T.G.I.F. - Davao

Category: Restaurant

City: Davao



Yum! Sauce!!! Love it! And I tried their strawberry mojito! I like trying out cocktail drinks thats why. woot woot!

Not much to review since this is a popular dining place for people in Luzon.

Boses - 2008

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Indie

Director: Ellen Ongkenko- Marfil

Writer: Rody Vera, Froilan Medina

 Cast: Coke Bolipata, Julian Duque, Ricky Davao, Meryll Soriano, Cherry Pie Picache and more


I saw a trailer of this indie film over TV some 2 weeks ago, and it got me curious. I never wouldve imagined that I would be meeting the Director and 2 actors of the said movie right here in Davao City.

I got an invitation for a film showing over at Cinematheque, and since two offices invited me, Tuburan Institute and Happy Team(Councilor Avila of Davao), I grabbed the chance. But, I didn't realize the title was "Boses". All I saw at the invite was: "The Heart Speaks", cocktails and live violin by The Cast.

And I was pleasantly surprised to realize it was a film showing of Boses.

This film is about a child who is being abused by his Dad...

I find this movie simple yet very moving and it sure is worthy of your time. It has multi-dimensional aspects of the film from child abuse, to child welfare, how to run a shelter, isolation rooms, bullying, suicide, dreams, family, father & son, depression, music, therapy and so on and so on. There are so many points of discussion. It's educational. More films like these should be made. :)

Bride For Rent - 2014

Category: Movie

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Chick Flick / Drama

Director: Mae Czarina Cruz

Writer: Charlene Grace Bernardo, Carmi Raymundo

Producer: ABS CBN Film Productions, Star Cinema Productions

Cast: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Empoy Marquez, Martin del Rosario, Pilita Corales, Tirso Cruz III, Dennis Padilla, Matt Evans and more.

Tagline: 

Having one thing in common, both Rocco Espiritu and Rocky Espiritu created a scheme to get money, FAST.

Losing a match from poker, Rocco needs his money from his trust fund fast, or else lose the client he needs to defeat his Father's TV commercial production company, while Rocky needs to pay the rent or else her whole family will be homeless. The only way Rocco will get his money from his trust fund was to fulfill the conditions of his grandmother and that is: to get married.

Rocco then hires Rocky to play his bride... but along the way something goes amiss....


Its the usual chic flick but it had good values at the end. I liked the interview part of the couples in the film. Its not an intellectual drama, but if you want something light.. this can be a good upperthingy.

So this is where the expression: Isnt it amazing? Isnt it surprising? came from!

For awhile I wondered.. from what movie ... did it spring forth! :) 

Aling Foping's Halo Halo - Food

Category: Food / Dessert / Snack

This is one of the best Halo halo in Davao City. Located in Matina Town Square, Davao City. It's the perfect or stop over after having fun around the city.

For people who don't know Halo Halo, it's a Filipino Summer dessert which you can translate as
"mix mix". It's main ingredients are: shaved ice, milk,  kaong (sugar palm) , kidney beans, leche flan, ube, langka (jackfruit), nata de coco, pinipig, tapioca, sugar  and served on a tall glass, plastic cup, and sometimes on a buko fruit.

The Halo Halo in Aling Foping's is famed for its soft shaved ice making it easier and perfect to eat alongside with abundant rich and creamy milk. Also with lots of "sahog" into it. But, even better than that... you can customize your own halo halo mix.

Locals would surely tell you, your Davao experience won't be complete if you don't at least try out Aling Foping's Halo halo!

Aside from that you can also try out some Filipino snacks like bibingka and other kakanin. They are also very famed for their bibingka... so you might as well try it if your tummy is not yet full.

Diary ng Panget 2 - HaveYouSeenThisGirl

Category: Books



Genre: Chick Literature 



Author: HaveYouSeenThisGirl (Wattpad)




This is a continuation of the journey of Eya and Cross and their love-hate relationship.


Finally! I grabbed the DNP 2!!! After weeks of waiting and of going back and forth from the bookstore.

Huwaaaaa. I enjoyed it once again. I can't wait for the next installment. It's still the same.. kilig to the bones scenario.. however bitin. I wanted more! :)

Okay. Shoot me! Hayaan nyo na ako. In love lang eh.  And when you are in love.. all things goes cheesy weezyyy.... :P

Diary Ng Panget Book 1 - HaveYouSeenThisGirl

Category: Books

Genre: Chick Literature

Author: Have You Seen This Girl (Wattpad)

Eya studies as a scholar at Wilford Academy. She's poor and ugly, but then again for some weird fate she was drawn to two handsome and rich guys. This will indeed make you laugh. Cinderella inspired but with a very cute twist.


Grabe! I never thought I'd read this book... but I did! Only  because, I read the first few pages and I was enthused by how it was written in our own language. Its not too formal or anything, but conversational Tagalog. Haha. It's an easy read. One seating lang. You can finish this right away.

By the way, I've read reviews about people getting disappointed when they read the book. Oh puhlease, they were merely expecting this book to be in the league of what? Pride and Prejudice? Wag naman.  This one was written for pure entertainment, so don't overly "intellectualize" this kasi maloloka kayo.

This one is good if you need a breather... but only for the lighthearted. Wag yung sa mga tao ang idea nila ng breather is Leo Tolstoy :P Ahihihi. Peace out.

However it is super bitin! So, I'm just waiting to grab a copy of the Book 2.

Magnifico - 2003

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Family

Director: Maryo J. Delos Reyes

Writer: Michiko Yamamoto

Producer: Violett Films Production

Cast: Jiro Manio, Lorna Tolentino, Albert Martinez,  Gloria Romero, Celia Rodriguez, Marc Gil , Tonton Guiterriez, Amy Austria, Cherry Pie Picache, Danilo Barrios, Susan Africa, and more

Tagline:


Magnifico may not be good in school and belongs to an unfortunate and poor family, he has a big heart and has this positivity that permeates him everywhere he goes. He has not only helped his family, but the community he lives in.


T_T

It's a heartwarming story about a kid who has touched the lives of many people in their neighborhood. It's a simple story, very close to Filipino culture and Filipino values with Filipino issues as well.

Thanks to my friend Juna who recommended that I watch the film.

I think we'd fare really well if we make good films like these. Inspiring. Simple. Touches us and stirs our heart.This is good drama, compared to other dramas that is often fed to the masses.

Liar Game Season 1 - 2007

Category: TV Series

Genre: Psychological

Episodes: 11

Casts: Toda Erika, Matsuda Shota, Kitamura Soichiro, Wada Soko, Iwasa Mayuko and more

This is an adaptation from a manga.

It's always interesting to watch the psychological tv series from Japan. This one involves around one philosophy or belief: "Not everybody can be happy." and that "Humans will lie, cheat and steal to survive."
 

Nao Kanzaki (Toda Erika) is known for being naive and innocent. She is a high school student.
One day, she receives a black postcard indicating that she has been selected to participate in the "Liar Game Tournament". Along with that postcard is a box with 100 million yen (about $1,000,000). The goal of the first round of the game is to trick the other player out of their hundred million yen. At the end, the winner would get to keep the hundred million earned, and the loser owes the LGT (Liar Game Tournament office) 100 million yen, "will be collected by any means and at all costs".


One might think that the series is quiet unnecessary, placed on an impossible setting (but I'd rather have this over SAW who tests the "human fiber").

I like how it ended and how the events turned around.

However there's a slight implication or definition of MLM that is quiet misconstrued. They should have used the term "binary" or "pyramiding" company. Oh well.

Howl's Moving Castle - 2004

Original Title:  Hauru no ugoku shiro

Category: Anime

Genre: Fantasy

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Writer: Hayao Miyazaki, Diana Wynne Jones

Producer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, DENTSU Music and Entertainment, Mitsubishi

Cast: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashun and more.

Tagline:

When Sophie, a young 18-year old girl, was cursed with an old body by a witch, her only chance to break the spell lies with a young insecure wizard, named Howl, who lives in a "moving castle".


From the makers of Spirited Away comes this amazing tale of wizardry and love with a dash of a funny bone.  It has a unique storyline, that when it ended I found myself going... "ahhhh.." I enjoyed it albeit it's often weirdness and  unpredictability.. it keeps you guessing till the end. It's a film, where you would still mull over what happened, and it leaves you with something..... maybe something magical. Highly creative and most imaginative film yet. His storytelling is outside the common way of how westerners would tell stories.

Miyazaki, you are the best!!

Quotes:

Sophie: They say that the best blaze burns brightest, when circumstances are at their worst.

Photo Source: Cartoon Online

Rurouni Kenshin - 2012

Original Title:  Meiji kenkaku roman tan

Category: Movie

Genre: Action

Director: Keishi Ohtomo

Writer: Nobuhiro Watsuki, Kiyomi Fujii

Producer: C&I Entertainment, IMJ Entertainment, RoC Works Co. and more

Cast: Sato Takeru,Emi Takei, Yu Aoi, Teruyuki Kagawa and more

Tagline:

When the Bakumatsu war ended in 1868, former assassin Kenshin Himura disappears and promises to defend those who need without killing and became a wanderer throughout Japan with a sword that has an inverted blade during the transition of the samurai age to the New Age. Kenshin comes across the idealistic Kaoru Kamiya and began helping her. Meanwhile a killer "Battosai" is murdering police officers and various innocent individuals leaving messages attached to their bodies.


Oro. Ororo. What a funny term for "aguy" or "ouch" it is. (Well, I think it's his own expression of "ouch") Haha.

What?? Sato Takeru is hereeee? After watching Bloody Monday, i find him... being the lead role in this movie!!!

Wala na. Crush ko na sya. Totoo! HAHA. Let's see, i bet he'll do well, as I fit him, Skylar and Miura (Bloody Monday).

It's not that gory, well... uhmmm... some parts are. But, it's actually a good one as it brings life to Samurai X the infamous anime. This was one of the animes I used to watch back in the old days. Boohoo. And was delighted to see it now "live" and what better than a promising actor as the lead? Haha. Okay. Enough about Sato Takeru.

It has good cinematography and an excellent choreography on the fight scenes. To die hard fans of Samurai X (the manga) there might be a few changes as his character or personality was slightly turned to emo-ish and reflective. A tweaking done by the makers of this film, which is actually good.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Bloody Monday - 2008

Category: TV Series

Genre: Action / Technological / Crime / Suspense

Broadcast network: TBS

Original writing (manga): Bloody Monday by Ryumon Ryo
  
Screenwriter: Makita Mitsuharu, Watanabe Yusuke

Producer: Makita Mitsuharu 

Director: Hirano Shunichi, Hatano Takafumi, Miyashita Kensaku


Theme song: Over the rain ~Hikari no Hashi~ 

Cast: Miura Haruma, Sato Takeru, Kawashima Umika, Fujii Mina, Tokunaga Eri, Hisano Masahiro, Tanaka Tetsushi, Matsushige Yutaka, Narimiya Hiroki, Kichise Michiko, TET, and more


A biological terrorist attack kills off the population of a Russian town; Japan's Special Third-i unit believes that the terrorist organization responsible plans to have the same virus known as Bloody X in Tokyo. THIRD-i then recruits, Takagi Fujimaru a genius, notorious hacker to find out what happened in Russia.


It's absolutely a good tv series. One that would keep you wanting to see more. Great storyline. Also this reminds me of Jack Bauer, only this time, it's not focused on Jack but on Fujimaro, a civilian, helping Third-I. It took me awhile to get the relation of "THIRD-i" and Third Eye. It's pretty much designed like CTU of 24.

I like how each episode made you want to check the next episode. And missing one might make you miss the ingenuity of the storyline. It has good character build-up. It gets nifty on Episode 3. It has a very good psychological warfare script.

This is as much about crime and suspense, but also about friendship and family. It's about courage, honor, pride, life.... love....

I like the lyrics of the song they have: (translated into english)

Though the cold rain drenches my forehead, flower petals fall like raindrops overlapping with you...
if that can be called "light"
the radiance doesn't fade, right?

no matter how it is contaminated.. i think it disappears.
not only this but also the sad memory does not vanish
holding back the tears
light that is more beautiful than anything esle, is gathering;
walking towards the clouds;
the rainbow forms after the rain...
trust only your dream and walk towards it...

Quotes from Bloody Monday:

"If you are given a talent... you are entrusted with a mission."

Photo Source: Anaherarika

The Mistress - 2012

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Romance

Director: Olivia M. Lamasan

Writer: Vanessa R. Valdez, Olivia Lamasan

Producer: Elma Medua, Malou Santos, Charo Santos

Tagline:

Cast: John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo, Ronaldo Valdez, Hilda Koronel, Anita Linda, Carmi Martin and more.


Seamstress Sari (Bea Alonzo), struggles to take care of her family and is torn between the affections of her two lovers. One is a young bachelor who brings passion into her life, while the other is a married man who has kept her as his mistress for years.


Uhmmmm..... its a so so melodramatic film. It has the potential to be deep but it wasn't taken to that level. It's still the same old heartbreak, love, betrayal our local mainstream film makers are up to. :) But, well... that's it.

Photo Source: CoffeeChic

Born to Love You - 2012

Category:  Movie

Genre: Romance / Drama

Director: Jerome Chavez Pobocan

Writer: Rondel Lindayag, Coco Martin

Producer: Star Cinema Productions, Cinemedia Films

Cast: Coco Martin, Angeline Quinto, Albert Martinez, Tonton Guiterrez, Eula Valdez, Al Tantay, Malou de guzman, Kiray Celis and more


 This started off as a story with a poor lass named Joey Liwanag (Angeline Quinto) who works as a part time Korean tourist guide and gets into amateur singing competitions with her sisters to help raise finance for the family.  On a completely different note, Rex Manrique (Coco Martin) is an arrogant, hot tempered frustrated photographer who wants to prove to his family that he can stand on his own and can move and succeed in life independently.


Quite corny at the beginning. But, it never fails to make you laugh despite the corni-ness-ish! Interesting twist at the end....also some blatant advertising can be seen. o_O i ended up thinking this was made for that company. :P

Razon's Restaurant

Category: Food

Desserts


On one of my recent roadtrips we dropped by at Razon's.

It's a popular local Northern Luzon restaurant which is famed for it's halo-halo. And true enough the place was jampacked and you have to muddle your way or worse wait for a few minutes to be seated.

 It's not as good as Aling Foping's though. But, I bet it's the best in Luzon... soooo. :)

They have good meals rin naman. :) 

Well, it's good for transits.

I'm also seeing a lot of Razon's here in Davao already, but haven't really tried eating here.

Babe, I Love You - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre: Chick Flick

Director: Mae Czarina Cruz

Writer: Mia Bacarro, Margarette Labrador,
 
Producer: ABS CBN Film Productions, Viva Films, Star Cinema Productions

Cast:Sam Milby, Anne Curtis, Laurice Gullen, Tetchie Agbayani, Kitkat, Guji Lorenzana and more.

Tagline:



Nicolas "Nico" Veneracion Borromeo is a highly esteemed History of Architecture professor, who is on his way to becoming the next Vice Dean of the Department. He knows that this was his only way of making his forgive him and be proud of him. Then, he meets Sandra "Sasa" Sanchez, and then his whole world turns upside down..... but one thing is... Sasa who works as a promo girl is obviously unacceptable in his life.. specially his mom.


Well, it's a ball of "kilig moments". And a couple of drama between son and a strict mom. Also a typical story of a man on the upper class and a woman, on the other side of the road. Anne sure is good in giving us a few laughs here and there... making it a cute film to look forward to.

Even if it's typical.. it's a good watch.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

City Hunter - 2011

Category: TV Series

Genre: Action / Suspense / Romance

Director: Jin Hyuk

Writer: Soo Jin Choi, Eun Kyung Hwang

Cast: Lee Min Ho, Park Min Young, Kim Sang-Jung


Lee Yeung Su applies and got accepted at the Blue House for the National Communication Department with a hidden agenda. He was selected because of his prestigious background having been graduated from MIT. He meets Kim Nana who works as a bodyguard at the Blue House, and they begin to fall for each other. 


I enjoyed this whole series. It's actually my first time to watch a Korean drama with all the action and mystery. Although, City Hunter Lee Yeung Su has the same qualities with Batman. While the Prosecutor Kim Jeong Su, got similarities with TwoFace albeit keeping his morale intact.

Anyway, it was unique all on it's own, because it also mixed romance, and family life in between and the issues between politics and corruption. Of course it never fails to place the Korean flair of comedic scenes and equally heartbreaking ones.

Sometimes, it tends to be disturbing, as trust and loyalty issues are being resolved.

The last two episodes turned out to be quite exciting, and both unpredictable and predictable, but still can make you wonder how it would turn out in the end. The ending was quite sad but somehow something  relieving as the cycle of revenge finally comes to an end.

Photo Source: http://thepensieveonline.blogspot.com/

In The Name of Love - 2011

Category: Movie

Genre: Asian / Drama

Producer: Star Cinema, Charo Santos, Malou Santos

Director:  Olivia Lamasan

Cast: Aga Muhlach, Angel Locsin, Jake Cuenca, Carmi Martin, Ryan Eigennman and more.

Emman Toledo (Muhlach) is ready to go back to the Philippines after being an overseas worker in Japan. Emman, makes a bad move when he was about to go home as he decides to be a mule to the Yakuza seven years ago and was caught by the authorities.

But, he later goes back to the Philippines, struggling financially but was able to open a dance studio. Emman and Mercedes meets as he was to be the dance instructor for the upcoming Governor's Ball as they both reveal their dark and passionate past together.

Gah. Too much drama. I thought it would be a fun movie... similar to chick flicks. But, it became heavy one fourth of the movie and was unbearable and quite predictable at times.  Good thing I enjoyed my company when I watched this. I had flu when i went out of the cinema though.

Karate Kid - 2010

Category: Movie

Genre: Action / Drama

Director: Harald Zwart

Writer: Christopher Murphey, Robert Mark Kamen

Producer: Columbia Pictures, China Film Group, Jerry Weintraub Productions

Tagline: A Challenge He Never Imagined. A Teacher He Never Expected.

Cast: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Wenwen Han, Rongguang Yu, Zhensu Wu and more.

This is a remake of 1984 "Karate Kid". This is about 12 -yr old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) who used to live in Detroit, but then his mother's work made him move to China. He then meets a maintenance man, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) who teaches him the real value of "Kung-Fu".

They changed some of the scenes in this one. The original setting if I can remember was in America but this time they made it in China where Kung Fu is known by everyone. (yes Karate and Kung Fu is different but they wanted to not lose the essence that it's a remake.)

The chemistry that Smith and Chan has actually made the film great. The message was clearer this time.

Movie Quotes I Like:

Dre Parker: So what are we learning today?
Mr. Han: Chi. Internal energy. The essence of life. It moves inside of us. It flows through our bodies. Give us power from within.
Dre Parker: I get it. Like the Force in Star Wars. You're Yoda and I'm like... I'm like a Jedi.

Mr. Han: Being still and doing nothing are two very different things.

Dre Parker: I thought you were just a maintenance man.
Mr. Han: You think only with your eyes, so you are easy to fool.

Dre Parker: How'd you do that out there? You, like, didn't even punch them. They beat each other up.
Mr. Han: When fighting angry, blind men, best to just stay out of the way.

My Love - 2007

Category: Movie

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Director: Lee Han

Writer: Shin Dong-ik

Producer: Kim Sang-o

Tagline:

Cast: Kam Woo-seong, Choi Kang-hee, Uhm Tae-woong, Jeong Il-woo, Lee Yeon-hee, Ryu Seung-yong, Lim Jeong-eun


A review and summary of the movie My Love.

This is a Korean film.

Different "first love" stories will be witnessed on this movie, by three couples and one single man as they all experience the miracle of love during the Christmas season and Eclipse.

It's a little bit like Love Actually only one that involves "first love", and this time you can only concentrate on 3-4 stories. There are flashback scenes which can sometimes confuse you at the beginning.

I enjoyed the whole film and it has a twist on it's own. Sometimes it makes you sad, the next time it can make you smile or laugh. Heartwarming and very touching with funny moments too. Korean movies does that to you, only this time it's lesser melodrama. ;)

A Moment To Remember - 2004

Nae meorisokui jiwoogae - Korean Title

Category: Movie

Genre: Drama / Romance

Director: John H. Lee

Writer: Yeong-Ha Kim / John H. Lee

Producer: CJ Entertainment, Sidus Pictures

Cast: Woo-sung Jung, Ye-jin Son, Jong-hak Baek, Sun-jin Lee, Sang-gyu Park, Hyi-Ryeong Kim, Bu-Seon Kim.

This movie was based on a Korean TV series Pure Soul.

Su-Jin is exiting an affair with a married man, and Chol-Su is working for Su-Jin's father as a foreman, and when they finally meet for the second time, Su-jin felt it was something that's meant to be.

Their love is affectionate although the guy tends to be a cynic sometimes while Su-jin is ever the sweet, fun-loving girl and then they both got married and their love is almost too good to be true... Su-Jin suddenly contracts Alzheimer's disease which runs in her family, and the tragic struggle they face both is threatening and at the same strengthening their love....

It's about falling in love, letting go of past mistakes, starting a new life, losing one's memory, dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer's.

Made me cry big time! Its amazing how Koreans are experts at pulling your heartstrings. The cinematography was great and I love how they focused on the moments together with the couple and it makes everything so special and endearing.

Both actors did a very good job. You get attached to the two and their sweet moments together. *sigh**swoons*

Lines I Love:

Cheol-Su: When a memory's gone.... so is the soul.

Su-jin's mom: A haircut doesn't help you forget the past. Time will heal everything.

Su jin's dad: To forget easily is a gift. Let go of your past mistakes and make a fresh start.

Cheol-Su: If we live together, will we die together too? People come and go. Thats life.


Su-jin's Dad: Carpentry is a holy vocation. You know what's the difference of a real carpenter and the sham ones? The sham ones always complains at the shop. The real ones, sees the texture. What's the texture? Same thing with people. You were all wrong. I saw your texture.

Su-jin: Forgiving isnt that hard. It's like giving the person a plain old room. A true carpenter is the one that can build his home with a heart. But in this house that you built, you gave all the rooms away to your mother and your hate. Forgiving is giving your hate just a little room in your heart.

Su-jin: What good is love if i'll forget everything?
Cheol-Su: I'll remember everything for you! If you forget everything, ill pop out from nowhere and hit on you everyday. It's like permanent dating.