Boracay Envy

Summer is officially over, yet I didn't even once go near any beach, or pool, for that matter. I wish I were a bikini babe. Then I would always be raring to go to Boracay. After two normal and one caesarean deliveries, that dream of strutting in a bikini has gone with the foamy waves forever. That's why I’m not too enthusiastic to go back to Bora. Sure, the white, powdery sand, and the clear emerald waters are reasons enough to frolic on its beach. But if you would be there only to cover your body with a sarong or a maxi dress, and you refuse to remove it, then there’s something totally wrong and lacking and sad in the picture.

Boracay 2008. Me wearing shorts. Tama ba 'yun?




In my time, when one wore a bikini, she was perceived as malaswa or worse, whore-ish. We were conservative and ashamed of our bodies then. Now, young people are proud of whatever shape they're in. Of course they also put in a lot of effort to make their figures bikini-ready. And when you are on a beach like Boracay, skimpy is the best way to go.

Now THIS is what I'm talkin' about!          
Now I'm turning green with envy:-(
My (3rd) niece Kat Mejino's pic of herself while she was suntanning on Bora.

(Courtesy of Kat Garcia Mejino)

But now it’s too late for me. The scars of motherhood can never be erased from my body. If I just had had the guts twenty or so years ago to defy the dictates of prude, prying eyes, then I would have been proud to say that, hey, I, too, was a bikini she-boom before. Too late, lola.

I’m going to the malls instead.

Me Want a Cambridge Satchel Too!

The new buzz of the bag world is the Cambridge Satchel from London. Design-wise, it is actually non-descript, because it’s just supposed to be a plain messenger/school bag. But with Vogue, Marie Claire and other fashion mags and blogs declaring love for its retro-look and vintage-feel, fashionistas are scrambling for one (or two or more!). It also helps that the colors are so yummy!

http://www.cambridgesatchel.co.uk

It’s the Hubby who told me about it and asked me if I wanted one. I declined (hey, I do that too sometimes, you know!), because I felt that my Lacoste bag was still doing me a good service. Anyway, when I passed the idea to my daughter, who is going to college and needs a school bag, she excitedly FB’d:

Who can resist such a message? So the mother in me ordered a red 15” Satchel from Chocolate Schubar (http://schushop.multiply.com). After one day, we were able to seal the deal. Since I knew I’d be in Cebu this weekend, I had it sent to their store in Schu Ayala the next day. No hassles. What service!

 
So here she is, carrying her prize for passing the UP Fine Arts talent exam and interview. Seeing her strapping it across her body, the little green monster girl in me drooled and wanted to snatch it and run away from her. I shouldn’t have asked her if she liked one, in the first place. It should’ve been mine, mine, MINE!

Hrmphhh! Me and my big mouth;-)

Our Manang Trina

Before Issa claimed that I am one of her BFFs, she hated me to high heavens. We always fought. She ignored me. In my desperate hope to discover what was going on in her head, I secretly took a peek in her diary (I know, I know, that was bad!) I was surprised what she wrote one day: “I hate my Mom!” I tried so hard to win her over. But for the longest time, she stayed adamant.

So how did that all change? It was because of her cousin Manang Trina.

For how could the Daughter not emulate her? Inspite of being an only child, she is not bratty--Trina is a loving daughter. She was a diligent student in school. She is a very optimistic girl. She finds happiness in everything she sees and has. At her age, she still loves watching cartoons. But most of all, she treats my kids like her own sister and brothers.

Whenever we took trips in the past, we often took Trina with us.

Las Pinas, 1999

Vacation always means  having fun with their Manang Trin.

Davao, 2003

Plantation Bay, Cebu 2005

 She was always bubbly, always cheering up her cousins if they were bored on the trip.

She was never impatient with them.

Hinigaran, 2006

Their age gap is quite big, but she never acts bossy or snotty or superior to them.

Hongkong Disneyland, 2008

 It also helps that she’s a pretty Manang too.

Boracay, 2008

So how could they not love her? She is the perfect cousin the Kiddos could ever dream of.

Christmas 2009

Now that she is a full-fledged working nurse, I must say that she has come a long way from the missing-toothed six-year old flower girl in our wedding...

to the promising, beautiful young lady that she is now.

From Trina's FB

Happy birthday, Trini! Stay sweet and loving and pretty. Know that your second Mom and Dad and crazy siblings are just here around to always love you. Mwah!

Lambert and Cook

And the American Idol is…Scoty McCreery. Yes, America has finally decided, but I think no one is excited in this part of the globe.

After Season 10’s dust has settled, I can still say that my most fave idols are still Adam Lambert and David Cook. Their performances on the Idol stage had brought me goosebumps and heart attack and all kinds of emotion, which the other contestants have not topped. They mesmerized the world with every single performance they had. They hypnotized me in watching their songs on Youtube a thousand times. Up to now, no one has ever surpassed the level of excitement they both gave to American Idol.

So to give homage to my American Idols (although I’m not in any way American), here are the most memorable Idol performances of Adam Lambert (Season 8) and David Cook (Season 7). Note that the new winner doesn't even have a memorable performance like these two. Watch and learn, future AI wannabes. Watch and learn.


14. Feeling Good - Adam Lambert. He is not only a most awesome singer, but an intelligent performer as well. Everything fits to the song when he performed--his costume, his facial expressions, his actions. I felt really good when I heard him sing this. And the high notes! 'Nuff said.

13. If I Can't Have You - Adam Lambert. He turned this disco song into a heart-wrenching ballad. And it worked. I know he's high on the gaydar, but this Glambert is sexeeehhh to girls and boys alike!

12. One - Adam Lambert. If one could sing a U2 song like this emotional and believe in him and want to donate all your stashed money to him, then I think he deserved my attention, okay, and my love.

11. Cryin' - Adam Lambert. Seriously, how could the Americans have not chosen him for the winner? No offense to Kris Allen (Kris who?).

10. I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing- David Cook. The best Aerosmith cover on AI. Mere mortals tried to sing this, but only David Cook made it look effortless.

9. A Whole Lotta Love - Adam Lambert. I'm not into heavy metal Led Zep kinda thing, but when an artist gives this kind of performance, you can't help but be wowed by the level of his talent. Ballad, rock, metal, pop, broadway-ish. Is there a thing this guy can't do?

8. Eleanor Rigby - David Cook. He made a Beatles song sound cool and modern. And his glory notes are not ear-splitting at all. John Lennon must be clapping in his grave when the Cook performed this.

7. Play that Funky Music- Adam Lambert. In that Season, everybody only waited for his performance. The others didn't matter. Last week, he sang a ballad, while this week, he would dance it out. And how come he didn't look stupid dancing like that? He actually looked sexy.

6. Billie Jean - David Cook. Cook showed that the Great Gloved one's song could be interpreted in a different way, and yet be cool. Hitting the notes spot on, at his point in the season, there was nothing he could do wrong.

5. Tracks of My Tears - Adam Lambert. This was when I realized that he didn't only sing with emotions, but he intelligently tackled his song to give out the pure, raw emotion that each performance needs. Note that he asked the writer, Smokey Robinson what motivated the latter to write the song, and that's what he used as basis of his interpretation.

4. Always Be My Baby - David Cook. I repeatedly watched this on Youtube for countless times, trying to absorb his talent. It's like the song was his, not by Mariah. He owned it 100%.

3. Black or White - Adam Lambert. This was quite a memorable performance because this was the week where his "closet" was opened for all the world to see and criticize. But he made everyone forget that he's not your traditional guy, and kicked all his detractors in the face with his confidence and awesome singing. Take that, gayphobes!

2. Hello - David Cook. This was the performance that made everybody stop and listen to David Cook. And AI became a karaoke show no more.

1. Mad World - Adam Lambert. Goosebumps, goosebumps. The dramatics, plus the intricate nuances in his interpretation made this the most beautiful performance on American Idol. Ever. And this was the only time in the AI history that Simon Cowell gave a standing ovation. So who are we to contradict?

In my heart Adam Lambert has been the best performer who ever graced American Idol (It's not that obvious, is it?). Did you see how he thanked everyone after every amazing performance of his? An artist and a true gentle..er..person.

Please excuse me as I meet Lambert in my dreams tonight. Okay, Cook, you could tag along too;-)

Confessions of a Shopaholic

According to a Dr. April Lane Benson, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder, these are the questions to answer to know if you have a shopping addiction. Answer yes to a few of these and it's a hint that you are a shopaholic. (http://www.shopaholicnomore.com)

Frequency/ Intensity of Shopping   

• Do you often go on buying binges?
• Do you find yourself spending more time and/or money buying on the Internet, in catalogues, or on the shopping channels than you want to?
• Does money burn a hole in your pocket?

  Reasons Why and When

• Do you go shopping because you want to make yourself feel better?
• Do you often buy things because you think they will make you more like your ideal image?
• Do you sometimes feel that something inside of you pushes you to shop?
• Do you shop to avoid doing something else in your life?

  Feelings Before, During and After 

• Do you go on buying binges when you're lonely, anxious, disappointed, depressed, or angry?
• Do you feel "high" when you go on a buying binge?
• Do you feel anxious, guilty, or ashamed after you go on a buying binge?

  Impulsive/Compulsive/Addictive Aspects 

• Do you buy things even though you don't need or can't afford them?
• Do you ever feel on edge, agitated, or irritable when you haven't been able to buy something?
• Have you tried to stop overshopping but been unable to?

  Financial Consequences 

• Do you find yourself making more and more use of credit [acquiring more cards, increasing your credit limit, etc.?
• Have any of your purchases ever resulted in problems with your bank or legal problems?
• Do you worry about your spending habits but still go out and shop and spend money?

  Other Consequences 

• Are your relationships with family and friends suffering because of your buying?
• Has the craving to buy something ever caused you to miss a social engagement?
• Has your job performance been suffering because of your buying?

  Denial, Avoidance and Shame 

• Do you hide your purchases and shopping trips from family or friends?
• Are you not opening your mail or answering your phone because you don't want to face the consequences of your buying?
• Do you not know, or not want to admit, how much you shop?

MNG Dress/Topshop Wedges

 
I’m Bing Alvarez Cacnio, and yes, I’m a shopaholic.

But as my friend Osang would say,

“Teh, walang basagan ng trip!” Yun lang poh!

The bigger, the better!

Movie Review:  Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

The Story: Rebecca Bloomwood has an obsession with shopping and it has been eating her finances away. When she found herself out-of-job, she became more desperate. Ironically, she landed herself a job writing for a financial magazine giving advice on money management. She almost lost her job, her best friend, and the man of her dreams because of her shopaholic condition.  

My Review:

The Daughter and I immensely enjoy this movie. I think we have seen this for two hundred times. Whenever we feel sad or bored, we put this in the DVD, and voila, all our cares disappear! Isla Fisher was endearingly clueless and blinded with her shopping obsession. Do we see ourselves in the main character? That’s for our psychiatrist to find out!

Trivia:

Reese Witherspoon turned down the role of Rebecca Bloomwood because it was too much like her "Elle Woods" role Witherspoon from Legally Blonde (2001).

Isla Fisher is only 14 years younger than Joan Cusack who plays her mother, Jane Bloomwood.

Movie Trailer:

Facebook | Twitte | Permalink:

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Altogether now: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

One of the greatest gifts life has offered me is having three sisters. We were born one year apart so we were practically barkadas while growing up. We shared everything—from our room to clothes to deodorants (What? We couldn’t even buy shampoo before, di ba?) We went to the same school since kindergarten up to high school. We were like quadruplets when we were together. Every Christmas, we were dressed up in the same style, just in different colors. In programs and talent shows, we were a package deal to many—buy 1 take 3. We shamelessly sang, danced, and acted in our village fiestas, or even in our parents’ homecoming reunions. Ladies and gentlemen... the Alvarez Sisters!



But we also have our own unique qualities. Physically, we think we don’t look alike. If you didn’t know we were sisters, you wouldn’t be able to guess it. That’s why we are always compared and contrasted. And that’s when we get fierce and wild whenever that inevitable question surfaces: Who’s the fairest of ‘em all?

Last month in Casa Alvarez:Benilda, Belinda, Bernadette, and Benilyn--Pick your choice!

In truth though, this is only pure bantering and teasing amongst us. Animosity has never tainted the sisterhood.  One's smile is also the others' happiness. One's hurt is also the others' pain. There has never been any envy or jealousy among us--never will be! For in our hearts, we know who is the prettiest, who is the smartest, who is the most kikay, who is the most attractive. But of course, we aint' tellin'. ;-)

You be the judge.

Huh? Cosplay?

Last April when I went to Manila to visit my family, I was expecting all my sisters to be complete when I reach our home in Las Pinas. However, I was a little disappointed when I heard that my sister Ben’s family was sleeping at Richmonde Hotel because my 13-year-old niece Patricia would join a cosplay conference at SM Megamall the next day. Huh? Cosplayers have conferences? What do they do there? Does Patricia know anybody there?

I sometimes don’t get kids nowadays.

So what is cosplaying? After some research, I found out that cosplay is a fusion of the words 'costume' and 'play' coined by a Japanese named Noboyuki Takahashi while attending the 1984 Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon. Cosplay is not your typical Halloween costume donning, because it is independent of any holiday or celebration. To the cosplayers, their goal is more of interpretation and role-playing. They aim to attempt to become one’s character, much like an actor attempts to characterize a role. The most popular characters they adopt are from the Japanese anime and manga, or from popular video games (For isn’t it lame to put on a Superman or Star Trek costumes nowadays?). When they are in their chosen costumes, they mimic their characters’ mannerisms and body language. Cosplayers often gather to share tips on costume-making, show off their creations, snap photos with fellow enthusiasts, and participate in contests.

Huh? I still don’t get it.

Patricia has been obsessed with cosplaying for quite some time now.

Ciel Phantomhive of the manga Kuroshitsuji (The Black Butler)

She saves her allowance money to have her costumes made.

Kairi of Kingdom Hearts

She buys wigs, contact lens, and accessories.

Miku Zatsune, the darker alter ego of Miku Hatsune (a vocaloid)

  She creates her own props like swords, guns, and what-have-you’s.

Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto

And of course, she takes megaloads of pictures to post on her FB page.

If you are an anime outsider like me, maybe you would also ask yourself why they waste their time and money on a hobby where they don't seem to get anything for it in return. Is it the excitement of creating the costumes and props? Is it the high they get when people approach them to have some snapshots taken with them? Or do they feel empowered by the character that they role-play? Well, your guess is as good as mine.

After some reflection though, I realized that we all choose our unique ways to express ourselves. Some people enjoy singing in karaokes. Some people shamelessly download their silly antics on Youtube. Some people relentlessly blog (guilty!). And some people cosplay.


I still may not get it until now, but hey, to each his/her own. Whatever makes you happy, Shangy!

Oh, My Papa!

I was always my father’s favourite…or so I claim. Not only because I look more like him (I used to deny this), but because I have shared a lot of memorable moments with him alone.

He was my first tutor in English. Okay, I admit now that most of my compositions in my elementary years were dictated by him (cheater, you would say?). It was he who taught me the basics on how to write an effective essay.  Funny, but now, the Four Wicked Sisters (that includes me!) often laugh at how our father mispronounces some words and makes grammar mistakes; when in fact, he gave us our first lessons in grammar (ingrates!)

He was the one who instilled in me the love for reading. He made us, the kids, line up during our elementary days, and read out loud to him one nursery story each. Even when I was already in high school, I used to read him books at night, while he was under the hood fixing his car. It didn’t matter what book it was. I even read to him Gary Lising’s joke book You Could Die Laughing (see? I still remember).

We were close as a father and a daughter could get. That is, until I had my first love. Of course he was jealous . One time when he saw my suitor walking up our street to our house while we were riding in his car.  He reversed the car and went the other way. I knew he never liked me to fall in love yet. So when I got heartbroken, he didn’t tell me, I told you so. Instead he gave me a warm hug and some pep talk to cheer me up. He said he just couldn’t bear to see me sad.



Growing up, I have always looked up to my father. But as I realized, he is just human. There was a moment in my life that I resented him. How could my father be imperfect after all these years that I thought of him as my hero? Slowly though, I came to reconcile the facts from the myths, for aren’t we all flawed in our own ways? However, these can’t replace the truth that he has been an understanding, supportive, and loving father to all five of us.

He may not be the perfect man or husband, but he will always be the perfect father for me.  Happy 72^nd, Papa!!!

Ghost and Demi

Speaking of hair styles (see previous post), this movie launched a million Demi-look-alikes, or should I say, wanna-bes. Never mind that it was about spirits roaming in the hospitals and streets and subways. All we wanted to see was Demi, Demi, Demi.

                                                        Movie Recall:    GHOST (1990)

The Story:

Sam and Molly are a very happy couple and deeply in love. Walking back to their new apartment after a night out at the theatre, they encounter a thief in a dark alley, and Sam is murdered. He finds himself trapped as a ghost and realises that his death was no accident. He must warn Molly about the danger that she is in. But as a ghost he cannot be seen or heard by the living, and so he tries to communicate with Molly through Oda Mae Brown, a psychic who didn't even realize that her powers were real.

My Review:

The movie that launched my trip to the salon for a 'Demi-cut' please!. We all wanted to have her haircut, and her androgynous dressing, and of course, her boyfriend ghost. I watched this with my Cuz Premz Claring (MMK, Claring?) and we had to sit on the floor of the theatre (eeewww!), in front of the first row! We didn’t mind the filth that we must have sat on, what we knew is we had to concentrate on the jar-making scene! (Cue music: Ohh, my love….)

Trivia:

Molly Ringwald (a fellow Brat Pack member) auditioned for the role of Molly, which went to Demi Moore. Demi Moore got the part of Molly Jensen, largely because she can cry out of either eye on cue.

The role of Oda Mae Brown was not written with Whoopi Goldberg in mind, but Patrick Swayze, an admirer of hers, convinced the producers that she would be right for the part.

When it came time to cast the film, writer Bruce Joel Rubin suggested Patrick Swayze for the role of Sam Wheat. Director Jerry Zucker felt that Swayze was completely wrong for the part. Zucker then decided to audition Swayze though he thought he would blow the audition. To Zucker's surprise, Swayze did a great audition and he was cast immediately in the part. Bruce Joel Rubin wanted Patrick Swayze to play Sam Wheat after he saw an interview Swayze gave. When he brought up his father, he burst into tears. Rubin thought if a macho guy like Patrick Swayze could cry over a loved one, he'd be perfect for Ghost.

Patrick Swayze got women coming up to him for years asking him to say "Ditto" from the movie.

The song Sam sings relentlessly to Oda Mae to get her to agree to help him is "Henry the 8th, I Am." The lyrics, in part, are "She wouldn't have a Willie or a Sam..." Patrick Swayze's character is named Sam, and the man who murdered him is named Willie.

Raise your hands if you wished Sam shouldn't have gone to the light...