With the world still on hold, many industries are still struggling to regain their footing. Among the hardest hit sectors is the film industry, with cinemas closing worldwide and slews of freelancers losing projects, if not their jobs entirely. Inevitably, … Continue reading FilmFest Log: We Are One, Days 1-3
The idea was to bring back the Universal Classic Monsters. To be exact: reintroduce the landmark horror series to a contemporary audience by creating an updated cinematic universe. Think MCU or DCEU, but with spooks. And, why not? The original … Continue reading “The Invisible Man”: A potent feminist update
Sonic the Hedgehog D: Jeff Fowler S: Ben Schwartz (voice), James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter Even when Sega’s flagship series was in its heyday, a movie adaptation was already in the pipeline. But when the teaser for Sonic the … Continue reading Sonic Outruns Initial Backlash
D: Stephen Gaghan S: Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Jessie Buckley If animals could talk to producers, they’d probably gripe. Why even give Hugh Lofting’s beloved vet the big screen treatment again? None of the previous outings ever worked. There’s … Continue reading “Dullittle” is more like it.
Considering I had one too many rounds in Mandaue the previous night, I was up curiously early – not early enough to witness the fluvial procession, but still early enough to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. It was the third Sunday … Continue reading Sinulog 2020, Part 3: Grand Parade in Mango Avenue
The first and last time the Yaps took us to Caw-Oy was back in 2002. It was a Good Friday, and I remember it igniting a petty spiritual quandary: if I enjoy seafood more than meat, is it still considered … Continue reading Sinulog 2020, Part 2: Lunch in Caw-Oy
Much as the first two instances barely count, this was going to be my third Sinulog. My qualms regarding the previous two stem from the fact that they were work-related. In both instances, I didn’t really have ample time to do … Continue reading Sinulog 2020, Part 1: Sutukil Before Sundown
With Or Without You blasted on Jad’s Spotify as we prepped for the day. Not like we needed the reminder, but it did set the appropriate mood for the hours that followed. It was the day of U2‘s concert – … Continue reading In the Name of Lah, Part 3: Kampong Glam Detour
It was our only window to reconnect with locally-based friends, so we streamlined our meet-ups at The Shoppes. Jaja went off to see a high-school friend, while the rest of us met with college orgmates. Ace and JK never met … Continue reading In The Name of Lah, Part 2: Marina Bay Meet-Ups
We thought it was the crack of dawn. But, then, we were reminded not to undermine the body clock-negating capacity of a windowless room. As we stepped out, we were disoriented by the sunlight as it pierced through the hallway … Continue reading In the Name of Lah, Part 1: Bok Bok, B*tches
D: Jon Favreau S: Donald Glover, Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Chiwitel Efiojor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen It’s not that the story was ever unworthy of retelling. After all, the musical amassed legions of new fans and is now the third … Continue reading “The Lion King” Remake: Zoological Accuracy at the Expense of Wonder
It’s not very common for any Europe first-timer, among my peers at least, to have Scandinavia as the first stop. So when the opportunity presented itself earlier this year, I knew I had to grab it. True enough, the moment I stepped out of the plane that morning, it wasn’t just my first step in a country; it was also my first step in a continent. The last time I first set foot in a continent other than my own was when I visited my Dad in Chicago at age three. It felt surreal replicating that milestone thirty years later. And this was quite possibly the most fun I ever had hanging out with a group of dentists. That one, I’ll explain in a few…
I had the pleasure of watching The Cranberries’ Manila concert back in April 2012. Just like most attendees that night, I considered their music vital to my formative years. Everyone in his or her 30s now would agree. I had cassette copies of To the Faithful Departed and Bury the Hatchet. Zombie and Ode to My Family were my favorite tracks in my Now! That’s What I Call Music tapes. And really, who didn’t attempt to yodel along?
The trip began on an anxious note. That much I established earlier. So, it’s a good thing that our second day fell on a Saturday. And with no one to inundate me over the phone that weekend, I actually did enjoy a Morning Calm (Don’t push it, Self). At that point, I resolved to look at the bright side of my ongoing murky situation and just take a breather: Just like that day’s destination, which endured a grim, shaky history before evolving into the visual spectacle that it is today.
Such is the peculiar case of Gwangmyeong Cave.
Continue reading “Saturday Spelunking: The Curious Case of Gwangmyeong Cave”
For the first time ever in a long-haul flight, I couldn’t sleep a wink. Back home, I was on the cusp of a major turning point, one that had been causing me weeks of anxiety. I was bound for rattling change, regardless of which choice I made. Not knowing whether it would happen during or after the trip was the killer. The uncertainty got the best of me. But I resolved to keep my plight from my travel companion, Marga, even for just four hours.
I won’t expound on that ordeal anymore, but I’ll say this: Life’s too short for us to be constantly threatened with disapproval. If something limits or, worse, consumes us, then it’s time to search for other avenues. But thankfully, really, this maiden Korean voyage was what it took to get my “Seoul” back. Pun gleefully intended.
