Top 10: Gifts in 2007

This is at least one month late. But as they say, better late whatever. So here are the top 10 gifts I received last year (in no particular order) that I am most grateful for.

1. The New Bod

Lost at least 25 lbs since hitting the gym in April. I'm now more fit and, I assume, healthier than I've ever been.

2. The Debut Movie

It's called "Dayo", a Tagalog-language full-length animated feature that I co-wrote with one of the writers of "Ang Tanging Ina". It was such a blast working on this, my first movie project. Can't wait for it to be finished. Sooper thanks to my officemate Jayel for getting me onboard!

3. The "Chance"

For the third straight year, a song of mine has been picked up and released on a mainstream CD. The song is "Take A Chance" and it's included in the Viva Records release Someone Like Me, by local chanteuse Alynna. It followed the release of "Is It Over" in Nina's self-titled album in 2006 and "Loko" in Viva's Sabi Mo Lang Pala by Angeli Mae. Sana hindi ma-break ang streak this year. Calling-calling Neil G!

4. The "Train"

I've always dreamed of writing a dance track and it came true late last year. "Train" is a collaboration with Eggboy, a.k.a. Diego Mapa of the local bands Cambio, Pedicab and Monsterbot. It's a chillout track in the vein of Tracey Thorn's downtempo tunes and it's been given the fantastic remix treatment by local DJ-producer Funk Avy.

5. The Lonely "Picture"

Oh you know, the one that landed in the Lonely Planet travel book. Thanks ever to my good friend Maricar for sponsoring my trip to Camiguin in 2006 where I took the shot! And to Nestle for bringing the BEAR BRAND team to Cagayan De Oro.

6. The Trips

I'm so thankful for the time and the resources that allowed me to go and enjoy Hongkong, Ilocos, Palawan and Boracay. I hope to explore more places this year.

7. The Friendships

Ang subok na matibay, subok na matatag (Azkhals). Ang naging matibay ("Megaprodu" Aldrinne). Ang bagong pwedeng maging matibay ("Superbo" Cris, Clyde, Temi). Ang bagong matibay na ka-text at ka-YM (Euge, Bonbon). Pinayaman at pinasaya ninyo ang buhay ko lashyeer. Sana magtuloy-tuloy ang tibay dishyeer and ever and ever amen.

8. The Challenges and Failures

Blessings in disguise. Made me wiser, stronger, more resourceful, more patient, more understanding, more faithful.

9. The Peace

Especially in the family.

10. The Love

From above. Even if I'm not worthy.

Top 10: Gifts 2007

This is at least one month late. But as they say, better late than ever (yes, ever talaga 'yan). So here are the top 10 gifts I received last year (in no particular order) that I am most grateful for.

1. The New Bod
Lost at least 25 lbs since hitting the gym in April. I'm now more fit and, I assume, healthier than I've ever been.

2. The Debut Movie
It's called "Dayo", a Tagalog-language full-length animated feature that I co-wrote with one of the writers of "Ang Tanging Ina". It was such a blast working on this, my first movie project. Can't wait for it to be finished. Sooper thanks to my officemate Jayel for getting me onboard!

3. The "Chance"
For the third straight year, a song of mine has been picked up and released on a mainstream CD. The song is "Take A Chance" and it's included in the Viva Records release Someone Like Me, by local chanteuse Alynna. It followed the release of "Is It Over" in Nina's self-titled album in 2006 and "Loko" in Viva's Sabi Mo Lang Pala by Angeli Mae.

4. The "Train"
I've always dreamed of writing a dance track and it came true late last year. "Train" is a collaboration with Eggboy, a.k.a. Diego Mapa of the local bands Cambio, Pedicab and Monsterbot. It's a chillout track in the vein of Tracey Thorn's downtempo tunes and it's been given the fantastic remix treatment by local DJ-producer Funk Avy.

5. The Lonely "Picture"
Oh you know, the one that landed in the Lonely Planet travel book. Thanks ever to my good friend Maricar for sponsoring my trip to Camiguin in 2006 where I took the shot!

6. The Trips
I'm so thankful for the time and the resources that allowed me to go and enjoy Hongkong, Ilocos, Palawan and Boracay. I hope to explore more places this year.

7. The Friendships
Ang subok na matibay, subok na matatag (Azkhals). Ang naging matibay ("Megaprodu" Aldrinne). Ang bagong pwedeng maging matibay ("Superbo" Cris, Clyde, Temi). Ang bagong matibay na ka-text at ka-YM (Euge, Bonbon). Pinayaman at pinasaya ninyo ang buhay ko lashyeer. Sana magtuloy-tuloy ang tibay dishyeer and ever and ever amen.

8. The Challenges and Failures
Blessings in disguise.

9. The Peace
Especially in the family.

10. The Love
From above. Even if I'm not worthy.

The Isla Azul Chronicles: Bulletin Alert

This happy thing is rolling along in wondrous directions. First Mike Enriquez and now this. Two days ago I got an email from TRAVEL, the new monthly photography magazine of Manila Bulletin, telling me they'd like to do a feature story about the inclusion of my photo in the Lonely Planet travel book. Gosh! And today they emailed me the questions. Huwaw! Di lang pala about the photo. It's about me as a photographer and traveler. Double gosh! Ibang level na itoe. Ako, na isang writer ng mga feature stories about other people, is getting a feature of my own. This is unreal. But it's happening. Abangan na lang natin sa next issue ng magazine, coming out on February 7th.

No Biggie

From the current issue of

Metro HiM magazine

Musician Dan Gil has literally been accused of stifling the growth of his band, Chillitees. He protests, of course. And does right by lovers of good, tasteful music everywhere, especially by fans of the band’s sophisticated sound.

Growth in the pop world, you see, does not necessarily mean artistic growth. Mostly it’s about the business of bigness – hooks, charts, audiences. Indie fave Chillitees, with its cool, subtle grooves, velveteen sound textures, and, in many tracks from their acclaimed debut album Extra Rice, its frequent calls for escaping into forgetfulness and oblivion is mostly about the business of intimacy.

“I just want to be true to what Chillitees is about, [and to] the way it started,” Gil says in the interview for this write-up, held during an indefinite break from the production of the band’s second album.

The interruption was precipitated by the “politically unstable” situation that the group found itself in following the departure of their manager over creative differences with Gil. “I was getting pressure to be big,” the band’s founder, chief songwriter and main creative driving force notes. “But I thought we were already big. We were featured in a rock magazine, which for me is a feat since we’re a pop band, and one that plays Tagalog songs to boot. Masaya na ako dun.”

The manager was thinking, well, bigger. Too bad that it entailed the very thing that moved Gil to form Chillitees in the first place. “It was a thesis to prove something,” he notes. A reaction to the novelty craze that swept the local pop world a few years back, the thesis was that Filipino musicians can also do class, and not just crass.

Chilltees has proven it once. They’re dead set in proving it again with their groovier, funkier new album. In the gospel according to Dan Gil, that’s growth. – Eric Cabahug

A Parrot Story

Meron daw isang congregation ng mga madre na may isang parrot na napakahusay magdasal. Pag hinila daw ang right leg, automatic magdadasal ng "Ama Namin". Pag hinila naman ang left leg, automatic magdadasal ng "Aba Ginoong Maria". Proud na proud daw ang mga madre sa aparrot at ibinibida nila ito sa lahat ng mga bisita nila. Kahit sa obispo. Siyempre na-curious din ang obispo kaya sinubukan niyang hilahin ang mga paa ng parrot. At yun nga ang nangyari -- paghila niya sa kanang paa ng parrot, dasal kaagad ito "Ama namin, sumasalangit ka..." nang dire-diretso. Paghila naman sa kaliwang paa, agad nagdasal ng "Aba ginoong Maria, napupuno ka ng grasya..." nang walang puknat. Sobra daw natuwa ang obispo na inulit niya ang paghila sa magkabilang paa ng parrot. Tapos bigla siya daw siya nagka-idea. Hinawakan uli niya ang dalawang paa ng parrot at sabay hinila. Sa sobrang gulat, ito daw ang nasabi ng parrot: "Ay putang ina, putang ina! Bakit mo hinila ng sabay ang mga paa ko, walang hiya ka! Mahuhulog ako dito, hayop ka! Hayop!"

Sana daw 'di tayo katulad ng parrot na religious in word but not deed and in spirit. Magaling lang kapag okay ang lahat pero kapag nasubukan, kapag na-stretch, bumibigay kaagad.

Di n'ya 'ko tinantanan!

Remember the bit about my photo appearing in the Lonely Planet travel book, BLUE LIST? Eto ka. Ibinalita daw ni Mike Enriquez sa radio show niya kahapon! As in binanggit daw talaga ang name ko. Gosh. I didn't get to hear it though. Officemate ko ang narinig. Apparently Mike got hold of the press release I sent out to newspapers or he read a pick-up of that article in some newspaper. Either way, ka-happy!

Bored

This year is getting very old fast. I feel like April already. Need. Something. New.

Ano ang antonym ng "Elegance"?

Ano pa, eh di "Jologance".

And you can quote me on that.

In fact, pleeeeeeease quote me on that hehehe.

Pulut-pulutan school of conductoring!

Sumakay ako ng Fairview-bound bus sa Cubao para bumaba sa Kamias. Hindi kinuha ng konduktor ang bayad ko until sa may bandang Q-Mart. I gave him a 20-Peso bill at sinuklian naman niya agad ako ng 10 pesos. Pero di niya ako binigyan ng ticket. Kinuha muna niya ang bayad ng isa pang pasahero. Wait ako. Sabi ko baka naman isasabay niya ang pagbigay ng tickets sa aming dalawa. But no! So sabi ko, "Manong, ticket ko po". Nagbingi-bingihan school of acting siya at inatupag naman ang bayad ng isa pang pasahero. Sa puntong iyon ay nasa Kamias na kami at tumayo na ako para bumaba. "Ticket ko po," muli kong sinabi sa konduktor. Tsaka pa lang niya ako inasikaso. Nag-bend siya forward palayo sa akin at pag straighten up niya may iniabot na ticket sa akin. Napansin ko folded ito. Pero dahil lampas na ng Kamias pumara na ako. Na-realize ko agad na pinulot lang ng konduktor ang ticket na binigay niya sa akin. Nainis ako pero nag-decide na hindi na gumawa ng eksena. Itinapon ko na lang pabalik sa sahig ang ticket habang pababa ng bus, sabay bulong, "Sana ma-karma ka manong. Leche ka!"

MT9.17

"Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

If we want great new things to happen to us in this year, we have to shed our old serves -- our old wineskins. Happy new year to all of us!