2013 Year in Review

The unforgettable year that was 2013!

Had many highs and plentiful blessings early last year - a hit soap opera ( Annaliza, my love), my first time to direct in MMK in 2 high-rating episodes (I love working on the show!), and I got to travel abroad again with my family. The last quarter however, was unfortunate and if you've been following me on FB, you know what happened. We had our first Christmas without our mother this year. It was a blue Christmas, to put it succinctly. The good thing that came out from it though, was finding out who are our "real" friends and family, and I thank them for giving us their support, love, wisdom and comfort. So, good riddance 2013! I shall not forget you but I'm ready, no matter how difficult, to move on. 2014, I welcome you with open arms!

Happy new year to all of us!

2013 Favorites

Favorite Movie - Iloilo
I would like my dream movie to be like this, personal but well-crafted, dramatic but real, insightful but not didactic.




Favorite Song - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell "Get Lucky"
Good ol' electronic music that makes you feel good,  gets you up to the dance floor and doesn't make you throw up.




Favorite Album - Emblem3 "Nothing To Lose"
Guilty pleasure of 2013.  If you're a child of the 90's, listen first before you judge. :)




Favorite OPM Song - Yeng Constantino "Chinito"
Never mind the music video that's derivative of a Taeyang-Dara K-Pop collaboration.  Mind instead that this laid-back love ditty has got to be one of the most original OPM songs to come out in recent years.




Favorite Music Video - Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop"
Get past through Miley's tongue-wagging and explicit exhibitionism but focus on its well-photographed images and meaningful art direction that serve the song's lyrics right.




Favorite Viral Video - Ylvis "The Fox"
Just because the video introduced us to a song that never fails to make me smile or laugh!




Favorite Game - Candy Crush
Seriously, who didn't get addicted to this game this year?

Favorite App - Waze
Finally, I can now drive anywhere! Thank you to whoever invented this!

Give Thanks Despite A Blue Christmas

Despite the unfortunate events that happened to our family this year, there are still some things to thank God for.  For one,  I was able to celebrate my birthday in the company of my Annaliza family.

Birthday surprise on the set

With my Annaliza family

Another birthday cake during Annaliza's Christmas dinner

Birthday boy!

Just before I left home for the holidays, I was also able to squeeze in fun reunion with relatives & close friends.

Annual Christmas dinner with my closest college friends

Annual Christmas treat to my beloved pamangkins

Christmas, so far, has been "steady".  I mostly stayed home because I got sick upon arriving here.  My sister and I decided to forgo noche buena.  The tradition just reminds us so much of Nanay, we didn't want to turn it into a "cryfest."  There had been emotional debates among us regarding some legal matters on Nanay's death.  It's still not resolved but it gets me depressed.  I pray God gives us the strength and wisdom in coming up with a decision, and I also pray that Nanay will guide us.

Visited Nanay's grave during Christmas day. God, I miss her so much!

It's not all blue Christmas, though.  I was able to meet up with some childhood friends for Christmas dinner.  Some old family friends also invited us to celebrate the occasion with them in their homes and I appreciate that.  The fact that I'm with my family during Christmas and without work-related stress is also a blessing already.

Tomorrow, we celebrate Tatay's and my cousin Jimbo's birthday. We'll also have our annual Christmas party with neighbors.  We definitely feel the void left by Nanay but we need to move on. If only, it's that easy.

Greatest Fear

My greatest fear would be forgetting how it feels to have you around.  I love you so much Nay!

Bye, Nay!

My mother already passed away yesterday afternoon.  It definitely breaks my heart for it was sudden, she didn't even have a life-threatening illness.  What she had was a simple diarrhea that led to other complications.  There might be a medical malpractice but the thought won't help me and family accept the situation now.  I pray that God gives me the strength to deal with it later.  Nevertheless, I still feel blessed and loved.  She waited for me.  I was able to talk to her on my first ICU visit upon arrival from Manila. She went into coma the following day.  I might have written (or even directed) a few hospital death scenes in teleseryes but they didn't prepare me from yesterday's real scenario.  We saw her being revived and were asked by the doctor of our decision after she was unresponsive for 30 minutes.  It was heart-breaking.  Sorry for the random thoughts and being dramatic.  I just need to let out.  I will definitely miss you Nay!  We only lived together for 12 years but you were always my inspiration and my source of strength.  I've always thought you were an old-fashioned conservative but the fact that you let me explore my dreams at a young age and supported me all the way makes you the best mother I could have. I hope I did you proud Nay. I love you soooo much!

ETA: I started my blog exactly 10 years ago and the first entry I wrote was about my Papay's (my Nanay's father) death.  I refuse to be morbid about the coincidence.  I''d rather think that Nanay and Papay, together with Mamay, are now reuniting in heaven.

Hospital Blues

I finally saw my Nanay in ICU early this evening.   She was confined because of complications from diarrhea or pwede ring because of the leniency of a local government hospital.  I should have segued to a rant about better and affordable health care that's lacking in our country, no thanks to corrupt government officials, but there's another venue for that.  I just wanted to write an entry because I wanted to express my feelings upon seeing my Nanay that weak.  I've never seen her that weak until tonight. She had difficulty talking.  Her skin is bloated. She looks pale and older.  The wires attached to her body do not help lessen her and my depressed state.  I was shattered to pieces and it hurts.

We talked for an hour wherein she shared to me some life realizations because of what happened. She realized my Tatay, who's not the affectionate kind and who's not good with words, indeed loves her the way he took care of her when she got sick.  She also told me an anecdote that had me in tears considering I was trying not to show my sadness to cheer her up.  Anyway, she told me she asked my cousin, who grew up with my parents, about his greatest fear.  My cousin, who hardly shows emotion and is still your typical irresponsible teenager, answered "losing you!". It got her teary eyed because to her, it validates her existence. It also got me me teary-eyed because after seeing her tonight, I feel the same.

Behind The Scenes

This is how we roll! :)

Mixed Emotions

My fatigue probably offset a would-have-been emotional day. Thank God because I hate being emotional!

Honey and I helped our housemate Aris moved to his new apartment in Paranaque earlier. He had to move because his work location transferred to Alabang and it's a hassle traveling from QC to Alabang everyday. I will definitely miss Aris.  Truth be told, he's probably my closest guy pal now. We actually started off on the wrong foot for reasons I'd rather not disclose but we became very close when we became housemates.  Like I always write, ever since I stayed in a dorm in high school, I'm already used to housemates moving in and out and so it's difficult to maintain friendship. I would not like my friendship with Aris to suffer the same fate. I hope we'll be friends for life.

Thanks for everything, Aris!

After helping Aris moved in, we had dinner in Vikings, MOA.  It turned out CF, who's in a 2-week vacation in the Philippines, was also in the mall.  CF is a dear friend who I used to write about here in my blog.  We haven't seen each other for 4 years after CF migrated to the US.  We had been trying to schedule a meet-up but it was very difficult because of my work.  It was a twist of fate then that we found ourselves in the same location.  I took the chance and excused myself from Aris and Honey to meet CF.  I was very happy to see CF again.  I miss CF!  We're just friends now but CF will always have a special place in my heart.  We chit-chat about our lives and I can see how CF has grown and matured.  I am a proud brother!  We promised to see each other again before CF leaves for the US or if not, when I get to travel to the US next year (fingers crossed!).  CF promised to drive me around Sanfo.

I'm not used to writing  a blog entry like this anymore. LOL!

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!

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.