On turning 28 (and turning older, in general)

Posted on February 6, 2013 by chuckiechavez

Excerpt of my conversation with my friend (and gorgeous blogging beauty queen) Joyce Burton Titular a few days back:

Ms. Joyce: Are you dreading it?
Me: Well, not totally. I still feel like a child. Haha
Ms Joyce: Me too. I feel like I haven’t really grown up. Partially lang.
Me: The outlook will probably change when I hit 30. Hehe
Ms. Joyce: It has to. If you don’t change, eh ikaw na si Lord.
Me: Lord agad? Di ba puwedeng Peter Pan muna? Hahaha
Ms. Joyce: LOL! Puwede na rin Peter Pan.

On an unrelated note, the most creative birthday greetings I’ve received so far:

From Bien of the research department:

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Barny‘s “mind-blowing” and “surreal” ode to mitosis:

Fabulous Instagram collage by the even more fabulous Gabbie Tatad:

From Floyd, who vividly channels John Lapus when in drag:

Oh and, Venus flytraps (Thanks Leng!):

To Greenfinity and Beyond: Tidbits from my first LSGH Alumni Homecoming

Posted on February 4, 2013 by chuckiechavez

Before everything else, let me say it first, just to get rid of the patently obvious: “Wow! 10 years!”

It’s actually been 10 years since I graduated high school from La Salle Green Hills, a place I called my second home for 13 years. That’s kindergarten to high school, if you want to delve into specifics. And yes, that’s pretty long for somebody who’s as geographically-displaced as I am. (I live in Paranaque; why I was never sent to Zobel will forever remain shrouded in mystery. So stop asking why I was never sent to Zobel.) Prior to last Saturday, I only got to visit the school again on two occasions. First was in 2003, a few months after starting college, when I dropped by to pick up souvenir programs. The second was in 2007 during the bi-annual Kabihasnan Fair, which already seemed subdued compared to yesteryears. Apart from that, my only nostalgia outlets were occasional stares at the infamously spaceship-like facade of the St. Benilde Gym whenever I drove past the area. So, needless to say, it was great to be back.

The campus looks different now, which is hardly surprising. LSGH undergoes renovation almost every year. None of the buildings and classrooms we used from 1990-1995 are still standing; I don’t think they even made it past Y2K. And the beach volleyball court, purportedly the first in an Asian school, is now about to be replaced by another structure. That just goes to show how much LSGH invests in innovating and reinventing itself. More on that when I get the chance to go back and revisit every nook and cranny.

Greenfinity 2013 was the first alumni homecoming I ever attended. The hosting batch this year was Batch ’88, since it’s their 25th anniversary, but they also got us to co-host since it’s our 10th. One of the emcees humorously pointed out that while the expression “Tara Na Sa Field!” (Let’s Go To The Field!) is commonly used as a call for afternoon fistfights, it was also the appropriate tagline for this grand celebration. And what a grand celebration it was!

My friend RJ Acdal and I arrived just in time to witness part of the opening. The celebration began with a video parody of the already-parodied-to-death “Gangnam Style”. (If you think you can handle another Gangnam parody, click here.) As far as local artists are concerned, I can’t think of a better Psy impersonator than Randy Santiago, with his ubiquitous shades and all. After the video, he stepped onstage to banter with hosts Sem Mercado and Robin da Roza.

There were expectedly lots of celebrity guests. Curiously, two of them were former beauty queens. One was Gwendolyn Ruais, Miss World Philippines 2011, who went out for a quick chat with the hosts.

The other one was Krista Kleiner, Bb. Pilipinas-International 2010, who performed a song number.

RJ and I walked around the field for the duration of Kundirana alumnus Ogie Alcasid’s song number. We went back to our batch’s designated area just in time to see Carla Abellana and – surprise, surprise – Divine Lee onstage.

A performance by the girl group P.Y.T. followed suit. During which, one of the girls yelled ”Let’s go, Daddies!!!” (Yeah, in case you missed it, dear senior members of our alumni community, you’ve all been Daddy-zoned.)

Time for more dazzling beauties. Next to come out were Georgina Wilson and Isabelle Daza…

…who invited select members of the audience onstage for some drunken limbo. (The dance, not the state of oblivion.)

On that note, we’d like to thank Rico Balatbat, his high alcohol tolerance, and his supple spine, for bringing honor to our batch.

The ultimate “This-feels-like-covering-an-event-for-work” moment: Photo-op with Edu Manzano.

After that round of drunken onstage tomfoolery, everyone was treated to a song number by Iwa Moto…

…and a parade of feathered beauties.

Then, there was Karylle, who exuded grace under pressure as that night’s token Atenean celebrity guest.

All in the family: With my cousin Babes Calixto, who attends the homecoming almost every year. My other cousin Jorel apparently left early.

Just when we all thought we’ve had enough surprise guests, out came Fil-Am hip hop sensation Apl.de.Ap, who sang “Bebot” while dancing with actual bebots.

The evening ended with the proper spectacle. Moments after we sang our Alma Mater hymn (which I love up to this day because of its simplicity and straightforwardness), the sky flared up, aptly enough, in a shade of green and white. We were all treated to an amazing fireworks display. It was a mesmerizing visual feast, and the perfect way to punctuate the festivities.

Fun and jubilant as the atmosphere was, our batch’s attendance still could have been better. To illustrate: One batch typically consists of around 400 students divided into 10 sections. Our attendance that night wasn’t even enough to form 2. But there was still semblance of solidarity (if not sobriety) when RJ and I yelled “BATCH PICTURE!” If anything, I’d like to believe that it was an indicator of grander reunions to come. If or when that will happen remains to be seen.

Once again, kudos to Batch 1988 and everyone else involved for all the time and effort they invested in staging this grand production. From the entertaining numbers to the surprise guest appearances, it was truly a fun and nostalgia-filled evening. The pressure will definitely be on us when it’s our turn to host in 2028.

Breakfast for Lunch and Dinner

Posted on January 30, 2013 by chuckiechavez

I know a lot of people who consider breakfast as their favorite meal. I also know a lot of people who don’t wake up early enough, but eat breakfast food all day anyway. For those who fit into either category, this new place in Fort BGC, Taguig may just be your instant foodie Mecca.

The Early Bird Breakfast Club offers interesting gourmet twists to your favorite morning entrees all day, every day. With its picturesque, cozy interiors and inviting facade, it’s impossible to miss. I ended up visiting the place 3 times during this past week – once with my teammates Sheena, Redi and Hazel, twice with the 17th floor’s resident ~~glutton~~ gourmand Raf. So even though their menu is still limited (They’re still on soft opening), my multiple visits gave me a chance to try more items.

On my first trip, I ordered the Frittata (P275), or as I would fondly call it, “Glorified Torta”. Despite its seemingly diminutive serving, it was actually pretty filling. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have had that side order of hash potatoes. Their take on the egg-based dish contains cheddar cheese, bacon, and spinach: potentially a winning combination. Too bad I hardly tasted any of the three. In my reckoning, it could use a bit more flavor.

Redi and Hazel each ordered a variation of the longganisa dish. I wasn’t too crazy about the Viva Longganisa (P345), but only because I prefer longganisas on the salty side (My favorite is Lucban). Fans of the sweeter variants will probably enjoy this more.

Same goes for the Longganisa Crisp (P280) which is breaded and served without rice. It’s best ordered as an appetizer.

My favorite savory dish of theirs, so far, is their Adobo Sunrise (P315), which I tried on my third visit. It’s not as crispy as you’d typically expect adobo flakes to be, but it’s packed with flavor.

Dessert seems to be Early Bird Breakfast Club’s area of consistency.

The Early Bird Signature Pancakes (P295) is considered of their specialties, and with good reason. Apart from the impeccable presentation, the pancakes have just the right size and texture. And while the combination of flavored butter, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and Vermont maple syrup sounds like a diabetes case waiting to happen, the sweetness is not overpowering at all. Definitely one of their must-tries.

French toast fanatics should also try the Peanut Butter and Caramel French Toast (P260), which also boasts impressive presentation and delicious, non-overpowering flavor.

Overall, a mixed bag. But I’m willing to go back once their menu expands. I’m looking forward to their takes on tapsilog and daing na bangus.

Early Bird Breakfast Club is located at the Ground Floor of the newly-constructed Fort Pointe 2 Building (where Pier One used to stand) in Fort Strip, Fort BGC, Taguig.

Faces of 5: The Music Video (TAKE TWO!!!)

Posted on January 30, 2013 by chuckiechavez

Let’s do this again, shall we?

Last month marked a highlight in my ~~brief~~ soon-to-be-made-official tenure as an artist relations officer for TV5. I can go on and on about how honored I feel to have been part of this campaign; how it empowered me and gave me the experience I didn’t expect to get. Putting this thing together was no walk in the park. It involved contacting handlers, bargaining with schedules, thoroughly choosing best photos out of hundreds of nearly-identical shots. And that’s only scratching the surface. So when the behind-the-scenes music video started airing last December, it felt like a milestone, to say the least. I can even say that I’m almost as elated as the featured talents.

There were the occasional bumps on the road, of course. We had to create an alternate cut that’s clear for both online sharing and international airing. Now, finally, here’s the version that’s currently airing on TV5′s U.S. channels.

Once again, I present to you: The Faces of 5 Music Video:

This week in fairy tale bastardization: Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Posted on January 29, 2013 by chuckiechavez

HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

D: Tommy Wirkola
S: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare

RATING: *

FACT: Fairy tales were meant to be scary, especially the ones by the Brothers Grimm. Most of us know by now that Little Red Riding Hood was about rape, Snow White was about necrophilia, and Cinderella’s stepsisters went as far as severing their toes to fit into that goddamn slipper. This makes any attempt at a more gruesome reboot a redundant exercise, to say the least.

Norweigan director Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) must have missed that memo. In Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, he re-imagined the beloved siblings as badass, leather-wearing vigilantes. You know, because vigilantes from the Middle Ages usually dress like Matrix rejects. Not.

And if you thought that it’s too early for the talented Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Avengers) to experience a career nadir at this point, well, think again. Here, he plays Hansel, now diabetic (From eating too much candy. Get it?!). While one-time Bond girl Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) plays Gretel, now manifesting signs of troll fetish (Don’t ask). It’s been years since they were almost eaten by that gingerbread-dwelling witch; now they want revenge. Little do they know that their latest adversary would hold secrets about their bitter past. Enter Famke Janssen, channeling her villainous stint from X-Men: The Last Stand. Now, bring on the gratuitous blood and gore.

Faithfulness to the original story is the last thing you’ll expect from this obnoxious 3D reboot. The gingerbread house, for instance, is presented here as a mere afterthought. What we get instead are a dull script that boasts a confusing amount of profanity and bloodletting that will put the Saw franchise to shame.

Word of advice: If you’re looking for dark and gruesome, read the Grimms’ original fairy tales instead. Now, those stories were unapologetically and unequivocally macabre. Skip this.

RATING: 1.0 out of 5

Anna Litvinova, 1983-2013

Posted on January 24, 2013 by chuckiechavez

Sad news on the pageant circuit yet again.

Anna Litvinova, a former Miss Russia and Top 20 semi-finalist in Miss Universe 2006, died last January 22, 2013 after battling a yet-to-be-specified form of cancer. According to reports, she was diagnosed only one year ago. She sought further treatment in Germany, where she would spend her final hours. She was only 29.

Anna is notable for bringing her country back to the Miss Universe semi-finals 4 years after Oxana Fedorova’s dethronement. During the Top 20 swimsuit round, she was fondly called “From Russia With Legs” by commentator Carson Kressley. She also made a memorable impression during the national costume presentation, where she wore a skirt that revealed a different colorful pattern each time she made a twirl. In my reckoning, it as was one of the best costumes ever worn by a Russian delegate in that pageant.

Anna is now the second from the class of 2006 to pass away. In 2011, Mofya Chisenga, who represented Zambia, died of complications from childbirth.

Now for the eerie coincidence: Their respective counterparts from Miss Universe 1999 are no longer with us either. Alexandra Petrova (Miss Russia) was shot by an unidentified gunman in 2000. While Esanju Kalopa (Miss Zambia) perished in a car crash in 2005.

We hope that a similar coincidence won’t occur again anytime soon.

May they all rest in peace.

Go 5! Trade Launch, Part 2: The Main Show

Posted on January 16, 2013 by chuckiechavez

After the press interviews and cocktails, it was time for the main event. Around 7:00 pm, the guests flocked to the Newport Performing Arts Theater for the program. Little did they know that they were in for a star-studded treat:

Kanta Pilipinas host Rico Blanco kicked off the proceedings with a rousing song performance.

Some of the talents I worked with in Faces of 5 took part of the futuristic opening number. (From L-R): Artista Academy alumna Malak So Shdifat, Victor Silayan, Ritz Azul, Daniel Matsunaga, Arci Munoz, model Gerard Sison, Valeen Montenegro and John James Uy

Derek Ramsay then made his dramatic entrance in full Kidlat costume. Appropriately enough, his appearance as the lightning-themed superhero was greeted by thunderous applause.

Edu Manzano and Paolo Bediones delivered the opening remakrs. The former grabbed the opportunity to flaunt his avant-garde choice of accessory, the latter merely showed mild amusement.

Timeless beauties Alice Dixson and Lucy Torres-Gomez then sashayed onstage to introduce a sneak preview of Wowowillie

After which, Comedians Arnell Ignacio and Tuesday Vargas delivered a performance akin to an Oscars opening number.

Marvin Agustin and Alex Gonzaga then stepped out to talk about the upcoming drama series Never Say Goodbye

Offstage, Gelli de Belen and Wendell Ramos talked about the achievements and upcoming projects of TV5′s film outlet, Studio 5

The audience was then serenaded by the contestants of Talentadong Pinoy Kids (left) and the Kilyawan Children’s Choir with an uplifting rendition of Smokey Mountain‘s “Paraiso“. Musical accompaniment was provided by Ryan Cayabyab

And who else can talk about the impact of TV5′s news platforms than the Head of News and Current Affairs, Luchi Cruz-Valdez, herself?

Arguably one of the night’s funniest moments: PBA star Benjie Paras tried to keep up with Phil and James Younghusband’s thick British accents during the Sports segment.

Talentadong Pinoy host Ryan Agoncillo then stepped onstage to talk about TV5′s increasing global and online presence…

…followed by a quick imaginary tour around the world with The Company and Talentadong Pinoy champs Astroboy and Joshua the Yoyo Tricker

Derek Ramsay, now sans Kidlat outfit, was then joined by Ruffa Gutierrez and Divine Lee to talk about TV5′s accessibility through gadgets

Joey de Leon then previewed his upcoming show Hayop sa Galing. He was joined onstage by Daniel Matsunaga’s sister Vanessa Matsunaga and their family dog.

The contestants of Kanta Pilipinas performed their take on “Happy Maging Kapatid“. The song may have been used in the network’s Christmas 2013 station ID, but it’s a sentiment everyone wishes to uphold all year round.

Superstar Nora Aunor then thanked the network for all the opportunities and second chances given to her

Eula Caballero and Edgar Allan Guzman performing a dance number together with the network’s other young talents

After the curtain call, it was time for TV5 Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan to give his inspiring closing remarks.

A shower of confetti to close the show

Go 5! Trade Launch, Part 1: The Junket Interviews

Posted on January 16, 2013 by chuckiechavez

And we are officially on overdrive! Oops, sorry, that was last year’s campaign.

We are only halfway through January, and we already had our first major event for 2013. Yesterday, TV5 executives and talents went full force to celebrate the launch of the Go5! campaign. The title of this year’s trade launch is symbolic of the network’s full-throttle approach in changing the media landscape. Also attending on full-force were advertisers and press members invited by the company. Some of them arrived in Resorts World Manila as early as 5:00pm to participate in two simultaneous pre-show events.

One of those was a series of pocket interviews held over dinner at the Newport Mall open area. The network’s talents were gracious enough to take time off their last minute rehearsal to take part in what I would call the entertainment press equivalent of speed-dating.