i dreamed of a mad world

i guess you know by now that i 'm a fan of singing competitions particularly american idol. so let me share a few recent acts that are now sending tongues a-wagging and youtube a-buzzing.

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adam lambert at ai8

the recent spate of bad weather took my mbc4 out and i wasn't able to watch the telecast last weekend. and darn, that's when this cover of my favorite tears for fears song was done by adam lambert! many predict that he's the one to beat in this season of ai. well if only for this glorious version of mad world, i'd definitely agree.

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susan boyle at britain's got talent

now look at that face and tell me - honestly - if you can see a singing star. if you said no, then you're just as prejudiced as the audience and the judges of britain's got talent. i was too. i was guilty as hell judging her solely for her looks. but boy, oh boy, when she sings, it's an entirely different story.

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this susan boyle was a complete surprise right from the first line of this beautiful song from les miserables. and from then on, it's wild admiration from the audience until the last bar of the song. the judges were completely surprised. the audience obviously delighted. heck, i was moved! what in the world was this lady doing for the last 47 years? she should've hit the spotlight a loooonggggg time ago!

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anyways, all i can come up with is the screenshot above and the link to her clip below. actually, i'm pissed coz all susan boyle's clips in youtube are embedding disabled! whoever posted them is soooo not cool. here's a link anyway... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow-1Xl5Ttu0

read em and cackle

Dahil nga nasa Saudi ako, hindi na ako nagugulat pag nakakakita ako ng karatulang Shopping Center kahit sa totoo lang ay maliit lang sya na grocery na tulad ng mga sari-sari store sa atin. This is just a reminder na karamihan sa kanila ay linguistically challenged, idagdag mo pa ang mga Pana, Itik, Bangla, Masri at kung ano-anong lahi na mga partner o katiwala ng mga tindahang ito.

But still, there are some establishments whose signages made me smile. Yong iba medyo napapa-huh? pa ako. Here are a few of them. Kung taga-Jubail ka rin, I’m sure nakita mo na ang ilan dito.


FU Paints. Naku kung sino man ang nag-isip nito, siguradong hindi sya nagmumura!

Al-Fajr for Adjective Materials. Say what? Adjective materials daw. Naku nag-isip talaga ako. And the only thing I can gather is that base sa meaning ng word na adjective, baka naman ibig sabihin eh decorative materials. Hindi kaya?

Fahada Exhibition. Hmmm… tanong natin kay Chenelu at Chenelyn, siguradong matutuwa sila. Fahada! Hahahah! Ooopppsss… PG itong blog ko po!

Proud to Serve You Office For General Services. Well, your name is something you can not be proud of.

Al-Basri Grossary. Grossary. Grocery. Magkatunog naman eh, di pareho na rin yon! Hahahaha!!!

Sameer Electraniks. Eto ganon din. Seym-seym na rin kaya wag ka nang mag-apela.

East Pole Aircon. A touch of genius. Akalain mong maka-imbento ng ikatlong polar axis ng mundo. Aba, kahit sinong scientist at geographer, siguradong hindi alam na may East Pole pala huh.

Sleep High. Siguro durugista ang may-ari nito. Biro mo matutulog kang high!

Jubail Liquid Gas Marketing Head Center. Hindi pwedeng left, hindi pwedeng right. Basta center of the head daw. Saan ba yon? Ah, baka ilong… hahahhaaa!

Hay naku, nakaka-baliw. Kaya pag nandito ka, wag kang maniniwala sa mga nababasa mo. It’s like living in a la-la land tulad nong isang kakilala namin, di ba Miss Jones? Hehehehe.

what's good in it?

It’s Good Friday once again. That day every year that reminds us of the greatest story of sacrifice ever told. Jesus dying a ruthless, humiliating death up on the cross. All for the love of mankind.

But just one quick thought: why is it called Good Friday? It’s the death of Jesus and yet we call it good? Isn’t this one big misnomer?

What’s good about having Jesus being tortured, bearing a heavy cross on a long walk towards his death? What’s good about the Roman centurions piercing his flesh with their spears, breaking his bones and drawing that holy blood? What’s good in those nails that kept him dangling until he gasped his last breath?

So you'll say that it's good coz it redeemed our souls? That if Jesus didn't give up his life then we all are condemned to eternal hell? Is that what you mean by good? Well, isn't that the a bit insensitive and selfish?

Why can't we call it something more appropriate. Like Mournful or Black Friday. Anything that shows our appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice. Call it anything else but not good. Coz to me, we're no less barbaric than the centurions who nailed Jesus to the cross if we call this day good. He died because of our sins. So be more appropriate. And calling this day Good is so inappropriate.

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Ah well, it’s just a simple thought, a rather trivial question. But I think it only highlights the fact that we have swallowed all that’s been passed on to us as the truth. We believed everything our parents, grandparents, parish priests and catechism teachers taught us. We believed it because it’s what our tradition, religion and beliefs told us.
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Pardon me but I just can’t help but ponder deeply when it comes to faith. Coz I believe that blind faith is just as bad as having no faith at all.

la mome piaf

It’s past migdnight but I just can’t sleep with this piece of review running in my head. Katatapos ko lang kasing panoorin ang La Vie En Rose (thanks to Dubai One Tv) at kahit inaantok na ako, the urge to jump right into my pc and peck away my thoughts is just overwhelming.

Originally entitled La Mome (the kid), La Vie En Rose is the story of the legendary French chanteuse Edith Piaf. She was born Edith Gioavanni Gassion in the 1915 Paris, had a troubled childhood, nearly went blind if it wasn’t for prayers to St. Therese, grew up in poverty, brothel and circus but later became the ultimate diva of the 40’s and 50’s. As in walang sinabi ang mga Britney Spears at Madonna sa kanyang mga tantrums. They looked like kindergartens kung ikukumpara mo sa mga kagagahan ni Edith nong kasikatan nya.

But behind the eccentric, hard-headed and sometimes bitchy lady was an extremely talented singer. And seeing what she’s gone through in her early years, you’ll forgive her sa mga kalokahan nya. And you’ll feel for her when she lost a couple of important men in her life. First, her ‘Daddy Leplee’ (played by Gerard Depardieu) who picked her up from the streets, gave her a place to sing, and named her La Mome Piaf (the whaif sparrow). Then she also lost Marcel, a boxing champ who, despite being happily married to somebody else, was Edith’s greatest love.

It was when she lost Marcel that she became dependent with morphine. Having as much as 10 shots a day, an addiction which cost her health, and, eventually her life. She was only 48 years old when she died.

Sure it’s one extraordinary story of an artist told via one beautiful film.

Olivier Dahan (the Director) did a wonderful job of telling the story in an unconventional manner. The editing swings back and forth from several time frames of the story. Which makes the film so engaging. Ang daming flashback. At kahit nong bandang ending na, may flashback pa rin which reveals one very important part of the story – na nagkaron pala ng anak si Edith. There never was a mention of the child for the most part of the film. It was only revealed doon sa scene na malapit na syang mamatay and hallucinating. She was calling the name of the child. Saka lang pinakitang nagkaanak pala sya dati na namatay sa meningitis at a very early age. Yon yong eksenang napa-AHHH ako even if I was alone watching it!

It’s one film na pag nagmulti-tasking ka while watching it, you’ll get lost. Kaya hindi ako umangat sa tv. I only rushed to get some coke and chips nong commercial gap. Nagmamadali din ako sa cr coz I don’t want to miss one single scene of the film. And when I do that, well, it only means the film is really effective. Nahawakan yong interest ko all the way.

And the interest was largely because of Marion Cotillard who played Edith. She won Oscar Best Actress in 2008 for this role. And now that I’ve seen the film, I’d say she deserved it, hands down. In fact, if I look back at the nominees during that year, si Cate Blanchett lang ang matinding kalaban nya noon. Cate was very good as Elizabeth (na napanood ko lang ulit the other night), but Marion as Edith was awesome.

She breathed life and brought back Edith Piaf on screen. From a street-wise teenager in Paris to a touring diva in the US. From the boozing and partying star to the crooked old lady who barely can walk but sang her heart out as the last curtain drew on her. I didn’t see the tiniest part of Marion on screen. It was Edith all the way.

Galing din ng make-up team nong film (they won the Oscars also). Coz they gave Marion all the looks she needed to play the part well – from a coquettish 18-year old to a sickly and dying 48-year old lady. And all the years in between.

And the musical score? Well, that’s one integral part of the film that didn’t fail. Now I’d go to sleep with La Vie En Rose playing in my head. And oh yes, puyat na ako kakasulat nito. But it’s definitely worth it. Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.

hotnothot 7

Hotnot: Another recognition (sic) for the Philippines: we’re one of the four countries branded as ‘uncooperative tax havens’ by the G20. Along with Uruguay, Costa Rica and Labuan (Malaysian territory), the Philippines is said to be refusing to adopt new rules to encourage financial openness. Ibig sabihin, madaling magtago ang mga money launderers at embezzlers sa atin because of the laws. Eh di nga ba kaya maraming kurakot sa atin because hindi mo pwedeng bulatlatin ang mga accounts nila. Although as a Pinoy, magpo-protesta ako dito. Does it mean we’re worse than Switzerland, Lichstenstein and other European countries who are known for their eternally stringent bank secrecy rules?. Anyways, totoo man o hindi, it’s bad news for the Philippines which may be blacklisted by IMF and World Bank because of that branding. Naku, kalian na ba matatapos itong notoriety ng Pinas sa international stage? Una, naka-dalawang pwesto tayo sa top ten most corrupt countries in the world. Then, the World Bank declaring a government project to be heavily padded. Tapos ito. Aba, hindi na talaga maganda ang nangyayari ah.

Hothot : Judy Lardizabal topping the 2009 Bar Exams. What’s hot about Judy? She’s the latest example of great success from very humble beginnings. Sabi sa report, tindera ‘lang’ daw sa palengke ang nanay niya and her father is a tricycle driver. Although medyo OA yong kwento dahil may kapatid naman palang nagta-trabaho sa Germany si Judy which means, hindi lang sa pagtitinda sa palengke at pamamasada ng tricycle nakuha ni Judy yong suporta sa pag-aaral nya like what the story was supposed to dramatize. Nevertheless, hanga pa rin ako kay Judy who graduated on some social courses in UP then finished law at the San Sebastian College. She got 85.70% and topped the other 1,310 bar passers.

Hotnot: A 15-year old girl allegedly raped overnight by an Arab man. According to the report, the girl met the guy in a disco house in Malate. The guy then invited the girl to his room kung saan nag-inuman sila. Then the rape took place. Yan ang problema. In the first place, ano’ng ginagawa ng isang 15-year sa isang disco house sa Malate? Hindi ba’t dapat nasa bahay sya, gumagawa ng homework or tumutulong sa nanay nya na maglaba o mag-linis ng bahay? Tapos ngayon sisigaw ng rape? Sa iyong bata ka, halika rito at ibibitin kita ng patiwarik. At yong may-ari ng bar, ipabisita yan kay Mayor Lim. Bakit kayo nagpapa-pasok ng menor de edad? At ang mga magulang ng batang ito, ipadala kay Dr. Phil para mapangaralan sa tamang parenting.

Hothot: My man Obama shining brightly in London and Strassbourg. He got positive reviews in his first international stint since his election. Not only charming his way but also showing everybody that he really knows his business during the G20 meeting. Then he continued the same stellar performance at the Nato meeting in Germany. Malaking tulong din ang classy and brainy wife nya na si Michelle who charmed even the rigid English Queen. Isa lang ang napansin ko kay Barack: in his interviews both in London and Strassbourg, masyado siyang maingat sa kanyang mga sinasabi. He delivers his sentences in a laborious pace. In fact, I’m getting the impression that while he is saying the first part of his sentence, his brain is scrambling to formulate the middle and last part of what he wants to say. Hindi tuloy masyadong impressive ang dating. Hindi candid. But maybe because first outing nga nya sa international scene kaya masyadong maingat lang sya lalo sa choice of words. Coz he knows he’s under the world’s scrutiny. Still, good job, Sir.

the curious case of the shrinking riyal

I was just telling my friends the story nong nagbayad ako ng rent sa bahay last week. Tinaas na kasi ng realtor yong rent ko from 14k to 20k. To think na nag-start ako dito noong Dec 2003 na 10k lang ang rent.

For more than four years, ganon ang rent ko. Then March last year, tinaasan kami to 14k na. Sumabay ang may-ari at naki-uso sa mga realtor all over Jubail (I don’t know if it’s the same case sa ibang part ng KSA). Tingin ko lang, nakigaya sila sa Dubai where house rent is one, if not the highest, in the gulf region.

At nong February nga, sinabihan na ako ng realtor na magtataas na naman ulit. Yon nga, 20k na for this rat hole na may two-bedroom, 1 bath and a kitchen at wala namang living room.

Dahil ayaw kong dumanas ng hirap ng paglilipat (I have a few big pieces of furnitures/appliances), kinagat ko pa rin yong presyo. Besides, mahirap na ring maghanap ng flat. Mahal na rin kahit sa outlying areas ng Jubail town. Pero sabi ko nga sa ka-share ko, pag tinaasan pa kami ulit next payment, talagang lalayasan ko na ito. Better yet, lumayas na lang kaya ako ng Saudi.

Tumaas na kasi lahat ng bilihin dito. It all started nong may rice crisis. Nag-umpisa sa bigas where a 5kg-bag previously sold at SR 15 eh biglang naging 18, 22 at ngayon ay nasa 25 to 27 SR na. Ang 1 liter na cooking oil na dating SR 8 or 9 ay naging SR 13 na. Ang 2.5kg detergent soap (Tide) na dati’y SR 13 lang ngayon ay SR 18 na, at 1.75kg na lang.

With these increase in basic commodities, nobody else loses kungdi kaming mga dayuhang manggagawa. Hindi naman sumabay ang pag-taas ng sweldo namin. We were given some adjustments pero hindi commensurate don sa naging pag-taas ng cost of living.

Hindi naman katulad ito ng Pinas na pwede kang mag-organize ng union at mag-picket para humingi ng wage increase. Kontrata ang pinag-uusapan dito. Maswerte na nga kami at nag-bigay ng increase kahit papano ang kumpanya namin.

At kung tutuusin, double jeopardy ang nangyayari sa amin ngayon. Coz hindi lang dito kami binubugbog ng gastos. Of course sa Pinas din.

Nong nasa bakasyon ako, minsan tinanong ko ang ate kong namamalengke. Magkano kako yong dalawang piraso ng patatas. 18 pesos daw. Haaa??? Since then hindi na ako nakialam sa pamamalengke. At sa grocery, kuha na lang ng kuha at bayad ng bayad. Ang control na lang, yong mga importante na lang ang dinadampot. Hindi tulad ng dati na kung ano-ano ang nasa grocery cart.

Kaya ngayon, dagdag din ng budget sa Pinas plus the budget dito. Kaya in the end, lumiit na ang natitira sa amin. Lumiit na ang naiipon. Maaring malaki pa rin kung iku-compare sa sitwasyon sa Pinas. But still, hindi na ganon kalaki ang nagiging savings ko buwan-buwan.

And that only means na kung may target savings ka over a period of 2 years, ngayon hindi mo na yon maa-achieve at the same period. Maaring maging 3 or 4 years na yon. Meaning, tumatagal at humahaba ang sentensya mo sa Saudi. Idagdag mo pa yang global economic crisis na yan. Naku, parang nasentensyahan na yata tayo ng reclusion perpetua!!!

a bad chip off the block

As far as Filipinos are concerned, Chip Tsao is the villain of the day. His article enraged a lot of Filipinos from the domestics that he berated to the mediamen and politicians alike. And I wouldn’t be far behind. Of course I’ve got some patriotic spells too just like this stupid writer so it’s my duty to defend my country which he unceremoniously disrespected.

So he has no problem if Russians or Japanese will kill them Chinese and invade their land?. Boy that was an outright admission of cowardice, low self-steem and un-patriotism. Contrary to what he claims to be.

But if it’s the Philippines who will lord it over, he’s fighting back. Why? Because he sees Filipinos as a mere ‘nation of servants’! And he can only fight back if it’s ‘small fry’ he’s up against? Whatta prick!

But before I jack up my blood pressure unnecessarily, let me step back and say one thing: this Chip Tsao is obviously a nut case. He’s either psychologically incapacitated, mentally ill, or just plain and simple whacko.

For him to lecture his housemaid about politics and geography is pathetic. To think that Louisa has a degree on international politics. I could only assume it’s Louisa who should do the lecturing.

And for him to think of ‘hostaging’ these domestics should the Philippines pursue it’s claim on the Spratlys? That’s what I meant when I say mentally deranged.

So as I took a step back and regained my composure (together with some objectivity), let me send out some messages here:

To the UNCHR: Please look into the plight of Louisa and other domestic helpers here who, according to this Chip Tsao, are being indoctrinated and made to shout “China” whenever they hear Spratlys. This is obviously a violation of human rights and should be investigated. Punish the violators specially this bad Chip.

To the publishers and editor of HK Magazine: Wake up you guys. For an article this toxic to be published in your magazine, you must be sleeping.

To the Philippine Government: Pull out Louisa and save her from this obviously dangerous monster. She must have been suffering a lot by now. Give her back the dignity so ruthlessly taken away from her by this abusive employer. On a grander scheme of things, improve the Philippine economy so that Pinoys would no longer have to go to HK and other countries. You can start by stopping graft and corruption and serving the Filipino people in it’s truest, selfless sense. Not just your own pockets.

To my fellow Pinoys in general: Sure we all have to be angry whenever things like this pop up. But we should aso think instead of just reacting. Think about things that we can do to wipe out the contempt and disrespect in the hearts of Teri Hatchers, Jimmy Kimmels and Chip Tsaos and the likes. With our talents, skills and innate warmth, we sure can win over these devils.

And to Chip Tsao: If you really are patriotic, then don’t take foreigners into your domestic staff. Take someone from your own country. Afterall, there are many jobless men and women in the obscure provinces of China whom you should be taking into your employ. With that, you can truly be a patriotic ass.

Oh boy, whatta way to start April huh!