Christmas Displays

i'm sure you have seen many of them all over the town. but these displays really take me back to my childhood. animated Christmas Displays is a really unique concept because you can customize the theme every year. they are sometimes life-sized dolls that move and portray a story in relation to Christmas.

this concept was started by Manila COD years back. it has become a legend and with that, shoppers can go to COD every Christmas season after every show. unfortunately, Manila COD closed but the greater news is, there are more establishments that relived the tradition of COD and made it a growing culture in the country.

one of which is Marikina City that runs the display for the first time portraying the trip of Mary and Joseph to Bethelehem until the birth of Jesus.

From Marikina Animated Display

another which i found in SM Mall of Asia is tagged with Christmas around the world. dolls show Christmastime in different countries:

Christmas Display at SM Mall of Asia

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ENGKWENTRO: Brotherhood VS Society

from the promising director, and recipient of Lion of the Future and Horizon's Prize in the Venice film festival, Pepe Diokno, we are able to see the film "ENGKWENTRO" a story of brotherhood in the cruel society.

SYNOPSIS

Inspired by true events, 'Engkwentro' tells the story of Richard and Raymond, two teenage brothers on opposite sides of a gang war. Richard is the leader of his gang, 'Bagong Buwan' ('New Moon') while Raymond is just being inducted into 'Batang Dilim' ('Children of the Night'), a rival gang led by charming solvent boy, Tomas. Complications arise at a deadly midnight 'engkwentro' (clash), when Tomas gives Raymond the task of killing his older brother.

All this happens while the City Death Squad lurks the streets. This real-life vigilante group is allegedly backed by the omnipresent Mayor Danilo Dularte Suarez, and is responsible for many unsolved murders of teen gangsters. Today, they are hunting down Richard. Will they take the younger brother, too?

you have two sections for this movie. each section is like you're watching a Blairwitch project because the camera runs non-stop to get every scene. so in that sense, you can say that the actors really know their part and how every scene should be delivered. Felix Roco's acting in his first major role is not bad. and Director Pepe Diokno really deserve those awards and making the best out of his cheap budget.

but on the other note, we should all be aware and also be vigilant of what's happening around us. we should all be protective of the rights of every person whether or not he or she is in the position. poverty really strikes and changes demeanor of every person. however, though we have people that should straighten things up, let us not allow them to just use their hands of steel and hide their false actions.

with Pepe Dioknowith Daniel Medrana - Raymondwith the cast and crew
ENGKWENTRO will be shown in SM Cinemas on December 11-13 2009 only. for more information, visit www.engkwentro.com

event photos by Johan Sy

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History Unknown Rediscovered

we have been told that our history is very violent especially when we see those documentaries and photos from the history books. museums and literature expose the darkness that our ancestors experience under the hands of the colonizers. they suffered a lot in pursuit of liberty and our poor ancestors only had bolos and itak to fight against them. while the colonizers had guns and canons to destroy our barracks.

but then, we can not say that we know everything. some stories that are written maybe very different from what our grandpas and grandmas say. let us also take account from firsthand sources like them. others might only just say the wins but not the losses. if we could only see and feel their experiences, we might think that much have been hidden from us. these accounts can be seen at some exhibits and museums around Manila.

Miss Janette Toral has visited these exhibits and shares what she had discovered that are indeed what we really don't know.

visiting the Zero In museums gave her an eye-opener towards the events that would greatly influence those who are able to see it.

other galleries that would educate us are the Ateneo Art Gallery, the Lopez Memorial Museum and the Museo Pambata. these exhibits are ongoing right now featuring the accounts that might enhance and gain more knowledge so we can better understand the history that had been hidden from us.

photos courtesy of Miss Janette Toral

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GMA and Sexbomb girls educate people for 2010 automated elections

GMA Network has launched yesterday the video of a campaign that will educate Filipino voters in preparation for the May 2010 national elections. the song is entitled Bilog Na Hugis Itlog which signifies the circles on the ballot that should be shaded to vote for your bets. the video features the Sexbomb girls, known for their novelty songs, Ispageti, Halukay Ube and stars of their own show which have been running for several seasons already, Daisy Siete, also in the same network.

below is the video which i got from Youtube, and lyrics shared by andiandandy:

May bilog, may bilog na hugis itlog
Mare, mare, may ikukuwento ako sa 'yo, puwede?
Oo naman mare! Puwede!

Simula na po ang automation sa darating na 2010 elections
Sa automation bibilis, bibilis ang bilangan
Kaya lalong dapat nating bantayan
Nasa balota na mga pangalan ng kandidatong pagpipilian
Alamin na po natin ang automation, paano nga ba'ng gagawin?
Ano'ng bagong instruction?

May bilog, may bilog na hugis itlog
May bilog, may bilog na hugis itlog
Ang kailangan sa bilog ay simpleng-simple lang
Itiman, i-shade loob ng bilog

Hanapin ang bilog sa tapat ng pangalan
ng kandidatong napupusuan
Ang bilog, ang bilog sa tapat ng pangalan
'Yan ang dapat nating markahan
Gets mo ba? Gets ko na!
Gets na gets na talaga!

Computer ang magbabasa ng ating mga balota
Kung mali ang pagmarka baka boto mo'y mabasura
Sayaaaang!

Balota mo'y alagaan, boto'y makapangyarihan
Huwag gusutin o dungisan upang tiyak na mabilang
Ang boto mo, boto mo, makapangyarihan
Pumili tayo ng tuwid, ng may paninindigan

Tunay na lider na magsisilbi sa bayan
Yan ang kailangan, kailangan ng bayan
Isang Presidente, Bise Presidente
Mga Senador, puwede hanggang dose
Isang Congressman at isang Party List lang
Huwag na, huwag nang dagdagan
Isang Mayor, may Vice Mayor
At kung ilang Konsehal kailangan
Isang Gobernador, at kanyang Bise
At kung ilang Bokal, puwede!

Hanapin ang bilog Sa tapat ng pangalan
ng kandidatong napupusuan
Ang bilog, ang bilog sa tapat ng pangalan
'Yan ang dapat nating markahan

May bilog, may bilog na hugis itlog
May bilog, may bilog na hugis itlog
Ang kailangan sa bilog ay simpleng-simple lang
Itiman, i-shade loob ng bilog
Ang loob ng bilog na hugis itlog
Huwag bibilugan, loob ang dapat itiman
Ang loob ng bilog na hugis itlog
Aw!

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SPED EXPO launches today

the world will open for new possibilities for special children as the SPED EXPO makes it way TODAY at the Glorietta Activity Center from 10AM to 5PM only.

check out the event with the following schedule:

10:00 AM – 11:10 AM: Opening of the Exhibit, Introduction of Keynote Speaker
11:10 AM – 11:30 NN: Keynote speaker: Dra. Liza Martinez, President, Philippine Deaf Resource Center
11:30 AM – 12:00 NN: Learning Block Session 1: The State of Sped in the Philippines (by Teresita Inciong, Assistant Secretary for Programs and Projects, Department of Education)
12:00 NN - 12:15 NN: Free time
12:15 NN – 12:45 NN: Learning Block Session 2: How do you know your child is Special? (by Dr. Mark Reysio-Cruz)
12:45 NN - 01:00 PM: Free time
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Learning Block Session 3: Getting the appropriate Placement for your Child (by Prof. Olivia Mijares-Magtoto)
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Movie Previews of Silent Odyssey, Blind Architect and Alyanna
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Learning Block Session 4: The Complementing Roles of Therapy and Special Education (Dr. Ferdiliza Garcia with Resource Persons Janel Anne S. Belarmino (OT) and Kristofferson G. Mendoza (PT))
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Intermission: Alitaptap Storytellers
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM: Learning Block Session 5: Reading techniques for teaching children with learning disabilities (by Wordlab)
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM: Free time
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Learning Block Session 6: Techniques for teaching exceptional children (by Prof. Genevieve Rivadelo)
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Intermission: Stepping Stones Kids
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM: Learning Block Session 7: How to cope with stress (by Dang Koe, President, Autism Society of the Philippines)
5:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Games and Raffle Draws
5:15 PM – 5:45 PM: Learning Block Session 8: In the eyes of an Exceptional Child (by Elena Martinez, KASAMAKA CBR)
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM: Intermission: Pasay North High School Chorale
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Presentation by Beneficiary: : Support and Empower Abused Deaf Children
6:45 PM – 7:15 PM: Sponsor Slots, Exhibitor Presentations
7:15 PM – 7:45 PM: Raffle Draws, Games
7:45 PM – 8:00 PM: Closing Note

check out my other blog post to have more information about this event.

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TWO LOVERS movie review

have you ever felt choosing between two persons: someone you love and someone who loves you? and when you decided to go for the person you love, it turns out that the person is not going for you. you made all efforts to be with that person and even lied to the other just for the sake that you don't want to hurt her feelings.

that's the plot of this story Two Lovers starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow. Joaquin Phoenix plays an aspiring photographer who just came from a heartbreak thus being set up by his parents to a family friend, Sandra (Vinessa Shaw). not really getting interested with her, he finds Michelle (Paltrow), a neighbor who happens to be also involved with another man. but Michelle struggles in the relationship because the man she's with is not yet divorced with his wife. Phoenix, on the other hand, gives his concern and professes his love to Paltrow to a crazy extent of asking her to marry him. but unexpectedly, Paltrow's wishes to be with the other man is granted thus leaving Phoenix depressed -- resulting to coming back to Shaw.

a very timely story about love and its consequences. you might be interested with the cheesy scenes from the movie and the crazy stuff that guys might do in fighting for love but ends in an unsuccessful attempt.

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I LOVE YOU... GOODBYE: 2009 offering from Star Cinema

Star Cinema brings us their entry for the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival entitled: I Love You, Goodbye.

starring Angelica Panganiban, Kim Chiu, Derek Ramsay and Gabby Concepcion in this heart breaking and tear-jerking love story. directed by no other than Laurice Guillen. opening on December 25 in theaters.

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