It's The Love Month!

So what if I've been loveless since my last lifetime? Well, not really. But it sure does feel like it. That doesn't stop me from feeling all the love this month. This post though is not for me to gush about it because I'm sure the entire blogosphere and the rest of the world will do it for me. Instead, I'm gonna post some love-worthy pics. If you've seen them, well, you just gotta have to look at them again.

(Always) First and (almost) foremost is David Beckham. Of course. I just totally adore this new shot of him as Sleeping Beauty's Prince Phillip. It's an Annie Leibovitz shot for her "Year of a Million Dreams" collection starring Disney movie characters and she did a good one of him again--I loved her Becks spread in the July 2004 issue of Vanity Fair. I have been humming "Someday My Prince Will Come" ever since I've seen this pic. I know it's the wrong film but it's apropos nonetheless.

Now, how about this? I'm pretty sure y'all have seen it since it created quite a stir when it first came out. But, blimey, the kid can make one heck of a photo, eh? I feel like such a degenerate when I think of his pictures (yes, there's more than one) as hot and/or sexy. It's hard to think of him as not Harry Potter but pictures like this help remind me that there is a Daniel Radcliffe behind the character. But, hot damn! What a beautiful bod behind those Hogwarts robes! Don't you think so?

And as if it's not sexy enough to put either of these two in frames, they had to add some sexy white horseflesh in them. Are they trying to kill us or what?

Before I end this post, lemme share to you this local advert for this year's Lovapalooza event. I think it's really kinda cool. Sponsors and organizers in 2003 only sought to set the world record in the most number of kissing couples in one area at one time (I think that's the parameter, but I'm not exactly sure). Not only did they succeed, they helped in creating a new tradition for the whole country. Now on its fourth year, Lovapalooza aims to strengthen it tradition with both the young and the young at heart.

Pacman Fever--It Ain't Over!

I may pride myself with being a sports aficionada but I have never been a big fan of boxing. Fact is, I still am not. But I have become a fan of Manny Pacquiao and I haven't missed any of his recent matches yet--especially all three against Mexican Eric Morales. Last weekend was no different.

I intended to write about the event a few days back, before matchday. But I changed my mind, thinking that the Pacman fever will be over and done with in a few days. I should have known then that that wouldn't be the case. Days before the big day, all I heard on the commute home was: "...yada, yada, yada...Pacquiao...blah, blah, blah...Sunday...yada, yada...Morales...bet on...blah, blah...knockout...hmm...on round what...yada..." Now, four days after the fight (well, technically, it has only been three days since in Philippine time), it's still all people can talk about. People can't just seem to stop talking about it. I really couldn't blame them. After all, it puts a smile on their faces in a way talking about the Philippine economy or politics could and would never do.

So on Sunday noon (Saturday night, Vegas time), Pacman once again put the Philippines on the map. Hmm, more like, he cemented its place on the boxing map. I felt so proud of him; of showing that hard work, determination and showing a lot of heart do pay off. He might not be a household name to non-hardcore boxing followers (that's usually the case reserved for the heavyweight class boxers) but he is already a big name on the boxing world. And that's long way from the rising star I first saw fight way, way back when I was in college. He could barely speak Tagalog then--his native tongue being Cebuano/Visaya, like yours truly. Now, he speaks English. Hot diggity damn! Understandably, he doesn't speak flawless English but at least, he learned it. Unlike Morales, who hasn't bothered. Why not learn the language when the US is just over the fence, amigo? I don't get it.

Last Sunday started well and good. I was supposed to apartment-hunt for the better part of the day but there's no way I'm gonna miss the fight so I went home just in time to have an early lunch with my sister before plopping down in front of the TV. But the undercard fights seemed to take forever so my sister decided to apartment-hunt instead and asked to be text messaged on the match's result. But, of course, she shouldn't have had left so soon.Because, oops! to all who bet on Morales or spent good money to watch him finally down Pacquiao, the whole thing was over a few seconds short of three complete rounds. When El Terible went down for the third time, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. But what the heck, that was what he got for having a big mouth. At least, he is no longer spouting about making this into a four-match saga. But he did make good money from this fight. (While our neighbor lost PhP80,000 for betting on him. Granted, it's not much in dollars. But it's not pocket change either.)

But everything was worth it for everyone who was on the Pacman's side. I watched the thing thrice! Thank God for PPV though because with the delayed telecasts from the other two channels that covered the event, the commercial breaks were the main event.

There are still news shorts about what happened Saturday night in Las Vegas. And more are still coming when the Philippines' Pambansang Kamao (National Fist) comes home later this week. I can already imagine what the reception of his return would be like--or maybe not. Or maybe so--gauging from the larger-than-life personality he has become. If his fight night practically cleared the traffic off both Philippine highways and back roads; hosted thousands of Pinoys in cinemas around the country; brought together Filipino communities abroad--then yes, you can imagine what the homecoming of this latest sporting hero will be like.

I absolutely hope he remains the down-to-earth, almost-shy, always-funny celebrity like he has always been--totally unaffected by his celebrity status, in fact. And I hope he doesn't get mixed up with politics like what the gossip mill has said in the last few months. I just am not a huge fan of the celebrity-turned-politician cliche. It disappoints 99% of the time.

For now, props to Pacman. God always blesses those who never asks for anything for themselves but for what they can give to others. Thanks for making the country proud, for giving the country an opportunity to have something to be proud of in the first place. Kudos!

Going International

Living in a Third World country that only appears in international news when something negative happens--a stampede, a landslide, a Filipino accused of espionage in the US, an oil spill--is a real pain the neck. So it's always a relief to see fellow kababayans making names for themselves abroad in positive ways, especially in the entertainment industry. There's as much pride in their accomplishment as in their pride to have Filipino blood.

What really brought this on was the Black Eyed Peas's Bebot video that features a number of Fil-Am talents including AI alums Jasmine, Camille and Sway. Just gotta love Apl for doing this. Again--since he also did The Apl Song a few years back.

Ask what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you--or something like that. True that. Especially if the government is doing na-da! That's the reason why Filipinos go to every corner of the globe in search of a better life. I have to say that but enough politicking.

Although I loved Mig Ayesa, third placer at last year's Rockstar: INXS (but I was really rooting for Marty) and the Fil-am AI alums, I have to scratch them out because the voting Filipino public were involved. I guess that goes the same for Dancing With the Stars's Cheryl Burke. But that doesn't mean I think any less of their accomplishments. But how about the Pinoy All-Stars who won the World HipHop Championships in LA last July? Or Tony award-winner Lea Salonga who opened doors for many Filipinos in Broadway when she played Kim in Miss Saigon?

Except for me, I think Filipinos are inherently good performers. Let's see the list I could recall off the top of my head--Cassie, PCD's Nicole, ex-Sugababe Mutya, Michael Copon (yeah, the jerk in the second season of OTH), Rob Schneider (he's not gonna win a Oscar in the near future but he just cracks me up). Not to mention the countless international singing awards Pinoy crooners continually garner year after year. Or the local films that earn accolades worldwide--the latest being Kubrador. Cesar Montano held his own with Hollywood's finest and did a great job in The Great Raid. Then there was Donita, who did a successful VJing stint at MTVAsia. I miss her tandem with Mike Kasem (I miss funny man Mike!). And then there's Billy Crawford who I've always known as six-year Billy Joe. Did the kid grow! I was so happy when he won over Eminem and Robbie Williams as Best Male Performer in a French awards show a few years back--he is huge in France.

Ubiquitous. That's us. Whether we're inventing the moon buggy or discovering L.A. (I read somewhere just a few months ago that two Mexicans and a Filipino discovered the City of Angels...but I still have to check on that again). Whether we are designing clothes--Monique Lhuillier ring a bell?-- or cooking the U.S. President's meals. Right now Tiffany is chanting: Batista! Batista! Batista! And yeah, even WWE champ Batista has Pinoy blood.

I admit, I'm not a huge of fan of the local entertainment but there's no helping being proud when a local makes it big in the big leagues. Thankful, really, for making the Mother Country proud.