why the world loves Superman

if i'll be asked to name my childhood hero, i'ts more likely that i'll give the name of my dad or Shaider, the pulis pangkalawakan, than mention Superman (of course, that would be omitting Allan Caidic from the options or Vince Hizon or anyone who has something to do with basketball as that would require a different story and i swear you won't be able to make me stop).

the latest Superman flick is actually my first ever encounter with the Man of Steel. so I only had a little idea of the vastness of his power and didn't know exactly what to expect. all i know is that he is "super" and the mere adjective told me his power is something one cannot underestimate. of course, i was able to see some of the boob tube portrayals in Smallville but that was a much younger Clark, still cocooning in his teenage dillemmas, discovering himself, not yet fully bloomed. and as much as i would want to concentrate on the story, Tom Welling's eyes were way too distracting! and I can't help but think of how he resembles a high school classmate one could mistake for a Greek god (who happened to be my ballroom partner in 3rd year PE. well, you could just imagine the envious stares..)

blame it to my Superman-crazy movie buddy who made me watch the film twice in a week. the second one was in Imax (to view the 3D effects) . the first one was 6 days earlier (just because we simply could not wait for the Imax version). oh and i would have to mention that he watched it 3 times that week (as far as I know) with home viewing of the earlier version VCDs in between.

office is no different. the men turned themselves into crazy little boys after watching it. you could really pinpoint who just watched the film as they would not stop talking about it. one even claimed he got people saying he looks like Superman despite the whole team slapping onto his face that Brandon Routh is almost twice the ruler taller and it's actually Nino Muhlach he looks like...

with the film as my Superman debut, I went to the Mall of Asia with no expectation whatsoever. as i entered, all i was wondering was how they would make the plot so exciting given the fact that we know so well that however the movie goes, Superman will prevail at the end. (What do you expect, Superman will die or something? c'mon, the hospital scene is way too much.. ok, i know, i'll stop there as i have no intention of giving a review here). but after watching the movie, not concentrating on all the superflaws you do not expect to see in a superfilm as this, i'd say i could not really blame the boys. Superman is a hero that really captures hearts especially with the security of his being "always around". well, they say that another reason why people fall for Superman is that he is said to be DC Comics' version of Jesus Christ. He is not of this world but he was sent to save.

truly, Superman, in every inch, is not difficult to fall in love with, even for a first-timer like me.. either in full glory with his red cape...

.. or simply being Clark (I was really hoping until the end that Lois Lane, by any chance, could perhaps see beyond Clark Kent as a mere officemate/old friend... you know, just like how it was for Herbert Bautista and Lea Salonga in Captain Barbel.)

well, just being Brandon Routh will not hurt at all...

not when he stares this way...

waaaahh!! hehe..

DYK( did you know )...

.. without any idea that 3 years after he will be landing the role, Brandon reportedly won a Hollywood Halloween costume contest in 2003 by dressing as Clark Kent with his shirt open to reveal the Superman �S� underneath? here's the pic..

little my world

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:


Highlight #1:

i was so excited to see 2 VCDs at home from videocity (rent courtesy of dearest hausm8 jp). one was Casanova and the other was Little Manhattan.. of the two, i enjoyed Little Manhattan more.. well, it was really not a good copy of Casanova so I was not able to enjoy Heath Ledger that much.



But seriously , i fell in love with Little Manhattan. it's a story of how and what love is in the eyes of a ten-year old..This Gabe kid (Josh Hutcherson) discovered love in a familiar face, Rosemary (Charlie Ray), a girl he has known since kinder. The movie is something everyone can so relate to.. It's like reading the book ABNKKBSNPLK by Bob Ong. The scenes brought me down memory lane exclamated by a scream "Hey, I did that when i was a kid!" Well, of course, except for the fact that it was in New York.. I especially like the part where he first heard his heart beating for the girl. The background was all "tsug-tsug-tsug" (just like the heartbeat, ok?). He was like "Where is that sound coming from (wondering about that unfamiliar, strange feeling, touching his chest, looking at it then looking up at Rosemary) and who is this amazing creature in front of me?" haha.. he was mesmerized and just found love as Rosemary stood in front of him.. well, of course, people our age know that that will just be the start of a crazy world of love for Gabe ( which he actually concluded at the end) and he will still meet a lot of girls. maybe, even wonder later if what he felt for Rosemary was in fact love or just merely infatuation. just like how we all deny today all the little crushes we had when we were younger. buth heck! can we just forget all the anti-idealism thoughts growing up has taught us about love and be like little kids just for once! and besides the movie is so honest ... and so cute.. and so is Gabe.. haha.. he just caught my heart just how that little kid in Jerry Maguire, the child of Renee Zellweger's character did.. see, he is so adorable..



Highlight #2:

Kraymer already moved out of the house. If he'd ask me, it's really the best thing to do.. Not that I do not want him there ha.. Kraymer is an amazing guy and so nice to talk with. we are both so mushy and so into heart-to-heart talks, late night conversations. But going home (i mean his Bulacan home coz our haus has always been a home to us) will really make him focus and plan life. God bless you,bro! anyway, one moving out, one coming in. Katre, another familiar soul from Grade 1 will be joining the gang and i'm so excited ever! i'm sure the house will be filled with so much laughter especially with how belle and i do balahura about her and her bf, Elson ( belle and i call him Elson John, tribute to the singer.. hahaha..) of course, Katre does not have any idea of these.. not yet.. haha.. I could just imagine Katre saying "sabog kayo sa akin! "

Highlight #3:

i have a new schedule which i am so excited about. i know i asked so many people to pray for this sched. and there you go, another answered prayer. thank you, thank you, thank you ...It will start July 1. so excited...

Highlight #4:

Who would have thought that it has been 3 months now since that special night in Tagaytay?! 3 months na ba? i thought we were only goaling for 3 weeks?! haha... funny part is, we were talking over the phone a day after the 3rd month.. i was like " Baby, 3 months na pala no?" and he went "oo nga no! Baby, happy 3rd and 1st!!" ... i swear i really had to stop for a few seconds and was like " well, what exactly does he mean by that?" so are we like 3rd or 1st?! i just assumed he was talking about the 3 months and 1 day but i am not really so sure and he laughed so hard about himself as well when he realized what he just said... o well, his intentions seems good naman.. so sige na nga, kilig na rin.. hehe..

hey baby, you made the 3 months seem so short and special... thanks for being so amazing! =)

Gusto Ko, Pinay

Ang mga sinabi mo ay pawang katotohanan.. Sana'y marami pang Pinoy na tulad mo.. Saludo kami sa'yo, Sky_rules! Mabuhay ka!

Pirated (hehe) from peyups.com
Contributed by Sky_rules (Edited by alteredbeast)  
Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 @ 05:06:13 PM

Biased na kung biased, pero Pinay lang ang gusto kong maging partner habang buhay. Sabi ng officemates ko, baliw daw ako dahil ang dami namang magagandang Kana na naglipana sa paligid ko. Sabi ko, hindi kabaliwan yun. Maraming rason bakit Pinay lang ang gusto ko. Bakit naman hindi? Ang Pinay, walang katulad.. naiiba sa lahat.. bukod-tangi. Yan ang Pinay.

Dream come true para sa maraming Pilipino ang magkaroon ng banyagang gf, lalo na pag naiisip si Pamela Anderson o di kaya si Carmen Elektra . Marahil, naging malaki talaga ang impluwensiya ng media sa konsepto ng marami tungkol sa kagandahan. Ikaw ba naman ang manood palagi ng porno sa DVD at mangulekta ng Playboy , tignan ko kung hindi mo pagpapantasyahan ang mga Kana . Ako, hindi naman mahilig sa “well endowed” na babae. Mas sexy pa rin para sa akin ang Pinay kahit pa hindi malaki ang hinaharap niya. Marahil, magaling lang din talagang magdala ng kaniyang sarili ang Pinay kaya’t malakas ang dating kahit sabihin pang “kinapos sa biyaya ng Langit”. Kahit sa kulay ng balat, lamang pa rin ang Pinay kung ako ang tatanungin. Ayaw ko nga ng kulay singkamas na tinubuan ng tagiptip na balat. Kakaiba pa rin ang kulay ng Pilipina. Sabi nga ng mga dayuhan, exotic ang dating. Para sakin, kayumanggi rules kaya, Pinay rules.
Sabagay, natural lang siguro na isipin ng iba na I’m nuts . Nagkalat nga naman ang mga sexy na Kana dito sa paligid ko. Pero kahit pa mismong si Miss America ang magkagusto sa akin, mas pipiliin ko pa din maging gf ang isang Pilipina. Ayaw kong pumatol sa American o kahit pa Puerto Rican ,Brazilian , o Italian . Sa aking opinyon, mas maganda ang Pinay higit sa kahit anong lahi. Maganda siya hindi lang sa panlabas na anyo, higit lalo sa kaniyang pagkatao.

Kahit kanino ka magtanong, isa lang ang sasabihin sa iyo tungkol sa Pinay. Wala nang sisipag pa sa kaniya. Kahit lampas na sa oras ng trabaho, hindi titigil ang Pinay hanggang hindi natatapos ang dapat gawin. Hindi ka iiwan sa ere at sisiguraduhing maayos ang lahat bago umalis ng opisina. Kaya masarap katrabaho ang Pinay eh. Napaka-reliable.

Kung talino naman ang pag-uusapan, lalong hindi pahuhuli ang Pilipina. Sisiw sa kanya ang lahat ng gawain. Ang bilis pumik-ap ng mga instructions. Confident. Sa pakikipag-usap na gamit ang English, hinding-hindi rin siya papatalo. Educated kasi at likas ang pagiging matalino. Willing matuto at madaling turuan. Kaya naman kahit anong lahi ang tanungin mo, bilib sila sa Pinay.

Halimbawa na lang ang sarili kong ina. Ganun na lang ang paghanga ko sa nanay ko, na nagtrabaho bilang nurse sa Middle East, dahil kilalang-kilala siya bilang kauna-unahang Pinay na naging nursing administrator ng isang government hospital doon. Dahil sa strict enforcement ng work ethics, marami syang nakabanggang tao na baluktot ang pag-iisip. Pero hindi siya natinag o natakot. Yan ang nanay, isang kahanga-hangang babae tulad ng marami pang ibang Pilipina.

Walang kasing bango ang Pinay. Malayo pa lang, amoy mo na kung may papalapit sa iyo na Pinay. Kung hindi amoy pabango, amoy mabango. Hindi malansa o masangsang at lalong walang BO. Sabi nila, ang amoy daw ng tao depende sa kinakain nya. Pero bakit ang Pinay kahit anong kainin, mabango pa rin? Hindi kaya likas na dugyot lang ang mga dayuhang kababaihan? Kahit pa kumain ng tinapa, binurong talangka, sardinas, o bagoong ang Pinay araw-araw, mabango pa rin siya. Bukod dun, likas na masinop at malinis sa katawan. Hindi lang basta naliligo sa pabango kaya mabango. Talaga lamang maselan sa pagiging malinis sa katawan ang Pinay.

Kapag Pinay ang na-inlab, patay kang bata ka. Ang pagmamahal niya, kasing-lalim ng Bermuda Triangle , kasing-lakas ng buhos ng ulan tuwing June, kasing-init ng araw tuwing March, kasing-sarap ng lechon ng Cebu, batchoy ng Iloilo, sisig ng Trellis, sinigang na baboy ng Kamayan at isaw sa UP. Napakasarap. Nakakakilig. Nakaka-adik.
Pinay lang ang gusto kong lagi kasama. Sa tagal ko na dito sa America hindi pa ako nakakapunta sa Disneyland. Siguro dahil hinihintay ko na may makasama akong Pinay. Mas higit akong matutuwa kapag sumakay ako sa Thunder Mountain na may katabing Pinay na tumitili at labas ang ngala-ngala sa sobrang excitement. Mas higit din na masaya yung may kadaldalang Pinay habang kumakain ng pizza at popcorn. Mas nakaka aliw kung sa bawat picture na kukunin with Tazmanian Devil at Bugs Bunny ay may kasamang Pinay na nakangiti. Kasi, without a doubt, masarap kasama ang Pinay.

Nasisiraan na daw ako ng bait sabi ng mga officemates ko. Pwede naman daw makipag-date sa mga Kana eh bakit hanap pa ako nang hanap ng Pinay. Napakapihikan ko daw sa babae. So what? Isa lang alam ko, kung hindi rin lang Pinay, mabuti pang tumandang mag-isa.

Hay naku. Basta ang gusto ko, Pinay.

under the knife

about 4 hours from now, i will be in the operating room of makati medical center for my, well, operation. i know you might be wondering and concerned (hopefully) what in the world i would do there. well, this has been bothering me for some weeks now. i felt this lump which i actually did not mind at first. i thought it was just a tiny thing that would just soon go away. but it grew bigger and the pain.. ohhh!.. it just kills me. so i decided to visit the doctor last Monday at makati med. thanks to my intellicare card. it serves like a globe card in that old commercial where you can just flash it to them and voila! you can just stroll along the corridors of makati med even if you barely got 20 pesos in you pocket. So i waited for the doctor, and told him ( he looks sooo mabango.. well, all doctors naman yata e) about that lump. he told me the history of the lump and instantly diagnosed me to go through a minor operation! huwaatt! for someone like me who never frequents the hospital, this is one BIG THING! he told me that i really have to go through this to take it off as well as the possibility of it growing back. wow!

except for the colds i experience everyday after i'd wake up, i could say that i am gifted with a very good immune system. i don't have any childhood memory of being hospitalized. visits to pedia, yes, but more on vaccines and vitamins. i've had all kinds of sickness one normally goes through- measles, chicken pox, mumps- but i was never confined in a hospital. well, i experienced being moved within the emergency room once in a stretcher when i and a former officemate were hit by a vehicle along ayala ave. pathetic, i know. so this operation thing is actually making a mark in my health history. i'm not afraid though. i was even planning to go there alone despite my mom's being so kulit on accompanying me.. maybe, i am (again) trying to prove the fun, fearless female in me.

then i tried to imagine what they are going to do with me - the anesthesia, the knife, the laser, the possibility of blood, the bandage, medicines, the recuperation period and yes, the pain. nyay! and it started to scare me. so i really prayed that everything will go okay- the OR, the doctor's hands, eyes and mind, the tools he will use. I prayed for the readiness in me. this is a first for me and all firsts in my life are really memorable and full of anxieties/excitements. i also prayed for my work to allow me to do SL (sick leave) without affecting my compliance. of course, i can always file for SL but it will affect my compliance which later will affect my schedule bidding. as of writing, i got an answered prayer. my manager is already processing a pre-approved SL which will NOT affect my compliance! so i'll be out of the office and be back on Monday.

only 3 hours 42 minutes remaining. i'm still here in the office and writing this. later im going to meet mommy. i finally agreed that she accompanies me after i scared myself. and i agreed as well to stay in Valenzuela afterwards. please do pray for me. i hope everything goes well. i am hoping for an ouch-free operation. for your flowers and get-well-soon card/letters, you may send them either to my Valenzuela home or my Pasig apartment. You may also join my housemates for a surprise(!?) coming home/get well soon party they are preparing for me. just coordinate with them.

3 hours 30 minutes to go. at least after the operation, i wouldn't have to burden myself with this lump anymore. hay, this wart on the sole of my right foot is killing me!

taxi ride (a fiction)

"Manong, pwedeng pakibilisan po ng konti."

Kung ako ang masusunod, mas gusto ko sanang magcommute. Namimiss ko na din kasi ang MRT station ng Quezon Ave at ang jeep na Pantranco-UP. Simula nung magtrabaho ako, ang buhay ko ay umiikot na lang sa Makati (dahil dun ako nagwowork) at sa Pasig (dahil dun ang apartment ko). Kaya lang, napatagal yata ako sa kakapili ng isusuot kanina, kaya eto't kailangang magtaxi. Hay, parang bumabaligtad ang sikmura ko ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung anxiety ba ito dahil malalate na ako o excitement dahil makikita kita. Kahit hindi masyado malamig ang aircon sa taxi, eto ako at pinagpapawisan ang mga kamay sa ginaw. Shaks!

Sana talaga hindi ako malate. Well, sandali na lang naman andun na ako. Binabagtas ko na ngayon ang University Ave. Hay, iba talaga ang UP. Huli yata akong napunta dito ay nung UP Fair. Pero sa tuwing pupunta ako, napakanostalgic ng lahat. Apat na taon ba naman ako namalagi dito e. Dito nag-aral, Dito tumira.

"Kakaliwa po dyan."

Ayan na si Oble. Kay tagal din niya akong inaruga sa kanyang mga bisig na nakadipa. Sabi nila ang tunay daw na ibig sabihin nito ay pag-aalay ng sarili. Tunay na iskolar. Minsan, naiisip ko din para siyang nanghahalina "Heto ako, halika at lasapin ang mga bagay na dito mo lang mararanasan". At tunay nga naman dahil bawat sulok ng paaralang ito ay nagsusumigaw na alaala ng makulay na lumipas.

"Tapos, kakanan po."

Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko. Limang minuto na akong late. Ang nakakinis, kung lagi akong late, ikaw naman ay kung hindi on time, lagi kang ahead of time. Naalala ko dati, pinaghintay kita ng tatlong oras sa Megamall dahil nakatulog ako. Akala mo nga hindi na ako darating e.

Malapit na ako. Ano na kaya ang itsura ko? Sana hindi naman ako mukhang ngarag pag nagkita na tayo. Lagi mo pa naman akong niloloko na magsuklay. Para kitang naririnig pag sinasabi mong "Ganda ng buhok mo ah. Subukan mo kayang magshampoo." Pero nung una tayong nanood ng sine, grabe! Sobrang tagal kong gumayak noon. Dito yun e. Tama, dito sa Film Center. Tatlo dapat tayo, kasama si best friend mo. Pero sa kahinahinalang dahilan, bigla na lang siyang nawala, hindi macontact sa cellphone. Nakakainis kasi di pa naman kita masyado kaclose noon e. Mas friends kami ni best friend mo. Kaya sobrang naiilang ako habang nanonood ng "Amores Peros".

Yakal. Ang ating dormitoryo. Dito kita unang minahal.

Hindi naman kita talaga crush noon e. Iba ang gusto ko pero ang kulit kasi ng best friend mo. Grabe kung ibuild up ka. Feeling ko noon pati buong wing natin kakuntsaba. Niloloko nila ako. May gusto ka daw sa akin. Hindi ako naniwala. Kaya inenjoy ko lang ang bawat oras na magkasama tayo nung naguumpisa na tayong maging close. Hanggang sa nakita ko na hindi lang pala pangbuild-up ang mga kinukwento ng best friend mo. Astig ka pala talaga! Wala kang arte nung minsan nagcandlelight dinner tayo sa Manang Eng. Sobrang gentleman ka 'pag naglalakad tayo ng madaling-araw galing library. Ang cute mo nung suot mo yung blue shirt mo. Ang bait mo din dahil sinamahan mo akong hintayin ang daddy ko nung last day natin sa dorm. Ako, for that sem. Ikaw, for your college life. Gagraduate ka na kasi e. Hindi na kita makikita. Hindi na makakasama.

Kaya nga pumayag ako nung ininvite ako ng best friend mo sa org niyo. Sabi niya sa akin lagi ka nandun. Ininvite mo na din ako nun pero hindi ako ready. Feeling ko kasi hindi ako bagay sa Christian org. Alam ko kailangan ko dahil nagpadala na ako sa radikal na paniniwala na napulot sa unibersidad. Nag-iiyak ako sa Diyos noon na Siya ang lumapit sa akin dahil sa hindi ko mapigilang dahilan, napapalayo na ako sa Kanya.

" Kuya, dyan na lang po sa tabi."

Alam ko, mali ang motivation ko nung una akong tumapak sa simbahang ito. Ikaw. Mali talaga at maraming beses akong nahiya sa Diyos noon. Pero ang dami ko namang natutunan habang tumatagal. Isa sa mga unang kong nadiskubre ay ang katotohanan na may mundo ka na bago pa man ako dumating. Kasabay ng realisasyong unti-unti nang nahulog ang loob ko sayo ay ang katotohanang may mahal ka ng iba. At bawat araw na nagkakalapit tayo ay parang punyal na itinuturok sa akin. Sa bawat pagkakataong ikukuwento mo siya sa akin, gusto ko na lang biglang mawalan ng pandinig. Ramdam kong mahal mo sya kahit na sa iba na nakatuon ang kanyang pansin. Sa tuwina'y para tayong gumagawa ng music video habang kinakanta ni Bituin Escalante ang "Kung Ako na Lang Sana".

Alam ko, hanggang doon na lang yon. Hanggang sa magandang pagkakaibigan na lang. Pero okay lang. Nang pinasok ko ang mundo mo ay maraming kamay na sumalo sa akin. Mga taong mahalaga din sayo. Mga taong hindi ko na din kayang mawala sa buhay ko. Naaalala ko pa, may mga taong dumamay sa akin nung panahong durog-durog ang puso ko mamg dahil sa'yo. Alam kong mahal ako ng Diyos. Alam Niya kung ano ang laman ng damdamin ko. Kaya pinagdasal kita. Araw-araw. Minsan kasama ko pang magdasal ang ilang kaibigan natin. Minsan iniisip ko, napakaimposible na ng pinagdadasal ko. Pero naniwala ako noon na balang-araw, ibibigay ka sa akin.

Shaks! Ikaw na nga ba yun? Natatanaw na kita habang nagmamadali ako sa pagpasok.

Ang tagal na din simula noong mga araw na ipinagdarasal kita. Ilang taon na ba ang lumipas? Dalawa na ba o tatlo? Apat na yata. Hindi ko na din makalkula. Bigla ko na lang ding tinigilan. Hindi sa hindi ako naniniwala na kayang ibigay ng Panginoon ang gusto ko. Kaya lang, baka may iba siyang plano. Baka iba ang para sa akin. Basta ang importante, magkaibigan pa rin tayo. Kahit na hindi na tayo madalas nagkikita, lagi naman tayong updated sa isa't-isa. Magkasama pa din sa gimik. Nagbabalitaan ng mga buhay-buhay habang bawat isa sa atin ay hinahanap ang lugar sa mundong ito.

Naging saksi ako nung muli kang sumubok sa larangan ng pag-big. Suportado pa naman kita noon pero ewan ko nga ba kung bakit bigla na lang natapos. Pinagsabihan pa nga kita na baka nasa iyo ang problema dahil ang alam ko, gusto ka niya talaga. Nandun ka din naman nung nagkadurog-durog ako nang muli akong nagmahal. Sa bawat kwento ko, alam kong ramdam mo din ang sakit. Dahil nasaktan talaga ako. At gaya ng dati, ayun, umiyak na naman ako sa Kanya. Ang tanga ko kasi. Akala ko naisurrender ko na sa Kanya ang puso ko para Siya na ang mag-alaga. All this time pala, hawak-hawak ko lang. Ginagamitan ng sariling diskarte.

"Sorry late ako. Kanina pa ba nagsimula?"

Pero matagal na din yun. Buti na lang close na kami uli ni Lord. Alam ko na sa sarili ko na hindi na uli mangyayari na magmamahal ako na wala Siya sa akin. Sobrang naappreciate ko nga nung sinamahan mo akong magsimba. Sobrang mahalaga sa akin yung araw na yun.

" Okay lang, Baby, kauumpisa pa lang din."

Importante sa akin ang araw na yun dahil nun mo sinabi ang mga salitang akala ko'y hindi ko maririnig mula sa'yo. Mukha kang tanga noon, pulang-pula, hindi mapakali, pinagpapawisan ng sobra. Ako din, kinakabahan. Hindi inaasahan ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa harapan ko. Noong araw na yon mo sinabi sa akin na mahal mo ako.

"Okay ka lang ba?", tanong mo sa akin sabay hawak sa kamay ko.

"Okay na ako." Sino ba naman ang hindi? Kasama na kita. Ikaw na sa aki'y ibinigay Niya.