My baby and me

Still too busy to update my blog at this time. Let the picture speak for me.

The Birth of a Queen...

Behold!

The new Miss Universe of 2023 is born. Representing the 7,107 islands of the Philippines holds honour by Domenique Amber Pedrigala-Reyes. The next greatest movie star to hit the screens worldwide after winning the crown. That towering stature of woman's supreme excellence. That heaven-cultured beauty incomparable with Monroe, Dietrich, Bardot and Garbo. With wits of the goddesses never ever written by Homer. She, and only she... is the The One!

And she's my daughter.

Born October 03, 2004 at 5:59 pm with 50cm and 3204g statistics in Dr. Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center possessing reddish to fair skinned complexion inherited from both mom and dad (hey, that's me!). With hair as robust as Cleopatra's and pouting lips like Angelina Jolie's. Those winsome eyes resembling Juliet Capulet's and smiles like Mona Lisa. This little girl is undoubtedly a star. On your knees now, stare and... swoon!

Akda

At muling nabasag ang katahimikan...

Matagal na paghihimlay. Animo'y isang anino na biglang naglaho sa kadiliman at di na muling nagisnan pa. At kapagdaka'y marami ang nagtanong... nasaan na nga ba ako?

Isang paglingon sa pinagmulan. Isang mapait na alaalang muling sumasagi sa aking isipan. Bagama't ito ay matagal na't limot na ay di ko pa rin mawari na minsan ay naramdaman ko kung pano itapon ng isang lipon na minahal at inaring tunay. Isang tahanan na kung ito ay aking ituring. Ngunit isang araw na lamang ay magigising kang ika'y isinusuka na't ipinupukol sa kawalan. Sa alapaap na di mo alam ang patutunguhan. Isang piitan. Bangungot.

Ngunit ito ay nagsilbing isang paggising sa karimlan. Pagbangon at muling pagtayo sa pagkakalugmok. Taas-noong muling nilangoy ang pananalasa ng matinding alon. At nagisnan ang sarili sa isang matarik na hagdanang magdadala sa akin sa isang mataas na kalagyan. Bawat hakbang ko'y matinik at madugo. Mahaba ang paglalakbay. Nakakapagal at nakakalula.

Ngayon nga ay nasaan na ba ako? Narito. Sa tabi-tabi lamang. Umaaligid. Ngunit ang kaibaha'y nakatingin na lamang ako sa aking pinagmulang marapat na ako'y yumuko upang masilayan ang mga bagay na dati'y nakapagdulot sa kin ng saya. Ang mga iniwang bakas at mga lumot na inapakan. Ako. Na dating itinapo'y nakaluklok ngayon sa isang mataas na upuan. Ang akda kong ito'y para sa iyo...

Akin pa rin ang huling halakhak.

answer to finding "F"

WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.

READ IT AGAIN !

The reasoning behind is further down. The brain cannot process "OF".

Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!

Anyone who counts all 6 "F's" on the first go is a genius.

Three is normal, four is quite rare.

songs i remember most

I was listening to my collection of "Timeless Classics" MP3s this morning while fixing up my wife's PC when I suddenly found myself fluttering in a nostalgic trip to a sentimental past. Each track plays my mind a montage of events in my life which were already history. Some were happy thoughts; others are tear-jerking episodes which all are worth reminiscing. Moments later, I was already living in the past. Recollecting the people, the places and the times...

These are the songs that made me soar back to the past:

1. Missing You - topping my list is this John Waite's song which I don't actually remember any significant event why I go sentimental whenever I hear this. I just love this song very much that it hits me in the spot. It was finally revived by Tina Turner and I still loved it. Both versions give me a striking air inside.
2. Almost Over You - another song which really has no significant event that I can associate with in my life but this is one heartwarming song that I always get a lockjaw whenever I hear this. FYI: I always ask my girl friends to sing this in videoke for me.
3. All Out of Love - Ok, fine! This is Air Supply and it is "baduy" to most of the people who hears this but this is one of the songs that make me remember my childhood days. Read: I steal coins from our grocery store's cash register just to hear this in our neighborhood jukebox.
4. That's The Way of Friends - believe it or not, this is the first song I have memorized when I was still age 5. I got tired of nursery rhymes very early in my age that I turned singing radio songs instead.
5. Terminal - the second song I have memorized and became my favorite more than the first one.
6. Vincent - the song I always sing on my way to school when I was already in First Grade. I didn't know its title until I was already in Fifth Grade.
7. The Search is Over - this is one song I wish I was the one who wrote and sang it. This marks a great period in my gradeschool life that it became my favorite for long years.
8. Dust in the Wind
9. Fast Car - two of the songs I loved playing in the guitar. Dust in the Wind is the first song I learned strumming and Fast Car is the first one I learned plucking.
10. Old Photographs
11. When I'm Gone - these two songs both have the same intensity on how it strikes me whenever I hear them. I even thought they are the same songs and were sung by the same singer. Maybe it's because they are both tragic.
12. Against All Odds - I haven't seen the movie where this song was played as its OST but I really loved this one. There was even a time I forgot to pay fare in the jeepney just because I heard this song which mesmerized me `til I reached my destination.
13. Is It Okay If I Call You Mine - not really my favorite one but this song makes me remember a highschool girlfriend. I always sing this song to her then. Her name is in the title :o).
14. Love Me for What I Am - not also my favorite but in reverse, this makes me remember a college girlfriend. She wrote the lyrics in the card she gave me when we broke up. Eeuuw... mushy.
15. Out Here on My Own - not once my favorite but it became one. During one of our rehearsals in highschool theater, my crush sang this one while we were in backstage waiting for cue. I became more in love with her. Now, she's no longer out there on her own. She's married.
16. One In A Million You - one of the immortal songs I always loved to sing in videoke. I always get 100%, hahaha. It's because I give my all whenever I hit this one.
17. First Time - I first heard this one in a Coca-Cola commercial. I still remember vividly how the guy blushed when his crush caught him staring at her in the classroom. Not long after, it happened to me.
18. Open Arms - this was the song I dreamt to be my processional march in my wedding day. Funny? I find it weird, actually. It's a good thing Mariah Carey revived the song. I lost the enthusiasm to pursue it.
19. Looking Through the Eyes of Love - it was actually my highschool friend's favorite after watching Ice Castles. She doesn't know anything else to sing but this one whenever there is a chance. She didn't know I had a crush on her. Until now that she is already married.
20. Don't Give Up On Us - my first official girlfriend in highschool played this song in her voice tape to me when she already fled back to London. She wants me to hold on 'til she comes back and fight for our "long-distance" Romeo and Juliet relationship. I failed not to give up. Not soon after, I was already singing "Is it Okay if I Call You Mine" with another.

These are just top 20 of those memorable songs that give me a sentimental feeling whenever I hear it in the air. This marks that I am an 80's boy and the songs reveal my age. I'm proud of it. I love it...

For You, Buddy... Wherever You Are Now

I was Papa's only son. I am Mama's only boy. All I've got is sisters ahead of me and I grew up never having a chance to be close to them. I stood up with my own two feet as I became a young man, and learned to understand the meaning of life on my own.

As soon as I reached college, a whole new world arose in my path. Perhaps I was just adventurous and envious as well that I always wanted to do what my college bestfriend had with his life that I never did --- fraternity. With him I was able to know what brotherhood is, what camaraderie brings to your life and how companionship enlightens your overview and perspective of what world is. When you are with someone, you'll never be alone. You will never fear to trip off to grounds. He always tells me that "you'll never understand why a cat kills rat unless you're a cat..." As I thoroughly pondered for that, I decided to go for it and feel how it works.

I sought fraternities on my own and found one. I was welcomed. It was warm. It felt great to know new faces and new lives.

The day came for my first physical test as a neophyte. Paddling. The six of us were brought to a dark dungeon. Blindfolded and tied. The deafening silence and irks of mice triggered my pulse and heartbeat to fear. The sound of the paddlestick knocking on the floor came nearer. As they ripped up my bottom, ready to strike the first blow, a loud scream suddenly flew in the air. But it wasn't from my voice box. Neither from my both sides. The scream grew fainter; and hurried footsteps - heavy and furious - nabbed the sound. A hand from behind suddenly untied my knots and pushed me to flee. "Go! Run for your lives!"

When my eyes were uncovered, flashes of light stole the dark place as stampede horrified in my face. Later did I realize - rival fraternity group attacked us and riot exploded! The next thing I remembered was a bloody and petrifying scene. Fists and knuckles flew in the air... limp bodies fell onto the floor... and roaring voices swiped the stillness of the night. And before I could make another move, two hard hands grasped my shoulders and pulled me over in the dark corner. He dragged me crawling on the floor and came into a dark asylum. Trembling - I turned my face to him but his hands clasped my mouth and muttered "Hush! I didn't haul you to mob. I tugged you out to escape..."

We survived that tragic riot. Months passed and we became closed friends. We meandered through the city lights and spent dreams and laughter under the stars together. But some good things never really last. Not long after and he has to say goodbye. And one good friendship really has to end so soon.

That final day, which the last time I'll ever see him... I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. And I remember, I still haven't thanked him since the day he save my life. When he came, my spiel has already been prepared. But before I could say a word - his hands clasped my mouth and murmured "Hush! I want to thank you for coming into my life. With you, I learned how to fight with life again and laugh over problems. I learned how to fight with life and laugh over problems. I learned how bright dreams are and how reachable stars were. Because on that day when we first met, I was on my way to kill myself for I already lost hope from living life. But when I heard your screams, I came for rescue. I didn't save your life, friend... you saved mine."

Boy Ngongo

The joke that made everyone in GY shift die laughing

. : SI BOY NGONGO : .

Tinawag ni Inay si Boy, ang batang ngo-ngo. "Boy, magpunta ka sa tindahan ni Aling Petra at bumili ka ng isang latang Pork & Beans."

"Omo, inay," ang sagot ni Boy. Pagdating ni Boy sa tindahan ay binati niya ang tindera, "Aning Metra,ngamuta na mo ngayo? (Kamusta na po kayo?)"

"Mabuti naman," ang sagot ni Petra, "ano ang kailangan mo Boy?"

"Mangmilan nga mo ng inang lata ng Mo e Meen?" ang tanong ni Boy.

"Ano kamo, Boy? sabi ni Petra.

"Isa mong Mo e Meen," ang ulit ni Boy.

"Paki-ulit nga Boy at hindi kita maintindihan."

"Mo e Meen, Mo e Meen, nyung nata lata."

"Hindi talaga kita maintindihan. Mabuti pa kaya ay i-spell mo na lang sa akin."

"O ninge. Mo e Meen. Netter Mi."

"Letter 'B'?" Ang tanong ng tindera.

"Ine! Netter Mi as in Minimines."

"Ha???"

"Mi!" Kinanta ni Boy ang alphabet, "Ey, Mi, Ni, Ni , E, Em, Nyee..En, Em, En, O, Mi"

"Ahhh, P! Letter P!" ang masiglang sagot ni Petra.

"Oo. Mi! Mo e Meen!"

"Sige ituloy mo Boy. 'P'..."

"Ngo!"

"Ano kamo?"

Kumanta ulit, "Ey, Mi, Ni, Ni , E, Em, Nyee... En, Em, En, O"

"Ahhh, titik O! P-O. Sige ituloy mo pa."

"Netter Arrng!"

"Kantahin mo na lang ulit Boy."

"Ey, Mi, Ni, Ni , E, Em, Nyee... En, Em, En, O, Mi, Ngyu, Arrng."

"Ahhh! Letter R. Malapit na. 'P-O-R'? Hindi ko pa rin makuha, Boy.

Anong letter and susunod?"

"Ngey."

"Letter A?"

"Ini ho," sabay buntung-hininga si Boy. "Ngey! A, Ma, Nga (A-Ba-Ka-Da ang kinanta)! Nga!"

"Ka! Letter 'K' 'P-O-R-K' Ahhh Pork!!!"

"Oo. Mo e Meen"

"Pork and?" Ang tanong ni Petra.

"Oo!! Mo e Meen!!!"

"Pork and Meen? Ahhhh!!! Alam ko na!!! Pork and Beans!!!"

"Oo! Oo!! Mo e Meen!! Mo e Meen!!!!" ang masayang sigaw ni Boy.

"Pork and Beans pala ang kailangan mo!!!"

"Oo. Mo e Meen! Menon ngayo? (Meron kayo?)"

"Ay, naku wala!"

What Star Wars did to me

I listed the following things that I remember most with how Star Wars changed my life.

1. I named myself Darth Obert during the heat of Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace mania and since then, the evil force in me has unleashed.
2. I had a dog I named Ewoks which was slaughtered after biting a neighborhood kid. I spent a fortune that I need to shoulder all the expenses in the hospitalization of the kid in San Lazaro Hospital. I also lost my beloved dog (sigh).
3. The huge teddy bear I gave my girlfriend last Christmas 2004 was named Wicket because it looked like one (Wicket was a loyal, curious and adventurous young Ewok scout when he first met Princess Leia Organa in the forests of Endor's moon. The lone Ewok found a strange offworlder knocked unconscious from a speeder bike accident. Tentatively prodding her with his spear, the jittery scout was surprised to find this strange creature not only alive, but friendly as well). After two months, my girlfriend became pregnant.
4. I was able to locate and name Amygdaloid (nucleus in the brain, a structure that anatomists thought resembled an almond) in the Anatomy 2 practical exam in college since I correlated it with Queen Amidala. Since it is a very small anatomical structure in the brain, I was the only one who was able to name it.
5. I had a patient during my internship in Manila Sanitarium and Hospital I named Chewbacca. He died.
6. I bought four huge posters of Star Wars 1:The Phantom Menace in Greenhills and posted `em all over my wall. I realized later that I was charged four times as much as its original price.
7. I had miniature characters of Star Wars when I was a kid (Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker with a broken lightsaber). I was playing with my toys when my Mom asked me to lead the Angelus prayer at 6:00 pm. I didn't go. Mom crushed my toys.
8. The longest-running wallpaper that I used in my personal computer is a 800x600 close-up picture of Darth Maul. It serves another purpose: scare anybody from logging in my own PC to drive away unauthorized use.
9. Since I created my email address dodgers846@yahoo.com on June 1996, my signature has never been changed. It says: May the FORCE be with you. I never realized I was actually referring to the Dark Force.
10. I seldom purchase original video CDs and DVDs, not unless it is my favorite movie. And if and only if, it is worth buying for a collection. One of those is of course Star Wars 1,2, 4, 5 and 6. No budget for Star Wars 3 yet.
11. The best of it all, I have created a site for the screenplay of Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones.

my review on Star Wars 3

Behold! Now suffer the rage and wrath of my mob's revenge. Hail, for this is the moment of the Sith retribution and all Jedi mankind shall now perish and will be dominated by who else? The Darth Obert that I am. With thy revolting hands, I shall crush Coruscant and annihilate the Republican fleet. Boom goes the Naboo. Tatooine will turn into ashes. And I will reign... Darth Obert, King of Sith, the Evil Jedi!

Nyahahaha, dream on. Credits are now scrolling up the screen but my unblinking eyes are still stuck to where it last had a glimpse of the last picture seen. As my own tradition already as with all the other first five episodes of Star Wars, my mind is still wandering in the void visualizing that I am part of the story, though as a Darth Obert... mesmerized, locked-jaw and breathless, hours and days after the movie (and attempts to watch the movie over and over again). This is already the culmination of the saga and we are now history (as ever been). In the next generations, who will still be talking about us --- the Jedis. Who will remember us? It took George Lucas twenty years to think of a sequel on how to revive the Star Wars mania and now after nine years, we're all done again. How about making Episode 205 on the next twenty years so we will have more episodes to go back to after another trilogy? Whew! Neverending foolishness.

I watched the first two Star Wars movies on the first showing days but this time, having been the air of reparation because this is my movie --- the story about us, the Sith (being the King of it), I intended to watch it ahead of everybody else. So I took my wife with me to Megamall to catch the earliest Premiere Showing and gone agog and euphoric waiting for the dan-dan-dan-dandadan-dandadan soundtrack with its opening tagline "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." holding my breath. As soon as it started, I'm young again. I became a Jedi once more even just for a couple of hours (not to forget that I am the evil one). And when it's done, it's just another crap.

I already anticipated the plot even before everything started. I hedged myself from spoilers so as not to reveal what has yet to be seen but as a real Star Wars follower, you'll know what's gonna happen. To sum it up, pathetically, I didn't enjoy Revenge of the Sith as much like the others. Maybe because I am cognizant of its track to where the story will go meeting the commencement of Star Wars IV: A New Hope. The scene started from a fiery war in Coruscant planet between the Jedi troop and the Separatists' army led by Grievous, a robot suffering from hiccups, or could be a cough (what a ridiculous concept of George Lucas). Customarily, all Star Wars episodes start with an action-packed scene so expect your timpanic membrane to pop-off your ear with it zing-zing, whumm and baboom sounds. I expected the best fight scene with this movie since this is already its ultimate showdown but it failed my faith. It didn't boil my bloodstream as compared to the effects in Attack of the Clones' chase between Anakin and Obi-Wan with the infiltrator to Padme while she was sleeping. I was also waiting for a match to shake-off the scene where young, adorable Ani soars in the Pod Race (Star Wars 1) or something like the chase scene of Ewoks where they outnumbered the battle droids flying in full velocity with their snowspeeders (Return of the Jedi). There was none. All it has is Obi-Wan Kenobi with a short stint of battle riding in a humungous creature (I don't know what it's called) and it's nothing but a crap.

When Ani and Obi-Wan found Chancellor Palpatine in detention and then suddenly Count Dooku evolves from the screen, you already know what's going to happen. Euuw! As if you don't know that it's Palpatine who's going to be the evil Darth Sidious and that scene will surely be the mode to lure Anakin to the Dark Side of the Force.

What I didn't expect is the fight scene of Mace Windu whom I thought will just sit around the Jedi Council acting like as if a College Dean waiting for enrollees. It's but a short fight but one of the highlights of this episode. I was hoping to see more like a Morpheus jujitsu-enhanced-cum-lightsaber with a deafening wung-wung sound with it but Anakin aborted my dream to see that scene when he suddenly snuffed the black Jedi Master. That's good anyway. He's so black that I can't see him in the fight scene.

One of my favorites is Master Yoda's duel with Darth Sidious with a superb fight sequence and quite a little comical one visualizing to be evil Palpatine fighting with a green, bouncing Humpty Dumpty. Moreover, Yoda's movements are still quite more atrocious in Attack of the Clones than this one.

Padme, oh yes, Padme... has lost her grandiose beauty in this episode. She's not as stunning and jaw-dropping as with the first two. She always looked like as if she has just gone thru with her laundry. What happened to her imeldific robes? Is she penniless now that she can no longer hire the highest paid couturier in Naboo? I wonder if this was done on purpose. But man, oh man. The lines "I am beautiful because I am in love" is the best dialogue you'll ever hear in this one. So posh and "kilig." So young like as if you're watching teen movies.

And the funniest detail for me in this movie is when Darth Sidious directed Order 66 to all clone troopers. Suddenly I said "what does that mean?" What popped into my mind is the Engineer in Miss Saigon picking up the raffle who wins the whore Gigi Van Tranh and she screams "number 66!" I was wearing a grin in my face thinking that the clone trooper who can defeat the highest ranking Jedi will win a whore from Vietnam. And take note: all the monitors used here are digitally colored while all the succeeding episodes will eventually use green monitors. The catch: Jedi Council in Star Wars 4 ordered to downgrade to green monitors using DOS commands and dot matrix printers since Bill Gates' softwares have bugs. Bugs will create virus. Virus will destroy Death Star. The Darths will again win the war, harharhar.

To sum up everything, it's the worst Star Wars episode for me. There is no plot at all. Well, there is, but with a stinking storyline. What you can see is all but George Lucas' justifications on how the first trilogy will now meet the old trilogy. The story is like compressed excerpts summarized into just an hour and a half movie embellished with action scenes with no extraordinary effects at all. What you will see are things you've already seen before.

I am a real die-hard fan that it takes me years to wait for the denouement of this classic. It has now ended. Though I'm not real impressed but I am overwhelmed at least. This is the part of where my story is written. It's a crap, sure, but it's a masterpiece. I didn't expect that the last movie tells about the revenge of the Sith when I named myself the King of it since The Phantom Menace was born.

Ironically, it came on as Star Wars III when my real name is Norberto III. Strange...

Star Wars quiz answer key

1. Which former Jedi commands a droid army that attacks the Republic?
Count Dooku is the correct answer!

2. Name the character who gives birth to twins Luke and Leia.
Padme Amidala is the correct answer!

3. Who is the only actor with a speaking part in all six movies?
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO is the correct answer!

4. Which two Jedi knights are sent to rescue the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine?
Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi is the correct answer!

5. Who says, "Twisted by the dark side young Skywalker has become."
Yoda is the correct answer! (Ok, that was an easy one.)

6. Who are the only actors to appear in all six films?
Both is the correct answer!

7. Which character appears in all six films but is played by two different actors?
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor and Sir Alec Guinness) is the correct answer!

8. Clone Commander Bacara's number is 113. What other George Lucas-directed movie is that a reference to?
THX-1138 is the correct answer!

9. Name the Australian, 15-year-old Oscar nominee who joins the cast as the Queen of Naboo.
Keisha Castle-Hughes is the correct answer! Castle-Hughes was nominated for best actress in 2004 for "Whale Rider."

10. The rating of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith is PG-13. How many of the previous Episodes have been assigned that rating?
None -- they've all been rated PG is the correct answer!

Star Wars quiz

Have you seen Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith already? I just did. Here's a quiz for you to test if you really are a Jedi or not (or course what I mean is if you really are a Star Wars die-hard fan like me or not). My next post will be my review for the movie. I still can't write one at this time as I am still mesmerized and the phantoms of each scene still flickers in my mind. I still am not breathing. I need an artificial aspirator. Gasp...

1. Which former Jedi commands a droid army that attacks the Republic?
A. Obi-Wan Kenobi
B. Anakin Skywalker
C. Emperor Palpatine
D. Count Dooku

2. Name the character who gives birth to twins Luke and Leia.
A. Shmi Skywalker
B. Beru
C. Padme Amidala
D. None of the Above

3. Who is the only actor with a speaking part in all six movies?
A. Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
B. Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
C. Frank Oz as Yoda
D. Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker

4. Which two Jedi knights are sent to rescue the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine?
A. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi
B. Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi
C. Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu
D. Count Dooku and Mace Windu

5. Who says, "Twisted by the dark side young Skywalker has become."
A. Mace Windu
B. Yoda
C. C-3PO
D. R2-D2

6. Who are the only actors to appear in all six films?
A. Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
B. Kenny Baker (R2-D2)
C. Both

7. Which character appears in all six films but is played by two different actors?
A. C3-PO
B. Obi-Wan Kenobi
C. R2-D2
D. Boba Fett

8. Clone Commander Bacara's number is 113. What other George Lucas-directed movie is that a reference to?
A. 1:42:08: A Man and His Car
B. 6-18-67
C. American Graffiti
D. THX-1138

9. Name the Australian, 15-year-old Oscar nominee who joins the cast as the Queen of Naboo.
A. Keisha Castle-Hughes
B. Florencia Padilla
C. Keshia Knight-Pulliam
D. Abbie Nichols

10. The rating of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is PG-13. How many of the previous Episodes have been assigned that rating?
A. Two -- The Empire Strikes Back and Attack of the Clones
B. Three -- The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Attack of the Clones
C. None -- they've all been rated PG.
D. One -- The Empire Strikes Back

May the FORCE be with you!

Star Wars: Now Showing

In a few more days, Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith will now invade the cinemas and a multitude of die-hard avid fans (me, included) will again swarm the malls trying to be the earliest bird in the long queue of a million people awaiting to see how the story will end. Or should I say... how the trilogy meets the old trilogy. What really can't coincide in my mind is how the hell the first three episodes (which includes The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones) have a more superior technology than that of the last three episodes when these three are actually prelude to Star Wars 4; A New Hope. So what could be George Lucas' excuse here? That the FORCE was actually exacerbated by the annihilation of all powers under the Empire? I wonder should Lucas put this episode into denouement of blasting all planets which led to devastation of apparatuses responsible to the creation of state-of-the-art machineries. Ergo, technology in all planets will all start from scratch. Death Star dies. Zero. Blunt.

After watching Star Wars 3 and have gotten yourself engrossed with the superb digital effects and Dolby stereo which could pop your timpanic membrane up, get your ass home and watch Star Wars 4 via DVD to reconcile how the movie ended with how A New Hope started. Eeuuw! I bet you'd turn the DVD player off and opt to watch Kamao series instead (while munching your leftover popcorn since you can't eat `em inside the theater due to your mesmerism over the movie).

I don't remember having seen the first trilogy since I bet I wasn't born yet when these three invaded cinemas worldwide. All I knew is that a lot of freebies i.e. mugs, caps, miniature characters, shirts; with all Star Wars characters and other what-nots printed on these mega-expensive items are being sold in all participating stores. I don't remember exactly how I got addicted to this movie (not necessarily with the plot, cause it's really futile) to the extent that I think I am a Darth and even naming myself one. I don't know how I got into Tatooine but I have envisioned myself I suddenly sprouted in Sith, so I became the King of this place (I don't even know where this was). Bottomline is... I am a Jedi, an evil one. You can't track my story in the six episodes coz it's not in there. My biography alone as Darth Obert is even more than those 6 episodes which made George Lucas a rich man.

When Star Wars 1 was shown in the Philippines, I was there at the first-day showing in SM City along with my friend Aldwin (I don't know where he is now, he's also a Jedi) and since we're still students at that time, we didn't eat popcorn. We only had enough money to buy tickets. Since then, I have memorized all the characters in the movie, and gets troubled pronouncing "Shmi." Few years after, here came Star Wars 2 and I was already in my internship. Again on the first showing day, we all gathered to the nearest mall to catch the Attack of the Clones (wondering to see a story of how Taiwan-made PCs conquered Greenhills) along with my co-interns from DLSU and our Clinical Supervisor sir Jhun (who I think is Jabba the Hut at that time). As soon as "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." starts scrolling the screen, my jaw starts to lock in awe and fascination. I'm a Jedi once again! And after the curtain calls, it's the same old crap. We contributed to make George Lucas to become four million richer again. We fooled ourselves more than he fooled us.

Since I am Darth Obert and my wife's conceiving a child in her womb right now, who could it be? If he's a he, shall I name him Skywalker? Or if she's a she, shall I call her... uhmm, Starapple? Does that sound very Star Wars-y name?

Just meet me in the movies. May the FORCE be with you... and also with you.

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My Baby's Fourth Month

Finally, a triumph! Here's now a glimpse of my baby via ultrasound. Thanks to modern technologies of science that soon-to-be parents like me can view at least the silhouette of the fetus which is a product of my genes. I still can remember vividly how my heartbeat is pounding fast as I am viewing the screen with the figure of the baby kicking as if it's showing off while being watched by its parents. I can't help but feel proud how it feels to be a father.

The baby is now in its fourth month. With what I learned in college of medical science (ironically, this was my report in Physiology 2), the baby's heart now pumps about 25 quarts of blood a day. This will increase to be about 300 quarts by the end of pregnancy. All of the teeth have formed and even has a scalp hair pattern (God, don't let the baby inherit my chromosomes involving hair pattern)! The baby is about 3 ounces (85 grams) and 6.3 inches (16 cms). The gender can't still be detected by ultrasound. Though gender predictions at this point are much harder to rely on. More subtle changes, such as the development and positioning of the eyes and ears, will take place, making the fetus look much more human. Movements now are being observed, and the baby now really kicks a lot.

Whew! I wonder how I will be called five months from now... Dad? Papa? Itay? Tatang? Tatay? Itang? Papay? Father? Pere? Vater? Padre? Pater? Patris? Sator? Ojca? Patria? Far? Whatever.....

Threesome

Threesome...

Three things that scare me: earthquake, fire, plane crash.
Three things I love: my personal computer, my mobile phone, my digital camera.
Three things I dislike: elevators, Pinoy trash movies, being told what to do when I know better.
Three things I like to do but can't: cook, swim, eat in a smorgasbord
Three things you will not find in me: umbrella, hankies, pen.
Three things I don't understand: Physics, Philippine politics, Bible.
Three things I can't leave without: wallet, mobile phone, my pouch with "something" in it.
Three things I can't live without: my computer, radio with loud speakers, money.
Three things I prefer to do when bored: sit infront of my computer, play the guitar, sleep.
Three things I want to experience before I die: be crucified at Golgotha, dine with the British Royal Family, join Fear Factor.
Three ways to describe my personality: moody, boring, evil.
Three best-loved collections I have: my complete Beatles albums, Superman stuff, my old cassette tapes.
Three of my absolute favourite foods: sashimi, potato salad, eggplant for viand.
Three things I’d like to learn: speak French, direct a movie, to mummify.
Three movies that made my tears fall: Schindler's List, Alive, The Cure
Three movies that scared me: The Eye, Sixth Sense, Amityville

Three words why I wrote this: I am bored!

It is I... Dark Lord

Welcome to the wrath of the Obertians! The time is near. We will now dominate the earth and annihilate all humankind. We will propagate pestilence. Plagues will be everywhere. Prepare to meet thy doom. No more riches but widespread agony. No more happiness but neverending misery. No more love but abhorrence. And I... will be king! Life will now be ephemeral since I will soon be the epitome of boundless existence. Come now on your knees and plead to suffer the eternal melancholy. I am your messiah! Bwahahaha (echoing uncle Scar's devilish laugh while Jeremy Irons' fatal glare backdrops the scene)!!!

Scary, huh. Not really much a blasphemy nor being agnostic but this is only what I get from reading Dan Brown and Jessica Zafra's books plus watching the only movies that pull me up to enter the moviehouses which should have the following requirements: (1) serial killers, (2) bloody killings, (3) good against evil battle, (4) adrenalin-stirring chase of ghouls to its prey and (5) Kris Aquino crying in the scene with fake tears falling from the lateral side of the face to break up the monotony so I can die laughing.

This is only what my new blogskin suggests. If the picture speaks, this is what it says. My blog is now dressed-up with a newly-edited fresh-from-the-oven skin which depicts more of my personality than the previous one which used to have a freaking connotation of a boy-next-door type of an owner. So coquettish. Ugh! This, I believe is the more apt description of me being an evil wolf inside a sheepskin. Thanks to my Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft FrontPage (all pirated worth P40 each) alongside Eddie Vedder's howling voice while singing "Last Kiss" as I was conceptualizing my new skin. Ironically, Nina's "I Don't Wanna be Your Friend" also contributed inspiration why I came up with such design, hahaha.

Obertianism is flourishing again after ages of hibernation. Kudos!

November Born Personality

I received this personality description of November born like me from email (thru my friend San), and I was quite appalled and mesmerized for exactly 0.56 microsecond that everything is true although one is actually a big LIE. I'm not romantic. I wish I am but I hardly can. Anyhow, read on if you want to know me further and this is perfectly me!

NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas.
Difficult to fathom.Thinks forward.
Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas.
Sharp thinking.
Fine and strong clairvoyance.
Can become good doctors.
Dynamic in personality.
Secretive.
Inquisitive.
Knows how to dig secrets.
Always thinking.
Less talkative but amiable.
Brave and generous.
Patient.
Stubborn and hard-hearted.
If there is a will, there is a way.
Determined. Never give up.
Hardly becomes angry unless provoked.
Loves to be alone.
Thinks differently from others.
Sharp-minded.
Motivates oneself.
Does not appreciates praises.
High-spirited.
Well-built and tough.
Deep love and emotions.
Romantic.
Uncertain in relationships.
Homely.
Hardworking.
High abilities.
Trustworthy.
Honest and keeps secrets.
Not able to control emotions.
Unpredictable.

I wonder why it didn't show here that I am friendly and an extrovert. Am I not? :o)

Breaking Me In Two

God, it's 4:09am and I am still awake. This is the adverse effect of working in a graveyard shift. I looked for things to keep myself busy but all I can do is to sit here in front of my PC and scribble thoughts to written words. I can't sleep and I won't sleep, either. Why? My heart is breaking me up in two. At this point in time that I am writing this, my friends are enjoying the night (with the fruit of the pay day, of course) chanting along with the reggae beat in Timog Ave, where I am supposed to be with. I now visualize Melch and Francis tossing up cider drinks while boy-hopping along the bar with guys wearing shirt printed with cannavis sativa on it. And Macy, oh I hear her now yakking "No Woman, No Cry" in a Bjork's singing voice, hehehe. Kay is silently pulling down the pants of a guy in the corner while smoking pot... in her thoughts :o). And Neil, oh the Neil who is every woman's dream to wed and bed is now cracking up a new Jologs quiz: "What is the name of Juan Rodrigo's character in Mara Clara?" to a newfound girl in the dark corner of the bar. Girl slaps her, oh yeah... in the butt! I wonder if Mark Lester is also with them. Above all, I've been thinking of them the whole night. It must really be fun. And I'm not there, huhuhu. How I'd wish I can suddenly pop-off here thru a warp zone and join the fun. I miss these guys since I was already transferred to graveyard.


Where am I right now? I am in the middle of my pitch-black room as only my monitor lits up the dark while lying in my bed is my girlfriend hybernating. Of course, I am more than glad to be with her for the night. With pride to see her carry our child in her womb (I can't do that, dummy). But what breaks my heart in two is to think that my friends are all there enjoying the night and I am here in the dark clicking my keyboard while sipping tap water.


I'd better go to sleep now.

What Movies To Watch, I Think

Two of the newest DVD movies I bought recently which caught my eyes while rummaging at a video store in SM Megamall. Along with these two is "Killing Fields" which I last saw when I was still in gradeschool. The only thing I remember in that movie now is John Lennon's "Imagine" (strangely, I don't remember the plot anymore). But before reaching the cashier who was gnawing bubble-gum at that time like a goat in a famish, I dropped it because of the synopsis which I find very disturbing. More astonishing was when I already watched the other two movies left in my hands to be purchased, they are more disturbing than what I thought. The following are:

C A R A N D I R U

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One of the most-sought movies I have been eyeing in the video stores. This is another disturbing and uncanny flick, as I can term it, from an official selection of 2003 Cannes International Film Festival after Steven Spielberg's adaptation of liquidation of Jews in Schindler's List. The first few parts of the movie is quite stiff and nothing more extraordinary to most of the movie buffs. It's some sort of a Carlo Caparas-like elucidation of all main characters' individual tragic narration of how-we-got-into-prison stories. Very Pinoy style on how to bore viewers. Worse is, it is dreadfully a predictable plot of blunt social relevance with which you're always perfectly right on your estimation on what's next in the succeeding frames. The only fine craft I admire in this movie is that the actors are meticulously chosen to give justice to the characters they have portrayed. Well-rehearsed lines and superb acting prowess all combined to one. One of my most favorite characters among all the inmates is Highness, who depicts an annoyingly dogmatic idea of his chauvinistic side of how to pick and treat women and I love his transformation to an ambivalent lover whose heart broke into two - a Don Juan de Marco inside the prison cell? The story itself is a common sight which we have seen in a lot of movies about prisoners, but the denouement is what this film detaches itself from all the rest. Short but sweet, everything ends in a bloody death of more than a thousand inmates which is a memory of the massive carnage spearheaded by Amon Goeth. Recommended to watch when cable TV has ran out of movies for the day.

Click here to view trailer

M Y S T I C R I V E R

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Another jaw-dropping, mesmerizing performance of a movie-god Sean Penn. His tear-jerking scene of that remarkable line "is mah daughter in there? is that mah daughter in theeere? oh God, noooo!" Yeah, oh God, how you forgot to breathe after that cut seeing Sean Penn in a standing-ovation-required performance. I was wondering why didn't Clint Eastwood insert that situation in Sean's I Am Sam acting feat of an MR cum obsessive-compulsive father who fights for custody of his only daughter. Wonder how a mentally retardate father screams like that? And adding Emmie Rossum lying in her limp body covered with mud and dried leaves while "That's All I Ask of You" soundtrack is being played supplementing the unrivaled wailing act of Mr. Penn. Whoah, that is very Oscar-award engaging. Anyway, I don't seem to understand why the author of this story needs to inject the past haunting incident of character Dave. What's that for? To desperately drive Tim Robbins win the best supporting actor award? Okay fine, he did (applause, applause). But with that initial premise, would you still suspect character Dave to be the villain of the criminal-hunting story? No you won't, because you already knew ahead of time that his case is already justified by mental disturbance. Evidently, you will opt to suspect other characters in the movie who is capable of killing Christine, err, Katie Markum. Think of a wildcard in the movie like the police inspector himself. The motive: he wants to be promoted by fabricating his own solved murder case. Why not the mother of Katie's boyfriend? Motive: she had eavesdropped Katie and her boyfriend's plan to elope and killing Katie is the best way to stop her son from leaving his family. Or why won't you think of Sean Penn's aide in his grocery store? The director's motive: to drastically confuse the audience of thinking if they are watching a sequel of I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. It's gonna sweep all the awards, I bet you.

Click here to view trailer

A Poetry I Have Written

AN INVITATION TO DEATH
by Norberto E. Reyes, III

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I will take you
If you want to fly with me
In my world... an abyss where
My mudcastle prickly ripened with
Glasswall gingerbreads,
Roofened with vulture heads.
Let us snorkel down under
And swim about with my clouds of
Thick parsley and thorned toffee.
Should you mall and roam around
With my Abbey Road of epee posts
In shimmering and glimmering lights
Of blue flame fire in every head of my knights
Stood by side by side
Each hand fervently held
Blood-dried headless bodies of them...
Wolfgang, Ludwig Von and Sebastien
Thunderous roar of voices ahead.
Stay away, keep hold of the key withheld
Yet, swallow the first nightingale that fled
Buonarotti, Picasso and Van Gogh's head.
I'll let you walk over my dungeonful of seas
Where Montague's Capulet swims unclothed
In her head is the axe I plunged in
Mussels in her mouth I compelled to sing
A house you'll see I built in cobs and needles
DO NOT unveil the door, M'sieur, I warn
For there lies my closet full of damn yarns
Psychedelic hues of magentas and blues
And the book no living head has read
The story of sex, rebellion and vengeance
Amongst the rotten volcanoes there hides,
Whomsoever unchains each dies...
Of ruthless death...
Unbearable wrath...
The phenomenon stay let damn covered
For the doom of this world's millennium
Falls to ashes, burns to ruins
Pillars of my Parthenon them sings
Cometh to me my friend, let's fly
The fangs of my nimbus now unties
Soar high - but touch nothing - for you die
Ask nothing - for I lie
Lest,
You'll witness the enigma of where I dwell
Where everything is mine, I own the hell
But the devil is not I but
The divine angel that hides
Come...
Just close your eyes and take my hand
The fare is but your blood in my sand
"Gulp!"

My First Post... Ever!

I actually don't know what to do with this so I will just type this one just to fill up the page, hopefully before the day ends.