10 Trending Topics (Weekly)

1. Southeast Asia: Bangkok Flooding
Thailand floods start to subside. Country's recovery will surely entail hard work as they face the huge damage this caused.

2. European Debt Crisis
European Union's contagion fears are undeniable as political uncertainties are still to be solved -- eyes are on Greece and Italy.

3. US: Occupy Wall Street Movement
Protesters and demonstrators were asked to leave Zuccotti Park. Today's what they call as "day of action."

4. Middle East: Syrian Uprising
Bloody protests continue to take place in Syria. Reports say President al-Assad's looking more and more isolated.

5. China, Asia mourns for toddler's death
Wang Yue, the toddler featured in the viral video that showed how she was hit-and-run, has died less than a month ago but it continues to be a hot topic in Asia (China).

6. Football: Blatter's statement about racism
The statement made by FIFA's president about racism in football matches makes many sports personalities and enthusiasts call for him to step down.

Twilight saga's last installment: Breaking Dawn

7. Movies: Long wait for 'Breaking Dawn' is over
Worldwide fans will finally have their chance to have a look of the first part of the movie based on Twilight saga's last book: 'Breaking Dawn.'

8. Golf: Woods and partner suffer defeat
Tiger Woods and partner, Steve Stricker, are problematic in the President's Cup. Americans still have the edge though.

9. Latin America: Rio slums after police raids

This major raid is one of the measures that the police has taken to secure Rio against rampant drug trafficking. It is in line with preparations for the World Cup (2014) and the Olympic Games (2016).

10. Social Media: Facebook vs. spam
Violent and pornographic images are all around Facebook over the past few days. Hackers continue to test Facebook's spam-fighting features.

This movie made me laugh genuinely: "Praybeyt Benjamin"

Praybeyt Benjamin Poster

I have watched a comedy Filipino movie entitle "Praybeyt Benjamin" and I liked it a lot. Even though the story is highly fictional and predictable, it used several practical jokes and it gave me a taste of real Filipino humor. I can't help but to laugh especially in those scenes where Benjamin and his friends used the idea of Angry Birds as their method of deployment in the "battlefield" and when the reputable and manly actors used the gay lingo to deliver their final lines.


"Porket bakla salot na agad, hindi ba pwedeng malas muna?" (LOL)


Ang galing din kahit pa'no ng pagkakagawa. Ang tagal ko ring hindi nakapanood ng pelikulang magpapatawa sa akin. (Sa bagay nakakatawa naman talaga kahit mukha palang ni Vice Ganda.) Ang galing din ni Wenn Deramas, "one of the best" ika nga sa pag-gawa ng mga nakakatuwang pelikula.


Have you watched the movie too?
What's your favorite part of it?

"Kinse" (Fifteen)

I accidentally watched an episode today of the 6-episode series "Kinse" (Fifteen) at ANC and was able to watch the last 2 mini-movies, one of which was directed by Auraeus Solito of "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros."

I loved the first mini-movie featuring this "promdi" girl who went to Manila to pursue her job there. I was somewhat bored at first because of the fact that it was black and white and read-the-script type but eventually ended up smiling then raising my eyebrow as the main message of the story was unveiled: indigenous discrimination. I think it is not right to discriminate the indigenous group by all means (in the film, the girl was prohibited to wear their indigenous clothing because it was against the policy).


The next film was a colored one (in contrast to the first, haha). This story featuring the Palawan tribe initially gave me the provincial/rural taste that I find attractive in indie movies.  It follows the story of a tribe member waiting for her "kudyapi" (a musical instrument) because she was asked by the tribe to play it during their assembly. I find it striking that some of the intentions of the movie was boldly expressed like "NO TO CYANIDE FISHING" AND "NO TO POACHING." Overall, this is a pretty interesting "obra" of Auraeus Solito.