Wednesday, September 28, 2005

The Amazing Race: Family Edition

I just watched the premiere episode of “The Amazing Race: Family Edition”. The Amazing Race: Family Edition's special two-hour premiere began with the ten competing families starting their journey in New York City. I’m somewhat disappointed that the Black Family was the first group to be eliminated. It would be nice if one of the groups with little people make it through the race, at least to the final three. The kids turned out to be as competitive as the grown-ups. Kenneth and Austin of the Black Family showed their enthusiasm and willingness to help out their parents navigate through and until the first pit stop. Billy and Carissa of the Gaghan Family impressed me with their determination (especially during a detour, crossing the river). Too early for favorites though.

A particular family caught my attention with their constant "bickering”, the Paolo Family. As mentioned in their bio “one” of them has a big mouth; they should rephrase that to “big mouth runs in the family”. Marion (the mom) openly admitted in a video, watch it here.

“Brian is painfully embarrassed by his family and is convinced he's the only sane one in the bunch. Neither son thinks their mother will be able to last long on the Race”
- Amazing Race Family Edition

I salute their Dad behind the wheel, keeping it cool, ignoring the cacophony in the back seat, the arguments on how to navigate, loud and obnoxious remarks. If I was the one driving I’d probably freak out. Watching them I thought… I have never-ever treated my mom that way, any attempt would be fatal. Going through this race they are given an opportunity not only to travel but also bond and workout their differences.

As always watching the AR8 left me wanting more. They definitely deserve the Emmy Awards.

I’m currently listening to Sarah McLachlan’s new album Bloom Remix. At first I was hesitant to buy this album since I rarely enjoy remixes but so far I already have some favorite tracks. I particularly enjoyed “Just Like Me” feat. Will-I-Am, “Train Wreck” and “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy”. For those who haven’t tried her music in remix I highly recommend this album, it’s refreshing to listen to an upbeat version of McLachlan.

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t-na @ 8:49 PM| 1 comments

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Happy Happy Day!


Today our lil' angel Sophia Eloise turns 1 and it's also our Aunt Mercy's 5oth birthday (my mom's older sister).

t-na @ 5:46 PM| 0 comments

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Rockstar INXS Finale

After a long wait INXS will finally be complete, ready to finish their album and hit the road on a worldwide tour in January 2006.

Performances for the finale were divided into two parts. First part, the final three performs a song of their choice (picked from any song performed during the season) then INXS will choose the rockstar who is NOT fit for the band. MiG, the first to perform, chose Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", next was JD and he chose The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want", lastly Marty performed Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here." Surprisingly, JD and Marty went acoustic and MiG gave a” somewhat theatrical” performance but they never failed to give the audience a good show. Tim announced the Rocker who is not right for their band and they chose MiG, as I predicted. (MiG is a talented singer/songwriter/a great performer but he just lacks something… I just can’t pin point).

Second part, the final two will sing with INXS. Marty gets to sing 1st with the band, they performed "Don't Change”. JD followed with "What You Need."
Tim, before announcing the band’s choice, tells the final two they have been a pleasure to work with, but only one can front INXS. He complimented both Marty and JD on how they greatly improved. Tim said “BuJD's J.D. who is the right singer for INXS”. JD falls to his knees when he heard his name, tears trickled down his cheeks. Tim asks Marty if he'd consider opening up for INXS on their world tour, and Dave offers to play guitar when Marty records an album.


I was rooting for Marty but when they performed their new single, "“Easy Easy"”, I finally understood why they chose JD.

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t-na @ 8:07 PM| 0 comments

Saturday, September 17, 2005

...Last Song Syndrome...

"It'll be you and me, up in the trees... and the forest will give us the answers... It'll be you and I... up in the sky... it's a combination for disaster! Yeheh... yeheh... yeheh...yeheh yeheh...yeheh!"

A last effort to finally stop this song in my head... I had an idea of posting it here, as way of freeing myself from this song. If you had the chance to watch Rockstar INXS last week(yes, it's been that long), September 7 (Wednesday), Marty Casey, one of my favorites, sang his original song named "Trees". It has a catchy tune and the lyrics are simple. It's really hard not to sing-a-long. I highly recommend that you watch the video clip in Rockstar INXS's Official Website.

"I wrote the song in New York City after a stressful relationship took a turn for the worse. It was a direct plea for a second chance to renew our love." - Marty Casey

Rockstar INXS is down to its final three namely: Marty Casey, MiG Ayesa and JD Fortune. She performed an awesome rendition of "Suicide Blonde" for her elimination song but Sweet Suzie Mcniel wasn't just what the band was looking for. JD's original song "Pretty Vegas" wasn't bad either. I especially liked it when he sang some of the lyrics using a bullhorn, that was neat. As much as I want to see MiG's sexy bod on a regular basis through INXS, I'm actually convinced that the game is between Marty and JD (XXkeeping my fingers crossed for MartyXX). Here's the lyrics to this infectious song "Trees".

Trees
Marty Casey

I don't want to go through this life
Without you by my side
And I've got it all worked out
in my head
Here's how it's got to be

It'll be you and me
up in the trees
and the forest will give us the answers

We, we're make believe..
in a world we rule together

We can build our dreams
with a knot tied tight
to last forever

It'll be you and me
up in the trees
and the forest will give us the answers

It'll be you and I
up in the sky
it's a combination for disaster

We've got one shot -
so where do we go from here ?

It'll be you and me
up in the trees
and the forest will give us the answers

It'll be you and I
up in the sky
it's a combination for disaster..

And I know
there's more for us in this life..

***Probably you've noticed that my Radio Blog's not working due to bandwidth limit. I'm currently doing something about it, and as soon as I fix it I'll include my favorite Rockstar INXS songs. Ahyayay... I guess posting this as a topic didn't help at all, anyways I hope I've infected a couple or a few of you guys Hehehe! (the song plays in my head again...)

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t-na @ 6:30 AM| 1 comments

Friday, September 16, 2005

Migraine Girl

Just woke up with a migraine. Profusely throbbing and accompanied by an irritating sound of our neighbor's deep well construction as background (that seem to be in harmony with whats' in my head), I thought my eyeballs would pop-out of pain . GOOD MORNING T-NA! HAHAHA! (I said in exaggeration!). I hurriedly took my meds for today and slept, hoping that it will be gone before 8 am.

The agendas for today : Accompany my mom in DLSZ to get my brother's report card and to visit the veterinary for Barry's scheduled grooming.

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t-na @ 6:37 AM| 0 comments

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

A Petition to Protect the Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Thousands of dogs, cats, and other animals have been stranded along the U.S. Gulf Coast as a result of the hurricane. Rescue workers in New Orleans denied pets entry to some shelters and often refused to allow animals aboard evacuation vehicles.

I just recieved an e-mail regarding the developments on the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Somewhat relieved to know that there is an active effort done by the locals to rescue abondoned pets. I'd like to share some of the pictures from National Geographic, I encourage you to visit the website, heart breaking pictures of the other victims of Katrina.

Please help by signing this petition. It takes 30 seconds and will really help. Animals can survive on this water, but they are going to starve to death and the contaminated water will shortly start to kill them. Many are chained and cannot get food.

Click the active link below to sign
A Petition to Protect the Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina


Near New Orleans a small oil-slickened dog was seen wandering in Chalmette, Louisiana

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t-na @ 2:56 PM| 0 comments

Monday, September 12, 2005

BBC World Challenge: Support the Filipino Inventors

Do you know that the Philippines' coconut geotextile (aka coconet) for soil erosion control has been chosen as one of the 12 finalists in Newsweek and BBC's (British Broadcasting Corporation) World's World Challenge?

The World Challenge is basically a competition/search designed at identifying groups or individuals all over the world whose projects have contributed great impact at grass roots level. A documentary about Philippine Coconut geotextile or coconet industry will be shown on the BBC World cable channel on September 24 around 8:30 GMT.

"The World Challenge" already offers a tremendous exposure and publicity to our flourishing Philippine coconut geotextile industry and to our Philippine coconut fiber exporters. But it would be great liberation for our country, which has been getting very bad publicity nowadays, to win this prestigious competition.

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t-na @ 2:42 PM| 0 comments

Saturday, September 10, 2005

More on PBB

This morning, my sister and I decided to go out for breakfast, as well as to do some errands while it is still early. It slipped off our minds that the local pet shop was still closed at 8 am, so we decided to visit our cousin’s store. My cousin, Ate Rose, is opening her “Paseo” rice bowl and rotisserie store at #116 Aguirre st. Parañaque (their Chicken and BBQ are to die for…plugging…plus their meals are budget friendly, less than 50 bucks).

Today is also the first of many evictions in the Pinoy Big Brother’s House (PBB). The housemates nominated for eviction are: Rico (Big Brother nominated him), Franzen and Racquel (both nominated by the housemates). Based from the final tally, Franzen got the most number of votes with 79%, Racquel 11% and Rico got the least number of votes, 10% of the total votes. Rico had to leave the house. A number of the PBB viewers (based on the TV interviews) were shocked that Rico was evicted and not Racquel but I was actually expecting this one. Franzen’s landslide of votes has a lot to do with the networks efforts to make Franzen the typical “jologs”, the underdog, the one who needs the money as if his life depended on it. Racquel on the other hand (although she got the highest nomination points from her housemates) performed well in the tasks and never complained. Rico was the 1st housemate nominated by Big Brother. He violated a number of the house rules, as well as rules imposed during assigned tasks. Big Brother was right he has to leave the house.

The eviction night was spoiled by no other than Willie Revillame, one of the hosts of PBB tasked to interview the housemates, their relatives and as well as announce who will be evicted. He lacks the charisma and appropriate spontaneity. Besides not giving the housemates equal airtime with regards to the Q&A portion, he asks questions that lack in substance or sometimes irrelevant. I think Mr. Willie ought to take classes from Speech Power since he tends to eat and garble his words (usually after he speaks… my sister and I ask in unison “Huh? What did he just say??). ABS CBN management I think you ought to require Willie to watch PBB. As soon as he finished asking Jason he said “Thank you JB” hehehe and he even repeated this again after he was corrected. There’s this incident where he reminded the televiewers that they still have a minute to vote for their favorite housemate then after a few seconds… “I already have the envelope, containing the results. He made it look like the network was milking money from the last votes, votes that would not matter since he already has the envelope. PBB failed to bring in the suspense and excitement in the announcement of Rico’s eviction.

Amongst all of the negative feedbacks, there were improvements since the pilot episode such as Big Brother’s voice (not gay brother anymore), camera angles are much better.

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t-na @ 12:35 AM| 0 comments

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Isang Malaking EWAN

I honestly can't remember when was the last time that I watched the local news. Usually my day would start and end with news programs but eversince the rallies started I just got fed up. Days passed, CNN and BBC World kept me up-to-date, especially with the Hurricane Katrina coverages. I for one mourn for the victims of Katrina. Amongst all of the chaos in the streets of New Orleans, we also witnessed little miracles happening. Babies reunited with their parents, a woman who is dilating swam toxic waters just to save her asthmatic son, a man saving other people. He never gave up on us, human beings. ("There's hope for Harry!, hope for Harry..." from the Banger Sisters movie)

Yesterday, just out of curiosity, I clicked my TV remote unto ANC and was taken a back when I saw a live coverage of the congress at around 11:30 pm. Thinking that ANC probably just forgot to place "recorded" I continued watching only to realize that this ones for real. The session of the House of Representatives started at 4 p.m. Monday and ended at 3:40 p.m. yesterday. There was the long debates and votation. The results was in favor of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) dismissing all three impeachment complaints (manipulation of the 2004 election, corruption and human rights violations). Out of the 236 congressmen a vote of 158 in favor, 52 against, 6 abstained and 20 did not vote. As expected a not so people power was brewing with Akbayan Rep. Risa H. Baraquel, Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, Sen. Ping Lacson, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, former President Corazon Aquino, Susan Roces (Actress) and Father Armin Luistro (were some personalities) link arms as they march toward the Batasang Pambansa demanding the ouster of PGMA.

Haaay naaahHHhhkoOOoo! ano nalang ba ang mangyayari sa atin?! Purket hindi nagustuhan ang resulta dadalhin na sa kalye! Wala ba kayong mga trabaho??? at rally nalang kayo ng rally. Meron pa namang chance na magfile next year dba... ang daming problema ng bansa natin, do something productive naman na ikauunlad ng bansa natin! Akala nyo ba na kapag na impeach si Gloria eh parang isang magic pill ** Kapuff ** gaganda na ang Pilipinas?!? Sana nga ganun eh kaso hindi, hindi pa nga bumababa si Gloria nakakarinig na ako ng impeachment complaint na i-fifile against Noli De Castro! Ano ba naman yan... umeepal pa dyan ang ibang talunang presidential, mga feeling at mga aspiring politicians to be. Na disappoint nga ako nung nagwalk out sila kitang kita ko si Aimee Marcos ang isa sa mga nag tapon sa ere ng papel na parang confetti, iha... maraming kasalan sa bansa natin ang pamilya nyo utang na loob naman! Nakakasuka na ang mga "People Power" attempts tama na... akala ko ba mahal nyo ang Pilipinas, sa tingin nyo sa ginagawa nyo gumaganda ang bansa natin??? nakailang people power na ba? kung "effective" nga na "means" ang people power na yan, bakit ganito pa rin tayo??? sana tumigil na ng People Power One. Maglaulaunch raw ng signiture campaign... sayang lang ang papel at ballpen... yung pinagbilinyo nyan ipakain nyo nalang sa mga nagugutom. Nakakafrustrate at malaking EWAN yan lang ang masasabi ko.

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t-na @ 7:07 AM| 0 comments