Boracay, July 2008

Went to Bora last July. The roundtrip ticket cost only P2,999, and the lodging was free. We stayed in this hilltop house owned by Nini, my friend's friend.



The house was impressive, beginning with the main door's ornately carved frame.



One flight of stairs led to my very own spacious room.



Another flight of stairs led to the living and dining areas, which featured this beautiful custom-made coconut chandelier. I loved it.



These areas overlook a beautiful view of the backside of Boracay.



I was ostensibly invited in this trip to "chaperone" two balikbayan teenagers, because they were with a bunch of adults and I would be closer to these kids' ages than the other adults.

But it turned out these kids weren't allowed to drink, or do anything remotely adult-like, that the only chaperoning I did was to jetski with one of them. I thought I'd die of fright, the speed this kid was going.

I had more babysitting duties with this adorable little boy, and became great friends with him in just four days. Meet Mikey. We have the same name.

Mikey's back in the States now, along with the rest, and will be back two years from now. Hope he'll remember me when he's 5 years old.

--Morx

I Saw It Twice

And not because it was a cinematic masterpiece. Far from it. But, friends, we all know who's the masterpiece in it. So there.

--Morx

Freebie Moment! Panic! At the Disco

I was almost resigned to not seeing it, but Len texted the day before to say we had tickets. I was elated, to say the least. And it was even more fantastic when we got to Araneta and learned that our tickets were for the 4th row.

Now, with that kind of view, it was infuriating that I did not have my camera. Hence, no photos.

I am one with the throngs of screaming girls in saying that the concert was fun, but at just one hour (or 11 songs), it was also really bitin.

Much love to Len for the ticket!

--Morx

A Receipt Soon...

I have been wanting to own a double-breasted tux for quite a while now, and when I saw this ad of Bottega Veneta, I found what I was looking for. Of course, I will only be able to afford a facsimile of it, but Joey Samson is a good tailor, so I think he can do it.

This is for Corky's wedding in November. I wonder if I'll still get the itch to have another suit made for Angie's wedding in January. And if I do, what I'll have made next.

Oh, and I'd love to copy that tie too.

--Morx

The Dark Knight

In The Dark Knight, visual and technical brilliance are in stark contrast to the unrelenting bleakness and madness of its content. Its heart is not the Batman (the stoic Christian Bale), but the Joker, the most insidious character of evil in recent memory, played with so much conviction by Heath Ledger, he literally jumps out of the screen. The Joker's madness has no rhyme and even less reason. In the movie, this self-proclaimed agent of chaos holds an entire city hostage, making it a personal playground for his demonic and bloody games.

By turns appalling and riveting, this superhero movie plunges us into darkness deeper than any other movie of its genre has. But nearly two and a half hours later, I found myself increasingly bothered by the onslaught.

It is difficult not to question a movie that seemingly celebrates such a sinister creature. I thought it behooved the film to offer even one small, but genuine, ray of hope at its end. But in the end, while the evil seemed so genuine, the redemption felt a little too... cinematic.

--Morx

Freebie Moment: Rick Astley

The year in free concert tickets continues! Thanks, Lucille, for mentioning me. And thanks, Mona, for the ticket.



Rick Astley has aged very well. His voice is still syrupy. And although he didn't dance, he had great rapport with the audience.



(A shot of the colorful stage lighting)

Too bad the arena wasn't even half full, but no matter. Those who were there had a lot of fun revisiting the Rick Astley brand of the 80's. Even Timmy, dragged along by Mells, thought it wasn't bad.

--Morx