It's More Fun (Being a Mistress) in the Philippines

Yes. It's official. Forbidden affairs are the new cool thing. Just ask our local producers. It seems it's the only genre they care to release these days. And why not? People are lining up in the cinemas like they haven't watched a movie like this before. 

Only the characters change, but the story is essentially the same. Hunky Guy (insert hot male celebrity here) is committed to a fragile woman (insert young beautiful celebrity name) who happens to be so boring that his guy would resort to adultery given a chance. Of course that chance comes with a scorching hot lady (insert FHM cover girl here). Hot lady only has to show subtle hints because the guy is totally game on having an affair, and well, she's really really hot that no one will dare say no to her. 

So they start an affair. Hot lady is satisfied in getting hunky guy on hook at first. Later on, she realizes that she's falling madly in love that she's prepared to ruin her already wretched life for him. Hunky guy is happy of the ego boost.  Keeping the dirty secret from his wife thrills him. When fragile woman eventually finds out, she'll be a different character from the first time we saw her. She will either vent her anger on hunky guy or hunt the hot lady to retaliate. Or both. 

Since fragile woman is a symbol of decency and class she will not want to humiliate herself and go ballistics in public. Instead, she will throw pointed remarks to hot girl like "The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Pero sa ganda mong iyan, siguradong marami kang alam na shortcuts". Proving that she actually knows other things other than spreading her legs, hot lady will also say something clever, "You can call me anything you want: a snake, a bitch, an other woman. But I will never be a pathetic, boring housewife." 

Boom.

Filmmaker Joey Reyes made excellent points in his blog on how mistresses have evolved on screen. 

Twenty-first century mistresses justify their fallen status because "they are confused" or "they are in dire need of love" or worse ... "they did this out of need."

No longer will we see them nasty and mean out to steal someone else's man. Mistresses have become classy and elegant, who just happened to fall in love. Sadly, people are interpreting this in a bad light. They actually think that the mistress was the victim and some would even go far as to rooting for her because her love is worth fighting for. Wrong. 

Love has nothing to do here. It's having the decency and the respect not only for the other people, but to yourself. Would you be happy living the rest of your life knowing you just stole someone's partner like a candy in a toy store? And who's to say you're not going to commit the same deed when another opportunity to screw someone comes up? 

There's a part of the story they never tell you in movies. It doesn't end when the affair is over, because their lives are forever changed. They will continue to be haunted by the sad tragic mess they got themselves into. Wounds may heal, but scars will remain.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Stuff You Think of When You're a Teenager

Dear Charlie,

I know you're young and all, so I find it amusing that you still use the mailbox    just to send your letters to me. I thought receiving letters via courier is beyond our time already so I was really surprised when your first mail arrived. When I started reading the first few lines I knew that you're just another teenager trying to deal with a lot of issues. I didn't finish it, to tell you the truth, because I didn't want to go through with the same feeling I had back when I was dealing with my own teenage issues. 

But then another letter came up. And then another. And another. The letters piled up fast that my family actually taught I have a prisoner pen pal because only prisoners use mailboxes these days. I didn't try to correct them because you know what? I don't care what they think. Just like I didn't care when I was trying to find my own identity and it scared people off because I don't talk much or I say brutally honest stuff the rare times I opened my mouth.

Because I am busy as all people my age are and I don't have time with "small stuff" such as dealing with your life, I just kept your letters under my pillow. Eventually your letters have raised my pillows too high up and it was getting uncomfortable sleeping that I couldn't ignore your letters anymore. I was happy that I didn't just throw it away.  

As I read your stories I couldn't help to think of my own life. The decisions I've made, the frustrations I had, the good times with my friends - All of these played out in my head as if it just happened to me yesterday. It was really interesting to read your stories because it so easily resembled my own. By the time I caught up with all your letters I  can't help but anticipate the next. Wondering what you were gonna share next really got me excited. Suffice it to say that it made my life more meaningful because I have something to look forward to.

I know how it feels to have an overachieving older brother. People would constantly compare him to you. Its like what your friend Patrick said that nobody can be as big as the Beatles because they already gave music a context. They had no one to compare themselves with so they're their own benchmark. Your brother is the Beatles in your family and even if you end up as The Smiths or Greenday or the Eraserheads some people would still think little of you because someone else has set the benchmark. But you know what? Sometimes it's okay not to care because they don't really know you. There's a fat chance they don't know your brother well enough as well. They're just there trying to degrade you because the only way they can make their life less miserable is if they think someone else have it worse.

Going back to your friend Patrick, I was really worried when he dragged you in all those weird places doing those weird things. I know he was down and all, but using drugs and allowing him to kiss you will only harm you in the end. I'm going with your friend Sam here. You gotta learn to be honest with the people you care about. Only then will they truly appreciate you being their friend. Personally I would rather hear the bad things about me from a friend than from someone I barely know. Yes it hurts and all but that's the whole point of friendship! You make your friend a much better person in the end by pointing out his wrongs even if it hurts. Patrick seems to be a nice person so please be more honest with him. He deserves it.

I was really glad that it all turned out well for your sister. She said that Sam and later on Mary Elizabeth have low self-esteem, but I can also say the same about her. I'm glad she ended it with her boyfriend who hits her and almost got her pregnant. I think she realized she's far more important than how she was being treated. Please congratulate her for me for being 2nd in her class.

I also wanted to talk about your friend Bill. Boy how I wish I have a mentor as cool as he is! I don't know half of the books he assigned you to read, but I'll surely read it if I can find time. As I said earlier, people my age are busy with a lot of stuff so reading for past time is a bit difficult. If I have it my way I'd read everyday, of course. I don't think you know how special it is that someone is looking out for you. He even invited you to his place because he really cares for you. He understands you, but he also expects a lot from you, perhaps more than anyone else. Let him be your reminder that you are special, in your own peculiar way, just like I am special in my own peculiar way.

About what happened to you and your aunt Helen, I guess I don't have to dwell on this much because first, it is a sore topic, and second, I know you have figured it out already. What you have with your life is just different with everyone else, it doesn't mean that it's better or worse. And you can't blame other people for your problems. They have their own to deal with. 

Lastly, about your friend Sam. Yes, she has her flaws in thinking that her world revolves around her then-boyfriend Craig, but she recognized it later on and wanted to make her life better. That's why she said hurtful things to you because she knew you needed to toughen up. Never ever think that a person loves you because you act or do things the way they want to. Sam thought that Craig will love her less if she pursues her passion. I know Craig is an ass  and that's something beyond Sam, but we can't be stuck with our old self in trying to please others. Including our boyfriend or girlfriend. Including our families and friends.

There are days that you will feel terrible. You have to accept that. Sometimes you just have to stop looking back, because the decisions you have made, no matter how wrong or stupid can never be taken back.  All we can do is move forward; else we get stuck to the same rotten spot where we made a stupid decision that made us feel terrible to begin with. 

Life is a journey. It doesn’t stop when you’re down or lonely. It doesn’t stop on happy endings. Time does not pause for us, it continues to go on. Sometimes it feels that time moves too slow or too fast, but it has always gone on the same phase every hour, every second of the day. We just choose to be fixated on lonely moments and tend to neglect the happy ones. Please don't do that to yourself, Charlie. You determine how fast or slow you live. 

I haven't figured it out yet, but I think the best way to live your life is to stay true to yourself and be who you want to be. Not what others want you to become.

Thank you for reminding me this. Again people my age are busy with other stuff that I tend to forget these things. I am a little sad because you mentioned in your last letter that it may be your last, but I wouldn't want you to tell me things that are happening to you just for the sake of keeping in touch with me because then it will be forced and the stories may not sound as interesting anymore. I know you are there somewhere trying to live your life the best way you know. And that makes everything okay for me.

I wish you all the best. 

Sincerely,

Your friend.

P.S.

I hope you didn't mind that I sent all your letters to an editor and they published it as a book. I was gonna ask permission to you but you didn't put your address. Now I hear they made a movie out of it. Can you believe that?! I just hope they can tell the story as fantastic as you've written it. 

*Fingers crossed*

Preserving Mankind with Kojie.san Men

Times change, and so are men. 

Guys used to court girls in their homes. Now they get mad if they don't get an answer in a day. And they're asking through texts, mind you. Everything is done fast and digital nowadays that some men have lost their manliness. 

Being "manly" is being respectful of everyone, not just the beautiful ladies you're trying to hit on. It means being willing and ready to help, and being a high character guy with high values. You may think you are a perfect example of manliness, but look out! Girls may be secretly annoyed because your huge ego can't acknowledge the truth that you have the qualities of a jerk. Here's a few examples: 

Not respecting your parents. Yes, I get that we all have our teenage rebellion years, but don't use it as an excuse to plot offending schemes that will humiliate or anger your parents.

Not doing household chores. If you're married and you let your wife do all the chores like a slave, chances are she secretly despises you. Get a maid if  you're too busy or lazy to help.

Being funny by being mean to others. It is a universal truth that women like men who have a good sense of humor, but that doesn't mean it will make you  cool to make jokes out of your fat cousin, freckled gay classmate or your oily faced neighbor.

Using girl products. Men should be conscious of their appearance, but where did you ever hear that it is totally okay to use girl's products? There's nothing more unmanly than sharing with your girlfriend's facial soap or night whitening cream. There are already great products from Kojie.san that's definitely for men! Try it and you'll surely help preserve every manly quality you have.

*Official entry to nuffnang for 2 Taken 2 tickets*

Gilas Line up is Good, But Can Use Some Upgrade

The Smart Gilas Philippine National team is now 2 - 1 in their FIBA Asia Cup campaign in Tokyo, Japan thanks to solid plays from Marcus Douthit, L.A. Tenorio, Gary David and Jeff Chan, among others. Having watched the first two games, it seems coach Chot is sticking to a rotation of 8 to 9 players. Enrico Villanueva, Matthew Rosser, Jay-R Reyes and Sonny Thoss have barely seen action either because they are still unproven in international court or their skills just do not match up well with opponents.

While the team have done good and will most likely make it to quarterfinals, some of its players can very well use some upgrade. Imagine if the team is composed of the players on the right, as opposed to the actual delegates on the left:

Point Guards:
L.A. Tenorio		L.A. Tenorio
Matthew Rosser		JV Casio
		Jason Castro
Shooting Guards:
Gary David		Gary David
Jeff Chan		Larry Fonacier
		Sol Mercado
Small Forwards:
Larry Fonacier		Gabe Norwood
Jared Dillinger		Arwind Santos
Power Forwards:
Ranidel De Ocampo		Mark Pingris
Gabe Norwood		Kelly Williams
Centers:
Marcus Douthit		Marcus Douthit
Enrico Villanueva		Ranidel De Ocampo
Jay-R Reyes
Sonny Thoss

No disrespect to the current squad here, but clearly, they need additional depth in at least two positions - point guard and center. The country has always been short of right-sized centers, but never a point guard. That's why it baffles me how the only pure point guard in the line-up is Tenorio. Alapag and Castro are nursing injuries, and Sol Mercado who can play point has citizenship issues with FIBA rules. 

I find it most disappointing that Casio and Pingris was not able to join. Casio is well on the rise to be a prime point guard and can relieve a lot of burden on Tenorio. Pingris brings in the hussle and can compensate for the team's lack of height. De Ocampo can also slide in on center to give Douthit some rest. I know some players on my dream squad is playing out of position, but they can spread the court well and can play on both offense and defense. There are more experienced and popular players that is not on my list, mainly because I don't think they'd fit in well with a team-first approach and international play.  

Being the best national team ever assembled as declared is pretty arguable right now, but these guys never lacked the guts to and heart to fight regardless of who their opponents are. We just have to hope it's enough to bring the gold, only then will the claim be proven.

The Expendables 2 Review

I'm not sure if the old dogs of Hollywood actions films are trying to make a statement for the cheap stunts being produced which seemed a step back even if digitally enhanced. Could also be that they're trying to revive their long gone careers. The movie is full of big names and action heroes, albeit the past generation. But hey, how often do you usually see Arnold and Bruce and Sylvester and Jean Claude all in one frame? Oh did I forget to mention the legend that goes by the name of Chuck Norris? Yeah he's there too.

The taller lead guy from The Hunger Games Liam Hemsworth is also there. I suspect he was casted to provide much needed girl fans' support. As you may already figure, this movie is filled with so much testosterone that a guy can easily punch another guy in the face and get a thank you for it. There's blood, guns and violence, but if you're looking for sex, there ain't any. And that's a compliment, I think. I haven't watched a single Hollywood action movie without an eye-popping girl who's sexually assaulted (usually by the male lead). Except for Bruce Lee films of course.

The story is about...who am I kidding. Who cares about the story? As long as there is chaos, gory scenes and people killing each other we will be entertained. If I wanted a decent story I would have watched Katy Perry. Oh wait we're talking about movies here. My bad.

One singular thing worthy of note is the mystifying presence of Chuck Norris. Every time he appears on the screen people are both awestruck and feverishly trying to suppress their grin. Because they know everyone is at his mercy. I tell you this man is a legend. Only he can walk around guns ablaze unschathed.

Even 911 calls Chuck Norris for help when they have an emergency.