Saturday, April 21, 2007

Statement Retraction

I would like to apologize for the wrong information I posted in my blog about the Grey's Anatomy spin-off.

Sad to say, Sean Faris is not part of the official cast (where the heck did I get that idea anyway? Darn internet spews senseless facts everywhere. Hehe). Sayang. My mind has gotten used to imagining Sean as McHottie in the series. Hahaha. :D

Chris Lowell, however, is in the cast (hurrah!), and I've got pictures to prove it. Siya ata yung resident cutie dun eh. Hahaha. Wow. :)


Check out the other promo pictures here

Music To My Ears

Silent Sanctuary had a gig at Saguijo Makati last night, and I finally had a chance to watch them (lapit kasi sa office! Buti na lang). Haven't been able to watch live band gigs in a long time (the last one being Itchyworms in Aklan), and I forgot how fun it could be. Beer, friends, live music who could go wrong with that?

Anyway, since I'm in such a Silent Sanctuary high, I'm lengthening and reposting my CD review entry. Enjoy!

* * * *



Silent Sanctuary’s new album entitled Fuchsiang Pag-Ibig is a must-have. Sobrang sulit. And the following are the reasons why:

- Ikaw Lamang by Silent Sanctuary has been playing over the radio for several weeks now, and I never tire of listening to it. It's their first single, and the reason why I bought their CD in the first place. The way they incorporate classic instruments (violin and cello) into the contemporary rock sound is pleasantly surprising to the ears.

- Summer Song is a sweet, reggae tune that sounds like sun, sand, and piƱa coladas are streaming out of your speakers. The notes are light and smooth, and the lyrics are so reminiscent of summer love. This is to be my anthem for Summer 2007. Now all I need is a hammock in a beach setting, and someone to sit beside me. Ahhh. :)

- Another light, fun song is Pink 5ive. The melody is the "bop your head along with the beat" kind, and it tells the story of the elusive girl codenamed "Pink 5ive." It jumpstarts the listener with a bubble-gum happy tune, and then the happiness trails off with a slow, despondent theme. "Mga superhero'y sinungaling din..." Again, a song that showcases opposite ends of the emotional pole. :)

- Technically, “kundiman” is the Philippines’ signature love song, generally expressing the forlorn lament of a faithful lover pining for his beloved (shempre rinesearch ko pa yan). Silent Sanctuary's Kundiman is a love song that gives justice to the technical definition of the term. It is a song which uses a lot of playful lyrics, my favorite of which is "para kang unan / pinapainit mo ang aking tiyan." Hehe. But despite the use of comedic, seemingly silly words to woo the girl in the stanzas, the chorus is bittersweet in its message of devotion: "Hindi ako lalayo / Dahil ang tanging panalangin ko ay ikaw..."

- The phrase “ingat ka” is so commonly used as parting words that the underlying sweetness of its message is overlooked. The song “Ingat Ka” reminds you of that good feeling you get when someone is concerned enough to tell you to take care. It is an unexpected favorite song of mine. I guess part of why I like it is because I would want someone to dedicate this song to me when I leave for graduate studies in the future. Ang sarap kasi makarinig ng "ngiti mong kay ganda / siguradong mamimiss kita" pag aalis ka na, diba? Hehe. :)

- “14” is track number 14 in a CD with a total of 12 songs (Go figure!). Like the rest of the album, it’s sweet, it’s sad, and it rocks! The lyrics are nicely written, and knowing what “14” actually means gives it an extra kilig factor. ;) It’s the kind of song you would want to sing (with feelings, dapat) when you’re sad, frustrated, or feeling sentimental (pag gusto mong mag-emote, kumbaga...).

- One of my guilty-pleasures is Rebound, a poppy-happy sounding song with an undertone of melancholy and desperation (which is what love is, really). The way the strings are introduced right after the line "o kay bilis naman magsawa ng puso mo" makes the heart soar and sink at the same time. Beautiful contrast.

And that's what Silent Sanctuary is all about (for me, anyway). A band of beautiful contrast. Stringing together pleasure and pain; singing about the sweetness of love and the agony of it.

It's like being pulled simultaneously in opposite directions (kasiyahan, kalungkutan), and loving every minute of it. Astig talaga. :)

Buy the album. Listen to the songs (especially the ones I mentioned above). I guarantee you'll be asking for more.

*P.S. Thanks to the band for signing my CD cover at the Saguijo gig! Hope you have more Makati gigs in the future! :)

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Imagine...

My Daydream...:)


Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Virginia Gun Massacre

This is such a tragedy.

Why do acts of violence as extreme as this happen? What's sad is, the people who got killed didn't do anything to warrant this kind of death. They were killed because of what? Because a stranger couldn't take the pressure? Because their classmate was crazy enough to suddenly want to kill anything in his path? Because they decided to attend class that morning to learn? They were killed simply because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I really don't understand why some people are driven into this kind of "killing spree" insanity. I don't know the exact facts, but I'm pretty sure that another US school shooting happened several years back. What could be the constant factor here? The US educational system is too difficult? Teachers expect too much from their students? Peer pressure? Bullies? The need for attention? One last hurrah – the "I-think-I'll-go-kill-as-many-people-as-I-can-before-killing-myself" kind of hurrah? I'm sure the psychologists around the world are having a field day trying to figure out the psychological reason behind all this.

Whatever the reason may be, the harsh truth is, 33 people are dead. I don't know them personally, but I really feel for the family and friends they left behind. Imagine thinking that your kid is at school and then finding out later that day that he was gunned down inside the classroom – the last place on earth you'd expect to be remotely dangerous. It's crazy. :(

Are there any more safe places left in the world?

Monday, April 16, 2007

Bagong Pag-Asa

"Prince William and Kate Middleton have broken up."

Sad, sad news. Kawawa naman si Kate. She probably can't wallow in depression like normal broken-hearted girls, what with the paparazzi swarming around her after this piece of news. Boo.

It must be hard to be criticized for not being good enough for a Prince...And then, once you've broken up, you get criticized for being daft enough to let a catch like that go. Tuh. That has to suck.

On the other hand, this means Wills is single again. And I'm sure a lot of Princess wannabes are secretly rejoicing and plotting their ascent to the British throne. :P

Hmmm.

I knew it was a mistake to forego my graduate studies in UK this year. Hehe.


Cute pic. Just had to post it. :)


Sunday, April 08, 2007

Spin-Off!

What do you get when you cross my favorite characters from Grey's Anatomy and Life As We Know It?


*
*
*
*


Addison Montgomery's spin-off TV series!
(which might be entitled Private Practice. A play on Addison's specialty in obstetrics and gynecology, perhaps?)

Hurray!

Kate Walsh's character, Addison Montgomery is the perfect person (out of all the Grey's Anatomy cast) to lead a TV series: beautiful, elegant, headstrong. I've always liked her. McDreamy is a McIdiot anyway. Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey in Grey's Anatomy, is reportedly pissed that Addison gets her own spin-off (/me tries to suppress evil laughter).

Chris Lowell (who also plays Piz in Veronica Mars) is goofy-cute. Kinda geeky, kinda awkward sometimes. But a cutie, nonetheless. I love his character in Veronica Mars (and in Life As We Know It, of course)...I wonder if he'll be typecast as the goofy intern in the spin-off show.

Sean Faris is hot. Younger, taller, prettier Tom Cruise. Eeeeee. He could be the show's McHottie. Wahahaha. I was watching Sleepover in Star Movies the other day (out of boredom, I swear), and I was pleasantly surprised to see Sean (close kami) as the lead male opposite Alexa Vega (of Spy Kids fame). The story was kinda shallow, very unlikely to happen (as most HS romantic comedies are), but very kilig. HS hunk falls for geeky freshman. Woooh. *sigh* :)


The show is set to air on May 3, 2007.


Aaaaahh. I can't wait. :)