also to his enemies.

Let’s Talk About Cinematography

Black and white. It’s such a bold risk to have the entire movie in black and white. (although the effect was probably due to post production rather than authentic black and white film, that’s why they were able to put a slight tinge of blue on the effects) Choosing to do the film this way means that the filmmakers had to produce EXTRA effort in making each frame look nice despite the absence of color. This takes us back to the glory days of film noir where each scene has to be carefully planned in order to produce a shot that has depth and visual appeal despite being in just black and white. I noticed that Asiong used a lot of smoke and shadows to make shots look “thicker” in a way.

I really applaud the lighting for this film, especially for eskinita scenes done at night, where the actors are seen to go under a shadow, but still have their faces visible. I also liked the “Ingrid Bergman” attack they did on Carla Abellana’s big doughy eyes, where she was always facing the light in a certain way to illuminate her eyes better and make them “sparkle”.  It reminded me of Casablanca.

Manila Kingpin should also be given props for their costume and set design. Being a period film, they had to find locations which will pass for a story that happened during the 50s. This includes locations for bangketa, house and street shots. There was even a movie house setting which I really liked. There was also a lot of effort in the props, clothing and hairstyle. For the men’s fashion though I’m quite amazed that those looks seem trendy right now as we approach 2012. The gents in Asiong looked quite dapper!

The soundtrack was also top-calibre. The most brutal scenes are backed by eerie vocal arias and some choice scenes almost came out as haunting. Other low-key action sequences are backed with a modern rock soundtrack which also added to the sound appeal. Oh, and Eli Buendia made a camio there too, as a singer of course. The closing theme song “Hari ng Tondo” by Gloc 9, I didn’t like too much, but I will let it slip because Gloc 9 is a good rapper.

A few comments:

• I wish there were more sweeping panoramic shots of old Manila. That would have added a bit of greandeur or epic-ness.
• There was one scene were Asiong spewed a little too much blood that looked too watery to be true.
• A few jumpy cuts here and there, very minor though

My favorite scenes:

1. Gun fight in the rain – Awesome action here, guys! Plus points for the slow-mo shots and the kickass choreography.

2. Asiong getting delirious inside a maximum security cell – This was the haunting scene I mentioned earlier

3. When Asiong’s would-be father-in-law found out that he was threatening THE Asiong Salonga with an itak (machete). Funny!

What about acting?

The cast of Manila Kingpin is a good mix of both young and veteran actors.

Jeorge Estregan, also known to the constituents of Laguna as Governor ER Ejercito, plays the lead role of Asiong Salonga in this movie. In all fairness, he really looked the part of a fearless siga sa kanto (neighbourhood gangster). His best moments are when he puts his serious war face on, and when he dons his crazy eyes that show merciless savagery. He should also be given props for his moments inside the prison cell where he squirms and writhes in agony. All in all, I’d say he’s a great candidate for Best Actor.

I’m a bit torn with Carla Abellana’s performance of Felipa (please correct me if this name is wrong), Asiong’s wife. Although she does look like the perfect contrast to Estregan with her innocent face and angelic features, she lacks intensity and fervour during dramatic moments. A few more face-wrinkling should do the trick.

Two thumbs up should be given to the rest of the male cast of Manila Kingpin. My favourite is John Regala who is always reliable for antagonist roles. As Totoy Golem, he delivers a confident swagger with just the right hint of crazy. His reserved way of throwing lines is also very effective in showing his authority over lesser creatures in villain-ville.

Commendation is also due Baron Geisler, Philip Salvador, Ronnie Lazaro, Dennis Padilla and Ping Medina. Great supporting actors.

My Verdict:

If you think that the movie trailer is interesting, you better watch the entire movie to see how awesome Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story really is.

I hope that this movie gets top awards tonight for the MMFF. I hope that more people watch it so that the Filipino people will get to taste an A-grade film that’s both artistically done, and thought-provokingly good. I hope that the Filipino movie industry will grow more and that our cinemas will stop getting saturated by sappy love stories and recycled drama premises.

I hope that after reading this review, you will go to the nearest cinema and actually WATCH this movie.

—-

UPDATE: Manila Kingpin sweeps 37th MMFF and bags major awards. Click here to see which awards it won.

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Mission. Impossible. After you hear those words, it’s impossible for you not to imagine the infamous soundtrack that comes along with it, nor envision Tom Cruise dangling off some wire. In this fourth instalment in the Mission Impossible franchise, you won’t be disappointed because there’s a lot of the catchy soundtrack, a lot of dangling and a WHOLE LOT of Tom Cruise. Oh, and a lot of pure awesomeness too!

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol (2011) revolves around thwarting a mad Russian scientist who wants to start a nuclear war. As if that wasn’t hard enough, the mission is forced into secrecy and concealment once the IMF (their agency) gets implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin. The four agents Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), Brandt (Jeremy Renner), Benji (Simon Pegg) and Jane (Paula Patton) then have to operate without the support of government, manpower, or technology.

First of all, let me just say wow! This movie is a hundred and one percent of pure adrenaline-pumping badass-ness. My favourite scene is of course the one where Cruise does a Spiderman along the Burj Khalifa (currently the tallest building in the world). That sequence was done so well that even without too much dialogue, the viewers can really feel the tension and fear of being suspended that high in the air, with only some sticky gloves to prevent you from falling. I also liked:

• The first sequence where the launch codes are stolen by blondie assassin
• The hallway-iPad scene inside the Kremlin (super laughtrip)
• The simultaneous meetings held in different floors
• Every time Simon Pegg utters a line or makes a face. J That dude is hilarious!

I found MI4 extremely enjoyable not only for the action but also because of the humor. It has a lot of comical moments that are really funny, and it also has a lot of amazing stunts and excellent choreography.  The plot is okay. Not unique but believable nonetheless. But what they lack in story twists, they make up for in a gazillion Tom Cruise moments.

Tom Cruise (who is also the film’s producer) proves in this film that he is still a great Hollywood force to be reckoned with whether in front or behind the camera. If you ask me, I’m not a big fan of his acting prowess per se (emotions-wise) but I do have to give him props for doing all of his stunts himself. (And he’s nearing 50 years old now!) Some may think that producing a movie starring your self is a bit narcissistic and well, I kinda agree. But still, he really fit the part in this film. Good job all in all!

The rest of the cast did an alright performance as well, except for Simon Pegg who did a marvellous job as the nerdy-dorky agent Benji. His face is just so comical and his timing is really superb!

Oh, and before I forget. I have one tiny comment! How is it that the old Russian scientist was able to put up such a good fight with the super agent Ethan Hunt during the “last battle” in the film? In what universe is this possible? How can an old scientist be able to beat up Tom Cruise?! It just didn’t make sense to me. Haha!

In any case, Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol is a real must see! (Should you choose to accept it of course.)

After my recording yesterday in Makati, I decided to go to MOA to continue my Christmas shopping…

I thought that since it was a weekday afternoon, there wouldn’t be much people inside malls but boy was I wrong! There were sooo many people and majority of them were teens and tweens. (Apparently, classes are on break already) 0_o Of course there were entire families as well.

So anyway… I looove Christmas shopping. It feels great to go around and find things for the people you love. It’s hard work yes, (my hands and arms literally hurt from all the stuff I was carrying around huge MOA) but there’s a sort of fire you feel when you’re shopping for others, especially if they matter to you.

Had a girly splurgy lunch at Tokyo Cafe because I didn’t want to eat at the crowded places. PLUS, I was sorta in “date myself” mode.

TIP # 1 

Here’s a tip for last-minute Christmas shoppers, if you have no time to wrap, buy gifts from places that offer ready-to-give paperbags. Ready-to-give meaning, their paperbags are nice and already presentable for gift-giving. This includes stores like, Rustan’s and Marks and Spencer. But even stores like Beabi and Starbucks offer this service. Even if you buy just small (and cheap) items, they’ll still put it in a nice package. That’s savings on gift-wrappers!

TIP # 2

Here’s another tip, bring a list with you! I know it’s gasgas already, but some people forget this simple tip. When shopping, it’s so easy to get distracted and if you’re not focused, you can end up buying things for yourself instead of for others! (That happened to me a few weeks ago. Haha)

TIP # 3

Here’s my last tip, wear comfortable shoes. You’re bound to walk a lot of course. (Especially if you’re not yet sure on what to buy)

Alright! As a last note, let me emphasize that the Christmas Rush is SOOO ON.

No matter where you go now and regardless of the day or time, crowds are sure to be there, so good luck!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, loves!