Araw ng Kalayaan
The invitation read:
"Hinabing Gunita" - A grand asalto presenting a brief history of the Philippines through a rich tapestry of music, dance and tradition.
Venue: Main theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines
Date: Sunday, June 11, 2006
Time: 8 p.m
Attire: Filipiniana, Formal

I haven't worn a Filipiniana outfit since my father retired from the diplomatic service over 5 years ago. So last night, I ransacked my wardrobe for any formal wear. I just decided to go with my simmering little black dress which amazingly still fits me. Woot! I tied my hair in a little bun, how dalagang Filipina, no? I accentuated the dress with the only native looking choker I could find, wore my black pearl earrings and my black heels.
On a gloomy rainy night complete with thundering bolts of lightning illuminating the sky, my sister and I went off to the CCP.

We were regaled for 1 1/2 hours. A musical journey that utilizes ageless Filipino classics and Filipino pop songs to reflect the realities of our history and the realization of our nationhood. The songs were given modern day interpretation but with strong linkage to our past.
Songs like "Sino ang Baliw?", "Iduyan Mo", "Habang may Buhay". Timeless classics lyrically composed by Levi Celerio, Rey Valera, George Canseco, Ryan Cayabyab. They were powerfully performed by talented singers like Dulce, Bituin Escalante, Grace Nono, Jed Meddala and The Company among others. The Ramon Obusan dance troupe and Ballet Philippines entranced with their smooth moves. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra provided the melodious score for the performances.
A rich colorful presentation of bright hues adorned the stage, the performers dressed in our native costumes, their loud melodic voices booming through the venue.

It really makes me nostalgic of my former life, my "diplobrat" phase when attending diplomatic functions dressed to the nines in stiff native attires was the norm. Soirees where we showed the invited foreign guests how proud we were to be Filipinos. We saluted and feted the valiant efforts of our ancestors, the defenders of our culture, our race and our freedom.
Ah, the good old days. I meant my good old days.
I'm not sure I could have survived all those hardships during the Spanish invasion era nor the atrocities during the harsh Japanese imperalist occupation of our beloved land.

Anyways.

The last part of the show ended with Lolo Pepe (Jose Rizal if he had lived to a ripe old age, portrayed brilliantly by Nonie Buencamino) addressing the audience. He told us not to lose hope for our country, to celebrate the greatness of its people and most of all to cherish and safeguard our freedom. For the finale, all the performers were on stage, waving flags (which they also distributed among the audience) and we all sang the National Anthem at the top of our lungs.

So let's all have a good, peaceful 108th Independence Day, today.
Let us stop bickering among ourselves, be proud of our race, hold our heads up high and not give up hope for this nation. We must praise God to high heavens for our often forsaken and much maligned freedom.
Happy National Day!!!

Cute!
This picture of baby Shiloh Nouvel was bought for a whooping US$4.1 million by Getty Images.
They in turn sold the rights to both Hello (Europe based) and People (USA) magazines.
The money will be donated to a charity institution.
But still isn't it exploitation?

Oh well.

All together now .... Awwwww how cute!

Vive le cinema Francais!
Event => the 11th French Film Festival.

Venue => The Edsa Shangri-la Plaza Cineplex.

Duration => June 8, 2006 - June 18, 2006.

Schedule => click here.

An interesting article
My BFF* emailed me this article about Dubai.
Pepe Escobar is a Brazilian writer/contributor for the Asian Times, a publication based in HongKong.
It is a long diatribe but a fascinating read nonetheless.
He nailed it with his apt description about life in the UAE.
A place I called home for 6 years. (1995 - 2001).
I admit I do miss my lifestyle in Dubai.
But at the same time, I am saddened to read about the way it is developing into a rather faux society.
I figure you know what I mean by that.
I am more of a traditionalist.
I firmly believe a place can progress and strive in these modern times without losing its rich cultural and historical identity.

Dubai: The Capital of Globalism
Dubai will soon boast the world's tallest building, the largest hotel, the largest this and the largest that. It's well on its way to becoming the first modern Arab metropolis, but in this triumph for globalization, the whole glittering facade is supported by an underclass of "invisible" foreign workers with no rights. - Pepe Escobar.

*BFF - Best Friend Forever

Sign #234 I'm an Internet junkie
Last night, I was already nicely tucked in bed reading a book.
I came across a word I didn't understand.
Instead of reaching for the dictionary which I conveniently put on my bed side table, I get out of bed, switch on my computer, patiently waited while it booted up then I logged on to the internet.
I go to this site, key in the word and read its meaning. I grasped the context of the word vis a vis the sentence in the book. I then log off the Internet, go through the motions of shutting down my computer, go back to bed, read a bit and fell asleep with the lights on.
I am too lazy sleepy to switch the lights off but I patiently go through the routine of booting up my computer just to check a word.

Go figure!

By the way, the word was pedantic
Main Entry: pe-dan-tic
Pronunciation: pi-'dan-tik
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or being a pedant
2 : narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned
3 : UNIMAGINATIVE, PEDESTRIAN

Healthy snack
I have to admit I'm not one of those health freaks who counts every single calories they eat in their food intake. I don't restrict myself when it comes to food, I can eat anything well except ampalaya and asparagus. Ewww.

But I *do* watch the quantity of food I gobble down and eat almost everything in moderation.
So after a delicious home cooked Sunday lunch at my parents' place, I was rummaging through my mother's pantry for some items I was in short supply of in my own pantry. Gosh, if you saw my mother's pantry you would think she owes a grocery store with all those items stuffing her kitchen cabinet to the brim.
So anyways, I came across this box of Quaker Instant Oatmeal. Each box contains individually wrapped instant oatmeal packs. You simply add water (hot or cold according to your taste) and voila you have a nutritious healthy snack to munch on. It can be served for breakfast. Or for those in-between-meals-time which we tend to devote to junk food like potato chips and peanuts. Hmm now don't get me wrong, this doesn't necessarily mean I would completely stop bingeing on junk food. No siree that would be a violation of my human rights.
So back to the Quaker instant oatmeal packs, it comes in two flavors - Vanilla and Chocolate. I have to warn you though it has a rather strong distinct vanilla taste. It might be too sweet for your taste. Personally, I don't mind it since I have a rather sweet tooth. But I'm not sure about the chocolate flavored oatmeal. I mean, sure I love chocolates et al but I still prefer to eat champorado with tuyo which would definitely taste much better than oatmeal, right?

Hmmm now I'm hungry again!

Pamper Me Friday
I felt it was time I got out of my little work station for some pampering aka my alone time.
I made my way to SM Megamall.
First stop, the beauty salon for hot oil treatment and a trim.
Next, I dropped by the chapel to murmur a little prayer.
Lunch was a piping hot Shark's Fin ramen and California Maki with iced tea. After paying some bills, I figured I still had time to sneak in a movie.
So I entered cinema 5 to watch a film that makes a big deal about a guy in his 30s who still lives with his parents. Heh obviously it is a Western culture thingie, try that scenario here and people would just shrug and go "So what?" While I was watching, my sister texts me to say it is raining heavily and was wondering where the heck I was. I told her I was watching Matthew McConaughey and I would be home shortly. Shortly was an understatement since I had to wait for hours for a taxi and worse I didn't have an umbrella with me.
But believe it or not, I still had a smile on my face.

Why?

Well simply because my hair smelled of apple mint conditioner and my naturally wavy (buhaghag) hair is straight, not a single curl on my thick head, for now. Yay! =)

All about my mother
Today on her birthday, we had a pretty low key affair.
Compared to last year's luxurious treat, this year we had Malaysian/Singaporean fare at Penang Hill then watched a heart.pumping.darn.it.is.too.loud.my.adrenaline.is.rushing movie (she likes Hugh Jackman, who doesn't?).
Dinner was at Dencio's, Metrowalk and we ended the day with a sugar high yummy Choco Mocha cake from Red Ribbon.

We all had a nice intimately cosy family bonding time.
She's happy. We are happy that she's happy.
Now I'm tired and already quite sleepy.
And it is only 10:30 pm.
Bonne Nuit. =)