Another Perksquad Escapade

“Nagpagupit ka? Bakit? Gusto mo naman yan haircut mo? Di naman yan tulad ng ibang girls na nagpapagupit sa moment of weakness nila at nagsisisi after? Bagay naman sa’yo, nagmukha kang woman with perspective.”

-Paul

Last Saturday was the first time in ages that I met up with my bestest of friends [Japh, AM, Sam, Bon and Paul … Nate and Abby in spirit] outside of Rockwell [that’s because when school starts, the only time where we can meet up is when they decide to visit me in Rockwell, specifically in Starbucks]. It was all Japhet’s idea, he called and informed [yes, he wasn’t asking if I could come, saying NO was not an option] me that we shall meet up that night. I said NO, he asked why and I said MONEY, his exact words were, “Kailan naman naging problema yan? Magkita tayo sa Shangri-La at ako na bahala sayo.” So, I asked my parents if I could come and they said no, I should stay home. It was time for the,”I don’t get to go out without studying! This is the first time in ages that I’m really going out to have fun… I haven’t seen my friends in a while!” tantrum. They heeded.

Euns: Let’s meet up at Starbucks upstairs, smoking area.
Japhet: Dun na lang sa Starbucks sa baba!
Euns: Di pwede, mas ok sa taas. Di halata na I didn’t order anything.
[Summary of my ka-PURESAHAN!]

With an amount of money not far from poverty, I commuted my way to Shangri-La. Sabi ko nga, “Jeep kung jeep ang lola mo!” It turned out that our gimmick was gonna be in Tomas Morato. The plan was to have dinner at Reyes Barbeque, conduct a videoke night in Starway [it was everyone’s first time, AM suggested the place.. it turned out, she just looked for a Videoke place in Click The City] and cap the night off in Starbucks. Well, almost. We didn’t have dinner at Reyes Barbeque because Japhet and I were so lazy to walk from Starbucks, so we had dinner at Starbucks. When Bon, Paul and Amitz arrived, we felt the urge to buy REAL FOOD and went to my hottest resto find at present, GRILLED TOMATO. People who are in Tomas Morato should definitely try the place… It’s cozy, the food’s great and well, it’s very conducive to great conversations… did I say that the food is GREAT? El delicioso, I’ll post the menu one of these days. GRILLED TOMATO is near Starbucks. Walk through the side street from the corner of Aruba and on look for it on your right side, you won’t miss it.

We spent about three hours in Starway KTV [somewhere in the creekside] and belted our hearts out while satisfying our alcoholic urges. The room was big, more than enough to accommodate our song and dance numbers. We really shook our bonbons, brought IT and told ‘em what we want what we really really want. It was worth the 350 per hour that we paid… It was one helluva private show!

At the end of our “concert”, we headed to Starbucks to talk. Our favorite thing in the whole wide world is CONVERSATION. From the usual how are you’s and dustahan moments to our political, entrepreneurial and spiritual views. I was reminded why they are my bestest of friends. A few hours after, we decided to end our fruitful night and vowed to do it again. Hopefully, earlier than next year. [winks at AM]

As for the freeloader me, I went home more thankful than ever for God’s gifts that are my friends.

It’s Complicated.

Whether we admit it or not, we click on It’s Complicated as our status in Friendster to create an illusion that we are extremely close to being In a Relationship. For me, adding the status It’s Complicated is Friendster’s most brilliant idea, it’s a mask or a profile accessory that Single persons can turn to if they need to once in a while make heads turn or more correctly, make people pay attention [even for a few secs] to their profile. It can mean anything from the most honest, “I am dating someone, it’s just that he /she still hasn’t asked me to go into a serious relationship yet.” to the pretentious, “I know this guy/girl likes me, he/she just hasn’t gathered the courage to ask me out... and to even smile at me.” or to the dramatic, “What do we mean to each other? Are we friends or lovers?”

It’s Complicated represents the hopefuls, the drama queen, the confused, the abandoned, the in denial and everything that this Complicated World has to offer. The thing is, It’s Complicated is a catch-all status. Being “in a relationship” can be complicated, being “single” is definitely complicated, and well, I cannot imagine how complicated Marriage or Domestic Partnership could be.

What’s the point? Oh well, it’s complicated.

Cine Europa Day 3: FC VENUS and Girl Power

I went to Ateneo to pass my International Economic Law and Labor Law Paper Requirements and met up with Haze to watch a Cine Europa film for the last time. While waiting for our film, Haze and I decided to hangout at the Starbucks Shangri-la smoking area. Luckily, we bumped into Haze’s college friends whom she hasn’t seen in a while. They chatted a few minutes before we decided to buy our Dimsum n’ Dumpling soup dinner. Then we returned to what has become our temporary home in Starbucks Shangri-La.

We were planning to watch at least two films but were only able to watch one, FC Venus. It’s about the usual misunderstanding between men and women and how it’s constantly resolved by love and everything that really matters. Nothing new about the plot except for football and how it has become the central theme for the film. It was good enough to entertain Haze and I and to make us laugh… After the film, we one again bumped into Jan [the high schoolmate] whom we bumped into on our second Cine Europa day. I asked for her number so we can keep in touch and vowed to meet up again a year after for another Cine Europa getaway.

It was a great end to our Cine Europa trilogy. After our “Sinigang and Adobo” conversations [inside joke] and a lot of kadramahan after, I can say that we started our semestral break right.

Cine Europa Day 2: A Sort of Reunion

My second Cine Europa day for this year was planned a week before it happened. My long lost cousin, Jeff and I got in touch after what seemed like ages and decided to meet up for a sort of reunion / bonding / catching up. The plan was to watch from 12nn until 12 mn, but it didn’t push through because first, I wasn’t able to wake up in time to catch the 12nn flick and well, Jeff got “caught in traffic”, which I think is a sort of lame excuse. [Kidding!] When we finally got to meet, it was too late to catch even the 2pm film so we had to wait for Facing Windows whose screening is at 6pm and fall in line at around 4pm for the tickets. You will not believe how easily the tickets can run out. It’s a competitive sport, haha. My cousin and I had to get four tickets [for Haze and Rach] so after falling in line for our tickets; we separated and fell in line again to get another set. Pa-spy pa ang drama, nagkita pa sa hagdan after ng krimen. Apir cousin!

It was around this time that I texted Rach and Haze to join me and my cousin. Rachelle said yes and emphasized the importance of us watching that 9pm film, Just Sex and Nothing Else. The title easily enticed my cousin; the only word he could remember was Sex. We decided to enter the cinema late so we can fall in line first at around a few minutes after 6 for the Just Sex and Nothing Else tickets. When Rach arrived, I got to introduce her to Jeff whom she thinks looks cute because he looked like a big17 year old playing with his PSP. Our only dilemma was that the “brilliant Hazel” didn’t make it to fall in line for the 9pm film at six. So, the Cine Europa whores that we are tried to find a way to get Haze’s ticket. Alas, I saw my friend / high schoolmate Jan who was luckily alone. I asked her if I could fall in line [again] with her so I can get another ticket for my brilliant friend. She said yes and so we got to reconnect. I found out that she currently works or Gabriela as a writer. I knew she’d be someone someday, I’m glad she found her purpose. Now, with four tickets for Facing Windows and five tickets for Just Sex and Nothing Else, we asked Jan to just watch Facing Windows with us because it was apparent that Haze will not make it on time anyway.

Facing Windows was very interesting. It was about an old man with a mental problem who turned out to be a pastry expert who was looking for Simone. The twist was that Simone turned out to be a guy [the old man’s gay] and that they had a secret place where they would exchange love letters. When the Nazis came, the old man saved the very same people who judged him and Simone for being homosexuals. Ohh, but the real protagonist was this woman accountant who had a family and an absolutely hot husband who doesn’t take care of her. She met this absolutely way hotter guy who lives just across her apartment, thus the title Facing Windows. The cinematography was good; the little details were little puzzles that completed quite an exquisite picture. The lines fit the mood of the film. In other words, ahlaveeet.

Just Sex and Nothing Else probably is my most favorite of all the films in my three-day Cine Europa escapade. No, it’s not because there’s sex in it, in fact, it was surprisingly wholesome. What made it extraordinary are its wit and its ability to transform the usual plot [boy meets girl, they hate each other initially but the phrase, “The more you hate the more you love.” comes into place.” The woman is made cynical by her unfortunate relationship experiences thus hiding her being a romantic who wants to have kids and the guy reputed as playboy but in reality is a very loyal knight in shining armor.]

After our Cine Europa day, Haze, Rach, Jeff and I decided to have dinner at Hula! Hula! I’m so glad that Rach and Haze liked Jeff and Jeff, the usual “people-person” that he is, was able to jive with my friends. The night ended with us being won over to his side after a day of me teasing him about being a chauvinist [hehe]. It was a great second Cine Europa day.

CHOKOLEYT

I was watching Sharon a while ago and I couldn’t help but quote Chokoleyt for making me laughed the hardest.

Sharon: Paano kayo nakikipagsabayan, lalo na dito sa ABS sa mga tao na kagandahan naman ang puhunan nila?
Chokoleyt: Di ako nakikipagsabayan, nagpapahuli ako para mapansin. Tsaka naniniwala ako na lahat naman tayo maganda, depende lang sa katabi.

Beverly: [on her face] Matagal na tinanggihan ng DPWH itong mga baku-bako sa mukha ko.
Chokoleyt: Meron din doctor na tumutulong sakin pero ang kaisa-isa nyang hiling wag ko na raw banggitin ang pangalan nya.

[On seeing Rosita and her French boyfriend kissing]
“Ang swerte mo naman Rosita, ikaw talaga ang napili sa lahat ng mga camel dun.”

Amazing Race: Thesis Edition

Got my official Thesis topic for the second part of my "Substantial Compliance" series in the evening of October 31. [Thanks Ana D.]

I started typing my first word for the thesis requirement at around 9pm last night [November 1], went to bed at around five in the morning after finishing my all new thesis statement, outline, and abstract.

I woke up at 9am to begin the grueling three thousand word Chapter One. I finished my Chapter One at 4:45 pm. Got to fix the bibiliography at 5:10pm and finished printing everything at 5:30 pm.

Left my house at 5:35 and specifically instructed the cab driver to "Step on the gas." because I need to be in Rockwell at 6. The cab driver happily obliged and a few near-coliision moments after, I was brisk-walking my way up the stairs to the Guard. After borrowing Lea's puncher and successfully fastening everything... she informed us that the papers are to be picked up at 8pm pa. Great.

And now, I'm OFFICIALLY ON A SEM BREAK!!!! Woohoo. Bring it on calories!

Legal Feasibility and Consequences of a Fixed Foreign Exchange Rate for OFW Remittances

my new thesis topic.

Thanks Ana D.

CINE EUROPA Day no.1: Eunice's Retreat / Cinema Getaway

I had my very own retreat. It's not your conventional silent retreat, heck it wasn't even spiritual, it was a CINE EUROPA retreat. If you know me, you prolly would just give me that knowing look because you're resigned to the idea that I have my weird ways. I watched The Taming of the Shrew [yeah, that Shakespearian play], Carol's Journey and Jalla! Jalla!. This is my own way of detoxifying and reflecting. I haven't watched a flick alone in years, I have almost forgotten how liberating it is. Not having to think of how to establish a conversation, not having to share your popcorn with anyone and being able to give my full attention to the film if I want to or let my mind wander a bit. It was a perfect ritual. Inside the cinema, I only have myself in mind.

It wasn't planned, it was more like a blessing in disguise when my friends Angel and Jason backed out on me. [Hmmph!] I tried to invite my other friends but everyone's busy with their own work, deadlines and everything that this cruel life has to offer.

My first film for this year's Cine Europa was The Taming of the Shrew. I was able to identify with Kate, not because I'm an outright shrew nor am I a bratinella [not close] but because of her being a surface toughie. The second film was too serious for me. Carol's Journey is set during the war. I know it could've been better appreciated by me if I didn't feel drained after The Taming of the Shrew. Carol's Journey, unfortunately, became my "break" in my movie marathon. The last film for the day was Jalla! Jalla!, and what can I say but J'adore! It was pretty refreshing, the plot's not new, it's about Mans, a guy who's having and erectile dysfunction and his friend, Roro who's being forced by his parents to marry a girl whom he doesn't love. I loved the humor and the fact that the guy playing Mans was effin' HOT. Woohoo!

At the end of the day, I tried to cap everything off by smoking at Shangri-La’s Smoking Area near Starbucks. A guy, who freaking looks like Jesus, asked if I can give him a cig stick. I said yes because I am reminded that Jesus is in everyone around us and how we treat them mirrors how we treat God. Yeah, yeah... It was more like, "Spreading the Lung Cancer," but I had good intentions. Then he sat in front of me, right at my table! I didn't mind him because I was actually making pa-cute to that other guy who borrowed my lighter a few minutes before "Jesus" came along.

It was a great day. I needed that.

BEST "AFTER FINALS PARTY" MOMENTS

Euns: Oh no, i forgot to pass my Legal Accounting quiz.
Patty: Kamusta ka naman?
Ces: Kamusta ka?!
Haze: Seryoso?
Rach: [the talking MAKOPA] HOW ARE YOU?
Everyone: [puzzled silence]
Patty: Ah, english ng KAMUSTA KA NAMAN?!
Everyone: [walang hanggang pagtawa]

Sev: Hey Rach.. Are you drunk?
Rach: Uhmm, I don't think so... but I think so..

Shem: [tradisyon na'to] He looked sooooo dugyot.
Mel and Euns: "He looked sooo dugyot....."

[Pasok sila Anton na may dalang cake at nakasinding candle]
Everyone: [sings happy birthday with questioning looks]
Natapos ang pagkanta na walang nakakaalam kung sino ang may birthday... si KC pala. Ang catch, sa Friday pa.

Dahil Hindi Pwede na Perfect ang Lahat

My PC crashed. Everything's gone.

Again.

CINE EUROPA 10 - FILMS AND SCHEDULE

CINE EUROPA 10 - FILMS AND SCHEDULE
Posted by: "Golda Gaudiel" at the Cinemanila yahoogroup:

OCT. 18-31, 2007
SHANG CINEPLEX, SHANG-RI LA PLAZA MALL

Summer with the Ghosts AUSTRIA
A film is being produced at the medieval fortress of Finterstein in Austria, at the great displeasure on the resident ghosts. Peter, the film producer is visited by his daughter Caroline from Montreal, who is on summer holiday. As her father is busy, she begins her own exploration of the fortress.

The Kiss BELGIUM
Sarah, a beautiful and gifted girl of 15, lives in a wealthy but dysfunctional family. She holds on to one dream: to run away and to become a professional ballerina.

Dead Man’s Hand BELGIUM
A wacky comedy about a frugal husband who spends his days repossessing goods purchased by big spenders–while an old friend teaches his neglected wife how to shop on a grand scale.

Kolya CZECH REPUBLIC
A bittersweet comedy set in Prague about an aging bachelor saddled with a small boy from Russia. It is set in the late 1980s, the period just before the fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia.

The Leap DENMARK
Tobias Jacobsen is 42. When the doctors tell him he is fatally ill, the earth opens up beneath him and he finds himself plunging into the abyss.

FC Venus FINLAND
A romantic comedy of men and women, and the differences between the two. It is a story of success and failure, the joy of winning and the fear of losing–and football.

La Mome FRANCE
From the streets of of the cutthroat Belleville district of Paris to the dazzling limelight of New York’s concert halls, Edith Piaf’s life was a constant battle to sing and survive, to live and love.

Summer in Berlin GERMANY
A story of two girlfriends, who, from their balcony–between heaven and earth gaze down at their turbulent and difficult universe, where the right men are all too often exactly wrong, and to get ahead even a good-looking woman had better be strong.

Just Sex and Nothing Else HUNGARY
Discovering that her lover is already married, Dora, a 30 year-old playwright, decides to give up on men. She focuses on satisfying her own desire to have a child and starts to look for a donor.

Inside I’m Dancing IRELAND
Michael has cerebral palsy and has spent all his life in residential care. He knows nothing beyond the walls of the Carrigmore Home for the Disabled. Until, that is, he meets new resident Rory, a wise-cracking rebel who will not allow his Duchenne muscular dystrophy to sap his spirit.

Facing Windows ITALY
Giovanna is a bookeeper in a company which packs chickens. She is married to a man who has a precarious job. Overburdened and stuck in a greying marriage, Giovanna begins to reflect on her life and turns to a young man who lives across from her.

You am I LITHUANIA
A contemporary tale about an architect-dreamer building a futurist house in a tree, within a gloomy forest.

Ellis in Glamourland THE NETHERLANDS
A world famous glamour guru is in town publicising her hugely successful help book. In a moment of brashness at a publicity presentation, she randomly selects unsuspecting hotel cleaner and single mother, Ellis, promising to turn her from "ugly duckling" to "beautiful swan".

Meeting the Enemy SLOVAKIA
The setting is a snow-covered landscape towards the end of World War II. The film revolves a day in the life of a soldier, who was tasked to escort his prisoner with orders to shoot him.

Carol’s Journey SPAIN
Carol, a 12 year-old Spanish-American girl from New York, travels with her mother to Spain in the spring of 1938, at the height of the Civil War. Separated from her beloved father, Carol arrives in her mother's home village and transforms the secretive family environment.

Jalla! Jalla! SWEDEN
Måns and Roro are best friends and work as park attendants. The days calmly pass by until Måns all of a sudden has serious problems getting an erection and Roro is faced with the fact that he has one week to avoid being married off.

Taming of the Shrew UNITED KINGDOM
Baptista has 2 daughters: Kate and Bianca. Everyone wants to wed the fair Bianca, but nobody’s much interested in problem child, Kate until Baptista declares that he won’t give Bianca away in marriage until he’s found a husband for Kate.

OCT. 18 (THURSDAY)
OPENING NIGHT
Shooting Dogs (1:55) 7:00 PM

OCT. 19 (FRIDAY)
Summer with the Ghost (1:25) 12:00 PM
The Kiss (De Kuss) (1:37) 2:00 PM
Dead Man’s Hand (Petite Miseras) (1:17) 4:00 PM
Closely Watched Trains (1:29) 6:00 PM
Fanny & Alexander (3:08) 8:00 PM

OCT. 20 (SATURDAY)
Kolya (1:48) 12:00 PM
Leap (1:31) 2:15 PM
FC Venus (1:47) 4:15 PM
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1:31) 6:30 PM
La Mome (2:20) 8:30 PM

OCT. 21 (SUNDAY)
The Leopard (II Gattopardo) (3:05) 12:00 PM
Summer in Berlin (1:47) 3:30 PM
Just Sex & Nothing Else (1:30) 6:15 PM
Ellis in Glamourland (1:35) 8:15 PM
You am I (1:30) 9:20 PM

OCT. 22 (MONDAY)
Facing Windows (1:36) 12:00 PM
You am I (1:30) 2:45 PM
Karakter (2:00) 4:45 PM
Lives of Others (2:17) 7:15 PM
Ellis in Glamourland (1:35) 10:00 PM

OCT. 23 (TUESDAY)
Meeting the Enemy (2:00) 12:00 PM
Carol’s Journey (1:44) 2:30 PM
Jalla! Jalla! (1:28) 4:45 PM
Taming of the Shrew (2:07) 7:45 PM
Shooting Dogs (1:55) 10:00 PM

OCT. 24 (WEDNESDAY)
Closely Watched Trains (1:29) 12:00 PM
Fanny & Alexander (3:08) 2:00 PM
The Kiss (De Kuss) (1:37) 5:30 PM
Summer with the Ghost (1:25) 7:45 PM
Dead Man’s Hand
(Petite Miseras) (1:17) 9:40 PM
OCT. 25 (THURSDAY)
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1:31) 12:00 PM
La Mome (2:20) 2:00 PM
FC Venus (1:47) 5:00 PM
Kolya (1:48) 7:20 PM
Leap (1:31) 9:40 PM

OCT. 26 (FRIDAY)
Taming the Shrew (2:07) 12:00 PM
Ellis in Glamourland (1:35) 2:30 PM
You am I (1:30) 4:30 PM
Karakter (2:00) 6:30 PM
Facing Windows (1:36) 9:00 PM

OCT. 27 (SATURDAY)
Shooting Dogs (1:55) 12:00 PM
Taming of the Shrew (2:07) 2:30 PM
Carol’s Journey (1:44) 5:00 PM
Jalla! Jalla! (1:28) 7:15 PM
Meeting the Enemy (2:00) 9:15 PM

OCT. 28 (SUNDAY)
Summer with the Ghost (1:25) 12:00 PM
Dead Man’s Hand
(Petite Miseras) (1:17) 2:00 PM
Fanny & Alexander (3:08) 4:00 PM
The Kiss (De Kuss) (1:37) 7:30 PM
Closely Watched Trains (1:29) 9:40 PM

OCT. 29 (MONDAY)
Jalla! Jalla! (1:28) 12:00 PM
The Leopard (II Gattopardo) (3:05) 2:15 PM
Facing Windows (1:36) 5:45 PM
Just Sex & Nothing Else (1:30) 8:00 PM
Lives of Others (2:17) 10:00 PM

OCT. 30 (TUESDAY)
Leap (1:31) 12:00 PM
La Mome (2:20) 2:00 PM
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1:31) 4:50 PM
Kolya (1:48) 6:50 PM
FC Venus (1:47) 9:15 PM

OCT. 31 (WEDNESDAY)
Just Sex & Nothing Else (1:30) 12:00PM
Karakter (2:00) 2:00 PM
Carol’s Journey (1:45) 4:45 PM
Summer in Berlin (1:47) 7:00 PM
The Leopard (II Gattopardo) (3:05) 9:15 PM

http://www.delphl.ec.europa.eu/index.cfm?pagename=specialfeature&feature...
DATES AND VENUES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.