Urbanista Manila Living in Style

Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

I just came across the TV ad of the Beach Boys’ upcoming concert in Manila. It shows the smashing hit concerts of the then version of Jonas Brothers. And I cant help it but to unleash the curiousity in me, what if they would also bring their dancers then? Since they will relive their greatest hits I guess there would not be so much dancing efforts required.
Just thinking aloud.

After months of dreading on the airing of Anthony Bourdain’s gastronomic adventure in the Philippines, I have finally got the chance to catch it on the Travel and Living channel
I thank Wendy’s light iced tea kicking in so hard that it made me up all night scramming for any show on tv that would make me doze off.
His take on this journey was a bit different and I must admit that it has made me think hard about the Filipino’s identity. The Philippines is nowhere to be found on the map of top Southeast Asian destinations among Westerners or foreigners. Especially those who cover lifestyle or travel shows. Our country is on the bottom of their lists. I always say that we only land the international news if there are catastrophic events happened or political standoff happening.
Fortunately, Bourdain was finally convinced to visit the country after so many questions thrown at him asking why he kept on skipping our country.
The idea started when Fil-American Augusto joined the video invite contest by the said program. Bourdain was thrilled by the enthusiasm Augusto has displayed on the video and he ended up talking with the person face to face. But his interest has died or has been killed by other contestants’ persuasion skills leaving our country unnoticed. I cannot blame Bourdain for turning his back on us because of his disappointment with Augusto.
After the clamor for Bourdain to switch gear and head for the tropical island or for lacking anymore place to go, he finally hopped in.
While Augusto was in his hometown in Cebu prepping for the welcome party, Bourdain did his tour of Luzon.
His first stop, Manila where he had a taste of the fishballs, taho, pancit malabon and the Dampa style dining. Dampa is a place where a person shops for his own ingredients and bring them to an in house kitchen/store, instruct the cook how you want your food to be cooked. The tour guide dcided to have pinakbet to represent the North and the guinataang alimango (crab) and adobong hipon (shrimp).
Next stop was Pampanga. Bourdain explicitly expressed his enthusiasm in visiting the province having been informed that it has been a bread basket and culinary capital next to being occupied by the Americans in the World War II and is now being home to US military officers.
He dug in different servings of Kambing (goat). He found them better that it was described by his tour guide. This is where he tried the “must” …. sisig. Sautéed finely chopped pig’s cheeks served on sizzling plate.
He had a hard time finding the answer to his question who are the Filipinos. Which was also the pulsating question of Augusto who was born and raised in the us. He became enthusiastic about his country having been here once and only for a month in his entire life. His second home coming to the Philippines seemed to be a quest for his true identity.
The true sense of Filipino is hard to classify like the adobo that has so many versions. The country is composed of over 7000 islands and each region, tribe or minority wants to be a representative of the nation. It is hard to identify what represents a true Pinoy when confronted with such a question because there are so many underlying regional considerations and no one seems to be called a minority here.
In Bourdain’s trip to Pampanga, he could not help but comment that it’s always your province first, next the Philippines. This was after hearing one of the hosts said in a bragging manner that whatever dish one region or province could put on the table, they, Pampangenos can do a whole lot better.
Finally, Bourdain met with Augusto. They stopped at an eatery join and welcomed each other in the Philippines. By Broudain’s description, Augusto did not seem to be what he has hoped for – the window to the Philippines. They done went to Augusto’s house and it was a bzzzzzzz……………
The most interesting part has happened, showing Bourdain how the best lechon in the world is cooked. A whole pig on a bamboo stick is slowly roasted the traditional way. No machine intervention.
Funny thing on this part, Bourdain served as the host to the welcoming party and August was just a guest. Even in the lechon tasting . Bourdain seems to have felt the awkwardness Augusto was feeling in fron of hi s relatives and the cameras. So he went on with his quest for the true Filipino and luckily the tour guide who happened to be the same person who toured Bobby Chinn around the Manila was knowledgeable enough in feeding Bourdain about the adaptability and diversification of the Filipinos. From which Bourdain concluded that problem with us being the melting pot of every culture is that we are too damn nice.
In the end, Bourdain enjoyed what he had in the Philippines. The best pig ever! His left his question about Filipino identity to Augusto afterall, it is all about food.

I am not into riding someone else’s popularity that is why it annoys me to how someone becomes instantly associated with a person a just got famous.
I love to watch Chelsea Lately. They make serious things funny by mocking people concerned and it does not sound offensive or politically incorrect. It is a gathering of stand up comedians after all and if you have been to any stand up comedy bar whether here or abroad, the pack’s blow is a bit subtler.
One of the regular round table guests on Chelsea is Jo Koy, and his name does not have any Filipino sound to it but he is darn proud that he is actually is. Even Chelsea and the lot keep on mocking Asians in general.
I just find Jo Koy amusing.

My sister, my brother-in-law, their three daughters and I were watching Ouija, a local horror flick starring Judy Ann Santos and Jolina Magdangal. I am not watching horror or suspense films because they surely scare the hell out of me but for some reason, I decided to sit with them and enjoy a weekend night.
I was teasing my toddler niece by screaming “boo” at her. She cried for a while and looked at me angrily. Then she looked over my shoulder as if she’s seeing something and said in a fearful fashion: Tita, Tita!
That gave me goosebumps and I ran towards them. It cracked my sister and brother-in-law up. I also ended up laughing at myself.

These bundles of joy are now sweeping the entire world.
The latest viral video was produced for by Evian and altthough it is obviously computer manipulated, they still bring smile to anyone’s face.
There is a guaranteed absence of child labor here.
Check them out on YouTube and start giggling at these little tikes.

I know this is so yesterday but it is still in time for the 4th of July celebration eh?
I just stumbled upon this heart warming (read: hot) photo.
He finds no excuse not to perform his duty to his country.
Man in boxers. Hot
Man in pink. Hot!
Man in pink boxers. Super hot!
Man on duty in pink boxers. Flaming hot!

He is Army Spec. Zachary Boyd, a 19-year old 2007 graduate of Keller Central High School.
According to news, he was in his sleeping quarters when the Taliban attacked in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan. He then rushed to a defensive position in his helmet, vest and boxers.

At least he found time to put on the protective vest and helmet before lining up to fire his gun.

The red shirt he was wearing was from Woolley’s Frozen Custard on Beach Street in Fort Worth and in honor of his heroic act, he got lifetime free treats from Woolley’s. Sweet!

The season ender of Grey’s Anatomy has brought chills to my spine. I thought that Izzie Stevens will be the one to go first with the current health condition she’s presented with (on the show) and with the Emmy comment she has had (in real life).
I literally got up on my feet learning that the one was hit by a bus was George O’ Malley.
I can’t wait for the next season of this medical drama. I think it would be in September as Ellen Pompeo who plays Meredith Grey is on her way.

I know that the Season 4 of Top Chef is so yesterday but I have not seen it all yet and it is actually the one being shown (as the latest season of the show) on 2nd Avenue.

I do not know yet who won that season and I’d like to keep it that way.

For a foodie like me, I find it enticing to watch cooking shows especially those being hosted by true chefs but I must tell you that although there’s a little voice in my head telling me that I want to be a chef, I know that there are dreams that are best to be kept as dreams.

At the moment, I can state two reasons why I am not entertaining the thought of me becoming a chef or even a sous chef:

1. I can not plate. I can’t even fix my room how on earth could I arrange food on a plate?
2. I almost failed my French class, how would you expect me to invent food, plate it and name it in French?

So letting go of this unreachable dream, let’s switch back to Top Chef.

I remember reading an article about Dale Talde of Season 4 on a local broadsheet. I learned from it that he is 100% Pinoy but it left me guessing who he was in that season as there was no picture of him to accompany the article.

I was able to know him (on TV) through 2nd Ave.’s teasers.

I am still not a regular viewer though. But in every episode of TC that I have seen, I must say that I was really impressed by Dale’s genius and attitude towards cooking.

What makes watching in action more exciting is how he proudly and fearlessly incorporates in Asian side and Pinoy side in every dish that he serves.

Screw Vanessa Hudgens and Nicole Scherzinger! They’re famous yeah, and most of our kababayans would love to ride on their popularity forcing them to acknowledge their Pinoy roots but in reality they are not.

They grew up and raised abroad in the culture that is all but Pinoy.

If my marriage to Curtis Stone fails, then I would marry Dale. I would not mind living with a Butterscotch Pony.

Undoubtedly she is the crowd’s or the world’s favorite to bag the title of Britain’s Got Talent but she has to convince the judges to get through the semi-final round.
Well, looks like luck is on her side.
Although she started a bit shaky she was able to regain her composure and swept the entire planet with her rendition of Memory:

Susan on YouTube

I learned about him on Ellen.
When Ellen asked him how his last name is pronounced, I realized that he is one of us – Filipino or Pinoy that is. He is from Massachusetts actually.
His name is Steven Purugganan – World Sports Stacks Association (WSSA) World Championship RECORD holder.

It’s not big of a deal actually if his from another country. My jaw literally dropped seeing him in action at lightning speed. It appears that as if the video is playing played on fast forward but that how he really rolls…or stacks.
Pretty awesome! He is the most googled person in the world they say. Suck on that Madonna!