RookieDad & Evan's TV "MOMent" (part 1)

February 27, 2010
6:30 pm - Ch. Net25
Manila

My boys have conquered the (local) tube!

The tv program "MOMents" in Net25 found his blog on the web and invited Riki to share his "rookiedaddyhood moments" in the show. They shot the interview and some family clips at our home on a Monday night, the clip was aired five days after.

This is part 1 of their "12 minutes of fame" :)

Evan & RookieDad rock! :D

RookieDad & Evan's TV "MOMent" (part 2)

February 27, 2010
6:30 pm - Ch. Net25
Manila

After 7 minutes of interview/family clips, we thought the feature was over already when they did a commercial break.

But whoa! there's more!
The next 5 minutes featured Riki's home videos. Evan all over! hehehe.
Maximum airtime indeed.

This is part 2 of their "12 minutes of fame" :)

Better LATE Than Never

My whole family had the FLU last week, thanks to carrier me (which was ironic since i just got the shots the other week!) so this hurray post is uber-late!

Nevertheless, i have to shout one last time before i rest!
SOOUUL PATROLLL!!!!!

I say, there are two magic words.
PURPLE jacket. Wooo!

IDOL!!!

Taylor Astig!!!

Idol!!!!

Aw!

What Happens...

...when your mom and grandma used to watch PBB? This.

A Happy and Peaceful New Year to everyone, from The Garcias! :D

In Utero

Last night, we were able to finally catch the encore special of National Geographic Channel - the “In The Womb”. For parents-to-be like us, it was really a very enlightening and informative documentary. We were able to validate most of the special moments we have experienced with Evan while he is still in my womb. The first beating of the heart, the kicks, the regular hiccups, and of course, the exciting interaction via 3d/4d ultrasound imaging where we first saw him actually yawning and moving his head, hands and feet and adorably sucking his fingers.

The documentary showed that it is the father (or rather his mighty sperm which successfully penetrates the mother’s egg) that really determines the sex of the baby. This is what forms part of the famous Chromosome pair 23.

"An egg contains one X chromosome, but the sperm can carry either a single X or a single Y chromosome. A sperm carrying a Y chromosome will produce a male - XY - and a sperm carrying an X will result in a female - XX."

So there, we’re having a boy…thanks to Riki’s winner sperm! Hahaha!

After watching the show, I dug into our old photo albums to look at our own baby pictures.

So sino kamukha ni Evan? :)

Emi ------------- Evan ------------ Riki

If Ever I Would Leave You

waaah!!! baket natanggal si Anwar?!?! hikbi... :(

And I Think To Myself...

Many great and classic songs had been covered by various artists over the years. Sometimes the cover song is even better than the original rendition. Like Kurt Cobain’s version of Lead Belly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”.

Tonight, I just heard the best version of “What A Wonderful World”. Anwar Robinson swept me away. Moreso, not only did his performance capture me, he captured me. Those neat dreadlocks, that angelic face, and yes, that fashion sense! Alas, I have a new crush.

Since the first time I saw him during his audition for AI, he already stroked my fancy. He defines the word “NICE”. I had at once picked my favorite. The same way I did with Fantasia last season. These are people cut out way above the rest. They are so unconventionally cool.

In the past, I can only tolerate listening to "Moon River" if i am watching Mr. Big dancing awkwardly with Carrie in his empty loft. But now, I like the song. Anwar’s version of the song that is. He had totally injected coolness into that oldie song. The same way Fantasia did for “Summertime”. The same way Riki does when he sings any jologs song. (yes! I just need to brag about that. Hehe!)

Simon Cowell’s words couldn’t have been more appropriate. Anwar is indeed the ultimate music teacher. A genuinely nice person with a great voice. I will enroll Evan Sebastian in his class anytime, at any cost! And I will make sure I personally bring my son to school and fetch him later so that I can talk with his teacher about his progress. Haha!

Now, I can’t wait to see Anwar do a Bob Marley piece!

And yes, i have to start downloading mp3s of his performances to date...

My First URCC

Do you know where 75% of the men in Manila were last Saturday night? They were all in the Amphitheater of Casino Filipino in Paranaque watching the URCC V (Universal Reality Combat Championship-Five). AND SO WAS I…

Riki is an AVID fan of the UFC (international counterpart of the URCC). If I use to hoard the tube before every Saturday night watching Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte live their NY lives, it is now his turn to watch Oleg Taktarov, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock and the Gracie Family (I hope I got their names correctly) crash each other’s bones and what-have-yous inside the UFC ring.

He had watched the URCC IV months before and I remember him making kwento that he saw the whole band of Bamboo with their dates watching the fights as well. With this added attraction, I decided to join him and our two best men to their Saturday Paranaque gimik. I thought, what the heck, while they watch the fights, I can do my own star-gazing as well. Besides, I don’t want to be left home alone again. I just spent last weekend in solitude. I am also such a “good and understanding” wife that I can’t force my hubby to miss this quarterly “important” show. So off we go to my first Reality Combat Fight. BAKBAKAN NA!!!


my ticket to rumble

I’ve never been to a real fighting arena before. I only catches glimpse of fights in the television. Besides, I was just introduced to the details of the world of boxing and UFC when I married a fanatic. (Dig this: I just learned recently that ALIMALL was build and named in the honor of Muhammad Ali-formerly known as Cassius Clay-who visited the Phils. during the Marcos reign!). When we arrived at the Casino Filipino, my oh my! There were MEN everywhere - teenagers, yuppies, rockers, the conos, the maskulados, the tanders! All of them were here, sharing the same excitement and anticipation, forgetting their differences, getting ready to rumble! Some very few brought their girlfriends and wives (thank God I’m not alone!)

The fight started late (very fortunate because we were too) so I got to see the complete show. Just like the fights you see in the tube, there is a square ring in the middle of the amphitheather and chairs/bleachers everywhere around it. And just like the fights you see in the tube, there is an announcer that talks (or rather shouts) loudly, fast and incomprehensibly. But the difference is, here, it is a girl (which I later learned is Erica Fife-former Ang TV star). WTF?!

Patriotic citizens these people-hungry-for-brutal-fights are though, we all stand up for the national anthem first. I was expecting a solo/accapella rendition of some singer/superstar but I was mistaken. Behind the blue smoking foglight at the stage emerged an ethnic (bob Marley look-alike) musician who rendered a calm and great rendition of the Lupang Hinirang by merely playing his wooden flute, and then halfway during the song, came the electronic and rocking sound of the electric guitar and then a rocker/guitar player (Slash lookalike-chubby version, damn it was not Nathan nor Aira!) came forward from the blue light and replaced the flutist. ASTIG! It was the coolest rendition of our national anthem ever!

I am beginning to enjoy this show. Then came next the FHM girls in their bikini tops and skimpy maong shorts. Hmph! Boo hoo!

The announcer (now male thank God!) announced next the start of the matches…which triggered the crowd to go wild. BAKBAKAN NA!!! (a song with the same title plays in the background as well)

For my non-URCC educated readers, let me share with you the things I learned from this experience. There were three types of matches that night, to wit:

1. SOT (Strike Out Tournament) - the players/fighters in these matches wore boxer gloves, no shoes (they can do kicks), shorts and tight shirts (optional, mostly not preferred). Most players (based on my observation) are from the following disciplines: Muay Thai and Bokaido (mix of Boxing, Karate and Aikido?!). Each set consist of three rounds, five minutes each. Whoever is down (or badly hurt) at the end of the third round will be declared the loser. If both are still standing after the three rounds, there will be no points to compute (like in boxing) and the results will be declared as a DRAW. Winner of each set will fight the other winners in a championship round later during the night (poor tired winner!)

2. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) - same rules as SOT but here, the fighters wore more slim gloves and come from diversed discipline and teams (i.e. Red Corner, Strikes and Submissions, Elorde MMA team). And the fights are more brutal (for the male audience more exciting!)

3. TITLE BOUTS (lightweight, featherweight, bantamweight and welterweight) - these are the main fights/attraction of the night. A defending champion will fight a challenger to preserve and secure his title and that BIG metallic belt.

The first fight began and after just three minutes, one of the player’s temple is already bleeding. I am beginning to get dizzy and nauseated already. Waaahh! Where are the celebrities? I need to see them so that I can be distracted from the game! The announcer told us that there will be at least 24 fights all-in-all. And we are just starting! Huhuhu…

Luckily that match ended already just in the first round. And so does majority of the others. And just like the theory of the LEARNING CURVE, fight after fight, slowly I get to appreciate and enjoy the matches already. Some players are comic enough to entertain me (name pa lang nila, nakakaaliw na! e.g. The Bulldawg, The Bull, Charlie Angel (complete with the themesong!), The Beast). And their individual introduction and entrance to the ring! Hahaha! Those were my favorite part of the show. Plus, the audiences are just so lively. Behind us are a group of teenage boys who just have comments for every move, punch and kicks of each players. Because of them, I now know the meaning and importance of the following terms in any URCC/UFC matches: Fight!, Break!, side mount, full mouth (a very important position), freeze (and recreation of a position in the center of the ring), take-over and suplex. And oh by the way, everytime the players are just in position and not touching each other, the crowd gets mad and shouts… BOOOOO!!! FIGGGHHHTT! But every time a player does a suplex and brings the other poor player down to the ground, the crowd amusingly cries in perfect unison ---WOOOOHHHH! YEAAAHHH! Gosh! Men!

The tournament lasted almost five hours. During that period, two poor men were brought out of the ring in stretchers (bones broken I guess from a bad fall or something), many have their face bleeding and their body bruised. But amazingly, I was able to witness that these players, although very brutal and fierce during the fights, were in fact gentle people who help their opponent stand up after a defeat, and hugged each other at the end of the fights. There was even one ferocious-looking fighter ("The Beast") who beat his opponent (equally big and nakakatakot) in just one minute but speaks so softly and kindly afterwards, like a henpecked husband.

I saw several celebrities in the amphitheather (Sec. Bunye, Mylene Dizon and Paulo Paraiso, Jackie Forster, Nancy Casteliogni with a date-not Paulo Contis!, Joanne Quintas with husband, and several familiar faces of commercial models whose name I don’t know!) but no Bamboo nor other rockstar. :(. Thus, I went home UN-starstrucked and nanghihina from all the blood and fighting I witnessed during all fourteen or so matches.

On the other hand, Riki, Kiko and Edsel, even during our midnight merienda, were still excitedly talking about the just-ended tournament and now inspired and planning to take martial arts classes (yeah yeah!).

Early morning yesterday, I told Riki… "Papano yan, I now know how to do a suplex and a full mount. Be afraid, be very afraid. Hehehe!”.

Gobsmacked

More on the Brits.

I chanced upon the live coverage of the keynote speech of British PM Tony Blair to his Labour Party last night in CNN. Normally, I don’t watch political speeches. But since I recently acquired the interest for Britspeak, I checked it out (hoping to hear him say OI! perhaps….hehehe!)

No OI! of course was muttered but I must say, he is a captivating speaker. His speech was long (15 pages per the commentator) but you will really listen to it. He converse with the audience. Rather than merely reciting his address. His great sense of humor is very apparent in the discourse as well, especially during the portion where hecklers at the conference interrupt his speech. I find myself laughing at some of his witty remarks. And compared to speeches of our local politicians, his had actual figures to support his plans and accomplished pledges.

And man does he still looks good. Such a handsome bloke for his age (I know he is already in his 50s)! Luvvly-jubbly!

Shaider Memories

I am currently (and madly) searching for our copy of the Balahibumpooza’s song Time Space Warp. “Ayoko na, sawang-sawa na. Mabuti pang nasa… Time Space Warp…” I need to listen to that song today. To complete my Shaider experience.

Thanks to a friend’s tip, I chanced upon the re-runs of SHAIDER in a local channel this morning (8:30–9:00 am). This show reminds me so much of my regular rustic weekends during my early childhood days in the province. After attending the early Sunday mass, I would eat my breakfast at the living room with my brother, in front of the television, watching Alexis save the world from the evil Phuma Lei Ar *. He was Shaider, I was Annie!

I was having a good laugh while watching the program again earlier. Aside from the good memories it brings, I can still remember the sequence of scenes (which is the same in every episode)!

Upon finding that Phuma Lei Ar’s fold caused some havoc once again in the community, Alexis will go find his evil men. Thus begin the ever famous fight scenes (the following narration from a woman’s perspective):

Scene One: Initial Fight Scene
The ever-cute Alexis (still in his blue and white suit) fights the villains with the “creature of the day”. The latter is chosen by Lei Ar earlier in the show. The ratio is 10:1 something. Then Alexis will jump to an elevated place, execute his pose and shouts….

Scene Two: The Transformation
SHAIDER!!! He now transforms to his metal “police pangkalawakan” getup. Still blue but now more bionic-looking complete with the mask. The transformation was enabled by deriving energy from the sun. The fight scene continues. The enemies seem to multiply. They even called reinforcements–the flying jets with laser guns. Shaider screams again! SPACE STRIKER!!! Annie (in their headquarters) will release their own jet (she’s driving it...this time her panty is not in view) and one by one blow up all the enemy’s airships. Until only the creature/monster remains.

Back at camp, Phuma Lei Ar (the talking head), after seeing that his force is being slowly defeated (again!) will command his side kick (the priestess) to release their secret weapon. This is the time the priestess will shout this ever famous line, “TIME SPACE WARP, NGAYON DIN!!!” The time and space warp is the world where Lei Ar’s creatures are (supposed to be) more powerful.

Scene Three: Time Space Warp
The monster suddenly got sucked into the TSW. Shaider will follow him. But he needs his transport to TSW first. He shouts again. “BLUE HAWK!!!” His blue motorcycle is released from HQ and at auto mode, drove to his location. He rides it and jumps into the TSW.

This next action scene always boggles me. Halfway thru the warp, he will dismount his bike and swim into the end of the TSW alone. I know this enables him to land in the TSW in his signature roll and pose, but where does the bike go?! Does it return to the opening of the warp on auto mode again?!

Anyways, now Shaider is in the warp. The fight with the (now acting funny) monster continues. Shaider needs his sword. LASER BLASTER!!! Swish here, swish there. Finally, he shouts again, BLADE CUTTER!!! I think it activated a special feature in his sword. Next comes the deadly blow. SHAIDER SUPER SLASH!!! The monster is cut into half…and explodes.

Lei Ar is fuming mad! Defeated once again! So he brings in his final weapon. The big head (which I guess he had numerous of stock since they get blown up every episode!). For this adversary, Shaider cannot use his laser blaster-of-a-sword anymore. He needs an equally big gun. So he calls the BABYLOS!!! The big spaceship is released, Shaider shouts again - MATRIX PROJECTION!!!, and the spaceship takes the form of a gun. He aims it on the big head and yells SUPER BLASTER!!!! The big head explodes to pieces.

The evil forces of Phuma Lei Ar is defeated once again. Shaider rules!!! And he takes his pose finally…which brings him back to the real world – where Annie happily waits for him.

I have to find my tape of that song!!!

* I am not sure if I spelled it correctly.

Reality or Reelity

On CNN’s Talk Asia tonight, the King of Bollywood (India’s own version of Hollywood), Shah Rukh Khan, talked about his life as a movie star and a family man. During the interview, he quips that superstars (like himself) in his country are considered demi-gods. When asked by Lorraine (the host) later on during the talk whether the person we see in his movies is the same person he is in real life, he replied NO. He said the various roles he portrayed in the movies are very not him, that there are characters he doesn't even believe in or agree with. However, he further qualified that "sometimes he can’t distinguish anymore…that there are instances he cannot separate the real from the reel”. Hmmm….a demi-person perhaps?

But let me just say he looks good on TV earlier compared to his movies. Maybe because he wasn't dancing now...

Note: I have always been amused by Indian movies. They constantly have those (hilarious) dancing and singing sequence/s. Shah for once had one where he sung and danced away atop a speeding train. Whoa! What was that for!? Good thing that trend had past in the local movies already (Shake! Body body Dancer!)

Rock Music is Good!

Last night on Jessica Soho Reports, one of the segments was about the “perceived” effect of Rock Music to the younger generation who adheres to such kind of harmony. Is rock music detrimental to the well-being of these adolescents? As expected from Ms. Soho’s journalistic prowess, she was able to cover all sides fairly, from the rock concert scene, the group of teenagers at the rock concert, the critics, to the rock band members. She even got the viewpoint of parents whose children are rock music fanatic. And overall, the message was relatively good. Rock music is not evil at all.

However, there was one Baptist Church priest who made a very grave statement that “rock music breeds demonic activities” Whoa! I think that is a very narrow-minded and sweeping generalization coming from a member of the religious community. I personally love ROCK music… and I (from time to time) go to rock concerts. But I don’t think I engaged (nor did I even thought about engaging) in what he termed demonic frivolities. On the other hand, it was rock music that inspired me to study and pass my board exam, to appreciate my country and my heritage better, and gain more friends who are intelligent, responsible and may I say, ASTIG individuals.

There was one band member who was interviewed in the show and he said something like “Kung sa tingin nila maingay ang kanta, tingnan nila ang lyrics, baka galit”. Oo nga naman. I really hate people who judge others based only on what they can hear, see or feel from the surface. Dig deeper. Substance over form!

That is why I love rockstars. They are true musicians. They create, sing and live their music. Not like some pop idols who are merely Interpreters of other people's music.

Rock on everyone!