i am not there.

We have a 2-year old baby in our apartment. She loves cartoons, which is understandable (and acceptable) for someone her age (Even grown ups love watching cartoons). But seeing Mickey Mouse and his gang on a daily basis can be dangerous. For me atleast, it is. That’s why when I see a cartoon so good I can actually watch it all over again until I’m brain dead, I become addicted to it. It vanishes in me the concept that cartoons are only for kids and that they are stupid to watch- that cartoons (I think there’s another, more appropriate term for this), don’t always have to be shallow to be funny.

One of my favorite animated series is Invader Zim. It’s so cool it makes me think that aliens, if such “creatures” exist, are, well, cooler than humans. I have quite a few favorites other than the one already mentioned. And just recently, I’ve seen three wonderful animated series, all in Jack’s TV, that are way far better compared to, say, reality-based shows and wrestling (fuck). These are King of the Hill, Family Guy and American Dad! (The exclamation is part of the title, not to be mistaken as something else).

Last Sunday (or was it already Monday morning), I was able to get the chance of watching these animated series. That was also my first time seeing them. I asked (though “forced” is a more applicable word for it) a housemate to not yet sleep and just watch the series with me (and I believe he has an exam later that day). My favorite of the three is American Dad! Though it’s too early to say so since it was the first time I’ve seen it, and that it’s the only episode I’ve seen so far. Why? because it’s hilarious, in a very effective way. In that particular episode, which was entitled Lincoln Lover, Stan (the American Dad!) wanted to speak at the Republican National Convention on behalf of the Langley chapter. But the chapter has choosen a different canditate to do so. He then accepted the endorsement he had gotten from the local chapter of Gay Republicans. But you see, Stan, in my understanding, abhors homosexuality. Before even getting an endorsement from the local chapter of gay republicans, he would always tell his son what he, and the society, thinks of “gays”, and have given his son pointers on how to determine if a man is gay or not (some of those we are already familiar with). Then again, since he was given up by “straight” republicans and his only chance of being able to talk in the convention is through the help of “gay” republicans, he tried to somehow appear gay to them. He went to clubs gay people go to, drink what gay people drink, talk in a gay-ish fashion and even contemplated of having sex with a male (which he confessed with his wife, and which was a very  funny scene; you should see it). He went that far just to be able to get what he really wanted.

And this of course reminds me of our politicians today. They will do everything just to be in power and stay in power. I am not being judgmental. And I’m not saying that all politicians are like that. Sometimes these people enjoy the “power” that they tend to forget the main purpose why they were voted by the people. I’m not comparing them with Stan though because Stan realized something valuable when he got “there”. As a matter of fact, I wanted them (our politicians) to be like Stan. Funny without appearing stupid and capable of “seeing” what needs to be “seen”.

My friend, Nelmar, and I saw The Dark Knight last Sunday. We both liked it. I liked it because it’s dark. But I was expecting a darker one; It would have easily become my favorite had it been as dark as I was expecting it to be (see P.T. Anderson’s There Will Be Blood). It doesn’t matter anymore if it wasn’t that “dark” though because Maggie Gyllenhaal (Mona Lisa Smile) was in the movie and so as Michael Caine (Children of Men) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby). And of course, there was Heath Ledger. I guess Jack Nicholson, if he watched the movie, didn’t mind Heath playing the character. Heath nailed it big time. He made the industry and his fans, myself included, miss him terribly. What he did in The Dark Knight was superb. He’s a pure talent. Joker had never appeared so convincing. And what surprised me, while watching him on the big screen, was the fact that I believed him, or rather his character. I shouldn’t be surprised by that, but I was.

 By the way, the suit looked sexy on Christian Bale. Plus he did great in the movie too. I felt him. I didn’t like his voice when he’s Batman though. It sounded stupid.

I think I’m falling in love again.

Have seen Serbis (Service)- a Filipino film by Brillante Mendoza, and which was luckily selected to be a contender for Palme d’Or in this year’s Cannes Film Festival- today. This is the third time a Filipino film had been considered in the festival, and Mendoza is the second Filipino director to ever make it in the said competition. At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked it but after the second viewing, I realized how beautiful it was. It wasn’t pleasing to watch, especially with all the noises you could hear in some of the scenes. But it has something in it that would make you watch it (and I’m not talking about the porn stuff here). Most critics didn’t like the film, and most of them had written that the film shouldn’t have been considered in Cannes. But, really, what do they know? The movie is beautiful not because it’s artsy, but because it’s realistic and honest (But it’s artsy for me). The ending is beautiful too. This film makes me proud of Filipino talent.

Kung Fu Panda is awesome. I’m glad we, me and a friend, watched it. It was not planned, I mean us seeing the movie. But since my friend paid for our lunch, I invited him to go see a movie. I know he wanted to see the said film. I remembered him inviting me to see it weeks prior to the movie’s release date.

 There were so many fine moments in the movie. I cried [secretly, since I'm with Nelmar] a few times, especially during the scene when Po was seen by Master Oogway eating the peaches from the peach tree of wisdom. It was funny but when the two started talking, there were so much wisdom in there than one would expect from an animated film. And it was touching.

This is one of the lines, by Master Oogway, in the movie that really hit me: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.

Last night, my “housemates” were watching the Pinoy version of The Singing Bee. I was watching with them but after a few minutes I went inside my room to read All the Pretty Horses [I love McCarthy and his writings. God has really given him the imagination and the hands of a master. And I love God for that. Hehehe] Then I just felt the urge to wash my hands so I went to the other washroom of the apartment, near the kitchen. I noticed that the song being sang by the contestant on the TV was a bit groovy. I forgot the title. Lea, our helper, was cooking in the kitchen. And there, ladies and germs, I caught her dancing. It was horrifying in a not horrifying way. Yes, it was that confusing. I just stood there for a few seconds and watched her do her thing. When she noticed my presence she stopped. We were silent for three seconds then burst out laughing. Now everytime I see her I can’t stop myself from laughing and she would laugh as well.

If that happened to me- I mean someone caught me dancing- I’d disappear. No matter what it takes. It’s either that or I’ll die.

Nights ago, I was able to catch The Breakup- a movie which starred Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn and which was about, well, the break up- on HBO. I had seen this movie, for the first time, on DVD years back. It’s not my favorite. I like it though in an unconventional way.

In the movie, Aniston broke up with Vince because she felt neglected by him. She thought that after the break up, Vince would miss her and in a way change his attitude towards her. Basically, she just wanted to teach the guy a lesson. Unfortunately, Vince misunderstood [or misinterpreted] the whole thing [and we can't blame him for that]. Since they were living in the same house, it was difficult for both not to argue at times. So they decided to just sell the house [or was it just an apartment?]. The problem was that it’s quite obvious that they still love each other. For hopeless romantics out there, sorry but they didn’t get back together, which is pretty stupid.

Communication is very important in a relationship. Charades aint gonna work. If you have problems with your partner, find the time to talk about it. Discuss things. See the other side. Understand. Try. Don’t wait until it’s impossible to fix things because I tell you, there are things that are irreparable. Stories don’t always have a happy ending. No “and they lived happily ever after”.

So the two met again after I-dont-know-if-it-was-just-months-or-years and both were happy to see each other. And you can tell that the love is still there. They talked a bit and then went on and separated ways. Both of them looked back to take a glimpse of each other and smiled. That, for me, was the finest scene in the entire movie. And I’m glad it ended that way. Vague but hopeful. After all, I’m still, I think and believe, a hopeless romantic.

I received a Filipino poem from a friend through SMS before. I loved it right away after reading it. I love its depth. But above all, I love it because it is written in Filipino. It’s my all time favorite poem, though I am not really into poems. I asked a friend, my ex-roommate, Ner to translate it in English. I wanted to share how great this poem is. She is, according to her, not that satisfied with the translation. But, really, it’s beautiful. Of course I still prefer the Filipino version. Everything written in Filipino this way is great. If I could just write with it [Filipino] I would. But I suck at it, no matter how much I try. Anyway, I’ll post both the Filipino and its English translation. And thanks Ner for this. hehehe

Ang Sabi Ko Sa’Yo

Bumalong ang dagta
sa hiniwang kaymito.
Namuo sa talim
ng kutsilyo ang ilang patak.

Diyan ako naiwan, mahal,
at hindi sa laman.

- B.S. Santos

Here’s the English translation:

I Tell You

Sap sprung forth
from the wounded fruit.
On the knife’s blade,
a few drops congealed.

There I remained, my love,
not in the flesh.

Jonathan P. Francisco is getting tired. But suprisingly, he finds comfort in Him. He isn’t sure until when, though. Darn.

I saw Al Pacino at The Late Night Show with David Letterman [and I love the show] on ETC today and I said to myself: I love this man. I have always loved his movies, especially Donnie Brasco and Scent of a Woman. Funny how you love and respect someone you haven’t even seen in person yet.

The man is aging but he hasn’t lost his sense of humor and charm. I wish I can be like him, but I think it’s a bit late already. I’m losing myself.