Wednesday, February 27, 2008

A Great Way To Fly


I have always believed that if one wanted a great way to fly... there would only be two choices. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Last Monday, I took the SQ915 flight from Manila to Singapore, and again the flight crew of Singapore Airlines proved to many that SQ is still a great way to fly. Special thanks to the presence of Chie Hwee Chen who always took less than a minute to respond to my little needs like an extra glass of orange juice, a blanket and a complimentary deck of cards.

When Cecile and I went to Europe and the US last December 2003, we also took an SQ flight and was completely satisfied with the warm and extra friendly service of the flight crew. They were very attentive and always “on their toes.”

There was only a slight problem as some of the mileage was not credited but the did respond to our request. It only took some emails, back and forth, but otherwise, SQ is a great way to fly!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

22 years ago

Yup, there are people in the streets on this rainy Monday, but will their presence lead to change.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

People at EDSA

Together with other Filipinos, I was part of "people power" in EDSA back in February 1986.

Will there be a fourth version, given today's rising unrest against corruption and greed?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Clinton and Obama

Super Tuesday was a fight between Obama and Clinton. And the challenge comes immediately after the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots.

Am not an expert on U.S. politics, but am sure many of us in blogosphere have noticed (maybe, even annoyed) by the surge of presence of Obama and Clinton on-line and off-line.

Am not a US registered, but am following with interest their presence, specially, on late night TV. Jay Leno, David Letterman and other hosts have all earned dollars out of the political presence. Am sure there is some research available that counts the number of late night jokes which have mentioned Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.


Barack Obama has sure gone a long way from his childhood days in Hawaii and even in Jakarta, and now as Illinois senator. I remember during the last DNC, he was already seen as an “up and coming” politician. By the way, he too is a Leo, being born in the month of August. Only 5 days earlier than me. He had written two bestselling books, “Dreams from My Father” which is a memoir of his youth and “The Audacity of Hope,” a personal commentary on U.S. politics.


Hillary Clinton (born October 26, 1947), brings her experience as former First Lady (from 1993 to 2001) to Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States and as Senator from New York since 2000. And the first female senator from the Big Apple.

When Cecile and I had lunch with my cousins (Renelle, Patrick and Ben) and Tita Nenen in New Jersey, a few weeks ago, politics was part of the discussion. The table seemed divided.

Whoever the DNC picks out in November, either will be a milestone candidate and even a “first-ever” president (granting he or she defeats Sen. McCain).

The results of Super Tuesday had both Clinton or Obama close to each other.









Is is youth versus experience? Promises against solutions?

Sunday, February 3, 2008

We Wanted It More

Guess, the hungrier team would really win, as the New York Giants won over the New England Patriots in today's Superbowl game held at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale Arizona.

NY Giants 17, New England 14

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images shows Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the New England Patriots 17 - 14 in Super Bowl XLII

Am again sure that my cousins cheered and are celebrating their hometown team in the East Coast. Bring out the red wine Patrick!

The victory over the Patriots was an upset win as the Giants broke the unbeaten record of the Patriots throughout the season. The Giants also celebrated their 11th straight victory on the road. They had lost earlier which probably inspired the team harder for its third Super Bowl and sixth NFL title.

Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images shows New York Giants Kevin Dockery (R) catches the ball against the New England Patriots at the University of Phoenix Stadium

The Giants became the first NFC wild card team to win a Super Bowl; four AFC teams have done it. They also are the second team in three years to play nothing but away games and come away with the big prize; Pittsburgh did after the 2005 season.

The Patriots, led by Tom Brady, the league's Most Valuable Player and winner of his first three Super Bowl, had their first unbeaten season in 35 years broken.

Roofs closed

While it is bright and sunny this Monday morning here in Makati City, there is forecast of rain in Arizona. Thus, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ordered University of Phoenix Stadium's retractable roof closed for the big game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots for the Super Bowl on Sunday.



Photo by Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)shows Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots leading his teammates onto the field against the New York Giants for Super Bowl XLII.

News reports from Associated Press say it is the 13th time the Super Bowl has been played indoors. Two of New England's first three Super Bowl victories came in domes -- a 32-29 victory over Carolina in Houston's Reliant Stadium in 2004 and a 20-17 win over St. Louis in New Orleans' Superdome in 2002


Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images, shows the New York Giants run onto the field against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix

As of halftime, the Patriots are leading the Giants with a score of 7 – 3. Am sure my cousins, Renelle, Patrick and Ben are watching the game in New Jersey.

XLII things to expect on Super Bowl Sunday

When we were in NYC last December, we had the option to watch the New York Giants and New England Patriots game, but we found the tickets expensive. 100 dollars but tickets were sold out.

With the game this weekend, here is XLII things to expect from the game, written by Michael Ventre, from the www.msnbc.com website.


1. After the game, Tom Brady will receive another marriage proposal — from Robert Kraft.

2. At halftime, security will be given instructions to keep Justin Timberlake away from Tom Petty’s nipples.

3. The Mannings — Archie, Peyton and Eli — will be presented with a special award commemorating the fact that they have now endorsed every product ever produced since time began.

4. During the postgame celebration, Randy Moss will be told he can have his extension. He will then ask, “Contract or restraining order?”

5. Bill Belichick will refuse to disclose whether he will use a Canon or Nikon spy camera during the game.

6. Gisele Bundchen and Abby McGrew will meet and chat and discover that they have absolutely nothing in common except the fact that they’re both dating Super Bowl quarterbacks.

7. The 1972 Miami Dolphins will be unhappy after the Patriots go undefeated, but they’ll pop champagne anyway because they have nothing else to do these days except drink.

8. Michael Strahan will have no impact on the game whatsoever, but he’ll make it sound later as if he should have been named MVP.

9. Tom Brady will be named Super Bowl MVP, but he’ll decline the trophy, explaining, “I don’t have any more room for it.”

10. Tiki Barber will try to use the fact that Eli Manning wasn’t able to lead the underdog Giants to a history-making upset of the unbeaten Pats as evidence that he was right about Eli all along.

11. Wes Welker will catch everything that is thrown to him, but will be denied access to the Patriots’ postgame lockerroom because security guards will refuse to believe he’s with the team.

12. Rodney Harrison will become the first player in Super Bowl history to be accused of a dirty hit during pregame warm-ups.

13. Brett Favre will be interviewed during the game and announce that he isn’t ready to make an announcement.

14. Brady and Giselle will agree to meet at her apartment in New York City after the Patriots win to have a little “Super Tuesday” of their own.

15. At one point early on, the officials will stop the game and huddle to discuss the issue, “What the heck kind of a name is Plaxico?”

16. What appears to be another racy GoDaddy.com Super Bowl television commercial turns out instead to be a short documentary on Pacman Jones.

17. Most TV analysts dismiss the Giants and give them no chance at all of pulling an upset, until they are reminded that Jeremy Shockey is not with the team.

18. The local Phoenix utilities company reports a massive disruption in service that threatens the game as the result of talk radio shows from across the country all unplugging at the same time at the league’s media headquarters.

19. Junior Seau will admit to his teammates during a pregame meeting that it isn’t right for a 39-year-old man to go by the name “Junior.”

20. Tom Coughlin will use a photo of his face from the NFC title game in Green Bay to remind his players about red-zone efficiency.

21. Jessica Simpson will attend the game wearing a specially designed jersey with Patriots’ colors and No. 12 on the front and Giants’ colors and No. 10 on the back. She will then be asked to leave by both teams.

22. The Giants will make a formal request to Tom Petty that he please play “I Won’t Back Down” instead of “Free Fallin’.”

23. Commissioner Roger Goodell will slip up during postgame ceremonies and refer to Bill Belichick as “Hoodie Boy.”

24. Randy Moss will catch everything that is thrown to him. But because he will be double-teamed, only one pass will be thrown to him.

25. Pregame introductions will take so long, they will have an intermission.

26. Because the Super Bowl will be held at University of Phoenix Stadium, everyone in attendance will receive a free online degree.

27. Matt Leinart will arrive for the game accompanied by Wilmer Valdarrama, Nick Lachey and Danny Masterson but will be denied entry and told at the gate, “Sorry, sir. We don’t have a C list.”

28. Daniel Snyder, disguised in a referee’s uniform, will be whisked away by security after he attempts to interview both Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin for the Redskins’ head coaching position.

29. Deion Sanders will question why LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t in the game until he’s informed that he isn’t a member of either team.

30. In the Giants’ owner’s luxury box, a member of the team’s hierarchy will tell the bartender, “I’ll have a brewski,” and as a result the team will be charged by the league with tampering.

31. Several Giants defenders will sack Tom Brady at once. When the officials pull apart the pile, they will discover that Brady is missing. But soon they will locate him wedged in the gap in Michael Strahan’s teeth.

32. The NFL will ask the Air Force if they would mind trailing advertising banners behind their jets during the pre-game flyover.

33. Steve Smith of the Giants will be referred to as a young Wes Welker.

34. The best Super Bowl commercial will be the one with a cute real-life or animated animal. And there is a 50-50 chance it will also feature Peyton Manning.

35. Don Shula will be turned away after he tries to enter the stadium carrying a large sign with an asterisk on it.

36. Tony Romo will be seen walking outside the stadium wearing a sandwich board promoting the Mexican tourism bureau that says, “I went South during the playoffs. Why don’t you?”

37. “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks will sing the national anthem. Fox will then defend itself from charges that it will do just about anything for a ratings bump by saying, “Well, at least we didn’t get somebody from ‘America’s Most Wanted.’

38. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, two level-headed broadcasters with experience and wisdom who offer reasonable opinions and analysis, will call the game. Fox officials will hold an emergency staff meeting to discuss how something like that could be allowed to happen.

39. The good news is that the massive amount of beer consumption across the nation during the Super Bowl will provide a much-needed boost to our ailing economy. The bad news is that most beer drinkers paid for all that beer by taking out more subprime loans.

40. Jon Corzine, the governor of New Jersey, will offers 100 pounds of fresh Garden State tomatoes in his traditional wager on the Giants with his Massachusetts counterpart. Deval L. Patrick, governor of Massachusetts, will counter by saying, “How about 10 million bucks?”

41. Because Fox will want to recoup some of the losses it incurred because of the writers’ strike by selling extra commercial time, the game will last until Valentine’s Day.

42. The first question out of a network interviewer’s mouth to either Tom Brady or Bill Belichick: “Can you repeat undefeated?”

Saturday, February 2, 2008

John Rambo

While in Powerplant Mall last Sunday, Cecile and I bumped into Rommel Cecilio. He had gained some weight but is already a proud father. And like our friends, he was extra happy for catching us on “Mel & Joey” last November, plus even more surprised to see himself in the group photo of “Artistang Artlets.”


We would have wanted to chat with Rommel but we were rushing to catch the 4th edition of the Rambo series. This time the movie is called “John Rambo” and Sly Stallone actually had a hand in writing the script and directed this movie. based on the characters created by David Morrell in his novel “First Blood.”

There have been four editions. First Blood (1982), Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), and Rambo III (1988) and the 4th which was released on January 25, 2008.

The movies chronicles the life of John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam War veteran, whose survival skills, weaponry, hand-to-hand combat and guerrilla warfare, has brought him to many wars and conflicts.

In this movie, John Rambo lives a simple life in a rural Thai village near the Burmese border. He catches fish and snakes. Rambo’s help is sought by a group of fellow missionaries so they can bring food and medicine to the Karen tribe members. These people are seen raped, tortured and massacred by soldiers, which is actually happening in that country.

Initially Rambo refuses but is latter convinced by Sarah Miler (Julie Benz), the only female in the group. Rambo brings them into Burma. The humanitarian mission goes well until the village is attacked. Many villagers are killed. Sarah and the missionaries are kidnapped by the Burmese army. The pastor Athur Marsh (Ken Howard) from the missionaries' church comes to Thailand and informs Rambo that he has hired mercenaries to rescue the group and needs Rambo to transport them up river again.


With Rambo’s help, the mercenaries rescue all the missionaries and Rambo cuts down the Burmese general trying to escape.


In the final battle, Rambo using a machine gun opens fire on the Burmese soldiers holding the missionaries hostage. The ensuing battle is long and extremely graphic.
Total body count is 236, more than previous movies.

And in the last scene, Rambo back in the United States, walks past a farm and a mailbox with the name R. Rambo on it. Slowly, John Rambo makes his way down the driveway of the farm and has returned home.

There are talks of a 5th movie. A civil war in Africa?

Photos courtesy of Lionsgate.