Leona Lewis

I can't believe my husband was playing this in the car yesterday. I've been forgetting to get this song in my music player.

Nonetheless, I now profess my insanity to this cut of Leona Lewis. It is interesting to note that Leona Lewis is a discovery of the wise Simon Cowell. The mentor found Leona in the third series of The X Factor UK in 2006.

"Bleeding Love", the second single in her album Spirit, was the biggest-selling single of 2007 in the United Kingdom, and number one in the US on April 5, 2008.

Here's Bleeding Love, plus the lyrics.



Closed off from love
I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you’re frozen

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone’s looking round
Thinking I’m going crazy

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling

But nothing’s greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don’t care what they say

I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see

I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love

Generation I for Indie

There are independent films that I have been wanting to see in the last couple of months. These are Kubrador and Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, to name a few. Filipino independent films have successfully penetrated the industry of film, harvesting awards from foreign-hosted festivals.

Not too long ago, ICU Bed #7 was the first independent film I saw that courageously showed what a digitally-mastered indie movie should look like. ICU Bed #7 was an official entry in Cinemalaya, and its writer and director Rica Arevalo won the award for Best Director.

This time, Rica Arevalo embarks on a new short film entitled Gusto Kita Too which will have a back to back screening with fellow indie film maker Will Fredo's Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa on May 21, 2008 at Robinsons Galleria.

Here's the official press release of Gusto Kita Too:


From the makers of award-winning indie hits, "ICU Bed #7" and "Saan Nagtatago si Happiness?", comes a new short film from Cinemalaya best director Rica Arevalo entitled, "Gusto Kita Too". Shot in the USA, this romantic comedy casts Fil-Am talents Brian Reyes and Casey Pascual as they pursue true love in this funny Pinoy style courtship. Produced by Mediarevolution Film Productions with Maan dela Cruz as editor and original music by Jerrold Tarog.

"Gusto Kita Too" is an added attraction, screening back to back with Will Fredo's sensational film, "Sa Pagdapo ng Mariposa" at IndieSine Robinson's Galleria starting May 21, 2008.

If you want to go to the moon....

I know this is an old one, however, Serendipity is my best-loved romantic movie of all time. Saying this without superficiality, every aspect of the film is naturally commendable.

Actors. How could one not love John Cusack? As in all of his movies, he was so passionate as Jonathan Trager. Kate Beckinsale (as Sara Thomas) played her part well as the one who started the belief thing and all, influencing Jonathan that if things were meant to be, then it will be all the good work of fate and it will happen. Jeremy Piven plays the role of Dean Kansky, the best friend of Jonathan.

Screenplay. Dean Kansky turned out to be the wisdom-sayer in the end. His written eulogy struck me the most.

Here's the climax part which leads to Jonathan reading his obituary.



"Jonathan Trager, prominent television producer for ESPN, died last night from complications of losing his soulmate and his fiancé. He was 35 years old and soft-spoken and obsessive. Trager never looked the part of a hopeless romantic. But, in the final days of his life, he revealed an unknown side of his psyche. This hidden quasi-Jungian persona surfaced during the Agatha Christie-life pursuit for his long-reputed soulmate, a woman whom he only spent a few precious hours with. Sadly, the protracted search ended late Saturday night in complete and utter failure. Yet even in certain defeat, the courageous Trager secretly clung to the belief that life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents or coincidences uh-uh, but rather it is a tapestry of events that culminate in an exquisite sublime plan. Asked about the loss of his dear friend, Dean Kansky, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and executive editor of New York Times, described Jonathan as a changed man in the last days of his life. Things were clearer for him, Kansky noted. Ultimately Jonathan concluded that if we are to live life in harmony with the universe we must all possess a powerful faith in what the ancients used to call `fatum', what we currently refer to as destiny."

Music. The songs were brilliantly picked by the music supervisor of the movie. The soundtrack includes Northern Sky (Nick Drake), Waiting in Vain (Annie Lennox), January Rain (David Gray), Moonlight Kiss (Bap Kennedy), When You Know (Shawn Colvin), among others.

My favorite part. The ending is definitely the loveliest part. Otherwise, how else could having been reunited and thanking the heavens for a fortunate accident be less exciting?

Here's that last part of Serendipity. Notice the songs playing in the background: January Rain by David Gray, followed by Northern Sky by Nick Drake. Beautiful songs.



p.s. There's one more line I loved that Dean Kansky said to his friend Jonathan before handing the obituary. Dean said: "You know, the Greeks didn't write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: Did he have passion?"

Watching this movie over and over is like going to the moon and back. It feels surreal and magical especially when one has got passion.

Street Kings

I also watched the latest Keanu Reeves movie yesterday. Street Kings has a power cast including Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans and Jay Mohr.

This gangster movie packed with explicit language is the story of Tom Ludlow (Reeves), a police detective caught in the middle of a fellow police officer's murder and his loyalty to Captain Jack Wander (Whitaker). His aim to catch the suspects and how he connects the dots to get to the mastermind make up for the development of the story.


Hugh Laurie (who plays Capt. James Biggs) has once again displayed his bitter-tasting wit in its most effectual sense. At first you would think he is the real villain so wait till you see the evolution of his character. This is why I love watching House M.D.!

Street Kings is directed by David Ayer. Rated R for strong violence and pervasive language.

Cuatro Minutos

Aren't you feeling this yet? Ellen Degeneres has been dancing to it lately.

It will really just take you 4 minutes to love this song.



Golden girl Madonna kicks back with her new song.

And Justin, just rockin' it!

Tim Gunn's Guide to Style

I took the day off yesterday due to my yet unconfirmed positional vertigo (a.k.a. dizziness). And so I channelled couch potato the whole day.

Tim Gunn's Guide to Style was on ETC so off I went to watching it. This is another reality show that aims to answer the fashion emergencies of ordinary people in America.


Nicole Appelman, 29, is a mother of two boys, and a school teacher. Tim Gunn and his assistant Veronica Webb helped Nicole to bring her to a fashion epiphany. They did this by first making a list of all the fashion staples according to her age and lifestyle, and then submitting her to the fashion and personality development guru Laura Bennett and lastly, bringing her to famous designer Douglas Hannant.

I felt for Nicole and her struggle to boost her self-esteem and be the fashionable person she once were. In fact, Laura Bennett made Nicole list down the things she would like to do but feels guilty doing because of her responsibilities as a mom.

Concluding the episode was a fashion show of Nicole donning her new wardrobe and surprise gifts from Tim Gunn and Laura Bennett with the presence of Nicole's loved ones on the mini runway show.

Now here's my take-away from the show. I know that a woman has to carry at least these essentials or must-haves in her wardrobe and so I took down some pointers from Tim Gunn.


Clockwise from the top: a good pair of jeans to wear even on dinner dates, this is the style of dress I absolutely love: a Diane von Furstenberg basic black wrap dress, the crisp white shirt of course, a stunning red (or any other solid color) cocktail dress, and a plain cardigan to add a little texture to the shirts.

The more plain and basic it is, the better. Yes, less is more indeed.

The 5 Things I Used To Be

1. .....a Desktop Publisher & Graphic Designer.
My first employer was a marketing services company that does non-traditional advertising such as lighted sign boxes, mobile ads, public relations kits, and computer graphics presentations. These were the primary products of the company. I remember making a set of trainer and trainee manuals for our client Leader Price-Franprix, a supermarket chain based in France owned by the late Reginald Lewis. Lewis' Filipina wife Loida assumed ownership and management of TLC Beatrice Holdings, the largest African American company in the United States. Executing and designing the manuals in the training package was a major achievement in my four-year stint.

2. .....a grand finalist for two consecutive years in a company-wide singing competition.
This was truly the height of my yuppie years. After emerging as a weekly finalist one Friday night, I was a bit shocked to see our company officers grace the event. They invited me together with my friends to head to another company gathering nearby. Our company president harangued me into belting out my song entry in front of an equally big crowd.

3. .....a swimming medalist in this same company.
In 1998, a mini-olympics was held and I bested my colleagues in a swim and sink event. Two medals are in my "nostalgia box" as we speak and if there was anyone who would ask me what my favorite sport is, I would have to always answer that with "just swimming, only swimming".

4. .....a Human Resources Manager three years ago.
I would like to think that I did not have a hard time carrying out this responsibility because for one, I love interacting and being with people. My boss perhaps saw that extrovertive quality in me. Hence, the people-oriented position.

5. .....a measely 115 pounds of svelte outline and grace.
Lizza and I were regulars on the dance floor when it came to company shows. In fact, we were the Uptown Girls sashaying the ramp in a bon voyage party held last 2001. I was acclaimed as the Janet Jackson of the company, and was actually awarded best dressed as an Afro-American icon! Ho-hum, those were really the days.

The Iron Becomes Gold

So clearly I'm still in a state of awe. Tony Stark had me in his "the truth is...I am Iron Man" ending catch line.


I just could not get over Robert Downey Jr.!



As of this writing, the movie has gone from super iron to rock star gold scoring a monumental $201 million in its worldwide debut. A non-sequel flick, it has been acclaimed by critics as the best reviewed superhero movie of 2008.

Iron Man is the first release of Marvel Studios.

Iron Man, Oh Iron Man...

My sister and I trooped to GB3 yesterday and came rushing to buy the tickets. Last week, she turned to me very eager to watch this movie. All it took to make me go with her? Yes, Robert Downey, Jr.. I never knew Iron Man until yesterday.


Tony Stark, sole heir of Stark Industries, maximizes his technology prowess and assembles an armored suit after an incident that nearly killed him.

There could be no other actor who can better play the role of Iron Man than Downey. His acting is effective to the extreme as he portrayed a rugged genius who develops a superhuman ability to fly and fight his opponents.


The movie is a current blockbuster at the tills, so I won't give away the synopsis further lest I feed you with the spoilers. Let me just say I enjoyed the movie very much and the comeback of both Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow (who plays Pepper Potts) on screen is such a refreshing welcome to the moviegoers.

Directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man also stars Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane, Terence Howard as James Rhodes, Shaun Toub as Yinsen, and Faran Tahir as Raza.

This movie really gives a big bang for your buck!

That Article of Long Ago

As remembered by my friends last Friday over a sumptuous dinner at Murphy's, here's that article I wrote during the month of hearts of the year 2002.


This published work appeared in the Just For Kicks section of Manila Bulletin. A friend asked me if she could hand it to her editor-friend over at the newspaper publisher and I obliged.

Click image to enlarge and read away to enjoy!