Too much power and too many weapons in so organized a team.
That's what San Miguel Beer displayed to the fullest in handing Burger King a 118-103 whopping last Sunday evening to secure the second finals berth in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
It took some time before the Beermen were able to unleash the full might of their well-stocked arsenal. But when they did they were simply unstoppable in their bid to close out the best-of-seven semifinal series in six games and realize a league-best 29th finals appearance.
The Beermen forged a return finals duel with the defending champion Ginebra Kings, who earlier bundled out the Elasto Painters 108-100 and also closed out their own series via a 4-2 count.
It will be the fourth finals duel between the sister teams and Tanquingcen was quick to say fans will be in for another treat.
"It's gonna be an exciting series. It's something different from our battle with Burger King," said Tanquingcen, a former assistant to Ginebra coach Jong Uichico when the Kings beat the Chot Reyes-mentored SMB team for the 2006-07 Philippine Cup title.
Things will be drastically different now.
"This is something new because I'm up with coach Jong for the first time in the finals. I enjoy playing against them kasi pagi-isipin ka ni coach Jong, kaya I look forward to playing them," said Tanquingcen, adding neither team has a clear edge.
"I would not say na dehado kami. You have to deal with Ginebra. It's going to be a different feeling now and I'm sure ganoon din sila sa amin," he stated, before pointing out what should be a major factor in the "Last Dance."
"The key is gonna be guys being free from any injuries."
Gabe Freeman dished out a double-double job with 26 points and 14 rebounds and four locals had at least 14 points each as the Beermen broke the game wide open in the third quarter to lead by as many as 20 points thrice, the last at 92-72.
Due to foul trouble, Freeman was on the bench for majority of the period.
But SMB turned to Danny Ildefonso and Jonas Villanueva in leading their attack that resulted in the Beermen rattling off 39 points against BK's 22.
With nobody among them able to fully step up and take charge, the Whoppers would come no closer than 15 points the rest of the way as they settled for a one-game playoff with Rain or Shine for third place. Noli Cortez - Malaya Online Edition
SOURCE: http://www.ngetstudio.com/Barangay_Ginebra_Kings/news/?id=7b3ade83-25f3-45bb-a7e1-9039eefade40
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Kings brace for Finals duel with Beermen
Monday, June 29, 2009
Ginebra books return trip to Fiesta Cup finals
MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra finished off Rain or Shine with a 108-100 win in Game 6 Sunday night to earn a return trip to the finals of the PBA Fiesta Cup.
The defending champions held the Elasto Painters’ import Jai Lewis to just six points in his lowest output in the semis as the Kings clinched the best-of-seven series, 4-2.
“We really had a hard time against them (Elasto Painters)," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, who will be seeking to nail down his ninth PBA title and the third with the Gin Kings. “They really pushed us to the limit, forcing us to play above our normal game."
Ginebra will try to defend its crown it won against then Air21 last season. The Gin Kings triumphed in that series 4-3.
They await the winner of the other semifinal duel between San Miguel and Burger King, where the Beermen enjoy a 3-2 lead.
Ronald Tubid and import David Noel each had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Jay-Jay Helterbrand and Paul Artadi chipped in 17 points apiece in a balanced offensive where only one Ginebra player – Willy Wilson – failed to score.
TY Tang scored a career-high 24 points and virtual Rookie of the Year Gabe Norwood added 22 for the Elasto Painters, who fought as hard as they could even with Lewis struggling big time from the floor.
Lewis was held down to merely 2-for-6 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds. He had very limited touches and was often triple-teamed when he got hold of the leather. He made his first field goal with 4:46 left in the fourth period when Ginebra was ahead comfortably, 98-85.
“Our defense on Lewis was the key," said Uichico. “It was a team effort.
"Still, Rain or Shine didn’t go out without a fight. It managed to threaten Ginebra at 83-79 with 11:11 to go in the fourth quarter, before the Gin Kings detonated a 15-6 bomb where Noel, Cyrus Baguio and Sunday Salvacion each had a triple.
That run carried Ginebra to a comfortable 98-85 lead, and the Elasto Painters could get no closer than 102-97 on a triple from Tang with 57 seconds remaining. - GMANews.TV
The Scores:
Ginebra 108 - Noel 23, Tubid 23, Artadi 17, Helterbrand 17, Reavis 8, Salvacion 6, Mamaril 5, Baguio 5, Lanete 3, Intal 1, Wilson 0.
Rain or Shine 100 - Tang 24, Norwood 22, Arana 15, Ibanes 11, Reyes 11, Lewis 6, Isip 6, Laure 5, Dulay 0, Wainwright 0.
Quarter scores: 31-21, 60-53, 81-76, 108-100
SOURCE: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/166134/Ginebra-books-return-trip-to-Fiesta-Cup-finals
Saturday, June 27, 2009
GUNS ABLAZE, GINEBRA DRUBS RoS
Kings move a win fom Finals
Barangay Ginebra picked up from where it left off Wednesday, outclassing Rain or Shine for the second straight game for a 96-85 win and the 3-2 lead in their own side of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven semifinals series at the Araneta Coliseum Friday.
The Kings established control early and sustained the charge, making it two in a row versus the Elasto Painters to move a win shy of a return stint in the reinforced conference finale.
The reigning champions go for the clincher in Game Six Sunday or, if still necessary, in Game Seven Wednesday.
"It's really been a tough series. Hopefully, we've got the right attitude now how to deal with this team and we can pull it through Sunday," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.
"I'm guessing that we're now playing Rain or Shine with the right frame of mind. At the start, human nature siguro na nagrelax konti ang mga players namin because we beat them twice in the elimination round. We beat them playing with an all-Filipino lineup in the first game then we routed them in the next," Uichico added.
The Kings stayed focused on the job at hand and played relentlessly for the second straight game Friday, winning it in a wire-to-wire fashion.
David Noel was at his best at least in this series, coming through with 28 points and 17 rebounds.
Ginebra walloped Rain or Shine with Noel outperforming Jai Lewis and the Ginebra locals doing the same against their Rain or Shine counterparts.
Jayjay Helterbrand led the locals with 19 points and emerged Best Player of the Game for the third time in the series. He won the honors in all their won games.
Ronald Tubid was another Ginebra player who finished in double figures, going 2-of-5 from the three-point area, 2-of-5 from the two-point zone and 3-of-3 from the stripe for 13 points.
Lewis, with only 15 points, already wound up as the Painters' top scorer.
"Playoffs are about adjustments. Mukhang nahirapan mag-adjust ang Rain or Shine in a day's break. That's why I'm really hoping we can finish it Sunday, baka maka-adjust pa sila," said Uichico.
The Kings jumped the gun on the Painters, taking the first quarter at 23-13 and the half at 49-34.
Ginebra dominated the opening half with a torrid shooting which Rain or Shine had no answer for.
Noel was 2-of-3 from the three-point area and 4-of-7 from the two-point zone with the entire team hitting at a 48.6-percent clip as against Rain or Shine's 32.6-percent marksmanship in the first half. (NC)
The scores:
Ginebra 96 -- Noel 28, Helterbrand 19, Tubid 13, Baguio 8, Artadi 7, Reavis 7, Lanete 4, Intal 3, Wilson 3, Salvacion 2, Se 2, Mamaril 0.
Rain or Shine 85 -- Lewis 15, Tang 13, Arana 12, Isip 11, Reyes 11, Norwood 8, Wainwright 7, Ibanes 3, Salangsang 3, Laure 2, Dulay 0, Andaya 0.
Quarterscores: 23-13, 49-34, 74-59, 96-85
SOURCE: http://www.pba.ph/topstories/guns-ablaze-ginebra-drubs-ros
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Ginebra-Rain or Shine series back to square one
With the specter of elimination threatening their season, Barangay Ginebra did what is necessary to stay on course in their bid for a title repeat.
Jayjay Helterbrand poured in 11 of his 21 points in the third quarter and the defending champion Kings broke loose for a 86-70 victory over Rain or Shine in Game 4 Wednesday night to even their semifinal series in the Motolite PBA Fiesta conference at two-games apiece.
The Kings were in control the entire game, displaying the kind of urgency and poise that lacked their game in the first three encounters.
"It's good we survived this game. Now, we know things won't be as easy we thought it would be," offered Uichico, adding the Elasto Painters were a hard read.
"They're (ROS) tough. So were really have to play with our A-game every night," he said.
The Kings set the pace of the game by playing aggressively on both ends.
After a close first quarter, the defending champions seized control in the next period by holding the Elasto Painters to an 18 percent shooting (4-of-22) then ripped the game wide open in the third quarter with a flurry of three-pointers led by Helterbrand.
Game 5 is set at 7:30 p.m. also at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ronald Tubid scored 14 points before being ejected with 2:38 left in the third quarter after picking up his second "technical foul". Import David Noel added 10 points and as many rebounds and helped Billy Mamaril and Rafi Reavis in slowing down ROS import Jai Lewis.
The Elasto Painters struggled all night, unable to get their rhythm because of poor shooting and the seemingly lack of energy that got them going the first three games. Their total score was the lowest by any team in the conference, the previous low coming in their 114-71 loss also to Barangay Ginebra in the playoff for the second outright semis berth last May 24.
Lewis once again frolicked in the lane with 15 rebounds and led all scorers with 23 points, but he was the only ROS player in double figures.
The Elasto Painter made just 28 of 92 attempts (30 percent) and shot just as bad from the line (13-of-32).
After Lewis pulled Rain or Shine to within 26-29, Tubid knocked in a three-pointer then made two free throws that led to a 14-7 run as Ginebra marched to their locker room holding on to a 43-33 lead at halftime.
The lead was still 10 early in the third when Helterbrand drilled in two successive three-pointers that sparked a telling 26-6 blast as the Kings stretched their margin to 66-41.
Ginebra knocked five threes during that run with Helterbrand going 3-of-4. (DBC) PBA.ph
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 86 -- Helterbrand 21, Tubid 14, Noel 10, Salvacion 8, Intal 7, Reavis 7, Mamaril 6, Baguio 5, Lanete 3, Artadi 3, Wilson 2, Kramer 0, Pacana 0.
Rain or Shine 70 -- Lewis 23, Tang 9, Isip 8, Arana 7, Wainwright 7, Reyes 5, Salangsang 5, Norwood 3, Laure 3, Dulay 0, Andaya 0, Ejercito 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22, 43-33, 72-53, 86-70
SOURCE: http://www.ngetstudio.com/news/?id=2160ceb4-725b-42cb-8343-e4f55e9add43
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Upcoming Movies for 2009...
1.) "Sherlock Holmes" - this movie will always be on the top of my list. I've waited so long to be able to watch my favorite fictional character on the big screen. It will be coming out this December so we still need to wait for a while before we see Robert Downey Jr. in a Shelock Holmes outfit.
2.) "Year One" - well, it's Jack Black, so what's not to love? hehe...He's really one of my favorite comedians in Hollywood. Go Jack!
3) "New Moon" - one of the famous book-turned-movie of this generation, they even managed to start shooting this one. Does it mean the next one will also be shown next year? Hmmm...Twilight Saga every year...
4.) "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" - our famous prehistoric gang is back for another funny and exciting adventure; and now they found themselves hanging around with the dinosaurs. Unlike the previous installments, this will be shown in 3-D! Just imagine having a face to face encounter with the T-Rex.
5.) "Public Enemies" - with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale on the cast, this will surely be a great hit. Another detective-robber-hunt story set in 1933-34 when John Dillilnger, played by Depp, became public enemy number one. The question is: will Batman be able to capture Captain Jack Sparrow?
6.) "The Final Destination" - also known as Final Destination 4: 3-D, continues the tradition of gruesome-teenager movie. Premonitions and tragic deaths were the best ingredients of this movie franchise, so watch for it!
7.) "A Christmas Carol" - a book adaptation of Charles Dicken's famous novel. The movie stars funnyman Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who needs to change his ways before it's too late. The film was also in 3-D format.
8.) "2012" - another film about the end of the world. It was said that our ancestors already had some warnings for mankind about the upcoming end of everything. But despite of these, man surely ignored what has to be their only way to survive.
9.) "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel" - the chipmunks trio are back to face "The Chipettes" in the $100,000 Battle of the Bands. As expected, this will be another great hit, especially for kids.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Rain or Shine shocks Ginebra to go up, 2-1
Young and inexperienced, Rain or Shine wasn't really given a second look to go this far in its semifinals series with defending champion Barangay Ginebra.
But just look where the Elasto Painters are -- just two wins away from marching into a first-ever PBA finals stint.
Gabe Norwood tallied a team-high 15 points and three others finished in double figures for Rain or Shine in a 94-88 win over the Kings Sunday in Game 3 of their Fiesta Cup Final Four at the Araneta Coliseum.
"We just want to have fun and winning is having fun for us," said Norwood.
"Kahit ako hindi makapaniwala," said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. "But it's happening. And we don't want to stop there. We want to achieve more."
The Kings struggled from the foul line behind a 10-of-22 shooting and never really got into the groove as they played catch-up the entire contest.
JayJay Helterbrand paced Ginebra with 17 points, import David Noel added 16 and 17 rebounds while Cyrus Baguio got 16 before getting ejected early in the fourth period following a flagrant foul 2 he committed against Ryan Arana while the Kings trailed, 79-68.
Except for a brief stretch in the third period when JC Intal and Baguio provided the energy for the Kings to rally the team from a 56-41 deficit to within 69-64, Ginebra didn't really have a shot against the inspired Rain or Shine quintet. GMANews.TV
SOURCE: http://www.ngetstudio.com/news/?id=88c96a8c-fdba-4338-8baf-94f29984287f
Thursday, June 18, 2009
"Alaala" (Another Self Composition)
I. (c.p G-D-Em-C) 2x
Kapag umuulan... ay naaalala,
Nung tayo'y... magkasama.
Ngunit ngayo'y... ika'y lumayo na,
Ang buhay ko'y... paano na?
II. (c.p G-D-Em-C) 2x
Tuwing magkasama... magkahawak-kamay,
Ngunit ang isip mo'y... hindi mapalagay.
Ng ikaw ay tanungin... ang sagot mo'y iling,
Hanggang kailan ililihim... ang nagbagong damdamin?
Chorus: (c.p G-D-Em-C) 2x
Bakit... ka pa lumisan?
Sa buhay ko'y, ika'y kailangan.
Bakit... hindi na pwede pang balikan...
Ang nakaraan?
Adlib: G-D-Em-C (2x)
(Repeat II except last line: Em-C
Hanggang kailan ililihim... bagong pagtingin?)
(repeat Chorus 2x)
Coda: G-D-Em-C
Oh... Paalam na... (3x)
---G
"Come and Go" (Another Self Composition)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Déjà vu for Ginebra?
Déjà vu - is the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously (an individual feels as though an event has already happened or has happened in the near past), although the exact circumstances of the previous encounter are uncertain.
That's what other says about the current run of Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings, the most popular basketball club in the PBA. It was just last season wherein they became eventual champions of the PBA Fiesta Conference, still being aired in ABC5/TV5 (which indeed had a better way of broadcasting the league compared to CS9).
But before that, they started 0-5 in the team standings; doesn't had a really great import; and it seems everything they'd done were wrong. Not until they got a very dominant import which was Chris Alexander. From a team that's right down the cellar, they became a championship contender.
So, how can we tell that what's happening right now is a Déjà vu from last season's Fiesta Conference? In some ways, it really looks like a Déjà vu, since Ginebra did start poorly this conference. But again, let's just compare the ones last year from this year:
1.) "Import"
Last Year: First they had Rahshon Turner, who was really not that tall and explosive during their games. During that time, it was Caguioa who seems to be the import because he led the team in scoring.
Next was Ernest Brown, and unlike Turner, he was really very tall. But I guess he only had the height, but doesn't had a very great game.
And lastly, Chris Alexander, the answer to Ginebra's prayers. He was very dominant, especially in rebounding, and led Ginebra to an automatic Quarterfinals seed. Ginebra even won 13 games straight; including the latter part of the eliminations, and a sweep in the Quarter and Semifinals.
They'd won the crown after a decisive game 7 in the Finals. Alexander also won the Best Import of the Conference that season.
This Year: First they brought back Rod Nealy, a very aggresive and scoring import that brought Ginebra straight in the quarterfinals in 2007. But this year was really different from their run during that time.
With a lot of new players in the team, teamwork and consistency can't be found in the Gin Kings. After winning the first game, they'd lost 5 straight games in the conference.Because of all the misfortunes, they decided to change their import. They tapped a former NBA player and US-NCAA Slam Dunk Champion - David Noel. From their, Ginebra just lost 1 game with him, and they got an automatic SEMIS stint.
2.) "Team Roster"
Last Year: They acquired Paul "Kid Lightning" Artadi (from Purefoods), Cris Pacana (Free Agent), Willy Wilson (from Coca-Cola), Alex Crisano (Free Agent), Vic Pablo (Free Agent), Macky Escalona and JR Aquino (ROOKIES), and Junthy "Hitman" Valenzuela (from Red Bull). Almost everyone from above contributed to Ginebra's winning run last season.
Artadi leveled up his game by adding 3-point shooting in his arsenal. Pacana and Crisano had very great performances specially during the playoffs. And the addition of Valenzuela really made Ginebra's guard rotation deeper.
This Year: At the start of the Season, they acquired Junjun Cabatu from the Free Agents List. The next conference, they first acquired JC "The Rocket" Intal and Doug Kramer (from Air21), and Chico Lañete (from Purefoods). They traded Crisano to Red Bull for future draft rights.
Afterwards, they got Cyrus "Skyrus" Baguio and Homer Se (from Burger King). Because of this acquisitions, they now had a very deep bench; and the absence of Caguioa and Valenzuela, due to injuries, didn't hurt the team very much.
3.) "The Team's Run"
They only lost 1 game in the second round of eliminations; gained an automatic quarterfinals seed; swept their game with Sta. Lucia and Red Bull in the quarters and semis, respectively.
Alexander had a vital role during the finals, especially in Game 6 wherein they had a come-from-behind win against the Air21 Express.
And they won the crown after a thrilling Game 7, despite of Helterbrand's absence (due to injury); and the injuries from Caguioa, Valenzuela and Artadi.
Helterbrand won Best Player of the Conference, while Menk and Tubid won Co-Finals MVP.
They got their chance of going straight to the semis easily, not until they were defeated by Alaska. They almost got a come-from-behind win that game; but instead, they had to battle Rain or Shine once more for the last automatic semis stint. Luckily, they won that game and now they're waiting for the best of seven semis.
=============================================
"LAST WORDS"
Well, we can't call it an exact Déjà vu of last season, since Ginebra still didn't win the championship this conference. But until Ginebra's still in the run, calling this conference a Déjà vu isn't over.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
"Jumper" Versus "Push"
It's not unusual for us to compare a lot of things: which is better, or which is worse; either or neither ways. That's why I'm doing the same thing with these two hollywood movies which I'd watched already.
"Jumper" and "Push", in my opinion, share one thing: A guy which possesses extraordinary powers. But what else do they have in common? their differences? Which is better than the other? Or maybe they're just in the same boat? Hmm... Let's see...
THE STORY:
*"Jumper" - A guy named David Rice, played by Hayden Christensen, discovered he has the power to "Jump" from one place to another; or simply, teleport. But due to a lot of personal issues, especially with his family, he decided to lived by himself.
Well, because of his super powers, he used it to rob a bank; and the rest was history. He then discovered that he wasn't the only one who possesses that kind of power.
And, what's worse is that their kind were being hunted by a group named "Paladins", headed by Roland Cox, played by Samuel L. Jackson. David now battles for his life and protect Millie, played by Rachel Bilson, from all the enemies.
*"Push" - Nick Gant, played by Chris Evans, was born with extraordinary powers which is to "Move" or use telekinesis.
He was separated from his father when he was young, that was the time they're were being hunted by what they called "Division", led by Henry Carver. played by Djimon Hounsou.
Nick grew up alone and stayed in Hong Kong.
VERDICT: I choose "Jumper" for this part. Although "Push" also has a good storyline, it's not that refreshing to watch because of some predictable scenes. It's also quite boring to watch compared with "Jumper".
THE HERO:
*"Jumper" - Hayden Christensen, who was famous from his role as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars, played the role of David - a guy with the power of teleportation. He managed to use and control his powers since he was a teenager.
At the first half of the movie, all he did was to travel from one place to another, not knowing that their kind were already been hunted. But after he met Roland,the leader of "Paladins", his life changed. He now needs to be cautious with everything he does and protect his love ones.
*"Push" - Chris Evans, who was famous from his role as The Human Torch from Fantastic Four, played the role of Nick - a guy with a power of telekinesis. Although he was already a grown up, he still doesn't know how to control his powers properly.
Compared to David, Nick already has a knowledge about his enemies, the group called "Division". His life just started to changed when the Division began looking for a girl and a case, which contains a very dangerous drug.
VERDICT: This goes for "Jumper". Although they're both great actors, the problem was that Nick didn't used much of his power through out the film. His power would be far greater than David's only if he used it to its maximum.
THE BAD GUY:
*"Jumper" - A very great actor Samuel L. Jackson plays the role of Roland Cox, the main antagonist of this film. He is the leader of the "Paladins", a group that hunts down all the living "Jumpers" in the world. It was also said that they've been doing this since the medieval times.
Roland doesn't have any super powers, but their group has the latest technologies to make weapons against the Jumpers. They can even trace the "Jump Scars" and make a portal for them to follow a certain Jumper.
*"Push" - Famous from his performance from the movie "Blood Diamond", Djimon Hounsou plays the role of Henry Carver, the main antagonist of this film. Unlike Roland in "Jumper", Henry Carver possesses super powers which is to control peoples' minds - they called it "Push". He's the leader of what they called the "Division", a group also composed of extraordinary beings
Their group's goal is to make an army, composed of different persons with special abilities, to rule over the world. They tried a lot of experiments just to make their army the strongest of them all. The only problem was that those persons kept on dying after being injected by the drug.
Other than the Division, there were also a group called "Triad". This group was also composed of extraordinary individuals who were also for the hunt of the drug.
VERDICT: I go for "Push" this time. The reason is that the bad guys here all possessed super powers, unlike of those in "Jumper". Some of them were even stronger than the main character of the film.
THE LADY:
*"Jumper" - Rachel Bilson plays the role of Millie Harris, David's love interest. She was just a normal person, without any super powers. Both of them knew each other since they were young and even studied in the same school. But because of an incident, they went to separate ways. Millie grew up in their hometown, while David decided to live alone in the city.
After many years, they crossed paths once again. David took Millie to Rome since it was her childhood dream to be there. But because of that, David just placed her into trouble. Millie is now in between the cat-and-mouse hunt of David and Roland.
*"Push" - Camille Belle plays the role of Kira Hudson, Nick's love interest. Unlike Millie, she possesses extraordinary powers - the ability to "push" other people to do whatever she wanted. It was never shown in the film if Nick and her knew each other when they were still young. They just revealed at the latter part that they've been in a relationship before the current events of the film.
Kira escaped from the hands of the Division after she was injected by the drug which makes persons like her to be stronger. It was now upto Nick or Carver who will ever find her first.
VERDICT: I decided to make it a tie. Both has the looks and a great personality. Although Kira has a slighter egde, since she was the one who killed Carver at the end of the film. Well, she has powers, of course.
THE SIDEKICK/S:
*Jumper" - David really doesn't have a certified sidekick in the film. But he was once helped by another Jumper, Griffin - played by Jamie Bell.
There was a part of the story wherein they agreed to be allies against Roland and the Paladins. But later on in the film, they themselves fought just because David wanted to save Millie.
*"Push" - Nick had a lot of helping hand in this film. First, Cassie - a second generation Watcher, played by Dakota Fanning. She's always with Nick all through out the movie. She's even wiser than him. Other members of the group were Emily (a Sniff - has the ability to know everything by just smelling the object), Hook (a Shifter - has the ability to shape-shift objects), and Pinky (a Shadow - has the ability to hide a person or object from Watchers). They were also helped by Wo Chiang (a Wiper - has the ability to wipe/remove ones memory).
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VERDICT: Obviously, "Push" wins this round. Simple: Nick has a better backup compared to David. Their teamwork even helped them defeat the bad guys.
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THE FINAL VERDICT:
Well, both movies won two rounds and a tie, so it means they really canceled out each other. "Jumper" and "Push" have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes with the elements of the story.
It is still up to the viewers which they think the better movie than the other. What's important is that we just don't appreciate the movie because of its cool special effects, but of the story itself. A movie with a boring storyline is indeed a boring one to watch.
That's all for now folks!!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
1 Liter of Tears
The drama is an adaptation of the diary of a Japanese girl named Aya Kitō, who suffered from spinocerebellar ataxia. She began keeping a diary at the suggestion of her doctor, and continued to write until she could no longer hold a pen. The diary, titled 1 rittoru no namida, was published shortly before her death. Although some of the characters and situations are fictionalized in this television version, the dialogue frequently draws directly from Aya Kitô's own words. Moreover, each episode concludes with a narrated diary excerpt, framed with photographs from various stages in Kitô's life, before and after her diagnosis.
The screenplay thus attempts to balance between faithfully working with actual text from the book, 1 rittoru no namida, while also inventing situational contexts so as to portray the struggles of the book's characters in dramatic scenarios. The character Haruto Asô, for example, does not exist in the original diary; however, as a fictional character created for this series, he provides an important mechanism through which Aya's inner feelings, the diary's language on a page, can become more fully actualized as part of a day-to-day narrative.
Synopsis:
She still makes friends with others, including her first love, Yuji. She later develops an interest in Haruto. Although somewhat cold, Haruto was still kind to her. Meanwhile, her health continues to deteriorate. Knowing that she will not survive for long, she returns the gift Haruto has given, who discovers the fact when he reads the love letter that Aya gave him.
Aya Kitō proved her courage and positive attitude towards an uncertain future when suffering such an illness, spinocerebellar ataxia. The drama spans a decade, during which she graduates from school while her conditions worsen.
This drama examines the complex range of feelings that patient, family, friends, and the general community, undergo during the painful process when someone so young is diagnosed with a terminal disease. In doing so, the script considers particularly the domestic situation of caring for an ill relative who requires specialized attention, but it also critiques general attitudes towards the disabled in Japanese society.
Every new day for Aya means accepting new obstacles and new losses. Therefore, most importantly, this series commemorates the indomitable spirit who wrote a "record of a girl who was chosen by this strange disease."
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Litre_no_Namida_(TV_series)
I Finally Got One!!!
At last, I finally got my own copy of Bob Ong's latest book, "Kapitan Sino". It was really hard to find since they had only limited supplies. According to an article from the internet, it is just available at selected Powerbooks branches; and later, at selected National Bookstore outlets.Last Sunday, May 24, me and my family went to Trinoma to shop around. Luckily, there were still five of them displayed on Powerbooks. The moment I saw the book, I immedietly grabbed one.
"Kapitan Sino" is the seventh book by Bob Ong, one of my favorite Filipino authors. That's why when I found out about the latest one, I didn't hesitate to buy for my own.
The story revolves around a guy, who lived during the time of Martial Law, who discovered that he possesses supernatural powers, just like the usual superhero. A combination of drama, comedy and action is what you can expect once you read the book.So try to grab your own copy for you to experience the great works of Bob Ong.
The Music of Nodame Cantabile
Based on the hit comic book by Tomoko Ninomiya, this is a fun-filled quirky romantic story of two very opposite people.
Megumi Noda, or “Nodame” is a piano student at Momogaoka College of Music. An extremely talented pianist who wants to be a kindergarten teacher, she prefers playing by ear rather than reading the music score. She is messy and disorganized, takes baths several days apart and loves to eat, sometimes stealing her friend’s lunchbox when it is filled with delicacies.
Shinichi Chiaki, is Momogaoka’s top student. Born into a musical family, he is talented in piano and violin and has secret ambitions to become a conductor. An arrogant multi-lingual perfectionist who once lived abroad in the music capitals of the world as a young boy, he feels mired in Japan because of a childhood phobia.
They meet by accident. Nodame quickly falls in love, but it takes much longer for Chiaki to even begin to appreciate Nodame’s unusual qualities. Their relationship causes them both to develop and grow. Because of Nodame, Chiaki got the opportunity to lead a student orchestra and begins to have a broader appreciation of people's musical abilities. Because of Chiaki, Nodame faces her fears and enters a piano competition. Opportunities open up as both begin taking risks, stretching themselves far more than they ever thought possible.NOTE FROM ME: As of now, Nodame Cantabile is being aired in GMA 7, although the network will be replacing it immediately by Kim Sam Soon. I don't know what could be the exact reason why they're replacing it, and come to think of it, a lot of scenes were cut.
I just hope that they really know what they're doing, because it will surely ruin their reputation. Bring back Nodame Cantabile GMA 7, if you don't mind!
The Dark Horse had reached the TOP!
The Eight Season of the reality/talent show American Idol had reached its end, crowning the new winner: KRIS ALLEN.
Even Danny Gokey, which was also one of the favorites and was expected to be with Adam in the finals, was voted out in the competition. This just showed that there were already a lot of Kris Allen fans, that includes me, who watches the show.
But honestly, I expected Danny to win the crown if only he wasn't booted out. He has a great singing voice which is better than Kris', and more smooth than Adam's. But then, that's not enough for him to advanced.
With Kris' stellar performances with songs like Falling Slowly, She Works Hard for the Money, Ain't no Sunshine and Heartless, he emerged as the winner of American Idol Season 8. His first single for his album would be No Boundaries, which was co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, and was performed by him after he was declared the winner.
Well, good luck Kris with your upcoming career in Hollywood! Hope you show everyone why you deserved winning the title as the winner of the American Idol.
Peace out!
-Brent John Nathaniel F. De Guzman
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Rakista: Rock On!
"Rakista" is just one of the shows of TV5. It is currently shown every Thursday night at 7:00 P.M. and replays during Sundays at 1:00 in the afternoon. The show's all about college students who decided to form a rock band with their own purposes.
The cast, led by Carlo Aquino as Caloy, really makes a perfect combination for this kind of show. Caloy, together with Ted (played by Charles Christianson), co-founded their band, "The Love Team". Ted is the also the band's manager. His real intention is to be famous in order to meet lots of girls.
On the way, they met Nix (played by Alcris Galura), which really looked familiar since he joined the reality show "Coca-Cola Ride to Fame" in GMA, the brother of Glaisa de Castro, and appeared to some shows in TV. He is the most talented musician in the band and their lead guitarist. Due to misunderstandings, he had to live a lot of bands. Later on we'll know if he will do the same in "The Love Team".
They also met Bebe (played by Rhea Nakpil), who was a product of "Starstruck" of GMA. She's the bassist of the band and doesn't admit that she's an EMO. She and Nix became enemies, and later on, became lovers... and then ex-lovers. She also once a member of the Secosana Gang.
And lastly, Sven (played by Wincy Ong), the band's drummer. The maybe is the most energetic and comedic member, and even has a taste in art. He later on had a girlfriend named Rose Mary Jane.
Other cast members are Denise Laurel, who plays CC, Caloy's bestfriend. Caloy is secretly inloved with her and let's his songs do the talking. Marco Morales as Sonny, CC's boyfriend and member of the swimming team. He also ran for Student Council President, and eventually won. Earl Igancio as Caloy's elder brother who was once a member of a band. Other characters are "The Secosana Gang", "The Table Tennis Club", "Cubao Expo group", "The Hate Team", and a lot more.
Some famous rock bands also made some appearences in the show like Spongecola and Eraserheads. The show is narrated by Radioactive Sago Project's vocalist Lourd De Veyra. Rakista was created by Quark Henares and Diego Castillo of Sandwhich.
Note: TV5 had just shown the seems to be last episode of Rakista last November 6, 2008. I just hope it wouldn't be the last. I hope.
VIDEOS OF ALL EPISODES:
-Brent John Nathaniel F. De Guzman
The "Saw" Franchise
The "Saw" series really made a great impact in the movie industry. As of today, Lionsgate had already released Saw 1 to 4, and just recently, Saw 5. Here's a look back on the previous SAW films:
"SAW" (2004)The movie began with Dr. Gordon and Adam chained in a very, very dirty abandoned bathroom. After a while they began talking and talking about who they are and if ever they had known each other before. The greatest mystery of course was that who brought them there and for what reason. Then series of events and flashbacks were shown through out the movie. These include the story about Amanda Young, one of the victims of whom they called "Jigsaw". Jigsaw always let someone plays a game of choice, between life and death. Amanda was one of those who had escaped his trap.
Later on, both guys realized that they were victims of Jigsaw and he wanted them to cut off their foot for them to escape. Just like any other suspense/thriller movies, the family of the protagonist were always put in danger. It was indeed the same in this movie. Few minutes before the movie ended, Dr. Gordon was able to cut off his foot and promised Adam to come back with help coming his way. He then crawled on the floor leaving Adam behind. Little that they know was that the body, covered with blood, together with them was the real Jigsaw. He slowly stand up just like a zombie and telling Adam that the key to his chained was indeed with him in the bathtub. Jigsaw went out and said, "GAME OVER!", and slammed the door leaving Adam being electrified.
OVERALL RATING: It wasn't bad, but wasn't great either. The story was quite slow paced. But quite tolerable since it was just the beginning of the series.
HANGING QUESTION: What happened to the crawling Dr. Gordon?
"SAW 2" (2005)
Oh yes...there will be blood. It's a lot more bloody version of the SAW movie, well, compared to the first one. It started with Michael being trapped with a Venus flytrap-like attached to his head. And the only way to escape it was to get the key hidden behind his eyes. Grossed!
Anyway, this movie brought back Amanda Young, the survivor from the first one. It also presented new major character Detective Matthews. He was one of the agents in solving the case of Jigsaw. But later on in the movie, his own son will play Jigsaw's games. Together with other 7 people, including Amanda, they must survived inside an abandoned house before they die due to the virus injected through their veins. Meanwhile, Detective Matthews and the others detected Jigsaw's place. They found out that he was suffering from cancer due to an accident. But this didn't stop Matthews to look for his son.
Persons in the house started to die one by one leaving Amanda, Matthews' son and a big fella fighting for survival. Later on they found out the numbers for the combination of the antidotes' vault was on their nape. Amanda and Daniel run for their lives while Matthews and Jigsaw went on to their location. They ended up at the very, very dirty bathroom from SAW 1, with dead bodies lying on the floor. The struggle continues until the big fella died, finally. Meanwhile, the other agents discovered that the scenes they watched was all recorded, meaning it already happened earlier. Matthews fell to Jigsaw's trap because of his anger. His son was safe all along inside a vault. At the end of the movie, Matthews was chained, he then discovered that Amanda Young was indeed Jigsaw's apprentice.
OVERALL RATING: Definitely better than the first movie. With more victims and exciting storyline of course.
HANGING QUESTION: What will happened to Detective Matthews now that his in Jigsaw's hands?
"SAW 3" (2006)
The third installment of the Saw franchise. Jigsaw is dying and it's Amanda's time to take on his job. One of the agents, Kerry, was also placed in Jigsaw's trap and died. Lynn, a doctor, was kidnapped to play Jigsaw's game: to keep him alive. Another character was involved in the film, Jeff. Jeff needed to pass different tests to reach who ever the person responsible for the death of his son.
Along the way, Jeff met different persons involved in his son's accident. He was to choose whether to save them or leave them behind. While Lynn did everything to keep Jigsaw alive, and at the same time, had some confrontations with Amanda. Amanda then started to be taken over by her emotions and attempted to kill Lynn. But Jigsaw refused her to do it since Lynn had done her job.
Jeff was then able to reached the final stage of his test. Amanda was killed and Lynn was badly hurt. We then found out that Lynn and Jeff were a couple. Jeff and Jigsaw had a conversation about the truth on his son's death. Jigsaw asked Jeff to forgive him. He was forgiven but was killed by Jeff with a razor. Little that he know, his life was connected to Lynn's life, meaning if he dies she dies as well. The movie ends with Lynn having her head blown out and Jeff listening to Jigsaw's tape. He discovered their daughter was hidden in that same building and he will not be able to know where she is.
OVERALL RATING: Saw 3 was again better than the first one. Some details about Jigsaw was also revealed in this movie which made it more interesting.
HANGING QUESTION: What was the content of Amanda's letter?
The movie begins with the autopsy of Jigsaw's body. A tape was recovered in his body and was played by Detective Hoffman, one of Detective Matthew's team members. Jigsaw said that "the game had just begun" and will not end just because he is dead.
The main character of this movie was Detective Rigg, already seen since Saw 2. He still grieves for the death of Detective Kerry and still believed that Matthews was still alive. Later on, he himself became the new player of Jigsaw's games. Every stage challenged him to save the lives of others, or leave them behind and find out where Matthews really is. The movie also presented new characters like Agent Strahm, Agent Perez and Jill, Jigsaw's ex-wife. Jill was interrogated by Strahm suspecting her to be involved with Jigsaw's works.
After a while, Rigg was almost near where Detective Matthews was. Meanwhile, together with him was Detective Hoffman and Art, another victim of Jigsaw's game. He discovered that for them to be saved, the time on the clock must run out first. Later on in the movie, Agent Perez died and Agent Strahm went on to where Jigsaw was. There was only few seconds left when Rigg arrived near the door. He then went through the secured door and activated the device that will crushed Matthews head. Matthews died, same as Art since he was gun fired by Rigg. Rigg then discovered that his real test is not to proceed and try to save a life again. He was also warned earlier not to go through secured doors. It was also revealed that Detective Hoffman was the other accomplice of Jigsaw. Rigg died also died because of gun shot. Earlier on, Strahm met Jeff, who was looking for his daughter. Strahm shot Jeff for self-defense. He was then locked up by Hoffman in the same room where Jigsaw's, Amanda's and Lynn's dead bodies were.
OVERALL RATING: The best part so far, well, for me. Pieces started to put into place. More flashbacks were also shown and the movie was more exciting than ever.
HANGING QUESTION: Was Amanda really dead? What will happened to Agent Strahm after being locked up inside the room?
"SAW 5" (2008) HANGING QUESTION: What was inside the box which was given to Jill? What will happened now that Agent Strahm was suspected as Jigsaw's apprentice, considering he died at the end of the movie? Is Brit also one of Jigsaw's accomplice in the film?
That's all for now, tune in for more updates about the upcoming "Saw 6" movie...or even more from the Saw franchise...
-Brent John Nathaniel F. De Guzman
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Moving on Quotations
~ Sometimes the cards we are dealt are not always fair. However you must keep smiling & moving on ~ Tom Jackson
~ Moving on, is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard. ~ Dave Mustaine
~ To be able to move on, one has to learn to forgive not only the person (or people) who have done one wrong but also oneself ~ Eugenia Tripputi
~ By forgiving and choosing to move on, one takes the power back to morph it into positive energy. ~ Eugenia Tripputi
~ Life is about making the right decisions and moving on. ~ Josh
~ Forgiveness and letting go are steps on our road back to happiness. ~ Tina Dayton
~ You are responsible for your life. You can't keep blaming somebody else for your dysfunction. Life is really about moving on. ~ Oprah Winfrey
~ Take a second out to think about this: in your life you search and search for the right person for you. Every time you break up with someone you get one step closer to that person. You should look at moving on as getting closer to meeting the one. ~ Ian Philpot
~ Quietly forgiving and moving on is a gift to God ~ and yourself. ~ Unknown
~ When you start to abandoning your old beliefs or values... you may be stuck at the threshold for two or three years. Before moving on, you have to clear away your cherished beliefs. ~ Dick Raymond
~ Courage is not the absence of fear, but simply moving on with dignity despite that fear. ~ Pat Riley
~ one shot at a time and then move on. Remember that golf is just ~ Nancy Lopez
~ The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on. ~ Ulysses S. Grant
~ A graduation is a small but significant tradition that I think everyone should take part in. What a great way to symbolize a part of your journey and to represent your thoughts for moving on. ~ Martin Stoleman
~ Moving On has allowed me to know who I am and to be present in all that I do. I take this forward in my work and in my personal relationships. It is a powerful program and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to move on with their life. ~ Lou
~ If someone you love hurts you cry a river, build a bridge, and get over it. ~
Unknown
~ Letting go doesn't mean giving up... it means moving on. It is one of the hardest things a person can do. Starting at birth, we grasp on to anything we can get our hands on, and hold on as if we will cease to exist when we let go. We feel that letting go is giving up, quitting, and that as we all know is cowardly. But as we grow older we are forced to change our way of thinking. We are forced to realize that letting go means accepting things that cannot be. It means maturing and moving on, no matter how hard you have to fight yourself to do so." ~ Unknown
~ Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can't prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you're presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power. ~ Blaine Lee
THE VICTOR by C.W. Longenecker
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
If you think you are outclassed, you are.
Life’s battles don’t always go
"Kutabowl Kowts..."
Here are some of the quotable quotes I've gathered.
Check it out! wahaha...
* Kindness is a language, which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
* A dash of diplomacy and graciousness in times of conflict will lead to golden opportunities.
* Look at yourself before you look towards changing others.
* Leaning on others might not make you comfortable but it is the best thing that could happen to you.
* We do not stop playing because we are old, we grow old because we stop playing.
* Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.
* Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and concious one.
* Each one, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.
* If God gives you something you can do, why in God's name wouldn't you do it?
* You will know who I am when you forget my name.
That's all for now!
'Till next time mga tsong! =)
“No One” (working title palang)
Trivia: 1st composition ko 'yan...hehe
Intro: D-DM7-D7-G 2x
Stanza: c.p. D-DM7-D7-G
I. There's something behind those smiles... that no one ever knew.
And no one will ever see... the pain inside of you.
II. There's something behind those eyes...I'd seen for many years.
But you never had someone to cry...and wipe away your tears.
Refrain: Em-C-G 2x -A-
That's why I'm here to light your day...
And I promised that forever I'm here to stay...
Chorus: D-DM7-D7-G 2x ; Em-A
'Coz no one ever see you thru... just like the way I see thru you...
'Coz no one ever knows the things you do, but I'll promise you that --
I will stay forever, 'coz I can't live my life without you near...
Adlib: D-DM7-D7-G 2x
Repeat Stanza II and Refrain
Repeat Chorus 2x - slow to fast strum -
Coda: D-DM7-D7-G 2x -D-
There's something behind those smiles... that no one will ever knew.
But I'll promise to stay here... 'coz I ... love... you...
-end-
