All posts for the month August, 2011

Ang Toyomansi ng Chowking. Bow.

This was dinner a couple of nights ago. Chowking wonton noodle soup, siopao and Coke. I always ask for toyomansi and chili for the wonton and I was shocked when the Chowking person won’t give me free condiments.  She said they charge for take-out orders. Fine. I asked how much the soymansi and chili cost. Five pesos each, she said.

WTF?! Five pesos for a small sachet???

I decided not to buy the overpriced condiments. If you look closely, the soymansi in the picture is from…

MINISTOP. It’s just P2.00. Three pesos for the chili, I think.

Three-peso difference for the toyomansi. Seriously, Chowking, may gold dust ba ang toyo niyo? Kaloka. Ang mahal ha. Tsk, tsk.

—–

listening to: Mark Ronson – Toxic

6 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 31, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Food and Drinks, Social Media
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Posted by Iya Santos on August 31, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/chowking_toyomansi/

Crazy? Yes. Stupid? Yes. Did I love it? No.

At fortysomething, straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the dream–good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his “perfect” life quickly unravels. Worse, in today’s single world, Cal, who hasn’t dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protege to handsome, thirtysomething player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). In an effort to help Cal get over his wife and start living his life, Jacob opens Cal’s eyes to the many options before him: flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style that can’t be found at Supercuts or The Gap. Cal and Emily aren’t the only ones looking for love in what might be all the wrong places: Cal’s 13-year-old son, Robbie, is crazy about his 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica, who harbors a crush on Cal. And despite Cal’s makeover and his many new conquests, the one thing that can’t be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading him back to where he began. (Source: Movie Web)

The first paragraph is pretty much the entire movie. It’s just like Valentine’s Day and Love Actually where every character is clueless on how to find love and there’s always the little kid who has more sense than all of the adults combined. Crazy, Stupid, Love has a handful of insanely funny scenes and equally insanely corny ones.

There are only 2 scenes in the movie that worth my money.

One, the scene where a rain-soaked Hanna (Emma Stone) enters the bar, charges Jacob, screaming “Yooouuuuu!!!” and kisses him. And then, of course, the succeeding scenes are why Jacob see her as a game-changer. That being my current ambition in life. Hahaha!

Two, the surprise at the Weaver’s garden (the one with the mini-golf set up) with the revelation that the characters’ lives are very much interconnected. This scene turns into a riot among the big men with all the women screaming. It sounds pretty ho-hum, but it’s just fun seeing Steve Carrell have his “revenge” on Ryan Gosling.

But stiiiiilllll. Like I said, it’s just like Valentine’s Day and Love Actually. The movie ends with the kid saying something “deep” about love and the adult says something to make the scene extra pathetic. Seriously, what is wrong with Hollywood film people? Why keep on making the same bs romantic-comedies over again? This formulaic execution has got to end! Please!

Here’s to hoping the upcoming love movie, New Year’s Eve will be as crazy but not as stupid as this one.

—–

listening to: Tahiti 80 – Darlin’

5 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 25, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Movies
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Posted by Iya Santos on August 25, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/crazy_stupid_love/

The G-Kids

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”

~ Anonymous

I’ve always wanted to organize an event for kids. I’m very lucky because this dream of mine came true last Saturday.

happy me with some of the G-Kids

My bestfriend Donnie and I, along with our friends (Joko, Kas, Mommy Lee, JP, Trick, Jap etc) went to Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Guadalupe Viejo to be with 60+ kids for snacks and games. We became big sisters and big brothers for the day and played the superlooooong game of Pass the Bag-Hat-Balloon and the very intense game of The Boat is Sinking with the Guadalupe Kids aka G-Kids.

The balloon is spot on. Life is indeed a blessing.

We also assisted them in creating thank-you notes for the people who extended their help through their time, effort and blessings. The kids used crayons, markers, glitters and popsicle sticks! The group who finished first made this:

Thanks to Ate Leejoy, Ate Em, Kuya Brian etc. =)

The winning group received books and school supplies. The kids who won in the 2 games also received the same prizes. After these activities, the kids feasted on pansit, lumpiang shanghai, macaroni soup and cookies/pastries. There was also overflowing orange juice sponsored by Tang. =p

All the kids received bags of toys, Tang and Koko Crunch after the snacks.

I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the success of the event because I was really scared that Donnie and I might not be able to pull it off, considering the one week preparation time and the heartbreaks we encountered from solicitation. I realized that it is true, a little help can really go a long way. And as long as one is focused in goodness, one cannot fail.

Little girl showing her new dress! Yaaay!

I am blessed to have met the kids of Guadalupe Viejo. Through the G-Kids, I remembered how it is to be happy with the simple things that I usually take for granted, like a cup of hot soup or a line of encouragement from a friend. I also sort of missed my days as a preschool teacher. I unleashed this longing in several moments in the outreach, for example…

ME: Mga bata, makinig tayong lahat kay Kuya Donnie. Ang hindi makinig, walang toys mamaya! Hehehe! Check????

KIDS: Check!!!

Hehehe. :p

My colleague Mommy Leejoy, her cousin Em with their group

I’m pretty sure that my friends also enjoyed their time with the G-Kids. I love that I have friends who have big hearts for this kind of endeavor. I’m overjoyed that all of them said they will be helping again in the next outreach. God willing, the next one will be set this December. I have a strong feeling God will not deny this birthday wish of mine. After all, birthday rin ni Jesus that time! :p

Another balloon that speaks of the truth. God is Love. Check na check!

Speaking of birthdays, what triggered the decision for the outreach in Guadalupe is Donnie’s birthday. That was his wish. To spend a day with the kids in the parish that’s very close to his heart. The last part of our afternoon with the kids was when we surprised Donnie with a cake. It had “30” to announce his real age and I had a “2” candle to also grant his wish of just being 20 years young. :))

Jap, me and Donnie. I love my college besties!

Today is Donnie’s birthday. I pray to God that he will have more years to spread love and generosity. I also pray to God to touch more hearts and inspire them to be as loving and as generous as my bestfriend and my other friends.

—–

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DONNIE MY BFF! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

—–

listening to: Chris Tomlin – Indescribable

4 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Events, Friends, Quotes
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Posted by Iya Santos on August 24, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/guadalupe_outreach/

A Job Fair Story

Been busy for the past few days. There are a lot of recruitment activities in my calendar. Work has replaced food trips and movie dates yet again.

Last Friday and Saturday, our company joined the Jobstreet Career Fair in SMX. There were almost 12,000 attendees on the 1st day. I guess around 8,000 on the second. It was exceptionally humid on the first day and my heart went out to the applicants who had to wait in line for a really loooooong time under the sun.

Inside SMX, I overheard this conversation:

Applicant 1: Gutom na gutom na ako. *eyeing the sausages at the foodstall nearby*
Applicant 2: May kanin ka ba diyan sa bag?
Applicant 1: Meron.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!! :,(

I really hope those 2 got hired that day. If only they had good comm skills, I would have ushered them to our booth.

PNoy passed by the job fair. I wish it made him realize that he should be doing something about the issues of unemployment and skills enhancement.

Here’s to hoping and wishing that there is indeed a better future for all of us.

—–

listening to: Incubus – Tomorrow’s Food

2 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 15, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Career, Social Media
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Posted by Iya Santos on August 15, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/smx_jobfair/

Ang Masasabi Ko Tungkol sa Ang Babae sa Septic Tank

“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank chronicles a day in the life of three ambitious, passionate but misguided filmmakers as they set out to do a quick pre-prod at Starbucks, a courtesy call to their lead actress, Eugene Domingo, and an ocular inspection of their film’s major location, the Payatas dumpsite. Director Rainier, Producer Bingbong and Production Assistant Jocelyn are well-to-do, well-educated film school graduates who are dead set on making an Oscar worthy film.” Read entire synopsis here.

Inaamin ko. Hindi talaga ako fan ng local movies pero noong nalaman ko ang tungkol sa Cinemalaya entry na Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na “Shet, papanoorin ko ‘yan”.

At ito ang mga dahilan ko:

1. Para naman masabi na naka-experience ako ng Cinemalaya.

Hindi ako nakapanood mismo sa week ng festival dahil busy-busyhan ako sa trabaho, but at least, um-attempt ako na makibahagi naman sa local indie scene. Second time ko pala ito, ang una ay noong nabihag ako ng Dagim mula sa genius director na si Joaquin Pedro Valdes. Nanood nga pala ako ng ABSST sa Powerplant. Sold out na kasi sa Glorietta. Good job.

2. Hello?! Title pa lang, palong-palo na.

Kahit Septic Tank lang yata ipangalan dito, gaganahan na akong panoorin. Kahit Babae sa Tae, papanoorin ko pa rin. Astig ang title. Hindi kagaya nang mga bwakanangkorni na pausong titles ng mga palabas sa tv tulad ng Guns & Roses, Bantatay, at ng Happy Yipee Yehey. Sa mga pelikula naman, imberna yung mga title na galing sa mga kanta– Let the Love Begin, Miss You Like Crazy, and ang saksak-puso-tulo-ang-dugo na One More Chance. Seriously, WTF? Itigil na ‘yan.

3. Eugene Domingo. Miss Eugene Domingo. THE Miss Eugene Domingo.

Lingid sa kaalaman ng maraming tao, matagal na sa showbiz si Ms. Eugene Domingo. Hindi pa siya mini-MISS Eugene ay fan na niya kami ng Mama ko. Nanonood lang kami dati ng 2002 painfully dragging soap ni Claudine Barretto na Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggang dahil kay Simang, ang funny character of course ni Miss Eugene. Pero ‘wag ka. Nasa Valiente rin kaya siya. O diba! So old school! Confident ako na maraming mag-a-agree sa akin na matagal na niyang na-dethrone sa pagiging Comedy Queen si Miss Ai Ai Delas Alas. favorite ko pa rin si Ai Ai, I just think Eugene is 10x better.

4. Kean Cipriano

Curious ako kung may ibubuga nga ba si Kean sa pag-arte. Naaalala ko lang kasi si Kean na kumakanta ng Stars, ‘yung unang hit ng banda niyang Callalily. Totoy na totoy pa siya noon. I remember, some time 2006, nasa Starbucks kami while waiting for our friends from another band na ka-label nila. I was talking to him and he kept on saying “po”. Sabi ko, isang “po” pa ang sabihin niya sa akin, ihahampas ko na ”yung plaque (for 6CycleMind) na hawak niya sa ulo niya. He smiled that super cute boyish smile and said, “Ok, hindi na ako magsasabi ng po. Ok po?” Dapat that time nalaman ko na na may future talaga siya sa comedy. In fairness, ok ang arte niya sa isang comedy film. Sa mga scenes na kailangang maging intense, dala rin niya. Doesn’t hurt na maganda rin yung biceps niya. Awwww, the baby is now… not a baby. Hehe.

5. Dahil kinukwento pa lang sa akin ‘yung istorya, natatawa na ako.

Napanood ng mga bosses ko ang Babae sa Septic tank noong mismong festival week. Hindi sila mapigilang maghagalpakan sa tawa sa sumunod na araw na nagkita-kita kami sa office. Dahil hindi naman ako asar sa spoilers, nagpakwento ako kung ano ba ang meron sa ABSST. Kwento naman sila. At doon pa lang, hindi na ako makahinga sa kakatawa. Diosmeh. Lalo na doon sa 3 Types of Acting. Achieve talaga yung TV Patrol acting. I thought, kung sa narration pa nga lang ng ibang tao, tawang-tawa na ako, what more kung ako mismo ang makapanood, tama? Tama.

So ‘yun nga. Nanood kami ng mga kaibigan ko kagabi sa Powerplant at wala akong maipintas sa pelikulang ito. Start to finish, absolute perfection. Kinabog nito ang Tanging Ina, Kimmy Dora, at Here Comes The Bride para sa akin. Pansin mo ba lahat ng movies na ‘yan, kasama si Eugene? Sabi nga ng boss ko, para sa kanya, pati Harry Potter 7, kinabog nito. :p

Cai Cortez as the PA, Kean Cipriano as Direk Rainier and JM De GUzman as Bingbong the Producer

Ang buong cast ay perfect. Almost perfect. Ang husay nung mga taga skwater, lalo na yung batang lalake na anak ni Mila. Si JM De Guzman rin pala, in fairness, magaling. Cutie rin. Hindi ko kasi siya ma-appreciate sa remake ng Mula sa Puso. Thumbs up siya sa comedy, pero hindi pa niya ka-level si Rico Yan sa drama imho. 🙂 Yung PA lang naman nila sa movie yung hindi ko na-appreciate. Kung asar ang dapat maramdaman ng viewer sa role niya, well congratulations, nagampanan pala niya ng mahusay ang role niya. Pero kung hindi pala ‘yun ang silbi ng role, sorry. Siya lang rin ‘yung hindi ko gusto sa cast ng Here Comes The Bride. Anyway, nasiyahan rin ako sa cameo ng isa pang de-kalibreng artista- si Miss Cherry Pie Picache. Medyo nahilo ako sa scenes nila ni Eugene pero ok lang, worth it pa rin.

Hindi nga lang ito matatawag na comedy. Drama rin ito at musical. Oo, musical rin ito. Kung paano, manood ka na lang para ma-gets mo. Nakakatuwa na naipakita ng mga film makers ang sitwasyon ng lipunan, ang glimpse ng indie film making, buhay ng isang artista, at kung anu-ano pa sa isang makabuluhan at kakaibang paraan. Deserving talaga ang Cinemalaya entry na ito na magkaron ng wide commercial release. Ito ang tipo ng film na hindi dapat pinaguusapan lang sa blogs at nakakubli lamang sa knowledge ng kaunting mga tao. Dapat ito, pinapapanood sa buong bayan.

This film has taste regardless of the septic tank. Shet na istoryang ‘yan. Ang bangis talaga. Wow. WOOOOOOWWWW!!! More powers to the cast and crew! Manood ng pelikula para malaman ang istorya ng sinadya kong i-bold at i-italize. 

Sa sobrang sulit nitong pelikula na ito, kahit hindi rin ako supporter ng pagbili ng original dvds, bibili ako ng original dvd nito. =)

—–

Congratulations kina Direk Marlon Rivera, Writer/Producer Chris Martinez, Miss Eugene Domingo and buong cast and crew sa mga awards na nakuha nila mula sa Cinemalaya. Congratulations rin dahil napatawa niyo nang bonggang-bongga kaming mga manonood. Check na check ito. Sana masundan niyo ito kaagad.

—–

listening to: Sabaw… Sabaw… (in my head)

7 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 5, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Celebrities, Movies
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Posted by Iya Santos on August 5, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/ang-masasabi-ko-tungkol-sa-babae-sa-septic-tank/

Faith, Hope, Love

Here are some of my favorite quotes about the three most important things in the world. 🙂

FAITH

“Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.”
~ Kahlil Gibran

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
~ Mother Theresa

“Faith is putting all your eggs in God’s basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch.”
~ Ramona Carroll

“God has put something noble and good into every heart His hand created.”
~ Mark Twain

“The principle part of faith is patience”
~ George MacDonald

HOPE

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.”
~ Anne Lammott

“Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torment of man”
~ Friedrich Nietzsche

“When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.”
~ Charles Allen

“Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.”
~ Augustine of Hippo

“Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.”
~ Francis Bacon

LOVE

“There are four questions of value in life… What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love.”
~ Johnny Depp (Don Juan de Marco, 1995)

“Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
~ Robert Heinlein

“They spoil every romance by trying to make it last forever.”
~ Oscar Wilde

“Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense.”
~ Mark Overby

“Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable.”
~ Joyce Brothers

—–

image source: http://www.royalhope.com/page/10/

–—-

listening to: Bamboo – Masaya

5 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 3, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Drama, Humour, Quotes
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Posted by Iya Santos on August 3, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/faith-hope-love/

Phonebook and Albums

I am a sucker for broken beautiful things.

—–

I changed your name in my phonebook to REMEMBER THE PAIN. It’s my pitiful self-reminder to not backslide whenever you’d call.

I looked at old albums last night and it took a long time to finish looking at all our photos because we have too fucking many. I looked at those to remind me of our tragedy, so I can support your new name in my phonebook. Instead of remembering the hurt and grief I went through because of you, I saw that we were happy. I was really happy with you. And basing on your ear-to-ear smile, it seemed that you were also happy with me.

—–

image source: http://leloveimage.blogspot.com/

—–

listening to: Jason Mraz – If It Kills Me

4 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 2, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Drama
Tagged

Posted by Iya Santos on August 2, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/bbt1/

Captain America > Thor

Hands down, Captain America’s storyline is much better than Thor’s. The story of the first avenger reminded me of Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds because of the World War II setting and the main protagionist’s band of kickass bros.

Reminders stop there. of course, there is less violence in this movie. And of course, there are parts here that will just make you go “Awwwww…”. Parts when Steve was still a scrawny soldier-wannabe. Wait for the grenade scene. if you don’t go “awww” then there’s something wrong with you. Says who? Says me.

Chris Evans did a good job as Steve Rogers. Even better than Chris Hemsworth as Thor. But of course, Hemsworth bags the award for having the hottest Avenger body. He he he!

Loved seeing Stanley Tucci as Dr. Erskine and Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Phillips. Sabi nga ng friend namin na si Maj, si Tommy Lee Jones daw ang Eddie Garcia ng USA. :p Brit actress, Hayley Atwell was flawless in her role as Agent Carter, the Cap’s love interest. Bagay talaga sa kanya ang red lipstick. 😀

Hugo Weaving as Red Skull was so-so. He was more sinister as Agent Smith in the Matrix than a Super Nazi nemesis of the first avenger.

I have nothing more to say about this movie except it’s a must-see. It’s worth to watch in the theatre. AND do not be a moron and leave right after the scene with Nick Fury and the Cap in the gym. Wait for the post-credits.

—–

listening to: the rain

6 Comments
by Iya Santos on August 1, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Movies
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Posted by Iya Santos on August 1, 2011

https://psychosomaticaddictinsane.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/captain_america/

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