I'm a self-conscious Bisdak Blogger who loves nothing more than to read and write for the Glory of God. Just as imperfect as your next Joe, but just as perfectly made as each Child of God.
My son's been itching to watch The Proposal, and I've been adamant in PG'ing it. My son's 10 years old and is at that age when kids are curious about grown up things and think/feel brave enough to take on "adult" stuff. Well, I'm one of those protective mothers who wants to keep her cub in the den... But heck, one adult said the "adult" scenes weren't obscene or lewd - and indeed they weren't and bless him, my son found the birthday suits scene hilarious. I was at wit's end trying to keep my protectiveness at bay while barely stifling guffaws!
I also had to tell him that love stories like those are just in the movies (yeah, ma, they're fiction, you've been saying that since I was little). I had to say that lest he thought it was ok to short circuit love... I had to say my brief spiel on love, friendship and respect...
God, to be a mom!
Eventually, Andrew and Margaret's characters grew on me, and the development of the story caught on my sentimental side, that I was actually crying (eeek, yes! it's one of my weaknesses!). My son asked "Do you like the movie ma?" And my reply was "Do you think I'd still get married?" (Haller?!!!) And then he hugged me. "Yeah, you can get married ma." Yep, that's my son.
Now when Margaret admitted to their charade in that barn wedding scene, I had to say "Now that's very brave! She did the right thing." ("You do like the movie.")
It was really nice, that movie. "But that's a fairy tale, kid."
***
Speaking of proposals, now I understand why the American husband of my friend looooves telling his proposal story where he gets down on his knee, opens the Tiffany box with the rock and pops the question. And he is astounded that my friend was speechless, she almost spaced out. All this in the backdrop of New York with the view from the Brooklyn Bridge (when I was not there LOL). And he loves telling that story over and over again.
I was reminded of this during the scene in The Proposal when Andrew's ex-girlfriend asks them to tell the proposal story... And the guests at their party were intent on listening to their story... Fast forward to the end where Andrew actually proposes to Margaret, his former tormentor, with purpose and conviction in his former concentration camp - the office, and the onlookers, their officemates were all dissolved into mush...
Gosh I wonder if that happens in real life... Come to think of it, romantic proposals worth recounting happened as it did to my friend. (She's the one who gets embarrassed each time her husband relates it with such gusto, you can't help but get engaged - no pun intended!).
That's The United States of Hollywood for you, and I have to admit, I love it too!
The MAJOR MAJOR trend in Facebook statuses is Venus Raj's now-a-mega-hit Miss Universe 2010 answer to the brains and wits test by William Baldwin: "What is the biggest mistake that you’ve ever made in your life and what did you do to make it right?"
Facebook posts range from fellow Filipinos tearing their hair and their clothes over Ms. Raj's off the mark reply to spectators who are more sympathetic of Ms. Raj's human error.
I just watched the 46 second video of the Q&A and I have to admit that I quite cringed...
It is not without shame that I reacted that way because after all, if anyone one of us was Venus Raj, it wouldn't be easy being up there in front of the Universe, being weighed for beauty and wits.
In fact, it's an irony that i had laughed, having joined local beauty contests myself.
Last week, a friend of mine invited me to anchor the local pageant which I had joined lifetimes ago, and because I had a flu attack, I declined.
Over the week as Venus Raj's answer has been talked about in grocery aisles where acquaintances meet, or used as a humorous reference to whatnot ("I'm having a MAJOR MAJOR headache!"), I thought about how I was supposed to be part of our city's beauty contest once again.
I recoil at the thought of how women (myself in the past, included) subject ourselves to judgment over a short period of time (some, merely hours), to be placed in the annals of local history, booboo's, "wits" and all.
Although beauty contests will be here to stay, unless some MAJOR MAJOR universal paradigm shift deems it irrelevant, I do, though, advocate guidance to beauty contestants that though preparation for the big night is good, winning is not everything, and life in the limelight (win or lose) has its price. It is good to remind contenders that there are more things in life that matter than glitz and glamor, fame and glory.
I hope that Ms. Venus Raj will use this paradoxical fame to her advantage and learn how to laugh at her faux pas. Laughing at one's own chagrin can be disarming. She has lots of chances to show the world and herself that she is more than the seemingly shallow seconds-long answer she made.
My male cousin was still proud of Ms. Raj, despite her embarrassing response. And in turn, I'm proud that my cousin saw past that. Indeed, Venus Raj's beauty is a true representation of our beautiful islands, tall, strong, dark-skinned, and beautiful. And if she hasn't had any "MAJOR, MAJOR problems in her 22 years of existence," - now she does, and I'm sending her all the light and love in hopes that she can do something good about it!
Sigh. It's past my bedtime and I just finished wrapping some presents for friends: a mother (her birthday tomorrow) and daughter (the latter being my godchild, whose Christmas present I ordered and just arrived). I thoroughly enjoyed wrapping the gifts - but it took me one hour to find the perfect motif for the ribbons and charms. So now, it is past my bedtime and tomorrow is the last day of the working week (yahoo!) -
To watch or not to watch? I'm now at episode 10 of The Hospital starring dreamy Jerry as Dr. Su Yihua, and am I having a ball!
This time around, I am enjoying my eye candy sans the anger and violence of Dau Ming Sz (of my all-time favorite Meteor Garden). In The Hospital, Jerry's character is more subdued as the underdog (ahem!!!). His acting is more dynamic than as he was in Magic Kitchen (where his acting was subject to criticisms, i.e., Jerry just smoldered. [lol!] - and I have to agree, his acting in Magic Kitchen was flat). But this time around, the variety of facial expressions of Dr. Su is absolutely - sigh - heartmelting.
Overall impact? Mushy in an Asian sort of way. I was thinking before that The Hospital was another poor imitation of Grey's Anatomy (which I avidly watched until I couldn't stand the musical chairs of romantic and sexual partners). Well, the producers of The Hospital, also known as White Tower, did follow the Western suit of creating TV serieses based on lives of professionals in the medical field, and though not an original concept (what's original these days, anyway?!), The Hospital is highly watchable (I'm biased :D).
Eye candy is number one, second is the Asian flavor of dealing with the issues (the ceremonies behind transactions, blind respect for hierarchy, the awkward fight for idealism which is a "new" concept for "obedient" Asians, to name some), and the assimilation of Western "values" into the Asian context is quite interesting. I would like to say I'm in it for the story. Well, maybe, but definitely I'm in it for the pleasure of watching Jerry move haha - and okay,I admit, to see the unfolding of the subplots, which are well, Asian kinda good.
And I love that, Asian kinda good...
To watch or not to watch. I'll decide while I take a bath (which reminds me, Jerry has a safe and sexy bath scene which almost made me faint! hahah!)
"That is so codependent!" my mom huffed in exasperation when she saw that I was reacting emphatically to a scene in Boys Over Flowers.
I bit my tongue. BOF is not worth an argument with the Queen Mother.
I wanted to say, "Aren't most love stories codependent?" (Save for A Walk to Remember which was very inspiring and spiritual.) But I kept mum...
Her Western preferences are so full of S-E-X! Betrayal and violence. What makes it any different from my preference?
Though I concede HYD, MG and BOF have more than their fair share of violence and betrayal, the sex thing is not so blatant. In fact, the kissing scenes are tame and decent (save for the episode in MG where DMSz forces his kiss on Shan Cai in the school balcony. His lack of social skills and restraint was made evident in that scene. Either that, or I'm defending the story hahahah! In fact in the manga version, there are "up yours" hand signals and expletives). But for all 25 episodes of the Korean Version, there are only a few kissing scenes which are more sweet than sensual.
Besides, the redemption of Tsukasa/DMSz/Jun Pyo's role were threshed out clearly (from my point of view) that his wrongdoings are forgivable if only as a TV show. I haven't thought about the real life plausibility of his character's evolution.
After all, I'm all in it for the fantastic relief. After all, it is a most girls' codependent dream to be a catalyst for change. After all, in A Walk to Remember, Jamie Sullivan was a catalyst to Landon Carter's improvement.
One more thing that fascinates me about HYD/MG/BOF is that Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi's role as a middle class girl thrown into the world of the spoiled, rotten and rich and overcoming obstacles just to get by is a feat many of us would like to achieve... And of course turning the frog into a prince just by being oneself is the height of that dream. Though Shan Cai and Jan Di's role of being violently oppressed by the F4 is too much for reality, it sadly resonates most women's capacity to suffer. The healthier thing to do is WALK AWAY, but Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi is a radical activist who stands up for her "rights", to the point of putting herself in harm's way. Oh well, that's why it's called fiction. The danger is that impressionable minds might think it's okay to brave it out; in real life it's called being foolhardy (but that calls for another discussion).
Going back to the fantasy, it is every person's dream to be the kind who doesn't give up even in the face of destitution and humiliation. To still have that strength to stand straight, chin up, shoulders back and walk steadily, confident that the world is still a friendly place despite all the hardships. And getting the happy ending - which Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi got in the end, after many twists, turns and tears.
And those back up guys, the rest of the F4. I love saying that the F4 in MG are hunks, while in BOF they're cuties. But nonetheless their characters which are seemingly shallow eventually revealed men whose loyalties are towards the righteous (Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi) - to the point of them being there for the T/S/JD at every whiff of trouble - is again, another favorite fantasy. In real life, we know that people only help to a point, because they have their own lives to lead; besides nobody likes to be anyone's charity case. But the genius of Yoko Kamio lies in that Tsukushi/ShanCai/JanDi was never portrayed thus. At the same time the F4 were not portrayed as guys who keep tabs, what is given is a gift; and it is implied that after all things in each characters' lives are taken care of, they attend to our protagonist.
Is this codependent or not? LOL...
Oh my, count on it, there's a part 3 of this...Jaa Ne for now!
For a couple of nights now I've been beating the drum pads of our Rockband like mad. Well, small wonder since I've loved the Beatles since high school.
It was in the middle of our junior year when one of my girlfriends lent me a Betamax copy of Steven Spielberg's '80's flick "I Want to Hold Your Hand" starring Nancy Allen (from "Carrie"). The movie was a total riot! Lucky for me I was able to get hold of a rare copy of it on DVD and still break into fits of laughter whenever I watch it.
On Christmas of my junior year, the sister of my late godmother gifted me with a Beatles songbook and I sung out most of the songs from their earlier albums.
Since then, I've been a staunch fan of the Beatles. My favorite (among my favorites, is "I Will", which you will hear if you click on the Polyvore image). Boyfriend after boyfriend, I have sung that song, and break up after break up, "I Will" has never grown old, never tasted bitter.
Now, my son and I enjoy The Beatles Rock Band so much. In fact, my son has memorized some songs which I never bothered with such as "Back in the U.S.S.R", "The End", "Paperback Writer"& many more.
I'm glad their music will never die. The Beatles' passion for music should live on!
I'm still not over the magic of Pretty in Pink. Here are some youtube videos of Psychedelic Furs' "Pretty in Pink" and Suzanne Vega's "Left of Center".
The first song was reportedly John Hughes inspiration for the movie. He wrote the script of the movie for Molly Ringwald. It couldn't have been played better by any other actress. Her acting is fluid, charming and very natural.
The second song, "Left of Center", was written for the movie by Suzanne Vega ("Luka"). The sound is very contemporary, as one viewer commented, and I couldn't agree more.
I couldn't find a youtube video of "Wouldn't It be Good?" performed by Danny Hutton Hitters. I loved how that song segued the scene from Andie's school to the street leading to the record store where she worked.
“1) Usually seen around social networking sites such as Friendster and Multiply, jejemons are individuals with low IQs who spread around their idiocy on the web by tYpFing LyK diZS jejejeje, making all people viewing their profile raise their eyebrows out of annoyance. Normal people like you and me must take a Bachelor of Arts in Jejetyping in order to understand said individuals, as deciphering their text would cause a lot of frustration and hair pulling.
CAUTION: THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BREEDING! THEY CAN BE SEEN WRECKING GRAMMATICAL HAVOC ON FACEBOOK TOO!
2) Jejemons are not just confined to trying-hard Filipino gangsters and emos. A Jejemon can also include a variety of Latino-Hispanic fags who enjoy typing "jejejejeje" in a wider context, much to the disdain of their opponents in an internet MMORPG game such as Ragnarok and DOTA.
3) Basically anyone with a low tolerance in correct punctuation, syntax and grammar. Jejemons are usually hated or hunted down by Jejebusters or the grammar nazi to eradicate their grammatical ways.”
I think Jejemons are hilarious, if not a riotous fad that is indeed contaminating the cyber-psyche that even the contending presidential candidate, Gibo Teodoro, gave an emphatic reaction “Pababalikin ko ang mga Jejemeon sa elementarya.” (“I will send the Jejemons back to elementary.”).Many “Gotta Kill ‘Em All” Jejemon buster sites are setting camp over the internet, too.
My teacher friends and I were talking about these Jejemons over a fiesta lunch this afternoon.The Jejemon power could be felt in that we spent a good 10 minutes or more just talking about these grammar/spelling annihilators who are creating a horridly funky amusing way of communicating.It was mentioned in our conversation that the length to which grammar Nazis or plain Jejemon haters are going has reached the analysis of the Jejemon psychology.I think it is hysterical!!! Jejejejeje!
Now that Jejemon has been defined and established as a legitimate fad not unlike swardslang, here are my thoughts on Jejemon:
I understand how Jejemons can be complacent on their newfound, unconscious interest in gibberish and that teachers ought to be more on the lookout on how to attack the virus.
Aiming to eradicate the Jejemons will only give them power.They feed on publicity, “hate” or even mild annoyance.A more objective look at these Jejemons will give teachers a better perspective on how to win over the Jejemons to the proper way of communicating.
Just like swardslang that evolves and grows, I have a suspicion that Jejemon might mutate as this generation will grow out of it and find neophytes to contaminate.Our role as teachers is to use the Jejemon virus as a spring board to teach correct grammar; so as to get into the context of the current craze and let misguided Jejemons see that we are on their side.This way, we have better hope of guiding them away from their “yOeWniMaaiNd” (translated as “Unimind” in reference the the good Little Green Men in the Toy Story series).The Jejemons are a collective (un-)consciousness that evolved and mutated with the adults’ published disdain.
Thus said, I will attempt to make a lesson plan for the English subject on Sentence Patterns using the Jejemon Virus as the spring board.
Here is the sample lesson plan I have made for teachers. Teachers who are interested to use it may do so, and acknowledge the source. It can also be improved upon and customized so as to meet the need of the class.
I was just so amused by this Jejemon craze that I came up with a leisurely activity of thinking up how it can be used as a spring board in order to relate to the youth of today and guiding them to the rIgHt jejejeje pfAtH! Jejejejejeje! Long live free and responsible speech!!!
***
Lesson Plan on Sentence Patterns
General Objective:
To bring into light the importance of correct spelling, grammar and punctuation usages as opposed to Jejemon jargon.
Values Objectives:
Exchange views on how the Jejemon Virus is affecting communication today.
Respond to the necessity of conforming to spelling, grammar and punctuation rules through teacher prepared classroom activities.
Internalize the necessity of studying and using spelling, grammar and punctuation rules through an essay.
Subject Matter:Sentence Patterns
Materials and References:
Teacher-researched jejemon sentences.Cellphones. Pad paper.Resource on sentence patterns.
Specific Objectives:
Translate sentences into Jejemon gibberish.Create Jejemon sentences and translate them into the four correct sentence patterns.
Compare and contrast the advantages of correct grammar usage in communication and Jejemon jargon.
Presentation:
Context:Teacher sets the tone of the class by opening the topic about Jejemons and embark on a discussion on the students’ view of Jejemon language.
Guiding questions:
What are the specific benefits of communicating in Jejemon?
What comments do you hear about Jejemon?What are your reactions to these comments?
If your parents or a trusted adult/authority communicated to you in Jejemon, how would you react?
What would become of the world if we spoke Jejemon?
What are the advantages of learning how to communicate using correct grammar and punctuation?
Activities:
Day 1: Teacher hands out slips of paper with Jejemon sentences to students.Ask students to translate these sentences into grammatically correct sentences on pieces of paper.
Let volunteers read their Jejemon messages and their correctly translated answers.
Teacher introduces the four sentence patterns:
Subject – Linking Verb – Predicate Noun or Pronoun
(Jejemon message:Eeeeht eeeaaazz a Jejemon.) Translate
2.Subject – Linking Verb – Predicate Adjective
(Jejemon message:zzlEEpyy NaH Meeeh.)Translate.
Subject – Intransitive Verb
(Jejemon message:dEeeehdo na Xeae.) Translate
Subject – Transitive Verb – Direct Object
(Jejemon message: Mmaah, leW2 naH pwwhou keO nG dinNah?)Translate.
Teacher gives a more thorough explaination of the sentence patterns and examples.
Teacher asks students (as an assignment) to make sentences using the four sentence patterns in correct form and in Jejemon form.
Day 2: Teacher checks assignment through discussion and recitation.Teacher directs a more formal discussion on the sentence patterns and lets pupils answer textbook or teacher-prepared seatwork.
Day 3:After more discussion and activities on the sentence patterns, let students make an essay to compare and contrast the advantages of learning correct grammar usage and the benefits (if any) of Jejemon jargon.
Evaluation/ Assessment/Agreement:
Write how one can have fun with language without forgetting the importance of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
***
(Teacher can also include the more respectable and accepted gibberish in English Literature which is the Jabberwocky by Lewis Carrol [Author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]. It could be seen as a forefather of Jejemon or any other evolved (mutated?) form of communication - by a revered author who never forgot his grammar, but had fun with language.)
***
Again, I created this lesson plan in leisure. It may be used and improved upon should any teacher care to use it, as long as the author is acknowledged. I apologize in advance for any errors, if any, but then again, I created the lesson plan as a hobby and did not test this in the classroom.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle
***
The Jabberwocky
by Lewis Carroll
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
I watched The Back-Up Plan with a fellow single mom late this afternoon. It was one of the best feel-good movies of our age group I've seen in the longest time.
It's tagline, " 1. Fall in love. 2. Get married. 2. Have a Baby. Not necessarily in that order." is a total riot!
Starring the bodacious Jennifer Lopez (still a hot mama at 41) as Zoe and Alex O'Loughlin (who's turning 34 in August) as Stan, The Back-Up Plan is a movie about "hyper-speed romance" between the happily independent single woman who wants a baby and a charming goat farmer/student who accidentally meet in a cab.
Funny and endearing, The Back-Up Plan has swept us off our single moms' feet!
Set in New York, Zoe's neighborhood is reminiscent of the unforgettable scenes from Breakfast At Tiffany's and The West Side Story.
The movie is replete with "signs" (which romance fanatics love putting in their pockets), quirky characters and hilarious scenes and a stellar soundtrack to match; not to mention the heart-melting romantic scenes which make the movie a deserving blockbuster. Photo from www.smartcine.com
I sat in front of the TV as I was ironing out my huge batch of laundry and took a trip down memory lane to the land of John Hughes.
I went back to the seamless worlds of Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful and watched these childhood favorites through my adult eyes and I saw gold.
The movies are even more brilliant than they were when I just watched them with paradoxical passion and passivity some twenty plus years ago. The late great John Hughes is still a master storyteller.
In Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful he struck right to the heart of teenagers. It's no wonder these movies are cult favorites. In the commentary of Some Kind of Wonderful, one of the hosts cut right into the essence of John Hughes films saying how the producer actually respects teenagers and translates this respect into movies. John Hughes' greatness is in how he translates each and every teenager's desire to be free to be and express his authenticity. And he has woven stories that send the message that it can be done... He invites the romantics to be idealists through the medium of cuss-loaded, heavy kissing, bad hair and funky fashioned now cult favorite movies.
All the hormones, rebellion, the funky fashion, the music, the script, the transition of scenes and even more make both movies worlds unto themselves where personally as was then, I am still able to enter and relate.
Pretty in Pink was eye candy with its authentic and classic '80's atmosphere, and literally music to the ears with its New Wave soundtrack. The scene sequences and the dialogue were all electric and it helped greatly that Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy had that intoxicating chemistry between them.
In Some Kind of Wonderful on the other hand, John Hughes and Howard Deutche created a rich and multifaceted world that is so realistic, idealistic, romantic and subliminally beautiful all in one movie. Great soundtrack, dialogue and scene sequences too.
I guess I would be doing myself a favor if I cut out on the comparison because I love both movies for all their merits. Pretty in Pink was sweet as Some Kind of Wonderful was deep, nuff said.
As Iona said in Pretty in Pink, "Why can't we start old and grow young?"
Thank you, Watts, Andie, Blane and Keith. I liked growing up on you. And great company while I finished my loads of ironing too. :)
Jerry Yan is texting me through his Sony Ericsson cellphone. Tonight, he's saying, "Miss U".
Fantasies are for free!
Jerry Yan has been the leading man of my dreams since I went crazy over Meteor Garden back in 2003.
Before Meteor Garden, I've always been a snob in my viewing preferences; always rationalizing my choices of shows and leisure time activities etc., and mostly, if not always patronizing Western shows and literature.
It irritated me when the buzz at work was all about Dau Ming Sz and Sancai. Who the hell were they? Finally, I decided to watch an episode to see what the frenzy was all about.
Before I knew it, I was hooked to the max. After work, I would cozy up at the couch in front of the TV and cross the threshold between reality and paradise.
After the show ended, many months later, I ordered the VCD set online and would use MG as my background noise while doing paper work.
***
I think I have viewed the two seasons of Meteor Garden five times over and still get that giddy feeling while watching and even after.
***
Last year, a friend of mine introduced me to Itazura Na Kiss, an anime series, and I was sucked into the colorful world of Irie-kun and Kotoko. The same friend recommended Hana Yori Dango the anime series.
After 6 years of Meteor Garden, I found myself entrenched in Yoko Kamio's drama.
So much so that one of my bestfriends sent me the first four books of the original manga (which are part of my prized possessions).
***
And now, the same co-workers who were crazy over Meteor Garden are busy updating on Gu Jun Pyo, Geum Jan Di and Ji Hoo...
What's a girl to do? I joined the band wagon, and am hooked.
***
The Real Star of the show I must say is Yoko Kamio. She has retold the Cinderella and Little Mermaid stories in the modern day Asian setting. Who could resist a fairy tale?
It is every girl's dream. Unabashedly, it is mine.
And of course, in a jaded, heartbroken era, happy endings are best sellers. If it eludes us in the ground we tread, we get the vicarious victory through the TV screen for that moment in time.
Sayonara for now, xie xie ni... Jaa Ne! Till my next musing...
Posts
