It's something I just like having in my head, and it tends to change along with my mood, and sometimes with what I'm eating, reading, or listening to. But the theme remains the same.
A top 10 list for today.
Slow mornings with pressed coffee
Exploring Kinokuniya whilst plugged to my iPod
Discovering new sites or blogs on design
Hubby smells. Post-shower. Early morning. Prepping for a night out.
Anti-amats food at 4am.
Walking on the beach whilst the sun is rising
Eating roadside in Thailand and Vietnam
Polaroids and Lomo.
Great advertising.
Getting hold of a new video game to get addicted to.
Lust, Caution is a gorgeous film. With wartime Shanghai as a backdrop for this seductive espionage, Ang Lee masterfully brought Eileen Chang's short story, Se, Jei to life.
Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei), student and aspiring thespian is recruited to help assassinate Mr. Yee (Tony Leung), a ranking official and Japanese collaborator. The relationship between Mak Tai Tai (the transformed Wong Chia Chi) and Mr. Yee is intense yet restrained. You can't help but be drawn into it, like a voyeur. The sex is erotic and sad, and that's the same pervading feeling you get throughout Lust, Caution.
We were lucky to have caught the movie in its entirety, knowing how ultra-conservative and moralistic the MTRCB can get. Try to catch it whilst you still can. It's one of those movies that deserve to be seen on the big screen, unless you have a 42-inch LCD flat screen TV and home-theatre system, then maybe you can just wait for the DVD to come out in case you miss it.
Lust, Caution (Se jie), 2007 Starring: Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Wang Lee Hom Directed by: Ang Lee
I've seen unusual names for mountains, hills, and other elevated areas, but reading this made me nearly choke on my banana.
Mt. Clitoris. Formerly known as Mount Mogao, it is conical in shape and stands proudly over 3 villages. Considered sacred; appears serene and solemn at dusk or dawn. (Things to Do and see in Mountain Province, WOW Philippines website)
Funny what things you run into whilst researching to write a creative brief. :-)
Just my luck. In the two months that I haven't been blogging, a lot of things have happened. And now I have to find the time to write about all of them.
When I made the decision to live on my own, I already knew what to expect from rejecting the cushy, well-appointed life that I had come to known in the last 29 or so years. More than facing practical concerns, I now had to confront a kind of listlessness that long, quiet evenings brought me.
I now had time and privacy that I have always longed for. It’s the kind that made you feel like you finally own your life. It’s just me, and 42 sq. metres of concrete space where anything I say, goes.
The feeling is both liberating and alienating, I realised. I welcomed exercising control over how my day is going to go, without regard for anything at all; but there were also evenings when I only have music, books, and a Macbook for company.
It was no longer about deciding whether to have cottage cheese for breakfast (vs. a hearty Filipino one) or keeping tabs of the week’s expenses.
Solo living became the fastest way I ushered myself into adulthood. More than heartaches and heartbreaks, the wisdom you gain from sudden displacement forces you to make more deliberate choices towards a future that I never thought about (planning six months ahead already feels too distant).
Whilst there’s suddenly a humble appreciation for the things you had and let go of, the level of introspection you achieve and the pride of having real independence make it all worthwhile.
The last time I woke up at five in the morning was to catch an early flight to the beach. Other than that, dragging my lazy bum for a work-related activity at that time of day is close to impossible. But when the invite came for the agency to test drive the new BMW X5 one Saturday morning, I didn’t think twice about saying ‘yes’ (but I did enjoy whining about the ungodly call time with the boys).
After the product briefing, we were asked to evaluate the X5 and compare it with a Mercedes M-Class. Hands down, the X5 was a much better SAV - design, features, engineering. I was sorely disappointed that it didn’t come with an iPod dock. Yes, there was an audio jack provided, but who would want to have all those cables snaking about and ruining the sleek interiors? But since I can’t afford the X5 (at least not yet, haha), this little criticism is irrelevant.
Driving the X5 is a dream. Going through the Ramirez brothers’ exercises with it was exhilarating. It was just nice pushing a machine that’s as responsive as a BMW.
I’ve always been told that I drive like a guy – aggressive, arrogant, and careless. Whilst the years have mellowed me considerably, just getting behind the wheel of the X5 and be allowed to push it hard put the maniac back on the seat.
Jason, one of our art directors and my buddy for the day, and I decided to document the experience. Using his digital camera as a camcorder, we shot a crude footage of our ride. It’s probably the worst-edited video of a BMW drive (haha, loko lang Jason!) but the campy rock track and cheesy video effects make it a fun memento of how we spent a day with the new BMW X5.
Visits to Singapore means taking the time out to pay homage at Jumbo Restaurant. We always head out to the East Coast for this eating smorgasbord because there's really nothing like enjoying it al fresco. Fingers coated with slippery spices make for better finger-licking than fried chicken any day.
Yesss! Chili crabs! Best with buns.
Cereal shrimp eater. The nth piece!
The aftermath. Dinner for six consumed by three.
Visit Jumbo Restaurant at East Coast Parkway #01-07/08, East Coast Seafood Centre. T. +65 6442-3435, dinner only from 5pm to 12mn.
There's always that lingering thing at the back of your head; the voices that never stay quiet even if you shush it to death.
It was something I should have rid myself of three years ago. But the 'what ifs' nagged me, and it did so a long time.
Tonight, I found myself confronting it, inadvertently at first. As the evening wore on, I knew that I had no reason to feel reluctant for moving on, for having chosen where I wanted to be, and where this experience belongs in my life.
Mulling over things mulled before. Home, one-something in the morning.
I finally saw the season ender of Heroes and I am disappointed. I checked the forums (geek!) and people did feel a bit gypped by it. Episode 20 (Five Years Gone) is still the best episode in the series so far. I'm just glad I got lots of books to keep me company until Season 2 comes around.
Because even ordinary things like riding a bus feels like an adventure. Because we feast on Chili crabs like it were our last day on Earth. Because we see more of the city when we explore it on foot (despite my frequent directional dyslexia). Because we don't mind reading quietly in a coffee shop corner. Because we share the same level of excitement whether we go to Kinokuniya or Ikea. Because it always feels natural to be together no matter which part of the world we find ourselves in.
Bliss. I was on my fourth plate yet I was still at it like someone who hasn't been fed for a month. Located at the third floor of Suntec City Mall, Kuishin-Bo is a Japanese restaurant that offers a smorgasbord of items on their buffet table. More than the variety, I love the quality of food they put out. I seriously overdosed on salmon sashimi and the yakitori. Sarap, sarap. =)
Action-packed, yes. Surreal, Dali-like encounter with stone crabs, yes. Captain Jack Sparrow in a John Malkovich like monologue, yes. Best cameo appearance by a rockstar, yes. A good sequel? Unfortunately, no. I found the latest instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean too long with too many convoluted story lines. Sao Feng, Chow Yun-Fat's character was potentially the most interesting new character in the series. Unfortunately, he got killed off unglamorously early on. What a waste. Tsk.
Good thing the theatre at the Cineleisure Orchard was pretty good. I was able to catch the trailer of Transformers and Ratatouille, which for me, was better than having to sit through three hours of Pirates. Sayang. The experience of such a nice movie place got lost on a less than impressive attempt to milk the Pirates franchise for all it's worth.
There's not much to see there now. Except maybe for the Vintage Pop Store (which was closed when we came). Bespoke has been replaced by an ihaw-ihaw restaurant called Alan's Grill. And Pablo feels lonely and abandoned. What the heck happened? A friend said that the reason why so many of the tenants left was because they raised the rent in the area. There are still a few stores that are trying to keep the spirit alive, but it's depressing knowing that it'll only be a matter of time before it all disappears.
Puwede, puwede, puwede! DIY newspaper.
The last of the few stands you'll find in the area that's just so Cubao.
Yesterday was the first time I led a pitch presentation. And for a must-win account at that. I felt sick to my stomach en route to the client's office, and the butterflies reached their crescendo as the elevator doors opened to the 23F of 6750. I've been in more than my fair share of pitches, and it's never an easy thing. But I do get a euphoria working on new biz because it's a different challenge all the time.
We spent a good deal of Tuesday afternoon to streamline the thinking, so we could present the argument that the client will find difficult to refuse. It helps to know what kind of audience you're presenting to, and I am fortunate to be working with my boss who has had extensive industry experience.
That evening (until the wee hours of the morning) found me, our account director, and our creatives turning the Planning area into one giant tambayan with food, yosi (uh-oh), and all kinds of beverages strewn about. It reminded me of the times I procrastinated on philo papers way back in college.
It was a tough two weeks leading to the presentation because there were other things happening all at the same time. I was also in the middle of reworking a regional brand strategy for six markets, which admittedly, had me on my toes for the last three weeks. There were also other planning requirements for a new food account we just got. Talk about one stressful month! Today, we were told that we just won the account. (Yahoo!!!!)
Sulit lahat ng pagod at puyat. :-)
Thanks Papa Rands, TinaCos, Sarsikoh, Anne "conflict" Ganda, Baby G, Jason "what's your MOOd" Drilon, AJ d' interactive guru, roxstar Isa, Pocoy (d' cow), and all the laughing boys and gels of RedWorks. :-)
There's always something melancholic about watching the sun set from your window seat.
I made a promise to myself to take at least one foreign trip and three local ones every year. Travel for me is cathartic; it is the only time I am able to write freely, reflect on what I've done in the past twenty-nine years or so, and get excited like silly over what the future holds.
Work has consumed most of my time lately, delaying a much-needed move to my flat and adding to my inability to hit the pavement consistently among other things (the heat has just been terrible, and yes, it is a good excuse, and no, I'd rather not be like a hamster on a treadmill at the gym).
I have a break (finally!) coming up in a couple of days and I am looking forward to another cultural immersion. I never quite enjoy the touristy things; I am more thrilled discovering the locals' "secrets" and exploring the path that's usually never on the prescribed map. I am lucky to have friends from all over; friends who are more than willing to show me around and point me to where I can have my fill of art, culture, food, and bargains.
If I play my cards right, my first "creative" travel project will debut in Q4. :-)
It had to take our pantry lady to tell me that my butt has been peeking out from a hole in my pants.
"Miss Ei, may butas yung pantalon niyo," she said while bending over to take a better look.
"Ha?" I said, immediately reaching behind to feel up the object in question she was talking about.
Yari. It was a thumb-sized hole that has turned me into a pseudo-exhibitionist the entire day. The hole was big enough to flash part of my undies and butt cheek to unsuspecting pedestrians.
It was impossible not to notice, yet no one bothered to tell me. Salamat ha.Nabosohan na siguro ako nung buong building.Grrrr.
But more than having an embarrassing situation to deal with, this little incident made me realise that I really need to replace some of my clothes that have been hanging around my closet for years. The last article of clothing I got was a dress from Topshop. And that was months ago. Time to join the frenzied world of female shopping.
I've been receiving updates on the status of some international licensing agreements on Pandora, and unfortunately, they had to suspend access from outside the U.S. Pandora helps you "discover new music you'll love" by mapping out the musical DNA of songs, artists, etc. I've created a Jimi Hendrix "channel" that led me to other artist that I would have never thought I'd pick out.
When you visit the site now (if you're not from the U.S.), this is what you'll get. Boohoohoo.
Dear Pandora Visitor,
We are deeply, deeply sorry to say that due to licensing constraints, we can no longer allow access to Pandora for most listeners located outside of the U.S. We will continue to work diligently to realize the vision of a truly global Pandora, but for the time being we are required to restrict its use. We are very sad to have to do this, but there is no other alternative.
We believe that you are in Philippines (your IP address appears to be 000.000.000.000). If you believe we have made a mistake, we apologize and ask that you please contact us at pandora-support@pandora.com
If you are a paid subscriber, please contact us at pandora-support@pandora.com and we will issue a pro-rated refund to the credit card you used to sign up. If you have been using Pandora, we will keep a record of your existing stations and bookmarked artists and songs, so that when we are able to launch in your country, they will be waiting for you.
We will be notifying listeners as licensing agreements are established in individual countries. If you would like to be notified by email when Pandora is available in your country, please enter your email address below. The pace of global licensing is hard to predict, but we have the ultimate goal of being able to offer our service everywhere.
We share your disappointment and greatly appreciate your understanding.
Whilst looking for references to share with a correspondent from Media Magazine, I chanced upon a couple of unexpected clips from YouTube. Nevermind that the Jonel'sbrief TVC was one of the ads I found whilst looking for advertising targeted to men, finding a commercial for one of the country's motels was just too funny not to share.
Apparently, Victoria Court, a motel famous for it's iconic shhh-ing lady, did a few ads. I started laughing my head off when I saw the crispy pata (roasted pork knuckles) because this is stereotypical of motel food along with pancit canton (lo mein).
It's not the most interesting commercial I've seen for a hospitality brand, but it is quite insightful. The proposition? The luxury of privacy.
