tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35571116940894949872024-03-12T20:56:04.821-07:00PerceptionsLooking it my waycel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-21968237866582631742013-11-24T09:24:00.002-08:002013-12-01T05:19:09.818-08:00This Christmas - Arnel Pineda's new Christmas Song for Typhoon Yolanda victims<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The final cut of This Christmas.</div>
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As published in his official website:<br />
<a href="http://arnelpinedarocks.com/4325/arnel/arnel-pineda-writes-song-for-yolanda-survivors">http://arnelpinedarocks.com/4325/arnel/arnel-pineda-writes-song-for-yolanda-survivors</a><br />
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Journey frontman Arnel Pineda performed an original composition for the survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” on “It’s Showtime” Saturday. The ballad, entitled “This Christmas,” invites everyone to extend a helping hand to the survivors of the calamity in Visayas during the Christmas season.</div>
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“Ang message ng kantang ito ay lahat tayo in our own little way, puwede tayong maging ‘Santa’ sa mga gusto nating tulungan at sa mga mahal natin sa buhay,” said Pineda. <em class="last-child" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(The message of this song is that all of us, in our little own way, can be a ‘Santa’ to anybody we want to help, and to our loved ones)</em></div>
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THIS CHRISTMAS</div>
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Through all these years<br />
Into crossfires and conflicts<br />
Buried in your eyes<br />
Are bloodstain of tears<br />
You’ve trekked through a life<br />
All homeless and loveless<br />
Wounded and in near-death<br />
I wonder if you’ll ever find<br />
The healing comfort of His cradle</div>
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Can I be your Santa?<br />
Can I be the gift?<br />
Can I be your hero?<br />
Can I be your freedom?<br />
This Christmas</div>
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Painful tears and cold roads are fading<br />
Enough of darkness, days ahead are brighter<br />
Angels’ little hands are reaching to grace you<br />
The kindness of Yul’tide from the heavens</div>
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So let me be your Santa<br />
Let me be your gift<br />
Let me be your hero<br />
Let me be your freedom<br />
This Christmas</div>
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I’ll never be our Savior in a manger<br />
Instead a friend who will stand by your side</div>
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So let me be your Santa<br />
Let me be your gift<br />
Let me be your hero<br />
Let me be your freedom<br />
Let me be your sleigh ride<br />
Let me be the love<br />
let me be this hero<br />
Who will set you free<br />
This Christmas</div>
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cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-7378704828784786192013-09-22T03:02:00.002-07:002013-09-26T05:18:42.620-07:00Everyman's Journey that Every Man Should SeeSo what do you do when you hear about the story of this bar singer in a Third World country who just got hired as frontman for an iconic band? You'd probably think it's for the Ripley's or a twitter trend that would last only a day or two at most. But for a filmmaker like Ramona Diaz there lies a story worth putting into the big screen. She knew the risks to take but as anyone with a passion for the things they do, she decided to go through along with her collaborators Capella Fahoome and Josh Green faster than anyone can say 'Don't Stop Believing.' Arnel Pineda could have busted his vocal chords within a few gigs for Journey as their songs are NOT easy to sing and they could have ended up with a thirty minute feature film. But such was their luck and Arnel's, that they were able to follow him for his first four years with the band, and went to capture him perform live before thousands of people in places even Arnel has never even heard of, and capture they did not only his talent but his bravery and fortitude which was showcased in this almost two hour film.<br />
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Everyman's Journey is not quite your traditional rockumentary for me as some would call it in the sense that it is not about how a rock band is formed or a day or two in the life of a rock band, nor is it about how an album was produced as is much more often the case in some bands doing their own, such as U2's Rattle and Hum or the Beatles' Let It Be.<br />
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It is a full-fledged documentary movie of how a man was plucked from a densely-populated Third World city halfway around the world to do an extraordinary job by an iconic rock band whose beginnings can be traced to about the time Arnel was old enough to do his first communion. That is a fascinating story to begin with.<br />
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Taking into consideration all the advantages that the new millenium had to offer by way of the internet, Ramona knew this was where she would begin. After all that's how Arnel's Journey story began.<br />
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The film starts off with a scene from a homecoming, that of Arnel visiting the school that first taught him his ABCs. It was interesting how Ramona used this to start the movie. It easily portrayed the laid back nature of Arnel in contrast to the wide eyed, bewildered teacher who's probably never had time to go through the internet and knew what was going on (remember this was filmed 4 or five years ago before apps and wi-fi became household words ) and thus seemed lost at what Arnel was talking about being in a band called 'Journey'. The latter sets the humor element of the film that was evident in a number of scenes. If you are looking for a dark and edgy documentary, this may not be the one for you. But Arnel's character and how he dealt with his life that has gone upside down as he calls it and how he was in control of everything perhaps unknowingly, are what make this film unique.<br />
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Arnel was pretty consistent in the film. Laid back and in total control of what he was facing. Even after an adrenaline high after a performance, Arnel knows when to taper down his emotions. It was all work for him as he says. And that leads me to say this is a non-traditional documentary of a rock star, sans the noise and the extravagance often depicted in them.<br />
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You can also give it to Arnel's magnetic presence even on the screen and off stage that despite being surrounded by the people who have already made names to themselves and became legends in their field, that when Arnel shows up on screen you just gobble up every second and only see him stand out regardless of who he was with. Now I understand what Ramona meant when she said in one interview that the camera loves him. I think it's like when a camera has a face detector feature, it almost always focuses on Arnel's first. <br />
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Throughout the film and during his downtime moments, Arnel is often seen as a softspoken guy and understandably especially before and between gigs to preserve his voice. But he also seems to be always in a pensive mood and taking everything in. One instance of note was when Neal showed some sign of concern when Arnel said he has a cold. And then John Barruck comes and joins the conversation and he talks about tickets being sold out. Neal teases him "Pressure" when he saw a rather glum faced Arnel and to which the latter said "I am just shutting myself up." And I wonder. Where does he get that sense of tranquility with the kind of situation he is in? The answer was not direct but perhaps can be deducted from how he narrates about his humble beginnings and a series of unfortunate events that moulded his character to someday fit into some big shoes. He was pretty good at being articulate and inanimate in expressing himself and giving you that in the moment feeling like when he talked of his first gig in Chile. How I wish Ramona and company were around to capture his first time by themselves for it was the turning point in his being a band member, that of Arnel being thrown into the lion's den not only surviving but in a way taming the discriminating audience of 18,000, excluding the millions who watched on tv.<br />
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One element that particularly stands out for me in the film is the irony. Instead of being seen gulping bottles of wine after another as most celebrities and rock stars<br />
are often seen, Arnel instead pours out hot water from the jug to his cup to drink some tea. Just like grandma. Instead of partying after gigs, he goes back to his 'hole' taking as much rest as he can and reflecting on what has been happening to him since he got the new job. There were no blue m&m's to be picked out or demanded, nor expensive branded mineral water or milk to bathe on. He was just your regular guy. Instead of indulging in interesting substances, we see him with an oxygen mask with steam coming out to lubricate those golden chords. <br />
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And this irony is what makes this movie more interesting. Ramona captures his daily routine and despite being a newcomer to facing the camera , Arnel hardly showed any sign of self-consciousness. He was a natural. One can't help but think of the kind of rapport that developed between the director and the subject, that she made him comfortable in his own skin, and quite literally to an extent. His 'spiels' flowed smoothly.<br />
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Indeed this film not only serves as an inspiration. It also serves as a good study for people who encounter sudden fame and can serve as a crash course on how to maintain one's sanity while playing for your favorite rock band. <br />
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Aptly titled Don't Stop Believing, here is a story of a city boy who took that midnight train on a journey going anywhere. Quite an analogy for the big gamble that Arnel took. He held on to that dream , he held on to that feeling - the sight of bright lights, of people everywhere watching , when the bright lights he used to see where the ones that lit up the park he once slept in and surrounded by other homeless people.<br />
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One can only do so much in what is meant to be an as-is-where-is movie, as Ramona explains in an interview. Thus, she probably saw the need to add extras which is not a bad thing. My only take with them is that some scenes would actually make a good fit into the movie itself. The wardrobe scenes for example (the Smurf comment was funny) and I would have exchanged those with scenes of stage preparation as extras. I would have also added a couple of stills on the back cover taken from the movie and not just from the concert so as not to mistake this as a concert dvd.<br />
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Having said all of that, one is left curious of the other details of Arnel's life story. What was shown on the film was his life on the road as a newbie. But this is a Cinderella story and every fairy tale starts off with 'Once upon a time' which was only partly narrated. There is a back story waiting to be told. <br />
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4.5 stars<br />
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<br />cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-3356320941687964612013-03-01T09:33:00.001-08:002013-03-01T09:41:49.917-08:00Yipee-Kai-Yey Mother F' ! John McCLane is back!If you know where that famous expression came from then you must be at least 30 years old.<br />
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Yes, Bruce Willis is back as John McClane in "A Good Day to Die Hard", the 5th installment of that blockbuster testosterone movie "Die Hard" the movie that<br />
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catapulted him to superstardom just as what the movie Rambo did to Sylvester Stallone or Conan to Arnold Schwarzenagger, who incidentally were the other famous action heroes from that era.</div>
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This latest installment offers just as much action and suspense as the first and the next three ones. The only other difference is that much of the action was seen on the road and therefore with more widespread destruction than when it was confined to the Japanese-owned Nakatomi building in downtown L.A.</div>
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Just like the original movie, the bad guys again happen to be from the Eastern bloc. Only this time, the setting was, surprise, surprise... in the Eastern bloc. The objects of contention are no longer just mere millions of dollars. Has opening vaults and stealing money become passe or did the terrorists have really gone more sophisticated in operation or upgraded their game? Or have they realized that the dollar is not as much worth as it was three decades ago? The object of affection this time are nukes, which are just about the only other things that are more precious than diamond these days, hidden in a forbidden, God-forsaken part of Russia.</div>
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Now what would a John McClane adventure be like without an interesting side kick? Lest this review be a spoiler, let me just say that in this movie there is yet another sidekick. But that is the twist that is revealed quite early on in the movie and necessarily so. </div>
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The only other character I missed in this sequel was a bad guy who could share the limelight as the never-say-never, derring-do New York cop who always seem to be hit with bad luck every time he hangs up his uniform. I mean this one helluva character. </div>
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Yes Alan Rickman as the Armani suit wearing leader of the terrorist gang that spoiled an office Christmas party as well as McClane's vacation. Being a good actor himself, Rickman's compelling screen presence almost stole McClane's thunder, just as much as he did as the dark cloaked sinister looking Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movie series.</div>
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There was a part in the movie where one of the bad guys said something like "It's no longer 1988 McClane!" and immediately I chuckled as I realize what he was referring to. On my way out after the movie, I even had a bigger laugh. I told hubby to look around and see that half of the audience who watched were not even born when McClane's action-laden misadventures hit the big screen and became one of the top selling movies of all time. Now if only what John went through in this movie as in his previous ones can really happen in real life. Like how he survived a car crash three times in two days. Or say jumping through the glass walls of a building, or throwing yourself inside a fiberglass chute and escape the bullets from machine guns. But then again it's these movies that I enjoy because the heroes they play don't just die or are just plain lucky so they can go on and kill the bad guys or at least outlive them. </div>
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So keep those adventures, rather misadventures coming John. And on your next 'vacation' perhaps try the Philippines. Bourne has finally found us and thought it fit for car chases, death-defying stunts and exploding cars even in the narrowest streets of this densely populated metropolis. We love action movies here big time. </div>
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And here's hoping there will be another one while Bruce can still stand up and walk straight. Lastly, let me just say this about the movie: "Yippie-kai-yey mother eff", welcome back John McClane!</div>
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cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-71444889822054933612013-02-06T07:19:00.002-08:002013-02-06T08:13:27.495-08:00Of Superbowl, Olympics and Organic entertainment<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">W</span>here else would be the best venues to showcase the latest innovations in technology for use in entertainment than in the Olympics and the Superbowl.</h2>
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Every four years, the opening as well as the closing of the Olympics have been more of the highlights of the Games, sharing equal media exposure and worldwide anticipation just as the counting of which athlete or country gets the most medals, which athletes would break world records or be caught using PEDs or how the latest political issues would affect membership and participation.<br />
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The same can be said of the Superbowl which is held every year. Of late however, it seems it has grown notoriety not just for the spectacle and production numbers, but likewise of slips and PG-rated moves of which the lady performers have been consistently gotten involved in. From Janet Jackson, to Madonna and the latest of which, Beyonce. Just makes me wonder if those erratic female moves have added value and made the cost of Superbowl commercial slots run into the six to seven figures.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xx9bq9_bey-sb-2013_creation" target="_blank">BEY SB 2013</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/caseycarlsonx1" target="_blank">caseycarlsonx1</a></i><br />
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One of my favorites to date, of those that I have watched on youtube and other sites, is that of Prince.<br />
His five foot one figure may have been dwarfed by the giant stage but definitely not his presence and music. <br />
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Of course, my hands down choice would still be my favorite Irish boys.<br />
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U2's and Prince's Superbowl appearances are living proof that the best entertainment still can emanate solely from human presence through their voice and musicality. Else why the need for the artists' presence when they can be magnified, reproduced and enhanced on state of the art monitors and speakers. <br />
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Their sole command of the stage and raw talent is plain 100% natural and organic entertainment. Sharing equal, if not more of the limelight than pyrotechnics, computers and laser lights which are relegated to the background as they should, and not overshadowed by them. Just the basics. Like how, as soon as Bono delivered the first line to "Beautiful Day", goosebumps immediately fill my skin from head to toe. Pure delight even with my eyes closed. No need for laser lights and 3D technology. No booty shaking, no nip slips, no simulated touching. Just pure musical orgasm.<br />
<br />cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-70427505495248670992013-01-26T18:00:00.001-08:002013-02-06T06:41:40.242-08:00Arnel Pineda sings duet with David PomeranzArnel Pineda with David Pomeranz on Kristv.<br />
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Highlights: Arnel singing a snippet of "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw", his goosebumps performance of "You're My Inspiration" and last but not the least his duet with David Pomeranz. They sang Pomeranz' classic composition "Old Songs"<br />
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<a href="http://blip.tv/tagahanga/arnel-nina-christian-david-jan-24-2013-6513006">http://blip.tv/tagahanga/arnel-nina-christian-david-jan-24-2013-6513006</a><br />
<br />cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-27625729882381827992012-09-21T23:10:00.001-07:002012-09-21T23:14:02.849-07:00Catching up with Arnel Pineda<a href="http://entertainment.inquirer.net/58740/catching-up-with-arnel-pineda#.UF1WQXdTMZJ.blogger">Catching up with Arnel Pineda</a><br />
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<a href="http://entertainment.inquirer.net/58740/catching-up-with-arnel-pineda#.UFiiZvfMFVM.twitter">http://entertainment.inquirer.net/58740/catching-up-with-arnel-pineda#.UFiiZvfMFVM.twitter </a><br />
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Arnel Pineda quietly flew back home recently, celebrating his 45th
birthday on Sept. 5—the same day his second child, Thea, was baptized.<br />
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The Filipino frontman of American classic rock band Journey took
the opportunity to bond with family and friends while on a short break
after completing 25 shows of the group’s current North American tour.<br />
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The tour, which includes a few dates in Canada and Hawaii, resumed last Saturday in Michigan.
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Pineda chatted with the Inquirer via e-mail before he boarded the plane back to the United States.
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How long will the tour last and how’s your health?
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I feel great, considering the long flight, just to be with family
and friends again. My health is okay. I’ve been taking care of myself
to keep up with the demands of the tour this year. It will last until
Dec. 15.
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Touring may not allow you to explore much of the places you visit. Which cities have impressed you so far?
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That’s true, because all we do is go to the next destination as
soon as we are done with the scheduled show. It’s all travel via bus and
private planes. New York is very impressive, and this place called “The
Gorge,” was breathtaking.
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How do you fight boredom?
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I’ve been watching this American TV (drama) series called
“Breaking Bad.” It has a wonderful, unique story and lots of lessons to
learn. I’ve seen four episodes. Now I’m watching “Damages.”
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How hard is it to please a foreign audience?
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This is my fourth year with Journey. I think more and more
people, young and old, have come to love the things that I do with the
band … Each show gets more crazy, in a positive way.
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What new bands or artists have caught your attention lately?
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Dead Sara (a band from Los Angeles), also Grace Potter and the
Nocturnals (from Vermont, New England). They’re very good artists … with
different styles but both musically captivating.
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How’s your family?
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I missed my family so much it felt like I was gone forever. Yes,
my second child Thea was baptized last Sept. 5. It was also my birthday,
so it was a double celebration.
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What do you miss most about the Philippines when abroad?
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Family, friends, the food, and my own music, which I’ve been
working on. I’ve been recording my own stuff since last year and will
continue to do so until it’s done. I will release it as soon as
everything is finalized.
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<br />
Do you still wear Doc Martens when performing with Journey?
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Yes I do, they’re among my favorite things. They just never go out of style.
cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-40877292612328917902012-07-19T09:07:00.001-07:002012-08-17T19:38:41.387-07:00Snow White De-DisneyfiedThe movie Snow White and the Huntsman turns out to be quite a surprise. I went to watch the movie to not only ogle at
Chris Hemsworth, who played the huntsman, hoping he would once again exhibit his six pack asset that made him famous.
Well, in this movie , he didn't. Nevertheless, I forgot about his abs because I was so drawn into the story.
No it's not your typical fairy tale with seven little people singing hi-ho. Instead it's like Lord of the Rings meets Robin Hood, meets Joan of Arc. Epic battle on Snow White? Who knew. The biggest surprise for me, however, was Kristen Stewart herself. Okay I must admit I am not a fan of the girl mostly because I am not a fan of the vampire movie series where she plays lead female role. I am not a fan of the series in the first place. Based on the trailers of those movies, I thought she only has one facial expression throughout. Dreamy eyes- half opened pouty mouth, I thought she'd play the role of an ornament to this movie to Chris Hemsworth strong and bold presence, figuratively and literally speaking, that is. This movie I should say was where she truly impressed me. Here she shows she is prepared to take on the lead role even while pitted against the veteran Charlize Theron who played the wicked stepmother.cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-84455437334066270712012-07-19T08:32:00.000-07:002012-08-17T21:06:51.284-07:00ARTIFICIAL HORIZON - A REVIEW<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Artificialhorizon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Artificialhorizon.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="yiv1281605515399261008-19072012"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This is a rather late review. I got a copy as a gift (thanks, bro!) and with my busy time it was only recently that I really listened to the album in its entirety. Actually, this morning even while at work. </span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1281605515399261008-19072012"><span style="font-family: Arial;">U2 is known to produce special albums for their fans who are ever-hungry for anything the band will produce - from the requisite tour shirts to coffee mugs, to car stickers or even a voodoo doll replica of Bono (okay I am just kidding but you know what I mean). They also love to experiment on their own songs and thus turning to the services of well known producers of remix music such as Trent Reznor and William Orbit. I have a few of these special editions that come out as double album, with B-sides songs forming the other half. Having listened to them when I am in a U2 mood, I have noticed that there are some songs that are frequently featured on their B-sides. These are what I would call the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">permanent B-side hangers-on of which I think these are the top three</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span class="yiv1281605515399261008-19072012"><span style="font-family: Arial;">1) Staring at the Sun</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1281605515399261008-19072012"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2) Happiness is a Warm Gun (cover of a Beatles' song)</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1281605515399261008-19072012"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3) If God Will Send His Angels</span></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span class="yiv1281605515399261008-19072012"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Runner up: Elevation (being a more recent work only).</span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1281605515399261008-19072012"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Having said all that, I think <a href="http://www.interference.com/index.php?s=artificial+horizon+cd&x=0&y=0">Artificial Horizon</a> sounds more like B-side collection on a separate late release. Now that's again proof of another brilliant marketing of U2 and no wonder its fans has remained loyal to them. However, m</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;">usic-wise I'd give it a three. I usually give U2 albums 4 at the lowest. It's three for me because some of the remix are not as exciting as the previous ones they did for their albums and they are b-sides at that. Experimentation is a good thing but trying the same formula or being predictable can be a bit tiring. Predictable because for the past fifteen years or so, every album that they produce are usually followed by a B-side collection. I'd rather that they do an acoustic version of their recent hits or even some of their not so commercial songs, especially the ones from their Pop album which the band and the fans consider their first real experimental album. Just some sort of going back to the basics - the major instruments and the Bono vox.</span></div>
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Best cut on the cd by the way , for me is, City of Blinding Lights (Hot Chip 2006 remix).</div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Links: </span></span><a href="http://artificialhorizon.u2.com/">http://artificialhorizon.u2.com/</a><br />
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cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-20384769023158270432012-04-25T07:29:00.001-07:002012-04-25T07:29:23.027-07:00JOURNEY TO TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL FOR MOVIE SPOTLIGHTING ARNEL PINEDAFinally, the movie premiered at Tribeca in New York. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t8z9BsdqPWQ?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-82628813758495888962012-03-15T04:52:00.001-07:002012-03-15T04:53:37.845-07:00Magnum!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381701_292459677459397_160304414008258_788151_1198533410_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381701_292459677459397_160304414008258_788151_1198533410_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
I finally tasted it after a few weeks of just looking curiously at the posters in a nearby 7-11 store.<br />
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What can I say. Yummy!<br />
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So far I've tasted almond. There's two more flavors : chocolate truffle and classic chocolate<br />
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But it is being sold around worldwide for several years now.<br />
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<blockquote>Magnum is an ice cream brand owned by the British/Dutch Unilever company, and sold as part of the Heartbrand line of products in most countries. It was originally made by Frisko in Aarhus, Denmark. The original 1987 Magnum (later rebranded as Magnum Classic) consisted of a thick bar of vanilla ice cream on a stick, covered with white or dark chocolate, with a weight of 86 grams (120 ml). In 1994 the company also started selling Magnum ice cream cones, and in 2002 an ice cream sandwich.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_(ice_cream)#Varieties">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_(ice_cream)#Varieties<br />
</a><br />
According to their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Magnum?sk=info">facebook page</a><br />
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<blockquote>Launched in 1989, Magnum was the first chocolate covered ice cream for pleasure seekers. Today, Magnum is one of the world’s leading ice cream brands, selling 1 billion units annually worldwide, and is the biggest brand of Unilever ice creams.</blockquote><br />
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I think the local ice cream industry has some competition. I have been hearing our nearby 7-11 has been running out of supplies by late afternoon and summer is just peaking.<br />
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<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s3TADPtK_nk?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s3TADPtK_nk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-75134312086951120762012-03-03T21:23:00.004-08:002012-03-03T21:26:43.308-08:00It's Summer and I love to drink!<!-- nuffnang --><br />
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Just discovered recently this awesome drink. It's called Mogu Mogu.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41569_301030024031_2202690_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="96" width="145" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41569_301030024031_2202690_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Waaah. Love the color, love the chewy nata. Love everything about it. It comes too in different flavors.<br />
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Check em out on their fb. <a href="http://">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mogu-Mogu-drink/301030024031</a><br />
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I think this would be my best alternative to milk tea. Since my tummy is lactose intolerant, well, most of the time. I can stil take ice cream and halo halo. But with cheese I get uncomfortable. It's been in the world market for sometime and now it's right here in our own drinking country. Yes, we love to drink don't we.<br />
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You can find them in one particular donut and coffee shop. A famous chicken fastfood, a foreign franchise, was where I first discovered it. <br />
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It's a bit pricey compared to your usual bottled sago/gulaman but it is all worth it. <br />
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Check out their cute commercial.<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mogu-Mogu-drink/301030024031cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-71884552987459202982012-02-28T10:14:00.001-08:002012-03-02T07:46:46.959-08:00It's Pinsanity!<b>Arnel Pineda's Heart of Rock Concert (Live @ Rockville 2-14-12) <br />
</b><br />
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Watching Arnel perform live in another acoustic setup that night was like watching Jeremy Lin make those shots one after another or Babe Ruth or Pele making homerun after homerun. It was like the Pacman <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l257/u2vixen/ROCKVILLE%20VALENTINES%202012/VDAY27-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="316" width="240" src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l257/u2vixen/ROCKVILLE%20VALENTINES%202012/VDAY27-1.jpg" /></a></div>doing his rapid punches. And I mean one after the other. Save for the two slow and rather obscure songs that served as a break for my nerves and that of the audience, the thrill I felt that night for every song he sang was like watching an Ateneo-LaSalle basketball championship as they battle it out in a do-or-die game. If I can describe it in one word, it would be <b>'Pinsanity'</b>, with apologies to the guy who came up with the word Linsanity.<br />
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I was never more amazed than that night. This must be my third review and I hope I don't bore you with my superlatives. That night he displayed mad, mad vocals. And as I would often say, this was better than the last one, even as I feel that the last gig was a hard one to top. <br />
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Starting off slow with another great rendition of that famous duet of Olivia Newton-John and Bryan Adams' "Best of Me", which he did in an earlier gig last December, Arnel showed full control and confidence like he always did. <br />
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<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=36899885&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=36899885&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/36899885">Arnel Pineda - The Best Of Me</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10444013">Ferdie ArQuero</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>With my slr and my point and shoot camera which I occasionally used, I was holding back screams and omg's about a dozen times. When he started out with the lines " I have climbed the highest mountains" my brain almost exploded. I was screaming inside, scrambled to take video, missing a few seconds of the beginning as a result. I thought I would lose it. Are you kidding me? This is my 2nd favorite U2 song! Even Bono would admit that this is one of the more vocally challenging songs in their catalogue. Yet he nailed it and spared no notes in the adlibs. His falsettos and improvisations were perfectly placed. Bravo, bravo, bravo. You can hear the audience reaction afterwards.<br />
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Hearing a well-rested, happy soon-to-be daddy of first daughter was absolutely phenomenal. That night, not only did Arnel prove to have the strongest set of lungs a performer can have - even with his size - he also had the courage to take on songs quite different from the genre that people are used to hearing from him. <br />
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Arnel also made sure he did not divert much from a song's arrangement just to suit his comfort zone. There is always that danger in doing covers when the performance becomes more about the singer rather than the song. In Arnel's case, he stayed close to them and enhanced certain notes only to add his personal touch but without overdoing it. Like how he ended Adele's award winning song "Rolling in the Deep." That is what you call respect for the original artist. <br />
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Talking about singing songs which I thought were outside his genre, Arnel went on to sing that classic southern rock favorite Creedence Clearwater's ditty "Have You Ever Seen the Rain." Another favorite of mine as well as my husband. <br />
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Another big surprise was when he did a mind-blowing version of Richard Harris' cover of MacArthur Park. Who would've thought! How about singing "The Prayer" next time?<br />
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But this song, gave me even more goosebumps. Nazareth's "Love Hurts." Crowd was delighted as you can hear.<br />
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Now there are bands whose music I didn't really care much about at that time it became popular. This was one of those songs I ignored back then simply because it reminded me of noisy drunken neighbors and loud jukeboxes from smoke filled bars that I abhor. But when Arnel sang it that night, it was like love at first sight. Just awesome. As soon as someone uploaded the entire song on youtube, I immediately converted it to mp3 and listened to it for God knows how many times for the next few days. Arnel has that uncanny ability to make me fall in love with songs I didn't care much about, until he sings them. Just exactly what he did with his rendition of Journey songs. <br />
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There were also the mainstays on his playlist like Air Supply's "Making Love out of Nothing at All", Bryan Adams' "You Don't Have to Say the Words", Styx' "Don't Stop Me Now"<br />
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He also sang a couple of Pinoy songs of his band (Ammo or Zoo). The new arrangement of "Ewan Ko Ba" was really cute and so was he as he performed it. <br />
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Then there's a new one written by Monet Cajipe called "Hindi Mo Lang Alam" I hope he gets to record this one, too. <br />
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It seems that an AP concert will not be complete without a song by Sting. That night he played the less popular but perhaps fitting for the occasion "Shape of My Heart". This is a beautiful, haunting song. However the only drawback for me is , the venue being a bar, the noise emanating from the surroundings which makes me wish that someday I'd like to see him perform in an auditorium or theatre sans noise from moving chairs, dishes and people looking for seats or chatting about their good ol' days or the traffic. If it is even possible at this venue, how about making an arrangement where serving food would stop once the performance starts. But that would be the OC in me. <br />
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I am among those who just want to listen to his voice, including the nuances, the cracks whether intentional or otherwise, if any, the breathing, occasional jokes he throws into the audience. Arnel has that tendency to talk fast and in a lower tone, that a few times I have to revisit the video on youtube to listen to what he said. And that is why, when rewatching them I would rather play the songs with my headphone on rather than turn on the speakers. <br />
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As the show drew closer to the finish line, one would expect him to slow down and end the show with less vocally challenging songs. But the exact opposite happened. I could see the crowd was in awe as I was. Instead he sang the crowd favorite Heart's "Alone" as he alone can belt it other than the original singer Ann Wilson. And then looking like he's just starting to have fun, went on to belt another nerve-wracking version of Sweet Child of Mine. Bezzzusss! We thought he was going to blow off the roof. Looking at the people around me, I could see heads shaking in disbelief. Some had that look as if in awe. Speechless. People were already standing up by then and waited to let him finish his last song. There were still calls for encore after the third one but he's got to preserve that voice for the upcoming show in Nashville.<br />
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The original setlist included a two-song medley as tribute to the late Whitney Houston who died just the day before the Grammy awards night. Yes Whitney Houston songs. Boy doesn't just have big lungs but a brave heart. However, the audience had been demanding of songs they'd love to hear him perform again. He sang instead Air Supply's Making Love out of Nothing at All. I thought someone almost died as you can hear from this video. This was also the part where he proves to me how strong his lungs were. Everyone knows how difficult this song is, not just for the high notes but for sustaining that voice at that octave. Whew.<br />
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Indeed that night, I see a more mature, more confident Arnel - unstoppable, impeccable. I find myself at a loss for adjectives. For sure his four years of working with a team of pros, his big brothers with Journey and its management, certainly paid off. The setlist was an excellent proof that he can master any song in practically any genre that requires honest-to-goodness singing. Rap may be a different genre but I doubt it requires real singing. Which is why watching his gig is, to borrow a line from the movie Forrest Gump, 'like a box of chocolates. You'll never know what you'll get.' <br />
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Once again, Arnel delivered an unforgettable performance that lingers in the hearts and minds of his audience for days. It's no longer just Arnelitis of staying too long on youtube watching his videos on repeat, but watching him live and eagerly waiting for the next gig to happen to see what more surprises he can give, listening to his golden voice try out new songs whether covers or originals. It's a kind of madness that he creates among his listeners. I doubt if any walked out of the venue not being a fan after watching him perform live for the first time. And it's just a sitting-on-a-stool Arnel Pineda that they witnessed. Wait til they see him perform with the big boys, flying in the air with his now trademark Air-nels. I am waiting for my turn. A little of him that he has shown in that little stage and yet he drove us all mad. It's P-I-N-S-A-N-I-T-Y. With such a truly unique and gifted artist, I hope the rest of the world that has yet to be won over will catch it. <br />
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<i>*For the complete setlist and link to other videos, click on this link.<br />
<a href="http://arnelpinedarocks.com/forum/index.php?f=45&t=3249&hilit=heart%20of%20rock&rb_v=viewtopic&start=20">http://arnelpinedarocks.com/forum/index.php?f=45&t=3249&hilit=heart%20of%20rock&rb_v=viewtopic&start=20</a><br />
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Major thanks to all who shared their videos : Ferdie Arquero, lenargin, journellsky, garakyut, VivaArnel among others.</i>cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-42932325346796149512012-02-23T10:15:00.002-08:002012-03-03T20:59:07.378-08:00He sang one of my favorite U2 songs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cloud.synad2.nuffnang.com.ph/img/nuffnang_button.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="61" width="160" src="http://cloud.synad2.nuffnang.com.ph/img/nuffnang_button.gif" /></a></div><br />
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Arnel Pineda sang "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". It's one of U2's greatest hits from it's no. 1 album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joshua_Tree">Joshua Tree</a> which is also my favorite U2 album. It's the best cover of this song I have heard so far. <a href="http://www.atu2.com/band/bono/">Bono</a> would be so proud of him when he hears this. <br />
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Here's proof. <br />
<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/yAdvhX9EOmM?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/yAdvhX9EOmM?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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From another angle.<br />
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More on Arnel's amazing Valentine's concert later. I left the venue (his bar called Rockville) with my feet floating in the air so yes it took quite a while to settle down.cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-54192786491780436942011-05-30T08:18:00.000-07:002011-10-03T06:20:00.858-07:00Lammayo: Palawan's answer to Daing and TuyoSo what's a better alternative to the usual dried danggit? Why it's no less than danggit but prepared in another way. It's fresh danggit marinated in vinegar, ginger, pepper and garlic. It was served as breakfast during my trip to Palawan with friends. And since then I've been addicted. I searched everywhere for it and to my surprise, it is sold at the tiangge in Salcedo Village every Saturday. I am sure this is also sold at other organic markets in different places around the Metro. It's a must try. I swear you'll be addicted to it after tasting.<br />
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I forgot to take a photo of this delicacy so I searched the net for it. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s4.sulitstatic.com/upload/thumbnails/h/09/0906f71a1395adc88973deee96f361a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="75" width="100" src="http://s4.sulitstatic.com/upload/thumbnails/h/09/0906f71a1395adc88973deee96f361a1.jpg" /></a></div>cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-28029641955376552572011-04-02T00:08:00.001-07:002012-03-03T21:12:12.898-08:00Palawan... A Paradise You'd Love to Retire ToOkay. First off. I'm not quite close to retiring yet. But that is exactly how I think of <a href="http://www.palawan.gov.ph/">Palawan </a>the very first time I visited the place less than a year ago with hubby and some friends. Both my husband and I were thinking about the same thing. We even got to talk to the tour guides and asked them how much the cost of property is, the availability of electricity (this is a remote island after all in a third world country!) and safe drinking water, health services... the staples you need when you grow old. Heck I wouldn't want to fetch water 200 meters away ya know in my advanced age! :) Not so much concern about breaking a hip but more concerned about not remembering how to get back. bwah!<br />
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Now here's some photos I took with my bff. I'd like to call him Konyo. No he's not a bratty friend or relative. He's actually a dslr, my good ol' reliable <a href="http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d40x/index.htm">Nikon D40x.</a><br />
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Palawan has lots of these <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/02/mangroves/warne-text">mangroves</a><br />
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The entrance to the <a href="http://undergroundriver.net/">underground river.</a> <i>*Click thumbnail photo to see larger pic.*</i><br />
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A friend took a photo of us on the boat.<br />
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A stalactite. <br />
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The best restaurant with the best view would be <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294257-d1762677-Reviews-Badjao_Seafront-Puerto_Princesa_Palawan.html">Badjao Seafront Resto.</a> Well, food is just average. I don't really expect haute cuisine in a seafood restaurant by the sea. I'm fine it being cooked in a way 'au naturel' with little garnishings and spice. Like you just cooked them yourselves along the beach and added a little spice just for taste.<br />
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The hanging lamps were neatly adorned.<br />
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There's a picture hanging on the wall sa proof that it has been visited by royalty. No less than Prince Andrew, the Duke of York himself at that!<br />
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Then there are the cute tricycles for travelling to short and long distances.<br />
We did ride one from the place we stayed to <a href="http://thelotusgardenphils.com/home">Lotus Garden Restaurant</a> and back. It has great Asian food. The sushi buffet was yummy!<br />
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A visit to the crocodile farm is a must. I think it's the only one of its kind in the country.<br />
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Baby crocs at the nursery.<br />
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Some breath-taking views.<br />
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A short trip is definitely not enough. I got to visit only one side of this long island. It has to be <a href="http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2008/04/coron-palawan.html">Coron </a>next time and hopefully soon.<br />
<a href="http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h153/bovixen/Palawan2010/?action=view&current=115-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h153/bovixen/Palawan2010/th_115-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-78580875916086562612011-02-01T11:38:00.000-08:002011-03-23T07:48:23.878-07:00When Rockville Rocked: Arnel Pineda's Farewell Concert 1-26-2011<!-- nuffnang --><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Excellent, superb, electrifying, stupendous. I ran out of adjectives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wednesday is not your usual day for holding concerts but Arnel Pineda is flying to his next big gig that will reunite him with his Journey band mates after a year long break to trailblaze their way all around Europe and Latin America and several more cities in the U.S. of A for their latest world tour and to introduce their new cd.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier husband and I took a quick burger snack a few establishments away from <a href="http://arnelpinedarocks.com/index.php/rockville">Rockville Bar</a> before it opened just to fill up our hungry stomachs. But I found myself hardly finishing my sandwich. Not that it was bad. It was good but I just wanted to take a few bites and was antsy to run to Rockville. I was afraid we may not get seats as there were previous gigs where people had to be turned away. That night was one night I did not want to miss since it would be his last gig and last time he'd spend a night with his fans before he turns Journey mode. Indeed he made it extra special by singing songs the fans and followers listed on his fansite.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As everyone should know by now, Arnel Pineda can sing the phone book. After all he's been in the business for twenty seven years and has tried everything literally from A-Z. There was a mix of requests from the list that I read. From love songs, to kundimans, to classic rock and songs fans never heard him sing before -- at least not on youtube nor on any recorded media. Bridge Over Troubled Waters for one. Who would've thought. But more on that later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The show started at half past nine with the Ammo Band. They did some real good classic rock songs I haven't heard any local live band perform. Mustang Sally? Whoa! Next time I get a chance to visit, can you guys please do Muddy Waters and Raspberry Beret? There must be five or six more songs that really impressed me a lot. Unfortunately, I didn't note them down. But for two songs, I do remember telling my husband I want Arnel to perform them too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">End of first set.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By this time I was already enjoying a glass of mai tai. I haven't drank anything with alcohol since two Christmases ago when sister brought home some real good wine. I also gorged on a plateful of deep fried chicken fingers. They were yummy and juicy. I also didn't expect it to be a generous serving for its price. For this alone, I give Rockville 5 stars! Even the pancit bijon is how I wanted it to be steamy with just the right amount of sauce and not dry. Again another generous serving. The waiters and waitresses were nice and quick to attend to you. They were also quite diligent in cleaning up the tables. I just noticed though that they were using their bare hands in removing soiled table napkins. I think it would be better if they had tiny tongs to pick them up instead. But that's just the OC part of me. I think we all have that in us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It must be fifteen minutes already and I was again turning antsy until I overheard one lady at another table say Arnel will I start at 10:30. That would be ten more minutes to go. I took this time to check my camera and took one last visit to the bathroom. Speaking of my camera, when we arrived I and hubby took turns taking a few photos behind the logo and the photos of Arnel with Journey by the stairs. One waiter passing by overheard me telling my husband to take just a quick shot to save up on battery. He then told us "Yes, ma'am baka mamaya pag dating ni Sir Arnel maubusan kayo ng battery." (Yes ma'am you better save up on your battery so it won't run out when Sir Arnel starts) Hmm. I like this guy. I thanked him for reminding us. He knows for sure fans bring along cameras and videocams to preserve those precious performances. In a way I was glad cameras were still allowed and in a selfish way I feel lucky that the livestream was not yet functioning or else our cameras will not be allowed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a while I heard some noise coming from behind. Then I saw about three bouncers (at least that's what's written at the back of their shirts) coming in surrounding the man of the hour. I hear more wolf whistles as he goes nearer the stage.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Immediately what came to mind is the question of what is it about extraordinary people that makes them different from you and me. Earlier I saw the Ammo band play and I thought they were good. When Arnel stepped foot on the stage even while the spotlights were not yet turned on you can already feel the electricity in the air. Then the spotlights were turned on. Wearing white printed shirt over a white tee, he looked like some kind of deity. And by some coincidence, his first song was entitled "Heaven" by Bryan Adams.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">I can never forget the visual. It gave me goosebumps actually. Awashed in bright spotlights, he looked radiant, almost luminous. Was it a sign of things to come I ask myself, that his star will shine even brighter in this tour with his musical heroes? It didn't take the entire show to finish to answer that question.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As soon as he segued to the second song More Than You'll Ever Know, you can tell he already had the crowd at the palm of his hands especially the women. Oh the women. You can hear them sigh, scream, swoon the entire night. They were having the most fun especially when Arnel sings the love songs like First Time which was a special request from the missus "or else he can't come home'' as Arnel announced. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then came two U2 songs. First was One which segued to With or Without You.<br />
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I've always wanted to hear him sing this live in its entirety. I was delirious. Crowd sounded deilrious too. His rendition of With or Without You , my personal U2 favorite, this time was much better than the last time I saw him sing it. On you tube of course. How Arnel made me feel like I'm hearing this in an arena like the famous Irish boys in a small dim bar is only proof how his voice can bring you to places. I wouldn't want to hear anyone else sing this other than Bono himself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then he sang two hits from The Doors back to back.<br />
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For me this was one of the highlights of so many highlights of the show. Roadhouse Blues and Break On Through. Using the growly side of his voice, Arnel showed mastery of his gift. The only thing I wished that were there was Jon Cain's harmonica playing. I can imagine the J-boys do a cover of this song with everyone in the crowd singing and dancing wildly like they do whenever Loving Touching Squeezing is played. Now this was the first time for me to hear this song. A funny moment for me was when I misheard part of the lyrics of this song. Towards the bridge or chorus I thought I heard him sing "take off your blouse" only to find out when I googled the lyrics back home that he was singing "Give up your vows." It must be the mai tai.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">When the song ended and segued to Break on Through, the energy and heat rose ten notches higher. Man, this number was hot, hot, hot. More than any other song on this show, here was where I saw the classic rocking Arnel, headbanging, jumping (the ceiling is too low for the famous Airnels though), twirling the mic stand, so completely into his zone. He seemed to have thrown everyone back to the sixties where wild parties and smoke-filled rooms were the order of the day. Except of course there was no smoke here at all. The only one sizzling other than the 'sisig' on peoples plates was Arnel himself. Also starring was the mic stand which took some extra beating from our rock stah. The performance was so infectious that you want to join the ride with him but at some point you just have to stop and allow him to have his moment and just be at the sidelines to watch how he gets into his zone. It was a thrill to watch him do this. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast forward to what I would call the triple whammy. Satisfaction, Stairway to Heaven and Bridge Over Troubled Waters. What more can you ask for. With Satisfaction he got the crowd singing along and raising their fists each time Arnel points the mic towards their direction to sing the last two words of the line "I can't get no!" He got the place shaking.<br />
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With Stairway to Heaven, he got everyone else, to use a twitter's words, trippy. He started the song with some light banter with Monet about interesting substances. Ahem. What more can I add but yet again another highlight of the show. Robert Plant and Arnel should jam before any of them completely forget the lyrics of that song.</div><br />
And then came Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Wow.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"> It was nothing that I expected to be on his playlist. I learned later it was someone's favorite. Simon and Garfunkel are two of my and my husband's favorites. These two geniuses definitely has written some of the best songs that any generation can appreciate. To hear it sang live by Arnel no less made me excited as he started the first words "When you're weary..." Everyone was in awe. Again ladies were screaming their heads off. But Arnel made it into not just an "I'm singing this song because you requested it" moment. His show of emotions was something I did not expect. As ladies kept swooning he maintained a sober mood. As soon as he finished the words "When times get rough.." he took a short bow and gave out a quick smile. Soon his voice was starting to quiver and tears fell. From my angle I thought these were just sweat. After all he has been singing for more than an hour now without break and the kinds of songs he were singing were more than enough to drain one's energy in thirty minutes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the song ended, he mentioned something about the lines "When you're down and out. When you're on the street." Everyone should already know the story by now. As it is with Arnel there are just things that happen in our lives that you simply can't erase. You move on alright but the memory of the pain remains.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For his last encore song, Arnel sang Kenny Loggin's Forever.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">This one I say you just have to be there and hear it live to be able to fully appreciate the magic in that voice. No camera or recorder can do justice to hearing his voice reverberate within the four walls and feel that passion coming out from him. It was heartfelt and beautiful and at the same time enchanting. What they say about drowning in one's voice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Truth is there's something about how Arnel delivers each song he sings that sucks you into his realm. While this was meant to be in a way a fans' day being a Most Requested Song night where fans and followers throw in their favorites, it was in some sense a night where Arnel has proven what a truly gifted artist he is. I won't be surprised if the list was just given to him a day or two before and thus the presence of the lyric sheet. (Well I only said he can sing the phone book, not memorize it! lol) but he delivered each song and made sure that it gets the respect that is due the artist who wrote them. It could have been one big karaokefest with someone singing the lyrics of the songs but Arnel was not just doing that. He made sure he puts the right emotions to those songs and made his audience feel what is being conveyed in the lyrics. He made each song his own that you sometimes forget who the original artist was.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Was it a perfect night then? No and I don't expect that in this kind of setup where Arnel gets a list of songs probably just a day or two before the event. There could be songs he hasn't sang in ages and thus the need for a lyric sheet. However there are also pitfalls to singing with a visual aid which became pretty obvious when he sang 'One' where he almost skipped a line. He was quick though to correct himself. Arnel does some adlibbing as a way of adding his personal touch but again given the setup, there was the tendency to emphasize on the words he remembers but those that he didn't and had to read from the sheets sounded slurred. In some songs, in a manner of saying, he has to mind his p's and q's. To an OC listener (I sometimes am) it can be just a wee bit distracting. If there is something he had to improve on (which every artist should continually be on the lookout for), this would be it. At the same time I must say he has vastly improved. As for the band, they did well. Were excellent at some point especially when performing the blues where one does a lot of improvisation. I was pleasantly surprised by how they did the two Doors song. Same thing with U2's WOWY though I wished the bass part were given more emphasis because the bass riff is what that song is known for. Did I tell you I can be quite OC?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If there is one word that I can use to describe this night, it is enchanting. Truly I felt everyone left the show like they fell under his spell. It was not just your usual MRS night but a night that was like Arnel himself selecting the songs which he does best. And since six of the songs I requested were performed with two more I've been wanting to hear him sing, this would be a perfect playlist for me. If there were others that were not played it was simply because two hours was not enough. Indeed two hours is so short considering the repertoire of songs he can deliver well. Then there were some of us who not only requested two or three songs but even an entire playlist. I was one of those. :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lastly, if there is a word I can use to describe Arnel that night it is resplendent. He started the night by appearing onstage wearing his white shirt and with the bright spotlight reflecting on it, he appeared radiant. He ended it shining brighter even as the lights were turned off for he proved to each and everyone of us in that small room, that he truly is a star extraordinaire. I'm more than excited with what lies ahead of him in the very near future.</div><br />
***cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557111694089494987.post-57601196338308670562010-12-16T08:42:00.000-08:002013-12-03T06:04:26.132-08:00He Sang. She Sang. A Study in Contrast, I think<!-- nuffnang --><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 18px;">Mr. <a href="http://arnelpinedarocks.com/">Arnel Pineda</a> and Ms.Lea Salonga. Mr. Rock Star meets Ms. Broadway. I had goosebumps all throughout while watching this video of their performance during the 75th anniversary of <a href="http://www.pg.com/en_PH/">Procter & Gamble</a> in the Philippines.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtAtHEEtG0U">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtAtHEEtG0U</a><br />
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<embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/WtAtHEEtG0U?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I don't know how many times I've watched this. When I converted it to mp3 and listened with my headphones, I shed tears midway. Firstly, the arrangement was likewise excellent as well as the choice of songs, songs that were used as movie or tv soap soundtracks. One can not but feel the pain of an ill-fated love affair as Lea's or Arnel's voice quiver on "Gulong ng Palad" or how Arnel segues to the next song with that subtle crack in his voice on "Habang May Buhay" to emphasize a man's promise of eternal love to his sweetheart. (On a lighter note, the fact that this moved me so much is but proof of how powerful their performance was. I am not even a romantic. :) )</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />These two amazing talents were products of two vastly different worlds. <a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea_Salonga" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Lea Salonga</a> was raised in a middle class family, of which an aunt was also another famous theatre artist, and attended an exclusive school. She started locally onstage as a child playing in famous musicals like King and I, Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music. But it was her role as Annie that first catapulted her to theatre stardom. So popular was she after this hit show that she had become a household word. Every mother at that time wanted her daughter to be like her.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The theatre has become her world for most of her life since childhood and it was in the stage that her talent was honed. By the time she was eighteen, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_theatre">West End</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway">Broadway</a> were celebrating her talent as Kim in that multi-awarded Schonberg- Boublil musicale <a href="http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/misssaigon.htm">Miss Saigon</a>. Soon after Disney tapped her to join its illustrous lineup of talents. Hollywood came a-calling.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqqvXwSVgXg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqqvXwSVgXg</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #323d4f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At about the time Leah was earning awards both here and abroad, rubbing elbows with theatre and Hollywood royalty, Arnel on the other hand was playing at bars in Hong Kong, sometimes six nights a week, five hours each day. Singing classic rock or whatever was requested by customers writing them on table napkins, be it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Supply">Air Supply</a><a href="http://www.ledzeppelin.com/"> or Led Zep</a> or<a href="http://www.thedoors.com/"> The Doors</a>, entertaining people from different parts of the world for God knows how much or how little , he later succumbed to drug abuse and thus lost his voice and returned home sick and penniless. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #323d4f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khPcIbrlnBg" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khPcIbrlnBg</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
<iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/khPcIbrlnBg" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">His talent for music was first discovered by his parents who were regular tailors for which he was given a peso (his first 'professional fee') for every song he sang at his parents' cutting table. In some occasions, reluctant and shy that he was then. he would be tricked by them into joining singing contests resulting literally into a tear-jerking moment. Tragedy struck at puberty when his mother's illness and subsequent demise drained all the family's savings forcing him to live a life of his own on the streets, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">exposed to all sorts of elements no parent would want for his child.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">Come to think of it, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">while Lea played roles of the miserable in that famous Victor Hugo's classic novel, Arnel was likewise playing a similar role but however in the bigger stage called life. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">It was not until another friend in the streets who gave him that light bulb moment to make money out of his talent that he realized this was his only way out. And thus started his roller coaster ride in the music industry until his<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VccPl_uLpWA"> discovery on you tube by Neal Schon</a> from the legendary band <a href="http://www.journeymusic.com/">Journey</a>. And as a matter of coincidence, both Arnel and Lea were discovered by people searching for talents for specific roles they needed to play. He for a lead singer for a band and she for a lead performer for a musicale. In both instances, the search was worldwide. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />These images were playing in my head as I watched these two artists extraordinaire sing together. What could be more interesting than seeing them together sing songs about love, hope and pain. I wonder how they visualize these aspects of life in their heads while singing. What was Lea thinking when she was singing about falling in love for the first time in Pangako Sa Yo. What was Arnel thinking as he sang "May Bukas Pa" which could well be the our answer to Journey's hit song Don't Stop Believing (no kidding!). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">For a while I felt like I was watching Tup Tim and LunTha, the ill-fated lovers in the musicale <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_and_I_(1956_film)">King and I</a>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">Coming from different training grounds, they brought to the stage all those experience they had from working early on in their childhood: she from air conditioned theaters with mentors that speak impeccable English , and he from the school of hard knocks, sleeping in parks, checking garbage cans at times surviving on a packet of cheap biscuits and drinking from water drums in gasoline stations. But music is a universal language that knows no barriers and that brought them together on stage.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">"Two hearts beating as one." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">Musically this is what it is. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">Watch how they mouth the words in unison, not one note sang ahead nor behind of the other. Watch how at 8:01 their voices crescendoed at the same exact word at the same time. F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">rom beginning to end, they sang right on pitch and in perfect cadence. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">I may be wrong but I think this was the first time for them to sing together in a duet and it is all of 8 minutes, so unlike the thirty second performances in smorgasbord Sunday variety shows we see on tv. And it turned out to be magical. Their professionalism stood out in that there was no 'sapawan', nor 'over-singing'. There was no ego but instead two artists getting lost in their music. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; line-height: 18px;">Together they delivered a performance so beautiful and powerful my heart was pounding towards the end.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; color: #323d4f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Bravo Leah! Bravo Arnel! That night you proved why you two are a cut above the rest. And thank you for turning me into a romantic for a good eight minutes. </span>cel2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/16870217828692990930noreply@blogger.com2