Wednesday, May 05, 2004Karma Camileon I am now an official Camileon. Yes, a Camileon. No, I did not misspell that. That is what we call Camile Velasco fans. For those uninformed, Camile Velasco was one of the contestants in this season’s American Idol. The show has indeed gotten so big, and it’s now being shown in the Philippines…well, it’s been shown here for quite a while already, I just didn’t have Star World then; however, I have been tracking the show since Kelly Clarkson won over Justin Guarini, so I’m not really new to this, and now that I have the show in ABC5 every weekday, I no longer have to keep track through the internet. Anyway, Camile is one of the two Top 12 finalists who are of Filipino ancestry. The other one is Jasmine Trias. Both of them live in Hawaii. As I always said, if you live in Hawaii, unless you are pure Hawaiian, you’re either Japanese or Filipino. Camile, who finished Top 9 in the contest, is a quarter Irish, a quarter Spanish, and half Filipina. Her father is stationed in Japan because he's a USN sailor. A quarter IRISH...daughter of a SAILOR...No wonder she's my idol! (These aren’t accurate, so I may be wrong). She was born here in the Philippines and lived in Makati. They left for Hawaii in 1987, which is weird because after the new hope brought about by the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, Filipinos just didn’t leave the country. A lot of expatriates even came back. That’s why I’m Filipino and not Australian. More on that later. What’s good about Camile is that she doesn’t really hide the fact that she’s part Filipina, vis-à-vis Jasmine, who is quite reluctant to reveal it. Albeit she did mention it once, she’s more of Hawaiian now. (Hahaha! I learnt 2 news words this week: albeit and vis-à-vis…tell me if I’m using them right.) Don’t get me wrong! I like Jasmine, too. Honestly, she’s more of a professional singer than Camile, but I really like Camile’s voice. I have a thing for her raspy, paos style and tone. Camile inherited from the Filipino culture and race the beauty, talent, and low self-esteem that are distinctly Pinoy. She can sing, she plays the piano, and, as someone said, “looks good in a bikini,” but she’s too scared and nervous, like most Filipinos. Hey! I know I have no right to say these things because I am, after all, the Original Stage-Fright Kid, but Simon Cowell, in a rare stroke of brilliance, was right in predicting that her nerves are going to get her out of the game…Okay, Simon is not always wrong, but the fact that he favors John Stevens is beyond me. Nevertheless, I am a new Camileon, and I will be one for a while. I’m even planning to buy a Rasta wristband just like Camile’s. Another interesting joincidence: Camileon is pronounced like chameleon, and in the Culture Club’s 1984 hit “Karma Chameleon,” the lyrics go something like “Karma-karma-karma Chameeeleeooon/Red, gold, and greeeen/Red, gold, and greee-eeen…” Aren’t the Rasta wristband colors red, gold, and green? ***************** And now, the countdown has finally come to an end. I didn't even realize it. It was just impeccable and bittersweet timing that I decided to blog today. Tomorrow is the series finale, and I picked a quote relating to the aforementioned joincidence. It's not quite fitting, but before Central Perk sells it's last latte, here's our last Friends quote: Phoebe: You guys, you know what I just realized? 'Joker' is 'poker' with a 'J.' Coincidence? Chandler: Hey, that's... that's 'joincidence' with a 'C'! I'll be there for you When the rain starts to pour I'll be there for you Like I've been there before I'll be there for you Since you're there for me too ***************** Ad astra per aspera posted by Ana (sgtpepper72687@yahoo.com) on 21:21 I finally have my own bow! Yay! They felt sorry for me so they collected bow parts and assembled them for me to use. The handle is purple, which they cleverly matched with my red-purple archery motif. The limbs are Hoyt, which I should be proud of, and I can now say that I am competing this May. Because of this, I am now shooting as far as 30 meters! With the help and instruction of Philippine Team players, I just might survive this. Last Saturday, different schools decided on having some sort of fusion of student councils. They invited student council members from the proposed member schools. By some strange turn of events, I ended up being part of that. Ms. President is in the United States, and Ms. Vice-President is also out. So who is left? Alcala, you're going out there a youngster, but you’ve got to come back a star! Okay, so I was supposed to be with Meg, the Treasurer, but she wasn’t informed on the details of the meeting. She couldn’t make it. At that point, I wasn’t so sure if I could make it either—make it out alive, that is. As it turns out, my schoolmate Mara formed this with her AJSS friends. The Ateneo Juniors Summer Seminar is what Jess is up to right now. That is also why I can’t just insult Ateneo lest I lose Jess as a best friend. This fusion of student councils is called Loop. The member schools are Assumption, Ateneo, La Salle, Miriam, Northridge, Poveda, St. Paul, and Xavier. Sadly, ICA couldn’t join…something to do with their moderator. Well, it was a wonderful experience. For one thing, I realized once again how new I am to this. I feel like Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, only I lack idealism and creativity. I have so much to learn from these people. One of them even had an itinerary folder! I’m like Ana Newbie. Ha! I did make it out alive though. ******************** Monica: Passport, check! Camera, check! Traveller’s cheques, check! Rachel: Who are you saying "check" too? Monica: Myself. Y’know for remembering to pack a thing. Yeah, you do a good thing, you get a check! (pause) My mom does it, I never realized it was weird. Phoebe: Yeah, my mom used to put her head in the oven. Well, actually, she only did it the one time. But it was pretty weird. Ross: (entering) Hey! Monica: Hey! Ross: Hey! Are you ready yet? Monica: Yep! You got the tickets? Ross: Oh! Got ‘em right here, (Pats his coat pocket) check! ******************** Ad astra per pera posted by Ana (sgtpepper72687@yahoo.com) on 21:20 Last April 29 was my sister's and Erika Uy's birthday. The following day was Dudu's birthday. That same day, Nick Joaquin passed away. It would be unnecessary to write about how sad we all are and how great a man he was. Everyone knows that. Plus, I don’t have enough creative juices to write a decent eulogy. Of course, when I read about it the papers, it was April 30: the eve of May Day...Oh-sweet-mother-of-Abraham-Lincoln! That’s May Day Eve! It's as if the genius planned his death! Well, what else can we expect from this man? There will be no other. Goodbye, Mr. Joaquin. ******************** Rachel: What?! Joey got a turkey stuck on his head?! Joey: Hey, it's not like it sounds. Chandler: It's exactly like it sounds ******************** Ad astra per aspera posted by Ana (sgtpepper72687@yahoo.com) on 21:19 Once in a while, the Hallmark Channel airs movies I just have to watch. Their made for TV movies and biopics are actually interesting once you get the patience needed to sit down and watch them. I remember July last year, we were taking up Arthurian legends in class, and our teacher wanted us to watch some movie called Merlin. The moment I heard the title, I knew that the movie never made much money. It starred Sam Neill, Martin Short, Miranda Richardson, Helena Bonham Carter, and Isabella Rossellini. For a movie with a cast like that, it’s either a big hit or a big flop. I was betting on the latter… …not after Ana discovered it in Hallmark! No one knew where to find a copy of that movie, so I wasn’t that worried when I knew that I wouldn’t get to watch it. One Saturday afternoon, I was channel surfing when, suddenly, I saw a long-haired Sam Neill in a Hallmark movie commercial. Hmm, I wonder what movie this is. Hey! Isn’t that Martin Short? That’s Helena Bonham Carter…wait a minute…It’s Merlin! The following Monday, I spread the word to the whole batch that Merlin was on in Hallmark. Of course, all I needed was to tell just one person and the news would spread like wildfire on its own, and in a matter of hours, our teacher made the official announcement, sans the “I’d like to thank Ana, our resident couch potato…” part. Yes, my friends, I was the reason why you got to watch that movie in Hallmark. I was the reason why for two whole nights, the Hallmark Channel probably had its highest-ever viewer rating! Because of me, the Hallmark Channel was guaranteed at least 130 or so viewers. However, there’s also one movie that Hallmark keeps on airing, and I’m very happy it does, which I always watch. The movie is King of the Hill. No, it’s not the cartoon. It’s a movie directed by Steven Soderbergh. Whenever I catch the movie, I always finish it. Everything about it is superb. As usual, Soderbergh’s directing is excellent, the cinematography heavy on the magentas. Somehow, watching this depression-era movie makes you feel as hot and sweaty as the characters onscreen. The actors are amazing. Jesse Bradford may no longer be having roles as challenging as this, but at least he will always have this movie to prove that he's more than just a pretty face. At the age of 14, Bradford was able to handle the role so well and so realistically. It's one of the best acting I've ever seen. A little trivia here: the role of Lester is played by a very buff Adrien Brody, and the role of Mr. Erich Kurlander is played by Jeroen Krabbe, who played Armani-clad Satan in that Jesus movie we watched during our 2nd year retreat. ******************** Joey: Man, it must be so cool remembering stuff like that! I don't have any past life memories. Phoebe: Of course you don't sweetie. You're brand new. ******************** Ad astra per aspera posted by Ana (sgtpepper72687@yahoo.com) on 21:08 -------------------- |
|
