The Diary Underneath A Tree

May 26, 2013

Annaliza

This has to be the most difficult shoot for a soap pilot that I experienced. The end product, however, is very fulfilling.

Please catch ABS-CBN's remake of the classic Annaliza, which starts airing later at 5:45pm, before TV Patrol, in Primetime Bida.

Full Trailer

The Making of Annaliza

Music Video

Feel free to share the links!

May 25, 2013

Singapore Round 3

Last April, I went to Singapore for the 3rd time, my 1st as a tourist. It was also my 2nd out-of-country trip with my family. I know I dismissed Singapore last year as too clean (read: boring) and while it's not as "colorful" as the other countries I've been to, I think I was too harsh with my judgment. I did enjoy Singapore this time, to think that we only went to the tourist spots. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I was with my family and it was a perfect breather from the strenuous shoot of my new soap.

Here are a few photos from my 3-day Singapore getaway.

We went to Sentosa and entered Images of Singapore museum. It's a visual museum that chronicles Singapore's history, a perfect start for our Singapore vacation.

We went to Universal Studios for the first time. This was taken after we rode Transformers The Ride. Yes, my 67-year-old Nanay conquered Transformers!

My sister and I all wet from Jurassic Park's Rapids Adventure.

We also watched Songs of the Sea in Sentosa. It's a musical about socialism hidden under flashy lights and water exhibition.

We also rode the Singapore Flyer to get a birds eye-view of Singapore.

We ate lunch at Maxwell Food Center and loved Anthony Bourdain's favorite Hainanese chicken.

We went to the Night Safari. I'm not really into animals so funny as it may sound, it was scary for me. LOL!

We went inside Flower Dome in Gardens By The Bay where my Nanay was having a blast!

For some reason, the artificial Cloud Forest in Gardens By The Bay reminds me of apocalyptic movies!

Got reunited with my college friend Gen in her posh Singapore crib.

My sister's take on that classic Merlion pose in Merlion Park.

We watched a drums show in Esplanade. After I took this pic, I was repimanded by the guard because taking pictures while the show is ongoing is not allowed! Haha!

Indian food and buko juice for dinner in Glutton's Bay. Surprised to see Gerry's Grill there!

Our Cebu Pacific flight back to Manila was 12 hours delayed! Good thing Changi Airport is like a big mall...

... my mother and sister got to rest their feet in a free foot massage...

... I was able to hold a butterfly in its Butterfly garden...

... and in the TV Lounge, got to watch TLC and daydreamed about my next travel!

The rest of the pictures are in my Facebook album.

March 09, 2013

MMK Anew

I only wished to direct one MMK episode, so I feel very grateful to be offered to direct another one. I just love directing for MMK! I love the TV movie format more than soap.

Please watch Julia Montes portray the role of a young prostitute in her first MMK lead role TONIGHT, 7:30pm, after Wansapanataym on ABS-CBN. I will also appreciate it if you can share the link to your friends and family.

Before I forget, thank you for watching my first MMK episode. It got 37% ratings in TNS, the highest MMK episode so far this year, I believe. Come to think of it, maybe that's the reason why I was offered to direct again. Regardless, I thank you! :)

February 14, 2013

Maalaala Mo Kaya

I just crossed out an item in my bucket list. That was, to direct an MMK episode. I'm really grateful to the MMK team for the opportunity and I hope I will make them proud.

Guys, watch and help me promote my first MMK episode please! It will be a perfect Valentines gift if you share the link below and/or tell your friends to watch the episode. Thank you!

MMK: All For Love airs this Saturday, February 16, 7:45pm on ABS-CBN after Wansapanataym. It stars Urian Best Supporting Actor winner Ketchup Eusebio and the newest Kapamilya Meg Imperial (Menor de Edad) from a script by Benson Logronio and Arah Badayos.

January 26, 2013

Yeng Congstantino - B.A.B.A.Y.

I am not sure about Yeng's dancing in the music video but what I'm sure of is Yeng's immense talent as a singer-songwriter. I've always believed in this kid since I worked with her in Pinoy Dream Academy. Writing the now OPM classic "Hawak Kamay" in her teens is no easy feat. She just has "it".

"B.A.B.A.Y" is the lead single of her 2nd collaboration album with Raymund Marasigan "Metamorphosis." The album contains all original songs, very rare for OPM artists these days.

I'm excited to hear the rest of the album. My most favorite Yeng song, by the way, is this very relatable and poignant teen ditty.

January 22, 2013

13 Films To Watch in 2013

I am still embarrassed by the fact that I only saw a total of 14 films in theaters last year. That is not me. I vowed to myself that it will have to change this year. So far, so good. January has not ended yet but I already saw 3 films - Life of Pi (my Oscar Best Picture winner), Sisterakas (totally got its box-office success), and Les Miserables (musical plays & film musicals are two different genres, the straight adaptation did not work).

Here are 13 other films I am excited to see in 2013:

About Time

Synopsis: A young man discovers that the men in his family are able to travel through time, and sets out to use his gift to win the heart of his dream girl.

Excitement Factor: Richard Curtis' (Notting Hill, Love Actually, Four Weddings & A Funeral) comeback to the rom-com genre

Bling Ring

Synopsis: A group of teenagers obsessed with fashion and fame burglarize the homes of celebrities in Los Angeles.

Excitement Factor: A youth movie by Sophia Coppola starring Emma Watson fresh from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I'm So Excited

Synopsis: In the face of a life-threatening situation, a disparate and defenseless group of passengers on board a flight to Mexico City are provoked to deliver colorful confessionals that become the best way to escape from the idea of death.

Excitement Factor: Pedro Almodovar, period.

Labor Day

Synopsis: On Labor Day weekend, a divorced, depressed single mother encounters a large man bleeding profusely while shopping with her 13-year-old son. They give him a ride and later learn that the police are looking for an escaped convict.

Excitement Factor: Jason Reitman (Juno, Up In The Air, Young Adult) directing Kate Winslet's comeback

Nebraska

Synopsis: An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes prize.

Excitement Factor: Alexander Payne's (The Descendants) return to directing road-trip movies after the award-winning Sideways

The Great Gatsby

Synopsis: Nick Carraway learns that old friend Jay Gatsby has built an empire of wealth and avarice, and has eyes only for his former flame Daisy Buchanan.

Excitement Factor: The reunion project of Romeo + Juliet's Baz Luhrmann & Leonardo di Caprio, plus it features songs of Jay-Z and Lady Gaga

The Heat

Synopsis: An FBI agent and a cop team up to bring down a drug lord.

Excitement Factor: Bridesmaids' director Paul Feig's new comedy and the fresh combo of Sandra Bullock & Bridesmaids' breakout star Melissa McCarthy

The Nymphomaniac

Synopsis: A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating.

Excitement Factor: A porn film by Lars Von Trier

Her

Synopsis: In the not-so-distant future, a lonely writer purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user's every need, and to his surprise, a romantic relationship begins to develop with it.

Excitement Factor: Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation), my favorite music video director of all time, makes meta-movies again

To The Wonder

Synopsis: The relationship between an American man and European woman falls apart.

Excitement Factor: Early viewers say this is the perfect companion piece to Terrence Malick's previous directorial effort The Tree of Life, my favorite film last year

The World's End

Synopsis: A group of old friends reunite for an epic pub crawl at the dawn of the apocalypse.

Excitement Factor: Four words: Shaun of the Dead

The Grandmaster

Synopsis: The story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee.

Excitement Factor: Wong Kar-Wai. Tony Leung. Enough said.

This Is The End

Synopsis: A gaggle of comedic celebrities survive the apocalypse and struggle to survive in the wastelands.

Excitement Factor: Judd Apatov (Superbad, Pineapple Express) casts all his regular & reliable comedian friends - Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jason Segel, Michael Cera & Jonah Hill among others - in one movie

Source: The Playlist

January 12, 2013

Pop Favorites of 2012

FAVORITE MOVIES
It must be noted that I only saw 14 movies in cinemas last year, a far cry from the 50 films I saw ten years ago. Yes, I keep track of them. :D Some of the films here are released in 2011 but are shown in the Philippines only last year.

5. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Director: Brad Bird. Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg

4. Argo. Director: Ben Affleck. Cast: Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, John Goodman

3. The Hunger Games. Director: Gary Ross. Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson

2. The Descendants. Director: Alexander Payne. Cast: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller

1. The Tree of Life. Director: Terrence Malick. Cast: Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn

FAVORITE SONGS
2012 was the year when I started buying songs instead of illegally downloading them. :D Some of the songs in the list are from 2011 but are released on Philippine mainstream radio in 2012.

5. I Love You - 2NE1

4. Starships - Nicki Minaj

3. Settle Down - No Doubt

2. One Thing - One Direction (My guilty pleasure of 2012! :D)

1. Walk - Foo Fighters (My karaoke song of 2012! :D)

There you go! I have no list of favorite TV shows since aside from my own shows, the only shows I watched in 2012 were my old reality favorites - Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol & X-Factor. There is also no list of favorite music videos like before because MTV does not play music videos anymore.

Goals for 2013

Two words: The Secret.

1. Travel more (USA, Japan, Singapore, Boracay, Bicol)
2. Sleep more & early when not working.
3. Lose weight. Exercise. Find a sport. Proper diet.
4. Direct an MMK episode, a commercial film or an episode of a trilogy.
5. Read more!
6. Learn to swim.
7. Live. Laugh. Love.
8. Pray. Keep the faith.
9. Less Internet but blog often.
10. Save money. Give back.

Funny how some of my New Year goals are the same as three years ago. I hope to achieve them this year.

December 31, 2012

33

Maybe it comes with age but as you grow older, celebrating your birthday seems not that important anymore. Being thankful for the life you've lived and the blessings you've received is already enough. Nevertheless, I did celebrate a little. :)