Camera Frenzy

Finally, I got my very own pocket digital camera: a Canon IXUS 90 IS.

My aunt sent it through her colleague from the UK. It costs 199£, which is fairly cheap because I got a free 4-gig memory card. Good deal, I say. Compact and light, the 90 IS measures 91.6 x 56.8 x20.9 mm (3.61 x 2.24 x 0.82 in.) and weighs approximately 155 g (5.47 oz.). Sleek designs it has too. The LCD monitor is a 3.0-inch type, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD (wide viewing angle type), approximately 230,000 dots (picture coverage rate 100%). What blew me away though was the approximately 10.0 million camera effective pixels, which guarantee quality pictures. After looking through the camera the night before, I was thrilled to find that there are numerous shooting modes built inside it, like Sunset, Foliage, Snow, and even Underwater...I just need to buy myself the waterproof case. There's a Stitch Assist, which will help you come up with panoramic shots. And Color Accent, which is great for those close-up shots of nature's wonderful works. Plus, there's a feature that lets you shoot moving images without the blur, which is great because you don't expect your subject to stay still for you, not when it's a jumping kangaroo. There are a lot more features that I can't utilize in one go, but I'll be sure to find uses for them.

I've always wanted to have my own camera, as I want to travel and splendidly document my travel. Or simply click on whatever will catch my fancy. I really saved up for this and I can't wait to try it out. I will be posting some of the pictures I get through the 90 IS as I blog along...

Till then.

Culture Shock

Annually, the school I attended for my primary and secondary education produces shows, in celebration of the conversion of the Saint after whom she was named. The shows range from plays to concerts, but majority were plays. I've seen Les Miserables and West Side Story, and I even joined the cast of a Filipino play, Walang Sugat. When I was in College, I was able to see a different kind of 'play'...the play which didn't have music and dancing in it; rather, the issues were relayed through angst-driven dialogue and acting.

Lately (read: probably two months ago), a friend invited me and my cousin to watch Avenue Q. I was introduced to a whole new style of theatre. The play was acted out by puppets, with their puppeteers on stage, to be seen by the audience. It was fun watching both the puppet and puppeteer together, and while I ended up watching the puppeteer, there were a few moments when I caught the puppet's acts. I commend the talent of the puppeteers, considering that they, themselves, had to act, but they didn't, even for a second, forget that this was the puppets' show. The action and reaction of the puppets perfectly mimicked those of their puppeteers. The songs were wonderfully funny; I especially liked If You Were Gay and It Sucks To Be Me. My personal favourite was There's A Fine, Fine Line. The play's cut into two parts. I was entertained for the whole first part; I found the second part a bit dragging. All in all, an entertaining show.

After the play, we grabbed a quick dinner at Bacolod Chicken Inasal, as it was the only establishment we found open at that time of the night. I had the Ysabella's Chicken, a dish made popular by the local television drama series Ysabella. It consisted of chicken inasal, garlic rice, and I think there was a veggie side dish, I don't really remember. Tasty dish, by the way. This restaurant is where I go to for my dose of chicken inasal. I frequent the branch located at Quezon City Circle. Now some of you may be asking what the heck is chicken inasal (those who aren't from my country, anyway)? Simply put, it's grilled chicken on a bamboo skewer. I don't recall what my cousin and my friend had, but I do remember we likewise had chicken skin. Never mind the calories; the dish was super delicious.

Yesterday, my cousin, a friend, and I were awed by Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, which starred no less than Lea Salonga. It has been my lifetime wish to be able to see Lea Salonga perform onstage. I'm glad to have had that wish fulfilled. First, the play itself. It's Cinderella, in every sense of the word, with a few minor forgivable changes. Second, the production. The costumes were a-ma-zing! The set was a sight to behold. The carriage that brought Cinderella to the ball was so elegantly designed you would really think it was transformed magically. Finally, the cast. World-class performance from world-class performers. I need not say more. But let me gush for a few more lines about the wonderful voice of Lea Salonga. I could listen to her sing all day! Her voice was so powerful and crystal clear. Needless to say, I loved the play. Incidentally, the play was shown at the Cultural Centre of the Philippines.

We wanted to get a Program of the play, but upon being greeted with various Cinderella merchandises, we ended up being confused as to what to bring home as souvenirs. I got myself a CD of the play, with the Original International Tour Cast. My companions wanted to have the shirt, but the price was way beyond their budget. As we ventured to every corner of the room, my friend and I approached the table selling Lea Salonga's CDs from way back. I immediately searched for her Christmas Album and found the song I had difficulty downloading: Even Santa Fell in Love. Finally, I have the song. Her Christmas Album contains a good selection of Christmas songs, including my favourites ever.

Before the play, we had lunch at Pancake House. The dishes at this restaurant are sumptuous, and their steaks are mouth-watering. The only complaint I have is the price, too exorbitant for such small servings. After the play, we had a nice, relaxing snacks at Icebergs. Initially, my companions were already craving for Halo-Halo. We had a good five-minute debate between Icebergs and Razon's but since my palate is an Iceberg virgin, we opted for the former. We each had a special Halo-Halo (crushed ice with a mix of gelatin, corn flakes, slices of banana, and yummy other ingredients I couldn't decipher; all bathed in creamy milk and topped with scoops of ice cream), and a clubhouse sandwich. Nothing special about the sandwich; but the Halo-Halo was heavenly. And there were no beans! Which I consider really wonderful because I hate beans. Chowking's Halo-Halo has all sorts of beans so I'm not really a fan.

Two Sides

It is a quiet Sunday afternoon, one I've never had in a long time. I'm seated in front of my computer, contemplating on starting one of the pleadings lined up in my to-do list. But I'm putting it off to spend time with someone, and our talk led to men and women...always two sides, he says.

This statement reminded me of one of my favorite poems, Victor Hugo's Man and Woman*. The title says it all, doesn't it?

Man is the most elevated of creatures; Woman, the most sublime of ideals.
God made for man a throne; for woman, an altar.
The throne exalts, the altar sanctifies.
Man is the brain. Woman, the heart.
The brain creates light; the heart, love. Light engenders. Love resurrects.
Because of reason, Man is strong. Because of tears, Woman is invincible.
Reason is convincing; tears, moving.
Man is capable of all heroism; Woman, of all martyrdom.
Heroism ennobles; martyrdom sublimates.
Man has supremacy; Woman, preference.
Supremacy is strength; preference is the right.
Man is genius; Woman, an angel.
Genius is immeasurable; the angel, undefinable.
The aspiration of Man is supreme glory. The aspiration of Woman is extreme virtue.
Glory creates all that is great; virtue, all that is divine.
Man is a code; Woman, a gospel.
A code corrects; the gospel perfects.
Man thinks. Woman dreams.
To think is to have a worm in the brain; to dream is to have a halo on the brow.
Man is an ocean; Woman, a lake.
The ocean has the adorning pearl; the lake, dazzling poetry.
Man is the flying eagle; Woman, the singing nightingale.
To fly is to conquer space; to sing is to conquer the soul.
Man is the temple; Woman, the shrine.
Before the temple, we discover ourselves; before the shrine, we kneel.
In short, Man is found where the Earth finishes; Woman, where Heaven begins.

*

Update Uplate

It has been a while since my last entry. I had wanted to update my blog because a lot has happened since My Christmas List but I've been putting it off, until I totally forgot about it. Tonight, I'm listening to this song that has captured my interest. I didn't think I would be finally updating my blog all because of a song, but there you go.

I'm not particular about my music. Sure, I have my favorites but I sing along to whatever's on the radio, whether or not I know the lyrics, regardless of genre. And like any other girl, I swoon to love songs. I'm not into country music, though, the way my dad is. He loves country music. When he would drive us to the province and back, he plays nothing but country music...to the detriment of my eardrums. It's not that his choice of country songs are in bad taste. In truth and in fact, my dad knows his country songs. It's just the thing with songs - it's lovely to hear them the first time; it's cool to hear them the second time; it's annoying to hear them the third time. The travel time from my province to the city is ten hours. Imagine how many times I get to hear my dad's songs.

Anyway, the song I'm so into right now is a country song. Joke's on me, right? It does not matter. The song's sweet and it tugs the heart. Admittedly, it tugged my heart like no song, country or otherwise, ever did. Maybe because the group who sang it was introduced by a special guy I met over at Skype. Or maybe because the song really is worthy of my notice and reaction.

Sharing with you She's Too Good To Be True*" by Exile:

It's gettin' late

The day's at it's end

My favorite time is right around the bend

It's when the time comes to turn the lights down low

She pours the wine and I lock the door

She takes my hand like so many nights before

That's when I know

Heaven's waiting for me

She's too good to be true

She blows my mind

She's still the one who thrills me time after time

It's unbelieveable

The way she moves me

She's so easy to love

So tender to hold

She touches me like no one I've ever known

The way she moves me

She's too good to be true

The radio plays a melody

One designed especially for her and me

An ol' love song that we used to slow dance to

And when she says how happy she's been

That old familiar feeling comes over me again

I count my blessings how lucky I am

She's too good to be true

She blows my mind

She's still the one who thrills me time after time

It's unbelieveable

The way she moves me

She's so easy to love

So tender to hold

She touches me like no one I've ever known

The way she moves me

She's too good to be true

The way she moves me

She's too good to be true

*

My Christmas List

Someone once asked me: What if Christmas were celebrated everyday, would it still be special then? My thoughts? I don't think so. Christmas is special because it's a yearly one-time, big-time deal. The thought of waiting 364 days more before celebrating Christmas again makes the occasion extraordinary. One can argue the same thing about birthdays; but I think there's something more momentous in everybody observing the occasion at the same time rather than in a birthday being celebrated every 3 seconds and only by those who think the celebrator is special. Besides, I don't look forward to my birthday in the same way I do Christmas: Must be the dread of being a year closer to my grave - a morbid idea my English elementary teacher espoused, and which I adopted. Anyway, I love so many things about Christmas that this entry might come in parts. The list begins...

The Songs. Each year, I make a mental note of the first Christmas song I hear over the radio and that becomes my Christmas song for that year. I don't know when this 'tradition' started exactly, but it was inspired by the fact that Christmas in this country starts in September. I thus have four whole months of savoring or tolerating my song. It has not been a good haul this year: Last Christmas by Wham. I didn't think it was that Christmasy, but being the OC that I am, I gritted my teeth and made it my own.

My ultimate favorite is The Christmas Song. Although it evokes an American Christmas with its lyrics of 'chestnuts' and 'jack frost', I still consider it the perfect Christmas song. Simple and short, the song is able to convey anything and everything about Christmas, well, Western Christmas anyway. Indulge me...I love White Christmas. I particularly love Nat King Cole's version with its mix of jazz.

Another favorite is My Grown-up Christmas List, Kelly Clarkson's. I thought the melody was a bit melancholic for lyrics that speak of world peace. Be that as it may, I still love it. I'm not a fan of the song I'll Be Home For Christmas, but Josh Groban's version made me a convert. The song is everything a Josh Groban song should be - soothing voice, perfect delivery - but what I liked about his version are those voice overs by American soldiers who couldn't be home with their loved ones for Christmas. I thought this new addition made the song more significant.

Now on to the local scene, my very own Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Once in my pathetic life did I shriek over Gary Valenciano's Pasko Na, Sinta Ko. I lost interest when the nation adopted it as its National Christmas Anthem. I'm currently swooning over Ariel Rivera's Sana Ngayong Pasko. It's the same sad song as the former, but the latter's more upbeat. The sweetest Christmas love song ever is A Perfect Christmas by Jose Marie Chan. And no, it's not sad. One can go right ahead and think of her special someone while listening to this song without feeling overly dramatic. The melody isn't too slow as to be dragging, neither is the rhythm fast as to destroy the song's sweetness. I'm having difficulty downloading another Christmas OPM favorite: Even Santa Fell In Love by Lea Salonga. It has a nice, easy tune and I find the lyrics heart-warming.

To be continued...