Thursday, December 25, 2008

Taster's Choice

tomas morato

December brings out nostalgia. We are forced to assess what we have become in the past months and try to see what’s in store for us next year.

In a limbo between being drippy and ecstatic, I’ve pulled my portable DVD out of the closet and started to view one of the most memorable films I’ve ever seen. Amid the explosion and blast, I’ve found myself finishing a movie review of A Matter of Taste.

A Matter of Taste [Une Affaire de Gout]

Not for everyone’s taste but Une Affaire de Gout is an excellent film. Released in 26 April, 2000 under the direction of Bernard Rapp, this movie is unconventional and un-Hollywood. Thanks to Rapp’s experience as a journalist, he shunned away from too much drama and focuses on the lives of the characters in a very straightforward yet descriptive manner.

The story revolves around the friendship of Nicolas Riviere (Jean-Pierre Lorit), a young, good-looking waiter who has an exceptional talent in piano, and who has the most beautiful fingers Frederic Delamont (Bernard Giraudeau), a wealthy, middle-aged businessman and a bon vivant, has ever seen.

Smitten by Nicolas’ charm, Frederic offers a lucrative job Nicolas could not turn down – a personal food taster. Soon, Nicolas finds himself enjoying the job he once thought he won’t get used to. However, the friendship that has arisen between the two of them spirals downward into deceit and obsession neither of them are prepared.

The movie showcases the sensational portrayal of Giraudeau, who sucks up everything whenever he goes on screen. His powerful eyes and the very commanding voice leave his co-actors, and the audience completely mesmerised. Throughout the show, he never fails to stand out, always reminding everyone that he is the star of this show.

The movie is unconventional and bold, breaking in a matter in hand directors eschew in the spirit of money.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

The Day Tyra Arrives

06 december, 2008
Tomas Morato


Amid the queues of party girls out to outdo themselves by applying several layers of make up on their faces already abounding in colours, I am battling with the feeling of unease that has started to creep into my synapses in a sporadic manner. Thanks to two cups of coffee and several sticks of Marlboro which keep on pushing me back to the real world, and which pave the way to the feeling of fulfillment and the sense of satisfaction.

Today, December 06, 2008, Tyra has become a dream come true. She is now officially part of the family. Her birth signifies another chapter of my life, which entails a handful of responsibilities.

For so long a time, I had dreamt the impossible dream. Tyra had been so elusive. Time and again, I had dismissed the idea of conceiving her. But the longing had been growing, and lurking in the deepest, darkest pits of my mind was the hope that time would come I would be able to finally feel her warmth.

But the universe is good to me; it conspires in helping me achieve what I want. I know that from time to time challenges would come but I am resolved to the highest level that I would flex all my muscle to ensure that Tyra would always be in good hands. Truly, good things happen to other aspect of your life when the other started to wane, let’s say work.

So from now on, my world would be revolving around Tyra, for my future would be with her. I know each day would become meaningful with Tyra. Don’t mind the work, it’s not worth the concentration; it won’t get any better anyway.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Wag Kang Matakot, Andito lang Kami

I've been itching to write these past days. My blogs have metamorphosed into vacuum they've already developed into a spectre that have been chasing me every now and then, drilling into my head that I've once again broken my pledge not to miss every opportunity to write.

I always think that my failure to update my blogs is due to a hectic schedule, a very lame alibi as even before I was born, the time is already stuffed in 24 hours. Probably, this only mirrors my ineffectiveness in managing my time and my tasks.

After revisiting some of my friends' blogs, a link steamrolled me into time-capsule. Deprived of strength, I anxiously conceded to the force which was heightened by the backdrop of a bleak Sunday afternoon tainted by the smoke of coffee and cigarette. Here's the article of Kenneth, a friend back in UP days, centered on nostalgia to the highest level.

MINSAN, ERASERHEADS

Napanaginipan ko sila noong nakaraang linggo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Sa panaginip, pumasok ako sa isang lumang bahay na gawa sa kahoy. Kulay orange ang ilaw. Nadatnan ko sa unang palapag si Ely Buendia. Sa ikalawa, si Buddy Zabala. Sa panghuling palapag, nakatanguan si Raimund Marasigan. Hindi ko maintindihan – hindi naman ako excited sa papalapit noong konsiyerto nila. Hindi ko naisip na manood. Pero nasa panaginip ko sila – maliban na lamang kay Marcus Adoro, ewan ko kung bakit – na ibig sabihi’y nasa laylayan ng kamalayan ko ang Eraserheads.

Siyempre, napanood at nabasa ko ang hinggil sa mga nangyari sa konsiyerto. Nakita ko sa telebisyon ang fans. Nakakuwentuhan ang mga kakilalang nanood. Parang reunion, sabi ng isa, hindi lang ng banda kundi ng isang henerasyon. May mga trabaho na, ang iba may pamilya na (dalawang kuwento mula sa konsiyerto: ang isang kakilala, si E, kasama ang asawa at mga kaedad na magpipinsan; ang isa pang kakilala, si J, pinambili ng tiket nilang mag-asawa ang perang dapat gagamitin sa bakuna ng anak). Kaya nang bumili ng relatibong mamahaling tiket. Kung dati, nang mga estudyante pa lamang kami, nagkakasya na sa hiraman ng tapes at pagpuslit papasok sa UP Fair, ngayon, kahit papaano, napagbibigyan na ang hilig. Better late than never.

Reunion nga, at wala ako doon. Sayang. Binalikan ko sa mp3 ang musika ng Eraserheads. Mula sa ultraelectromagneticpop! hanggang sa Carbon Stereoxide. Nasa Circus pa lamang ako – pasakay ng MRT tatlong araw na ang nakararaan – nang bumulaga sa akin ang realisasyon: Oo nga pala, fan nga pala ako nila. Kinalimutan ko na. Naalala ko ang isang kaibigan noong 1995, galit na galit siya sa Eraserheads, nakokornihan, at naiinis sa mga freshmen na ang unang tanong sa kanya’y kung saan makikita ang pinakasikat na banda ng UP. Para mapanatili ang pagkakaibigan, hindi na namin pinag-uusapan ang Eraserheads. Mas gusto raw niya ang Yano. Noong tagal, nahumaling kay Cynthia Alexander.

Pero fan nga pala ako. Parang kinimkim na emosyong bumulwak mula sa akin ang realisasyong ito pagdating ko sa kantang Minsan. Nasa masikip na tren ng MRT ako. Naluha ako. At hindi lang dahil tulad ng persona sa kanta, minsan akong tumira sa Kalayaan Residence Hall. Naluha ako dahil naalala ko ang panahong ito, ang pagkabata, ang pagkamulat. Taong 1994-95, sariwang sariwa, mula sa probinsiya. Wide-eyed freshie na tuwang tuwa na nakatuntong ng UP. Mababaw ang kaligayahan. Sangkatutak ang insecurities. Tinatagyawat. Kahit noon, nagtataka na ako sa kantang ito: Para naman yata ambilis tumanda ng mga ito. Nagno-nostalgia trip, para namang dekada na mula nang umalis sila ng pamantasan.

Pero kinausap ako ng kantang ito. At ng iba pa nilang kanta. Wishing Wells, Alapaap, kahit Huling El Bimbo – panay pagbabalik sa nakaraan ng persona. Pinaalala ng mga ito kung paano ako mag-isip noong panahong iyon, kung paano ko dinamdam ang mga kaganapan sa buhay. Naluha ako dahil naramdaman ko ang paglipas ng panahon. Naramdaman kong tumanda na ako, at nagbago na ang pananaw ko sa mundo. Naging seryoso ang mga pinagkakaabalahan: pulitika, pagsusulat, sining, aktibismo. Nakalulungkot na kinailangang kalimutan ko ang payak at simplistikong mundo ng pagkabata para maging pulitikal na tao. Naluha ako sa paglipas ng panahon, sa henerasyon ko at sa trivial, maliit, makitid na mundo nito.

Tinitingnan ko ang mga footage sa TV ng konsiyerto at naisip ko: pareho pa rin ang hitsura nila, parang hindi tumanda. Si Ely lang, pumayat. Siguro dahil sa sakit niya noong nakaraang taon. O dahil siya ang pinakaunang tumanda sa grupo. Sa pagsulat niya ng mga kantang tulad ng Minsan, Huling El Bimbo, Para sa Masa, parang siya ang pinakaunang nakaramdam ng paglipas ng panahon, ng pagbabalik-tanaw sa nakaraan at pag-aakalang mas maganda ang anumang nakaraan kaysa sa kasalukuyan. Masaya ang buhay-banda – epitomiya na siguro ito ng pagkabata. Naalala ko ang isang linya sa pelikula ni Cameron Crowe: sabi ng isang karakter, “Hindi ba pumasok tayo sa banda para iwasan ang responsibilidad?” Nasa banda raw ang karakter para pansamantalang ihinto ang orasan, at manatiling bata – juvenile, nakatira sa mundo ng “Rock n’ roll Neverland.“

Pero si Ely – siya na siguro ang unang kumawala sa Neverland. Siya ang unang kumalas sa banda, habang ang naiwang tatlo sinubukan pang palitan siya ng babaing bokalista pero di nagtagumpay. Nagpalagay ng brace sa ngipin, nagpagupit, nagbihis-burgis (nakita ko sa YouTube ang bidyo na ito na panauhin si Ely sa talk show ni Martin Nievera matapos tumiwalag sa ’Heads). Di nagtagal, nagtatag ng bagong banda (Mongols, saka Pupil), pero di na bumalik sa moda ng ’Heads – tila mas seryoso na ang pagiging musikerong artist, hindi na pinangarap na maging popular o populista (Ikumpara, halimbawa, kay Raimund, na kinakantahan pa ang Betamax hanggang ngayon). Wala nang hihigit pang patunay ng napakaagang pagtanda ni Ely sa tila napaagang pagkakasakit niya sa isang karamdamang madalas na naiuugnay natin sa katandaan – sakit sa puso.

Usap-usapang mauulit daw ang reunion concert. Pero tingin ko, hindi na dapat. Sapat na ang isang gabing nostalgia trip – hindi lamang sa musika ng isang henerasyon, kundi sa naglipas na sensibilidad at angas ng henerasyong ito. Tumitindi na ang krisis. Sobrang mahal na ng mga bilihin sa tindahan ni Aling Nena, laluna sa CASAA. Nagmahal na pati ang isaw sa tapat ng Ilang-Ilang. Nag-abroad na si Shirley (sana hindi siya mapabilang sa mga OFW na bumabalik sa bansa sa kahon). Nagbenta ng katawan sa magasin ang dating crush ni Ely. Hindi lang bugbog — pinapatay pa — ang inaabot ng mga bading na tulad ni Jay. Nasagasaan sa madilim na eskinita yung kamukha ni Paraluman.

Aktibista noon sa UP yung kaibigan kong galit na galit sa Eraserheads. Inisip ko noon, galit siya baka dahil wala siyang maaninag na pulitika sa musika ng banda. Maliban siguro sa pag-anyaya ni Raimund sa kalalakihang estudyante na tumiwalag, sumapi sa NPA at “palayain ang sarili,” at isang pagkakatong tumugtog sila sa isang rali kontra komersiyalisasyon sa UP noong 1996, iwas-pulitika at iwas-aktibismo ang Eraserheads. Sa isang pamantasang pinaniniwalaang may mayamang tradisyon ng aktibismo, hindi nila naiwasang makasalamuha at makaibigan ang mga aktibista (Dalawang ehemplo: si Bomen Guillermo ang pinakaunang kritikong nagpasikat sa banda, nang magsulat si Bomen ng rebyu ng demo tape nila para sa Philippine Collegian; at, noong 1998, naka-housemates ni Buddy sa Teachers’ Village ang ilang lider-estudyanteng aktibista. At, isa pa pala: Nag-opening act sa launch concert ng Cutterpillow ang bandang The Jerks, na sa kabila ng mga “boo” ay nag-alay ng kanta noong gabi para sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao). Pero liban doon, banda lang talaga ang Eraserheads. Bandang masaya, magaling, henyo pa nga. Pero banda lang talaga.

Ganyan din ang sinabi ni John Lennon nang tanungin siya kung ano ang tingin niya sa penomenon ng Beatles ilang taon matapos magkanya-kanya sila: “We were just a band…” Aktibista na noon si John Lennon. Nagmartsa siya kasama ang mga Amerikano para labanan ang giyera sa Vietnam. Nagpahayag siya ng pagpabor sa sosyalismo. Naging anthem ng kilusang kontra-giyera ang mga kanta niya. Tulad ni Ely sa ‘Heads, tila si Lennon din ang pinakaunang tumanda sa – at unang na-outgrow ang – Beatles. Pero siya ang pinakabatang namatay. Sabi ng isang interpretasyon sa pagkahumaling ng assassin niya sa librong Catcher in the Rye, pinatay daw ng assassin si Lennon para manatiling inosente’t bata, parang yung karakter na kapatid ni Holden Caulfield na “catcher in the rye.”

Buhay pa naman si Ely, pero tumatanda na silang apat. At ang musika nila, nagiging instrumento ng gunita, ng pagbabalik-tanaw sa isang henerasyon, isang sensibilidad na naglaho na. Pero may panahon pa, para sa mga pahayag na “banda lang kami noon”, para sa mga martsa, mga pagpabor at pagtutol, pag-awit ng mga anthem, at pamumuhay sa mundo at realidad natin ngayon.

Friday, December 21, 2007

happy 1st year anniversary

21 December 2007

on the 25th of december this year, this blog will celebrate its one year anniversary. with the sanskrit as the motif, this blog has undergone a lot of changes, akin to the changes this year have brought about.

so many things that have happened in this year including my promotion, yet so little time to write them as i've been busy with my work. from time to time, i've got to write some of them, some were worth re-reading, some necessitated intense feeling, some were just plain angst. right now, i can't pinpoint a handful of memorable experience this year has brought to me, not because there weren't but because i can sense that my memory has started to wane. this is what i dreaded the most as my once sharp-edged memory has been my last resort to bounce back or give comeuppance.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

our blog, http://www.kamalig11.blogspot.com/ has migrated to http://www.kamalig11.wordpress.com/. Please continue to patronise our blog :)

Friday, August 17, 2007

high school musings


Ten years ago, we’re just a bunch of young idealists ready to embark on what’s laid ahead of us. Mostly laid-back, we know we’re no-nonsense when it comes to real life. Indeed after ten years, we've proven our worth. We’ve shown to the world what’s Batch 11 of Aurora National Science High School are made of.

Beyond doubt, we’re all successful in all the fields we’ve chosen. We have our very first lawyer in the name of Ate Phanie. We’ve produced top-caliber engineers (Raymond and Andrew) who are now in the other side of the world to establish their prowess. Our other engineers have preferred to remain here, like Jaime, Billy and Wilbert.

A millionaire in our midst, Angelo has remained as humble as he was during our high school days. Aside from working as a marine (I hope it’s not incorrect!), he has also ventured in business. Tone and Ronald have also demonstrated their greatness in business, too. Leny and Odessa are our distinguished teachers we’re proud of, so are Ate Phanie and April who are college professors.

And how can we forget our police, Obey and our social worker, Roslyn, who have both chosen the road less traveled in terms of careers. Our computer wizard, Raygan has his own band, the Orgasm Addicts, which has been making rants and raves in the music scene. Memen, after taking several college degrees, has already found home in nursing. And Karl has been playing with words in his work as QA analyst in an imperial company and in this blog.


Unfortunately, a few has been heard about other members of the batch. We know you're all successful, so come out of your shell and let's have a little talk and remiscing over a cup of coffee and a handful of peanuts (pwede ding beer :) )

A lot of things has happened in span of ten years. It's time to look back on what we were because as the saying goes, "Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, di makakarating sa paroonan." In our case, "Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, di makakarating sa paroonan pa." There's a big difference in there, I kid you not.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

2006 BAR EXAM RESULTS


129. ARAGON, Phanie Rose S.


CONGRATS ATE PHANIE...
YEHEY MAY ATTORNEY NA TAYO!!!