When In Manila’s Rockeoke! #WIMPARTYARACAMA

What: When In Manila’s Rocking XMas Rockeoke Blogger Party at Aracama!

When: Tuesday, December 17th

Where: Aracama, The Fort

I really want to make this Manila trip so much more than just being cozy at home, not thinking about work and all, so I decided to join When In Manila’s Rockeoke Party! It’s gotta be my first When In Manila event to attend! Damn I am already excited and I haven’t even commented on that article!

Calling all bloggers out there! Let’s all meet and have fun at Aracama! We need to rock out with our attires if we want to win prizes! There’s an open bar plus live music! WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR? Truly an exciting year-ender blow out for bloggers out there. This will definitely be one of my trip’s highlights! More information here, and please do check out WhenInManila.com!

Meeting Lena Dunham

I remember that day clearly like it was yesterday.

You already know that me and the fam went to New York for the Labor day weekend right? It was only supposedly a 4-day trip which I totally realized was too short! I mean come on mom and dad?! I definitely made the most of our walking trips, and my constant craving for a bagel and some Dunkin Donuts…and oh wait wait wait- 99 cent pizzas!

So on our last day, I turned on the actor switch in me (but you gotta know that I legitimately felt sad that day knowing it would be our last day) and my parents bought it! They were like “okay, one more day”. We were also supporting my uncle because he had the citizenship interview the coming day, it would be rude to leave when he has a big day waiting too. I went with him and walked for an hour to the immigration office downtown (it was a long walk but it was a hot summer’s day so I was really loving it). I got to see SoHo and West Village for reals! I even took videos! Check my instagram!

By the way, I’m sharing too much and not talking  about the picture on top BUT here we go. So I found out that morning on twitter that the TV show GIRLS is filming at Lafayette Street near Astoria! I was like “where the hell is that?!” and really, thank God for Google Maps y’all. I even asked my uncle as we were walking to the building of where the place was and he showed me exactly where the filming trucks and crew were setting up!

I immediately got home after the immigration office interview and took a nap for like 3 hours and then I woke up and kinda felt tired but I knew I had to come down and meet whoever possibly was there filming scenes. I expected Allison Williams and Zosia Mamet, of course Lena Dunham. So I walked back to the place and sat down at the flight of steps outside this big library and restaurant. I was wondering why there no fans waiting, so I kind of just thought “maybe this is a long shot”. To my surprise I saw Jemima Kirke lounging around outside a little apartment building! I was like “oh hell yes!”, y’all know my first reaction right? “SHE’S GORGEOUS!” and I came up to the nearest phone booth and started tweeting about it (like a normal obsessive hard fan would) and I saw another girl clamouring and talking on the phone with someone sharing the fact that she saw Jemima! I noticed that the people were just walking by her, maybe they didn’t know her? Or they just don’t care? For some reason that baffled me. She then went inside before I could even find the guts to ask her for a photo (in which she eventually turned down after she stormed out the door), she said she actually can’t take photos with fans, she wasn’t allowed. Oh well.

So an hour came by and I was getting kinda frustrated and thought maybe I’m not gonna meet anybody famous I could take a photo with. Then I waited for another half hour. I even saw two girls waiting, and they looked delighted and excited to see whoever’s going to show up. They left after a few minutes and right at that moment I saw the door open and there goes Lena! I was really shocked! Then I came up to her and said hello and immediately asked for a hug! That wasn’t typical me by the way. Then she gave me a hug and asked where I was from. I told her we were visiting and it was my last day in the city, and that I was from the Philippines and Canada. I asked her for a photo and she was like “yeah, sure!”. She was the coolest ever! She even posed for another photo after asking me if I liked the first one. Seriously it was the best day ever. She said “it was very nice to meet you!’ and waved goodbye. It was enough for me. It topped my first meeting with a Hollywood celeb back in 2011 which was Channing Tatum. I knew I had to share it at every social media account I have, so I did.

Thank God for making my parents say yes to stay another day in which I totally made the most of!

NYC is FTW!

A week ago we went to the Big Apple! I, for one actually think I was born to be in New York City. Seriously. It eats me up inside that I am not yet even there living and struggling. That’s not a joke. I want to learn how to independent and even though I kinda am right now, I just want to live like majority of people my age and trying to figure out their purpose in the world. I’ll get there. I just wish that I can be awesome and get to meet the right people when I do.

Lower East Side and Chinatown. This is where my uncle lives and I’d like to say, this is my neighbourhood y’all! I’ll most likely end up in this area when I eventually find a place. I love how affordable stuff are! I even like the vibe of this junction.

Day 2: we went to visit the ONLY Jollibee (a Filipino fast food chain that is ever famous for its chicken and spaghetti) in New York. The people there were unusually warm and welcoming. Or maybe it’s just me. I am made of stone:( We ended up taking the subway to Queens going there and it was quite a long ride! It was raining but nonetheless we ate and we were able to cross that off our checklist.  I have to go there again to embrace the vibe of the area. After that we hopped in the train again to go to the Grand Central Terminal. My only reference to that station is the movie Friends With Benefits. Go figure. I loved seeing people constantly take photos of the whole place. There wasn’t really much to see but the feel that you’re there is definitely a life goal come true.

 

Day 3: We went to Central Park! Gloomy weather but definitely better than our Queens trip. Here we saw that one place we always see in the movies, that long trail where people walk and there were green benches on the side. Yeah that. We also discovered that area in The Avengers movie, the one with the fountain downstairs! Very cool! There was some sort of a performance from a group of guys, they made everyone laugh and kinda scared afterwards because they mocked themselves and people actually slowly believed them. I won’t elaborate.

Times Square! I knew I had to go back here again and take the perfect photo. But sadly that didn’t quite happen! It was too crowded and there were construction going on and stuff. Nevertheless, I got to see it again and it felt all too real (again). God I would love to work here.

Some cool stuff I saw along the way. I’m a chronic sightseer and I just like to take anything colorful and interesting. SoHo is the place to be for fashion & arts people (I’d like to believe I fall in that category). I walked in that area and I didn’t want to leave! It was everything! This graffiti on the 4th panel was from a wall in Little Tokyo (that place actually exists!), it was really cool. The sticker wall was from an organic food store, I just really had to take a photo.

So there you have it! I actually have a lot more photos but I’m afraid I’m taking too much space up! Of course your time too. I could go on and on but there’s a limit to that. I have another NYC-related blog entry involving a Golden Globe winner that I met on my last day staying there. Sounds cool right? YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

 

 

Au revoir, Summer 2013!

Okay I know I have been MIA (yet again) but this time I will post as much as I can, especially after this hiatus month!

It has definitely been an uneventful summer. I wanted to make it special (I mean how do you do that really) but it turned out quite bland and it felt like we all just went through the motions. I wanted to go to the beach. That didn’t happen. I wanted a summer fling that I might possibly regret or not in the future. Negative. This is me venting, because I literally didn’t do anything but work and some occasional trips wherever this past summer and I believe I owe to myself next year to make the most of my young life and live it up! These are some of the photos that are saved on my phone for your viewing pleasure of course!

We went for the first time to the Canadian National Exhibition or as what people call it “The CNE!”. Long ass bus ride going there. It’s like a bunch of fairs, circus attractions, games, and what have you. As much as I didn’t enjoy it, I really just wanted to go there and look at what it had to offer. I liked the feel of it though, but maybe I’m outgrowing what was once a really fun place to be when we were kids.

One thing that I really loved about it was the food!! The cronut controversy surfaced before we went so we’re clear for food poisoning! What are those things anyway? Oh yeah, the food! Kinda expensive by the way but good enough for a one time try. The DEEP FRIED OREOS were the bomb! I thought I was about to eat something really nasty, but boy was I wrong! I wanted another batch! The cheese fries with bacon really satisfied my hunger too. Also pictured are funnel cakes which I wanted to try too and a sculpture of Wolverine made out of butter! Yes, BUTTER! I really had fun seeing the animals they had inside the dome, there were farm buddies like pigs, chickens, goats, cows. It was my first time seeing an alpaca, which really terrified me! I seriously don’t have an idea how these animals go about their daily lives, but you know damn well they are unpredictable! I even took videos! One more thing, my dad played the games wherein we had to pay like 2 bucks everytime. While we didn’t get the big stuffed animals, my mom was happy with 4 little ones! They are a rip off! My work friends took photos on instagram when they won big animals! Jealous!

This is an oversaturated collage photo of a house party I attended a few weeks back. I enjoyed my time. I even slept over my friend’s boyfriend’s room. It was great meeting mutual friends from all over the Philippines who came to Canada later than I did. I will say this, these people know how to have fun! I’ve always thought that the party crowd will never be my clique but it’s slowly proving me wrong. Good times!

Me and my work friend had a little Tuesdate. We went to see The Spectacular Now (which I will review if I have time). All I have to say is that it was a really great movie. Very quiet but it’s filled with so much life lessons especially people our age.  Y’all should see it! After that, we went to U-Tea, which was along Bloor West. It’s a boardgame cafe and you can waste your time there with your friends. We played Blokus, which was really fun. Girl beat me though. Then we had dinner and bubble tea! Their bubble teas are pretty delish! Check it out!

*This is the first of many posts I will be flooding you! You’ve been warned.  Glad to be back!

The Peer Project: Youth Mentor diaries

Just last May I signed up to be youth mentor in our area. I went with an open mind to the orientation, which proved to be easy after all. Well, not all about it was piece of cake but since we’re dealing with kids here, we definitely have to be aware, firm and fully ready for the job. I waited a good two months to get started, it took a while but it was all worth it. I have been busy enough to not blog for a couple weeks because I really want to take time on my other endeavors. (That sounded as if I have tons of things to deal with, not really what’s happening in real life tbh)

As for the methodology of the said organization, the website states: “Young people experiencing behavioral  social, emotional and/or cultural difficulties can be referred. A home assessment will determine their needs. Young adults and police officers from all cultures and diverse backgrounds are recruited, screened and trained to become positive peer mentors sharing their life experiences”

I, myself have been wanting to be a mentor for so many years now. I think it’s because I grew fond of kids when I was in my late teenage years. I remember that day my friend Rachel had her 18th birthday at the orphanage, it was such a fulfilling experience that nothing could ever replace. I gave her props for that because instead of having a ball or like party at the club, she thought of other people who needed help and time. Also, I came from a country where there’s so many kids who can’t afford education and thus, resulting them to become wayward. I wish I could do something about it now that I am here overseas. I will do anything to be of help to those less fortunate youth when I get the chance. Also, after seeing the trailer for the SXSW film “Short Term 12” starring Brie Larson, I knew that was like one of the go-signals to get on board with this opportunity.

“Remember you’re not their parent, you’re not their therapist. You’re here to help them discover who they are and all other things they struggle with”

I wondered what my junior will be like (that’s how we call them apparently), and I actually asked my case coordinator if I could have a kid who’s only 6-10 years old. I seem to be having a little of trouble when I deal with older kids. I was initially paired up with a 13-year old kid who just recently moved here to Toronto. At first I didn’t have any problem with it but after some thinking, I grew hesitant because the worst case scenario will be me butting heads with this kid and I wouldn’t want that for the both of us. I already thought that as a disadvantage before even meeting the kid. My apologies if you think I’m a terrible person.

Then I was paired up with this kid who lives a block away from our place (I know, isn’t it perfect?). When I met up with him I found myself excited to finally be sharing my time with this kid even if it’s only for 3 hours a week. Our first activity happened just 2 days after the meeting and this kid’s brother apparently has a mentor already who also showed up for our water park getaway. It was a rather awesome yet surreal experience, especially it being my first with my junior. A child’s formative years is from infantry to age 5, and what happens after that is tricky. In my kid’s case, he wants someone to spend time with other than his brother and sister, he wants to look up to someone and he wants to play with that someone. The smile on this kid’s face when he sees me makes me feel giddy and fulfilled.

I know this is going to be tough and being a youth mentor is a thankless job but I believe that I can do this to the best of my abilities. I thank God for this experience. You can check out the org’s website and see if you can be of help. I cannot wait for more experiences with this kid honestly. It’s going to be an awesome year!

You have to eat here: THE BURGER’S PRIEST

“Redeeming the burger one at a time”

Food trip Fridays are awesome! Me, Krista and Lovelle went to this new burger joint downtown and boy was that an experience like no other. That sounds a little over the top but you have to know, I like my burgers because for almost a year and a half now I’ve been working at a burger place & I grew fond of them.

You will know an unusual taste once you’ve eaten too many fast food items. Their burgers are so good! Even the bun, the toppings and sides! After my burger I ordered a root bear float (which I miss oh-so-much!) and it was the best one I’ve had in years! They even have a secret menu for which we didn’t know about when we went there! It was also packed because it was a Friday plus it rained:( We stayed for almost an hour because we enjoyed the meals so much and we even had to go for seconds and thirds. Recommended for everyone!

If you want to visit their website, you can head on straight to: http://www.theburgerspriest.com/

Movie Review: Fruitvale Station (2013)

Now I understand why this film captured the hearts of the Sundance crowd and won the jury prize. I was prepared to be indifferent about it despite the great reviews, but oh boy it hit me deeply and I was in tears.

Plot: Follows the true story of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother (Octavia Spencer), whose birthday falls on New Year’s Eve, being a better partner to his girlfriend Sophina (Melonie Diaz), who he hasn’t been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to Tatiana (Ariana Neal), their beautiful four year-old daughter. Crossing paths with friends, family, and strangers, Oscar starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easily. His resolve takes a tragic turn, however, when BART officers shoot him in cold blood at the Fruitvale subway stop on New Year’s Day. Oscar’s life and tragic death would shake the Bay Area – and the entire nation – to its very core.

You know that feeling when you just walked out of the theatre but you wanted to collect yourself first but people keep walking past you? This was EXCELLENT in all levels. A very special film that was based on a youtube video about a young man that was arrested and eventually shot by a police officer on New Year’s eve. The movie follows Oscar Grant (played by the amazing Michael B. Jordan) as he goes about his final day and the people he met. The director surely made an unforgettable debut.

I can say that the performances are better than the movie itself. The cast was a-plus-mazing. Octavia Spencer gave me everything I ever wanted in life, while Melonie Diaz served! I wouldn’t be shocked if both of them won awards come the Oscars/SAG/Golden Globes season. Did I mention Michael B. Jordan’s terrific starmaking turn? He was absolutely amazing. Some of the scenes were superbly shot, and the script was just a dream. The ending provided us with the information we needed but that last scene with the girlfriend and the kid, was just, I can’t even.

Definitely one of the films you shouldn’t dare miss this year.

There Is More To Life

THIS RIGHT HERE.

Movie Review: Only God Forgives (2013)

This was quite the cinematic experience. And to think people walked out of the theatres because they couldn’t take whatever they were seeing, I have to say that this movie was pretty darn brilliant. I liked it.

Plot: Julian, who runs a Thai boxing club as a front organization for his family’s drug smuggling operation, is forced by his mother Jenna to find and kill the individual responsible for his brother’s recent death.

If you can look past the violence & the distasteful nature of this film, I’m sure you will consider it a masterpiece. Then again, it’s a slice of the pie, so you’re going to have to take it in no matter how disgusting and immoral you feel. THIS MOVIE IS CLEARLY NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

Purely falling under the style over substance category, it’s that type of film where you don’t care for the characters let alone for the thin story it tries to tell us. Disengaging yet I can’t say that’s a bad thing. I gotta say that I loved the location though, it was perfect. I want to go to Bangkok now! The lights and the hue of this film are just so stunning. Also the soundtrack, it was like I’m in a dream. I jumped a little in some scenes because I knew there was blood waiting to be shed, I had to cover my eyes, because I myself, couldn’t tolerate that much violence.

One more thing, Ryan Gosling’s eerie machismo creeped me out a little and Kristin Scott Thomas (this is the first time I’ve seen her in a film), oh boy have I become an instant fan. She played it perfectly! Vithaya Pansringarm, the Thai actor, was brooding and excellent. I admit, it was a little tough to watch but I’m glad that this film proved me wrong about the jeers it received at Cannes last May.

Cory Monteith, 1982-2013

The Toronto Star: “The B.C. Coroner’s Service says Canadian actor Cory Monteith was killed by an overdose of heroin and alcohol.”

The said statement was announced this afternoon following the autopsy and investigation about Glee actor Cory Monteith’s untimely passing. Staff at Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel found his body around noon Saturday after he missed his checkout time.

What I really feel about this whole situation is that one man, with whom the public has grown to love over the past 4 years is now gone. Glee was a turning point in Cory Monteith’s young career and he definitely melted hearts and swooned girls from all over the world by being in such a great Tv show. I was shocked myself when I found out about his passing Sunday morning and I screamed myself “NO NO NO” then started reading more about it on twitter and the news articles, and unfortunately believed it.

The thing I loved about Cory Monteith is that he’s as genuine as he is very nice and hilarious. That’s something in general to all the fans who love him as well, but his interviews are what stood out to me. He would encourage everybody to be themselves, and follow their dreams. He was never hesitant to open up about his drug problem, and that he needed help. Hats off to him when he decided to check into rehab a few months ago, even though I found that completely baffling. I never expected someone like him to have such weight on his shoulders especially with his image. A while ago I was reading some more tweets about him and found out that co-stars Dianna Agron and Naya Rivera fell to the ground and collapsed hysterically after hearing the news. I couldn’t imagine the pain his family is going through, also his girlfriend Lea Michele and his friends. The outpouring of love and support throughout social media was flowing, everyone was heartbroken. It’s a tremendous loss to young Hollywood. I would also like to write about Talia Castellano, who died this morning as well. Such a fighter and a sweet little girl. Spread your wings and fly child, you are now free. Rest in peace Cory & Talia. We love you.