Watch Me Entertain Myself!

Sacha Guitry once said, "You can pretend to be serious, but you can't pretend to be witty." Oh yes, I'm the great pretender.
(pilot episode: 20 January 2004)

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

The 2013 New Year Fabcast, Part Two

Here is the second of the two-part Fabcast.

Here we turn hopeful and look to the future, as we also say goodbye and thank you to the year that was. We especially take note of all things new for 2013, from looking forward to new jobs to new investments, new friendships and relationships, and a new appreciation of the phrase “tempered exuberance.”







Music credits:

“Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin
“Love Is Strange” by Everything But The Girl
“Gimme Hope Joanna” by Eddy Grant
“Why Do Fools Fall In Love” by Diana Ross and the Supremes

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Brand’s Essence Of Humor

“Mariah Minaj!”
“Reclaim KKK, so then the Ku Klux Klan won’t have a logo.”

Russell Brand’s brand of humor isn’t for everyone. Not only that, he’s often hit-or-miss. But I have to admit, in this particular clip he had me giggling then laughing out loud. Oh okay, so not that loud. But still.


The 2013 New Year Fabcast, Part 1

Every January the Fabcasters and the peanut gallery get together to celebrate the New Year and new beginnings, and this 2013 is no different. But things aren’t all the same either. People are busier, lives are different, schedules are tighter. But still, whenever two or more are gathered for a fabcast, the spirit of inquiry and good natured ribbing remains.

Migs and Gibbs couldn’t be with us for this particular recording, so instead we had CC do the hosting task this time.

Listen in and enjoy the first of two parts.





Music credits:

“Glad You Came” by The Wanted
“Good Old Days” by Pink
“We Take Care Of Our Own” by Bruce Springsteen

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Going Green Minded

I never thought I’d see the words “high school fair,” “La Salle,” and “bodybuilding competition” in one sentence, so when our friend H told us that it was open to the public, we didn’t hesitate to troop to Greenhills on a Saturday afternoon. I like eye candy just like any hot-blooded gay guy, but I’m not a big fan of those bikini competitions and Mister Baranggay pageants. I guess I find it limiting if it’s only a look-but-no-touch set-up. But this is in La Salle! In terms of livestock, this is prime-grade meat. Don’t get me wrong, I like down-to-earth proletariat male beauties too. But it’s rare to see Catholic school boys bearing their bodies to be ogled and cheered by spectators, so I decided to go out of my way for this one. It’s the closest thing to a Magic Mike by way of UAAP.

Thank god for insider friends who were able to get us tickets before they sold out. “Us” here included D, his friend Kid, fellow Fabcaster Tony, and our friend T. When we entered, the auditorium was already jam-packed. We decided to sit at the very front row. The onstage speakers and footlights blocked parts of our view, but we figured that the contestants would move to the front of the stage to pose anyway. All the better to look up at all those green family jewels.

Tony had his kick-ass camera ready, so he abandoned the front row for a front seat at the balcony box nearest the stage. Better vantage point, he said. A few minutes later, I received an SMS from him: “FUUUUCK! I left the memory card in the car!” It was most unfortunate because his car was parked in Robinson’s Galleria, and the contest was about to start. Apparently God does have a wicked sense of humor.

To further remind us of Him and the fact that we were in a Catholic school, the contest started with a prayer. Jusko. (Literally.) The prayer was a reminder to everyone that “our bodies are temples.” I had a sudden urge to desecrate temples all of a sudden.

The contest had two categories, students and alumni. Except for one or two vertically-challenged boys, the students looked like they could belong in college. Maybe that’s what happens when they lose their boyish shapes. But hey, college is still college, right?

After the first round when I saw all the contestants, I got bored and started playing games on my iPod Touch. I would look up once in a while to check out the ones I found cute and/or hunky, but otherwise I was more challenged with getting pixelated jewels to align for points than trying to get a glimpse of the boys’ family jewels.

We did have a couple of favorites. In the student category, one of the shortest guys was also the cutest, face-wise. While he was posing, we received another SMS from Tony, “H said that Cutie is gay. May jowa! OMG!” And during the alumni portion, this “Richard-Poon-knocked-down-a-couple-of-socio-economic-classes” guy caught my attention because during his “most muscular pose” he grabbed the edges of his short shorts and pulled them up even further. In his next round Tony SMS’ed again: “Look at him. Bakat na bakat.” Yup, I believe he may be the most muscular in that aspect.

While walking out of the campus grounds after the contest, I vowed to myself to find a way to convince the Jesuits that their high school should have a macho dancing contest in their next school fair.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Art And Wine

Last Thursday Jan. 24 D and I attended the opening of the art exhibit “Presensiya: The Art of JapaneseAdobo” at The Wine Museum along Aurora Blvd. (former Tramo Road) in Pasay City. Before that night, I’ve known Ron only online via his blog, Instagram, and Facebook. I knew he painted, but it was only when he made a painting for Corporate Closet that I took notice of his art.

He paints in bold colors, clear delineations, often singular images. Clearly he has a point of view and an eye for composition. What’s inspiring is how he did it. He just mentioned his dream to his boss. His boss supported him, and now his paintings are on the walls of The Wine Museum. What’s more, proceeds from the sale of his paintings will go to ABS-CBN Foundation.

Check out his paintings at:

PRESENSIYA
The Art of JapaneseAdobo

The Wine Museum
2253 Aurora Blvd (former Tramo Road)
Pasay City







Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Lessons

No matter how many books, movies, and TV shows I’ve seen, no matter how many friends and acquaintances I’ve known and observed through the years, nothing really prepares you for a relationship. D and I have been at it for more than two and a half years, and still I’m learning things--about agreements, about commitment, about myself. It can get unnerving at times. Sometimes it’s embarrassing. But then  it can also be quietly reassuring. Sometimes the lesson is so subtle, the impact creeps up on you on a quiet Sunday afternoon. But often it’s simply matter-of-fact, and that’s fine by me. It’s only those difficult times that take a toll on us, especially on D. And for that I am truly sorry.

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

From 2012 To 2013

Dec. 31, 2012, 11:24pm - Outside the noise of revelry is getting louder, the pauses between booms are getting shorter. I’m checked in at a condotel in QC. Here is where I’ll be when the old year gives in to the new. D is with his family in the province. And for several years now our family celebrates New Year during lunch time on January 1.

Online, my FB and Twitter friends are taking stock of the year that was, while expressing hope for the year that will be. It’s understandable. People make a big deal of endings and beginnings. When I was younger I too made a big deal of the New Year. I was very conscious of the clock striking 12, as if there was an invisible barrier that separated not just the years but also past mistakes and future goals. Resolutions had to be made, the old giving way to the new.

But as the years piled up, my attitude changed. It also helped a lot that, thanks to cable news, I can actually watch major cities throughout the globe celebrate the New Year one after the other. Time isn’t as clear-cut. The world is round. Life moves in circles and cycles. And the past has a way of informing the present as we stumble our way into the future. Change can happen in an instant, but real, long-lasting change echoes through time.

Have a Happy New Year.