For the Love of Andrew McCarthy (Feel-Good Movies of the '80s)

Hi guys!

I know that I haven't posted any movie suggestions for a while, but here it goes. For this one, I chose movies that are oldies, but goodies. These are films produced around the '80s.  Don't you just love movies from the '80s? Because I do!

They are not classics, but you just gotta love these ones! I must warn you though; they all feature Andrew McCarthy, because...I love him! Well, who doesn't? The guy is plain handsome, specially during his 20s. He still is actually.

SEE??? He was really famous during the '80s, because of his boy-next-door looks.

Now, let's go down to business.


1) Mannequin (1987)

It's a romantic comedy fantasy film, which stars Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall as the two lead. Kim is  a mannequin that comes to life, only in the presence of Andew. Jonathan Switcher, McCarthy's character, on the other hand is an artist-wannabe, who got hired as a department store window dresser. Together, they are unstoppable. Working and playing inside a mall, these two do know how to have fun!

Kim Casttrall was astoundingly beautiful in this film. I also love the main song of the film, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship. It really suits the story of the movie.

2) Pretty In Pink (1986)

I love this film. It is about two teenagers, Andie and Blane, coming together despite their difference in social class, peers, and preferences. The ending sucks though. For one, Andrew McCarthy was wearing a wig during the prom scenes, because he was already shooting another film at the time. Second, his character, Blane, got off easy with Andie. She should have made him beg, even suffer. Well, maybe suffering is too harsh. I guess the two of them getting together in the end would have made more sense if it was shown that Blane exerted a lot of effort to make it up to Andie.








I found a lot of truth in the movie, with regards to stereotypes, social class, and friendships in high school. This is a must-watch indeed.

3) Weekend at Bernie's (1989)



This film is one of my favorites! This may sound shallow to some, but this is a movie that gets me through some sad and tough times. I just can't resist laughing whenever I watch it. Bernie is indeed the funniest and most interactive corpse for me. This film has a sequel, but please no longer bother for it. It's no match for the first one, I can assure you.




The film follows the story of two young employees, who found fraud committed in their company. Invited by their boss to spend the weekend with him, the two went on an adventure, only to find their boss dead inside his rest house. Watch how these two guys convince people that Bernie is still alive. It will knock you out of your seat!

Note: I do not own any of the photos above. I got them all from Google.

One Domino Down

I remember a year ago, I was cramming an editorial about Jesse Robredo. I didn’t know who he was, or what all the grieving was about. I was not even following the news regarding the crash to the recovery of his body, until I actually had to write about it. In my prayers, may be yes, he was mentioned once. What makes this person, so important to so many people – I had no idea.

In order to write the editorial, I had to read about various articles/writings about him. I learned that he won a Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service. He acquired a degree in Industrial Management Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from De La Salle University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines, and graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government with a Masters of Public Administration degree. These things about him though, I got from Wikipedia, because most articles written about him, from those who know him personally or not, commends and talks of not his achievements, but him and his service.

Truth be told, I have no awesome or epic leadership story. I am a student and a volunteer, which I am both proud to be. I am not the great president or leader, who saved everybody’s neck by taking the blame. I am not the noble leader, who does all the work either. The thing about having Jesse Robredo as my example is that I get to do all my obligations or responsibilities and tasks, while applying his principles. I learned to do my everyday thing extraordinarily, with excellence and conscience.

I have always admired how he incorporated the suggestions and concerns of members of the community in his projects and decisions. This pushed citizens of Naga to be active, not only in the planning, but also upon implementation of policies and developments. I realized that despite my good intentions and plans for my group, I will not succeed without everyone’s thoughts, support, and cooperation. I learned to not only ask, “What do you think of my idea?” but also, “What are your ideas?” I came to see that leadership does not revolve around being in control and superiority. I learned from him that a few good words can go a long way. It lifts people to their feet; it moves us.

In spite of all the success, all the praise, and all the awards, Jesse Robredo always go back to his roots and to his loved ones. I know that as much as many Filipinos admired him, to his family, he was also their biggest hero. In his own way, he depicted how everything starts at home. He showed me that for the time and effort we spend helping other people, we must never forget to attend first to our family and loved ones, without neglecting our oaths, principles, and responsibilities.

Whenever I hear ‘Tsinelas leadership’, a picture pops into my mind: Jesse Robredo sweeping the streets of Naga after a typhoon. He could have formed and managed a task force for the clean-up, but he did not. I realized then that if I want something achieved, I have to do it, but I don’t have to do it alone. I see his pictures – a picture of a great frontrunner, but I see him surrounded by people. It pushed me to take action whenever the time and situation calls for it.

The thing about him is that he brought back the real essence of public service. If one opts for climbing the social or career ladder or high salary, then this is definitely not the way to go, because this kind of service requires genuine will and effort to serve other people. As I have seen with the home of the Robredos’, doing public service may not bring about a new or a bigger house, but it brings good company, good people around.

I never thought how a person, who I have only met after he has been gone, will bring about positive or any change to me at all. I know that he may not be perfect, but I know that he tried to do right. He showed me way on how to lead a fulfilling life. From him, I realized that public service is not bounded by material things, credits, and intention. It is a way of life by which we should live in. Given that we are brought in this world to live alongside other people by whatever force or reason that we believe in, I guess that is already a hint. In a way, Jesse started a blaze, because I know that whatever traits I got from him, they are being mirrored by those people, whose lives I have touched.

This is a photo of me and Rep. Leni Robredo, wife of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Like dark chocolate (A book review of Like Water for Chocolate)

I have fallen in love so many times, through the story of many heroes and heroines, who have fallen trapped to the powers of Cupid. Still, I have never felt anything close to the heated passion that I have felt while reading Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate.

The story opens to the narration of the birth and coming of age of Tita, the youngest daughter of the all-female De La Garza family. Due to the Mexican tradition of the youngest daughter having the duties to care for her mother until the day she dies, she was robbed of her rights to marry; hence the story of her tragic love affair with Pedro, who decided to marry her sister, in order to stay close to Tita. With the many years that they lived together under one roof come the amount of pain and temptation from these two lead characters.

The chapters of the book was divided into months, in each comes a delicious recipe, with an even more tasteful backstory to relish. I may not be a big fan of cooking, but the description of Esquivel of how scrumptious food affect people, certainly inspires me. The recipes themselves are not as easy, having most of their ingredients based on Mexican delicacies and produce. Preparations of many home remedies, from solution to foul breath to curing burns, may be found inside the book. Although I must say that the instructions of the recipes and remedies seem stiff that they don't blend in with the story. It's like a recipe pasted in the middle of a story.

I would like to commend the set of characters. It was impossible not to love Tita. I don’t know if it was her described skill in cooking or her humane imperfections, but she did make a perfect heroine. Although there was minimal description of the physical features of the characters, I ended up thinking of Pedro as a handsome man. Mama Elena, Tita’s mother, sent chills down my spine, whenever she was mentioned. She was the perfect picture of a woman with a whip. I also noticed how all the characters seemed to represent different kinds of people from different walks in life, each with their own burdens and responsibilities.

The book itself is a remedy. Satirical, it shows how people condemned one another to conform to society and tradition, and how those with courage, breaks off from these chains that bound genuine happiness. There was a part where Tita’s sister Rosauro, who married the Pedro, allowed Pedro and Tita to have an affair, given that it was discreet as to not give her marriage and family a bad image. It goes to show how people resort to deception and denial when the matters of honor and image are concerned. It also showed a reality between the different relationships of people with their family members. The characters were portrayed to be the turning point from a traditional family and its Mexican customs to adapting to the concept of democracy. It showed how these women stayed up and kicking, until the last blow of life.

There was a sense of familiarity with every dish prepared and served by Tita. It felt like a tradition, having to stand in her kitchen and listen to her stories, even only by flipping through the pages of the book. I think that I have grown up with Tita in that kitchen, under the vigilant and glaring eyes of Mama Elena. At night, I find comfort that Tita would always have the comfort and love of Nacha, the house cook. The recipes did not only make the book more interesting, but it gave the feeling of actually reading Tita De La Garza’s journal, in spite of it being a work of fiction. Also, the dishes mentioned help refresh and signify certain scenes or parts of the story – like how the famous Christmas rolls seem to bring to life the carefree childhood of Tita, learning how to cook in the kitchen with Nacha.

There is one particular part that seemed to have stuck with me. It was when John Brown, the family doctor of the De La Garza family, was explaining to Tita how to make a match stick. He said that like the phosphorous, there is something inside everyone of us that can ignite a fire, but not everyone has found or know what will start the spark. In the book, this was related as to tell of Tita’s lack of interest to live and to communicate to people (due to some happenings prior to that conviction). It gives hope, yet also imposes fear; there is the lingering horror of not ever finding that spark.

I like how the author incorporated magical realism, which I found both witty and humorous at times. I would have loved to see Mama Elena haunting the farm and Nacha evaporating to thin air only to let alone Tita and Pedro for the very last time. Some descriptions and narrations may also be found exaggerated, but most of them refer to a deeper meaning and add humor to the story. The surreal scenes though may cause confusion to some readers.

I must warn people though that this book is not for everyone. There are certain parts of the book, which pertains to intimate moments between some of the characters. These sensitive parts though were narrated in a discreet manner. Some actions and decisions of the characters are still beyond the comprehension of minors though.

I don’t think that I have ever read a book as exquisite as this one. I cannot discern which is which, but some part of me was buried within the story and as for the other part, I felt like I consumed the story as how I would eat my most favorite dish, slowly as to savor and taste every spice, twist, and flavor. It taught me patience and timing, as Tita had said about cooking. I moved my way deep into the story, burying myself into the burdens, desires, and emotions of the characters. It takes a certain level of maturity to fully understand the concept and situations in the story.

As illustrated in the book, love is hard. Like a dark chocolate, it is bitter and sweet. It cannot or may be not reciprocated, and that is the fear that haunted me as a reader until the end of the book. Esquivel’s novel did and will certainly raise a lot of eyebrows, but in its queerness and mystique, I have to say that it was beautiful. Like Water for Chocolate filled not gaps, but the cravings of my soul.

Leveling Up with Essays.ph

Just when I thought that my writing skills will only be of effect on school papers and essay-type exams, I stumbled upon the website of Essays.ph from one of my friend’s Facebook timeline. I have heard of it a couple of times, but I never found the time to check up their site until July of this year.

As any aspiring journalist, I was curious. I checked their website, watched the news clip about them, and asked some friends about the system in Essays.ph. I can say that the feedback was all positive and interesting. I thought of it as a great opportunity to enhance my skills and actually put it to work.

The screening process was challenging. Applicants are required to send in their résumé and a sample essay. It was indicated that the topics given were similar to the kind that are given to accepted writers. This allows applicants to have an idea of the expectations of Essays.ph from their writers. Even though applicants are required to make an account in the Essays.ph Workhub, posting and interactions are still now allowed, until one passes the entire screening process.

Getting into Essays.ph is not only promising in terms of profit, but also of training and acquaintance. There is the Essays.ph Workhub, an online hub where writers can come together to discuss various topics related to work or just of interest. Newly accepted members will find instructions, tips, and more in this site.

The exciting part was when I got accepted. Logging in and seeing my code name in red, it’s just so amazing. It was black for quite some time. Not that it was bad, but it distinguishes applicants from members. There are two initial levels in Essays.ph, either you start in the green or the red team. Once accepted into a team, other than black, writers can already start taking assignments. The next level is blue, which does not only equate to higher pay, but also better performance. The admins belong to the violet team.

            The admins are also just one text message away. In spite of how accommodating and helpful they may be, they expect writers to accomplish tasks and follow instructions without close supervision. This is brought by the fact that all interactions and dealings are done online. Admins will not always have the time to assist writers; hence one must rely on his/her own comprehension and execution of the assignment details.

            Essays.ph encourages writers to complete assignments under time pressure, which is good training. Writers are expected not only to deliver on time, but with excellence. This means minimal or no grammatical errors, verified information, and creative style in writing.

            Becoming a writer in Essays.ph might not be for everyone, but I know that it takes courage, talent, and discipline to become one. I am so excited with this new adventure that I embarked on. I know that it will not only bring about changes in my writing, but also of my principles and discipline as a person.

Note: If you want to know more about Essays.ph, their website is up 24/7: http://www.essays.ph

My Middle-of-the-semester Break

After days of consistently convincing me to cut classes for this trip, my Mom succeeded.

As much as I dream of settling in New York, it has always been a relief for me to escape the city every once in a while. One of the things that I like about this particular escapade is that we didn't need to go by plane or ferry. We spent the weekend in a beach house of a family friend in Batangas. Despite my familiarity with the province, it took us around 4-5 hours to get to Calayo, Batangas. Yes, it was indeed malayo (far). It took me a container of TicTac to get me through the ride.

The first thing that I realized when we reached the place was that, it was a real beach house! It isn't just a house beside the beach. Well, it is beside the beach, but it is more than that. The furniture in the patio, the furnishing of the house, the veranda, everything spelled SUMMER! Unfortunately, I don't have good pictures of the beach house.

I am not sure if this is a positive or negative thing about the place, but it makes me feel completely off the grid. My service provider's signal was really poor.

We did not stay at the beach house for the whole duration of our trip. We visited one of the famous resorts (commercialization there had begun) in the area, Pico De Loro. The place was simply amazing! One of the best things there is that they have Wifi! Hahaha! They have big swimming pools, which are very modern and artistic.

I had so much fun catching small crabs, and being chased by waves. I miss waking up and knowing that it will only take me a couple of steps to reach the sea. I love the silence and the peace of mind that the place gives me. I love how I drank beer and sang along the videoke machine like I didn't care. Also, falling asleep at night, I imagine the crashing of waves as the last thing I hear.

I will keep this post short. Calayo is indeed for people to discover (and not destroy).

Note: I own all of the photos in this post.

One-day Escapade

This one is for all the people out there who only has a day to allot for FUN and RELAXATION. No, this is not about going to Star City or Enchanted Kingdom. This place is something for the whole family. No distractions from work, city, or whatever, yet offers a lot of enjoyable activities. Don't worry about extreme physical pain, activities there are merely for fun, and not crushing anyone's skull or anything.

Isdaan (fishery), and yes that's the name of the place, is in Gerona, Tarlac. It's around 4 to 6-hour drive from Manila, really depending on traffic and stops. It's a floating restaurant. Well, not just a restaurant, it's more of a fun park now, still there is no entrance fee. I have been here twice, and I really like the ambiance of the place.

There are huts ( kubo), which are surrounded by water (6-9 feet deep). This serves as a group's table, and where customers eat and stay. I estimate 10 people max can occupy one hut. The water is a home to several kinds of fishes, but mostly koi. They also hand out (just ask a waiter) free fish food, so that visitors can feed the fishes.

There are so many statues there of monkey, fishes, dinosaurs, Buddhas, and a lot more. Since there are a lot of Buddhas around, it reminds me of Thailand.

There is an area of the park, which is devoted to kids. It's called Bata-batuta Park. There are statues of different super heroes, such as Iron Man, Hulk, and more. People will also see Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and more Disney characters. It's like a replica of Disneyland (no rides of course). There are so many characters for children to enjoy. This area also has a playground.

The also have this Tacsiyapo corner, where you can let out that anger or wildness inside of you! It's basically a wall where you throw/break stuff at. Just point it toward the evil source of your distress, and throw that object while screaming 'Tacsiyapo' (It expresses a lot of meanings, but in this case is equivalent to 'Son of a bitch' or 'Putang ina').

Don't think that activities there are all mild and easy. They have this challenge for visitors to cross a very narrow bridge. It is too narrow that I couldn't stand with both feet on it. I had to go sideways. Yup! I took that challenge when we went there for the first time. Fortunately, I did not go over and fell in the water. I reached the other side, only with a small scratch on my knee. The deal here is not simply to balance, but also to avoid water pumps hitting you (for it may knock you over) and giant shells  blocking your way. It's kinda hard, but really fun. Quite embarrassing for people will really watch as you go across. It's worth it though. I won, and we got a kilo of freshly-cooked fish.

Food there is amazing! Definitely! Everything is so Filipino and freshly-cooked. Different kinds of fishes (lapu-lapu, tilapia, hito, etc.), inihaw na baboy at manok, buro, and more scrumptious food are served in Isdaan. I didn't get a chance to take any pictures of the food, because I was so busy eating. Hahaha! As for the price, it's totally reasonable. The food is worth every peso we paid.

This is definitely something that I would suggest for a day out. The place and food are both incredible. It is something that I think a family will enjoy, because my family loves this place. :)

Note: All the pictures featured in this post are mine.