Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles

I'm not a major fan of horror films. But what made me watch this movie? The technology! I got really interested when I learned that the whole movie was shot on a studio with only green screens. I told myself I must see this movie. I don't care if the effects, the make-up, the props would be too gruesome or it would be just a typical Filipino horror movie. I was in for the technicalities. Yesterday, October 17, I've watched the movie with Malou. I enjoyed the movie and I wasn't prepared for that true movie watching experience that Tiktik has  successfully delivered. First of all, kudos to the cast and crew and the whole production team. You brought Hollywood to the Philippines for the first time. I never thought that we are now at a stage where we can be at par with foreign movie outfits when it comes to special effects. I don't know how to make a movie review neither am I trying to do one now. I'm just proud of this movie and maybe encourage others to watch it too. The story line is simple and realistic. There's no overacting and overreacting, no exaggeration, no excessive extras, no unnecessary screaming and most of all, no obvious stupidity that is so prevalent in Filipino movies you'd want to whack the head of the actor/actress when you see one. If you see people and Aswang in the movie, it is because they should be there and needed there. And there is no dull moment in the movie. I never expected to laugh while watching it nor was there ever a chance that I closed my eyes cause I don't want to see the brutality and morbidity that is sure to come. No, I never missed a single frame of this horror movie. It is one of my favorites now. A classic.

Tiktik is a movie that is truly Filipino. It revolved around our Philippine folklore about Aswangs, our beliefs about it, weapons that can be used against it. Well, it didn't occur to me that Boy Bawang can be used as one. I like the Filipino creativity, wit and witticism that Tiktik is made of. Pure Filipino humor, that's what you'll get too. 

Directed by Erik Matti with casts Dingdong Dantes (co-producer), Lovi Poe, Joey Marquez, Janice de Belen, Roi Vinzon, LJ Reyes, Ramon Bautista, Mike Gayoso, Harley Pacana.

You can visit this link for the Full Cast and Crew.

Visit this site Joriben.com too for photos of the production with and without CGI. 

Rizal's Tallest Statue in Calamba, Laguna

Dr. Jose Rizal's tallest monument in the world can be found in a park situated in Brgy. Real, Calamba, Laguna in front of the Calamba City Hall complex. This 22-foot tall bronze statue of our national hero has been designed and sculpted by Jonas Roces of Marikina. It stands in a tiled pedestal surrounded by a 15-step flight of stairs. It has been said that the original plan was to build a 16-foot statue, but when Mayor Joaquin Chipeco, Jr. of Calamba heard of the hero's 18-foot tall likeness in Nueva Ecija, he had the plan changed to 22 feet. It is only right his tallest monument should be found in his hometown. Last June 19, 2011, Pres. Benigno Aquino III led the unveiling of our country's newest landmark to commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal's 150th birthday.

It was a coincidence that the height of the statue is 22 feet. The number 22 symbolizing the number of languages and dialects Dr. Rizal used in his lifetime. And the 15 steps that a visitor has to climbed represents a decade since his birth. 

Calambanga: The Legend of Calamba

An excerpt from Calamba - In War and Peace by Demetrio L. Hilberio tells us of the legend of the name of Calamba. This legend is inscribed on a stone marker that can found at the base of the giant claypot and can be read as : 

The authentic legend goes that at about the turn of 16th century, two Spanish soldiers came to a village by the shore of Laguna de Bay. Attracted by the vast plain with verdant greeneries that spread up to a majestic mountain, the strangers became curious to learn the name of the place. Soon there came a native young lady carrying an earthen jar by her waist. She was to fetch water from the lake. Seizing the opportunity, the two soldiers inquired in Spanish from the young lady the name of the place.

St. John the Baptist Parish, Calamba, Laguna

St. John the Baptist Parish

This church is also known as The Church of Calamba. It was established in 1859 and it is considered as one of the major churches in the city. It was burned by the Japanese during World War II and was reconstructed with the efforts of Fr. Eliseo Dimaculangan. The church is located at JP Rizal St. corner Mercado St., right beside the Rizal Shrine. 

Inside of the Parish

You can go there after visiting the shrine. And maybe if you have time, you might as well attend mass which are held regularly everyday. It's so solemn inside the church. After the tour of the house of Rizal, I just sat there and absorbed the tranquility of the place. I felt so rested and relaxed as if I've been recharged, my mind all cleared up. 

Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna

Photo of the original house

This is the house that Don Francisco Mercado built for his family. It is massive and solid. The ground floor was of lime and stone. Its upper floor was made from the best hardwoods, the Narra and Molave logs which Don Francisco personally selected from the nearby forest of Makiling. Its roof was of red tiles. The site was located in the center of the town, near the church and the plaza along Calle Real. It took two years to complete this house.

Birthplace of Jose Rizal

Did you know that the original house of Dr. Jose Rizal was destroyed? President Elpidio Quirino commissioned Architect Juan Nakpil to research, design and construct a house that would be a replica of the original house. Under Executive Order No. 145 of Pres. Quirino, this house has been restored with funds mainly coming from the contributions of schoolchildren of the Philippines. And on June 19, 1950, the house has been inaugurated.

Birthday Bash: Manila Ocean Park

Malou: What do you want for your birthday? A shirt? An espadrille?

PDT: A day at the Manila Ocean Park!

Feb 9, my natal day. Malou and I met at LRT-Roosevelt Station at 9 am. We took the train ride and got off at the United Nations Station. From there, we got three options on how to get to Manila Ocean Park (MOP). First is to take a taxi, that's the easiest way. Second is to ride a jeepney and get off near the Quirino Grandstand. MOP is right behind the Grandstand. The third option is to take a walk through the Rizal Park. MOP opens at 10 am every day. So we decided to take the third option. This, I think, is the best way to get to the Ocean park since you can also get to enjoy the Rizal Park.

At the Rizal Park

Here's some of what you'll see as you walk through the Park

The Modern Kalesa

Rizal Monument

After a few minutes of leisure walking, we finally arrived at the Manila Ocean Park.

Wakeboarding at CWC

Our Bicolandia Adventure will never be complete without trying wakeboarding at the Camsur Watersports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur. The sports Aga Muhlach made real famous to us Pinoys.

We arrived at the venue around 10 o'clock in the morning of April 10, 2011 Saturday. The place is already full when we arrived at the Wakeboarding Station.

Wakeboarding Station. This is where you register and pay and get your  helmet and vest.

Wakeboarding Do's and Don'ts

Butanding Watching In Donsol, Sorsogon

Third day of our Bicolandia Tour 2011 is our first time to see and interact with whale sharks or butanding in Filipino. Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the world's largest fish. Whale sharks appear in considerable numbers in Donsol waters between the months of December to May. Donsol is the feeding ground of these gentle giants.

Take Me To The Stars

I just wanna stay with you, baby
I just wanna be with you
Take me far away
Take me anywhere
Take me to the stars......

My Love Is Not So Good

Love. So many beautiful words were written and said about it. A lifetime is not enough to compile those words in a book. Actually words are not enough to thoroughly discuss it. Love is so mysterious that it's difficult for one to explain it clearly. And it is so great that the words of the gods would bend against it and it would even defy the laws of nature when felt. The greatest movies, novels, plays, songs and poems ever made have love as its theme. Love is so good that everyone wants to experience it completely even though we all know that love hurts, we still want it. We even quantify our love with the pain that goes with it. The more it pains us, the more we feel love, as we would often say.

Can love be measured?

“I love you”, “I love you so”, “I love you so much”, and “I love you very much” are words often said to express how we feel. Does saying “I love you very much” far outweighs the feelings of one who simply said “I love you.”? If it can’t be measured in words, how can we then quantify the greatness of our love?

A king and a pauper were trying to win the love of a damsel. To prove their love for the damsel, they were asked what it is that they would sacrifice for love.

The king said, “I will give up my kingdom and all the richness in the world and live the rest of my life as a pauper just to be with you, milady.”

“My love is greater than his, my princess,” said the pauper, “for you, my love, I will give the greatest sacrifice known to mankind - I will lose my life.”

Does the love of the pauper greater than that of the king? For sure, your answer will be a resounding "Yes" for we all have been told that no other love is greater than the love of one who loses his life for another. How can the love of the pauper be greater than that of the king who will be left with nothing but his life, if in three days time after losing his life, the pauper will live again and be king? Again, can love be measured by a sacrifice?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking and it is not easily angered. It keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

Those were words written about love. What if it's love that causes one to envy? to think of evil against other people? to be greedy, to be selfish, and to be jealous? What if it is love that causes one to doubt, not to trust and to deceive, to murder, to dishonor parents, to steal, to commit adultery and to covet thy neighbor's wife? It is love that has launched a thousand ships and carried out a war that left a thousand children fatherless and a thousand women a widow, isn't it? Does love cease to be love when it is no longer good? When it is the opposite of what’s written about it? When we glimpse the light of love, we do not see its shadow.

Love wrecks a home, shatters one's dream, destroy someone's life and one would kill in the name of love; one would physically and emotionally hurt someone because of love; one would commit suicide because of an unrequited love, or because of a lost love. After a traumatic heartbreak, one would sometimes live a life in solitariness, afraid of loving again knowing how much it can hurt. A woman becomes a mistress to a married man. An illegitimate child was born when two people having an illicit affair had sex as an expression of their love. A teenage girl aborted her baby when she was gotten pregnant by her teenage boyfriend when they thought that having sex was the ultimate symbol of their love for each other. A boy raped a girl when she cannot love him back and he couldn't accept her loving another guy instead of him. A parent becomes corrupt to provide all the good things to his family because he loves them so much. Sibling rivalries occur to win the love of a parent. A friend betrays a friend in exchange for love.

Love is so powerful that it makes one drop his morals and loses his ability to distinguish between what’s right and wrong. Love would overshadow its own beauty and cast its own darkness.

Here is the greatest irony in life: Because of love, one hates.

Ako Nga Ay Guwapo

How can I ever forget this girl I've just met
She offered me poetry the first time her eyes set on me
My gracious grace! you should have seen my face
For when she started to speak
'Tis the Alphabet Song she sang. oh, so sweet
But that just wasn't it cause as I make my leave
She tried to stop me by holding my sleeves
She asked if I can be swayed
I said, "No, Imust be on my way.
Thank you for the song but I cannot stay"
Thus saying that I begin to walk away
When again she grabbed me by the hand and say
"As long as I remember my ABC,
It is you that I'll see constantly"

She

She's smart. She's nice. She's a beauty in my eyes. She's thoughtful. She's warm. She fits snugly in my arms. She's sweet. She's kind She cares about what's on my mind. She can read my moods. She makes me feel good. She's sexy. She's fine. She's like a wine, I want her to forever be mine. She loves me. She needs me. She's the woman perfect for me.

Ang Masaklap Na Kapalaran Ni Ycoy

Bakit kapag nai-in love, napakasarap ng feeling
Ngunit pag nasasaktan na, wow! ang hirap tanggapin
At tuwing makikita mo sya gusto mo syang yakapin
Nang ikaw nama'y lokohin gusto mong syang saksakin
Yung tambay sa kanto binibiro ka lang, sinagot mo
Tapos ako itong tal'gang seryoso sayo, binasted mo
At noong tanungin kita kung bakit ganun
Sagot mo sa'kin "kasi kulang ka sa datung"
Walang'yang 'yon, pinaasa lang ako
Inubos munang lahat ng yaman ko
Pagkatapos ay biglang tinalikdan ako
Ay! Tangang buhay ito! Napakatanga ko!
Ewan ko ba ako'y naguguluhan
Sa pag-ibig ako'y nahihiwagaan
Ang naglalaro'y sineseryoso
At ang seryoso'y nagmumukhang payaso
Di ko maintindihan ba't di mo sya maiwan
Sa kanya nama'y lagi ka lang luhaan
Di ko malaman kung ika'y sadyang masokista
Baka naman durugista! Hmm, sabihin mo nga
Sabi mo ganyan talaga pag nagmamahal.. nasasaktan
Kasa-kasama ang lungko't hinagpis na di maiiwasan
Tanong ko nama'y "pati rin ba ang katangahan?"
Ang pasisisi nga naman laging nasa hulihan
Pagkat nang pag-ibig ko'y iyong tanggihan
Di napigilan, ang sarili ko'y binatukan
Napasaklap ng aking tinamong kapalaran
Kaya naman mga mata ngayo'y mugto't luhaan

I'm Sorry Sister

I'm sorry sister if through these gates I can't let you through
You see all these brazen lines in front of you
My mommy has drawn them for me and you
You can't go beyond them even if I want you to

I know what you try to do and I feel for you
To be part of this family for you are my father's child too
But my mother is not your mother
And into our house you can't go any further

Please little sister you've got to understand
If all your pleas and cries I can withstand
This family is sacred to my mommy
And to her, I pledged my loyalty

Much as I'd like you to be part of our world
I'm afraid with you comes a deadly chord
I'd rather hear your pain and see you cry
Than hear my mother's sighs and watch her die

I'm sorry sister if it brings you shame
If rights to my family you don't have a claim
And anyone of us you cannot blame
We're all victims here of your parents' game

Ako Ba Ay Gwapo?

Tanong ko'y simple lang Sa pagsagot ay di mahihirapan Di kailangan ng dahilan Lalo na ng mahabang usapan Madali naman akong kausap Basta ba ikaw ay tapat Ako'y di rin magagalit Kung sabihin mong ako ay pangit Kaya't wag na akong pag-isipin Wag na ring pahulain Ako nama'y di nanggaling Sa lahi ni Madam Auring O, ano na? Ako'y naiinis na! Di ka na nga nagsalita, Tumawa ka pa!

Payong Kaibigan

Minamaliit pagkat kapos sa karangyaan Nagmumukhang tanga dahil sa kaalaman ay kinulang Nababahag ang buntot at kinakapos sa tapang Nagngingitngit sa galit dahil ikaw ay nasasapawan Ganda'y walang ningning dahil sa pormahan ay napag-iiwanan Mapasama sa lakaran ay suntok sa buwan Di mapansin dahil sa kagalingan ay salat At sa listahan ng mga sikat ika'y di nabibilang Tatahimik ka na lang ba't magpupuyos sa isang tabi? Iangat mo ang iyong sarili! Marahil agad iyong sasabihin "Madaling sabihin, mahirap gawin" Subalit wag sanang mamasamain Kapag pagkatao na'y naaapakan, Di man magandang pakinggan, Ang payo ko sa iyo kaibigan, Idaan mo sa yabang!

I Beg Your Pardon

Agent XYX, acting as a reporter for the Administration, was sent on a mission by the President herself, PGMA, to find out what Mr. Estrada would possibly say to her regarding his situation now that he was convicted for plunder.

There, we find the agent, together with the other press people, in front of Erap's residence in Tanay, all anxious for Erap to come out and possibly, hoping that they could get near him and throw him a question or two. Sure enough, not a moment later, Erap emerged from his residence as the Sandiganbayan granted him a permission to visit his mother in the hospital.

Agent XYX, not losing a minute, acted immediately on his mission. Though he blended well with the rest of the media people, it was no easy task. Just as our agent was about to ask Erap his question, XYX was pushed away by another reporter and he loses his chance. XYX tried again and the same thing happened. Ah, he was no pro compared to these people.

Erap: (saying to the reporters around him) Thank you, everyone. But that would be all for now.

Not wanting to fail this mission, Agent XYX, mustering up his strength for the job, started to push other people out of his way to be near Erap as much as possible. When he was within hearing range from Estrada...

Agent XYX: (almost shouting) Mr. Estrada, just one more question please. If you are facing President Arroyo right now, what is it that you're going to tell her?

Erap: I beg your pardon. I'm in a hurry. I must attend to my ailing mother.

Thus saying Erap run as fast as he could towards his car when he accidentally tripped and fell face first on a dung.

And so the report has been filed. Days later, Estrada was granted pardon.

Now again, we see our good agent in front of Erap's residence in Tanay on the day that he is to be set free. He was once more commissioned by the President. This time, his task is to find out what Estrada plans to do now that he's free. Just like before, it's still difficult for our man to get near Erap. But this time, he came ready. Just as Erap was about to leave the flock of reporters, XYX turned on his megaphone and shouted as loud as he could.

Agent XYX: Running again, Mr. Estrada?

Erap eyeing a garbage nearby full of flies and shit, remembered his first encounter with XYX, said to himself, "I will not fall for that shit again."

Turning towards where XYX was, Erap smiled and waved. And shouting as loud as he could, he said, "Never again, boy. Never again."

Our agent need not report to our President the incident anymore. It has been broadcasted live in all major tv networks here and abroad and on the internet.

And tomorrow's headline in newspapers: Erap, never to run again.



***This work is nothing but fiction. The author disclaims any responsibility for possible consequences resulting from lack of understanding.

LBC

Anong kabutihan ang nagawa ko at dumating ka sa buhay ko?
Dala-dala mo’y pag-ibig na walang sintamis
Pag-ibig na nagbigay kulay sa ordinaryo kong buhay
Ligalig sa pusong minsa’y naging istatwa

Bumuo ng mga pangarap na ikaw ang kasama
May mga munting alay na sayo’y nais ipadala
Ay buhay, anong kabalbalan kaya ang aking nagawa?
At ikaw ay biglang lumisan ng walang paalam

Umalis ka na’t lahat lahat, nag-iwan ka pa
Mga sandaling walang kasing lungkot
Paligid na walang buhay at sigla,
Isang buhay na muli'y dilim ang bumalot

Dinamdam ko masyado ang iyong paglisan
Pero bakit nga ba patuloy kong pahihirapan
Ang sarili kong nabuhay naman noong ika’y wala pa?
Hindi maiaalis na ako’y masaktan
Hindi mawawala ang ako’y maghinagpis
Sa saglit na ligaya at kakarampot na tuwa na iyong pinadama
Dahil sa ayaw ko man at sa gusto, mahal kita ng lubos at sobra

Heto ako ngayon, nabubuhay ng wala ka
Nabubuhay ako dahil kailangan kahit ano pa
Wag nyo akong sabihang tanga o isang nagpapakatanga
Pagbigyan nyo na lamang ang aking pagdadrama
Sino nga ba ang nawalan? Ako naman di ba?

Parang sugat na binudburan at kinuskusan ng asin
Ganyan ang sakit na idinulot mo sa akin
Meron pang pagkakataon ako’y nakakita ng liwanag
Akala ko, bumalik ka na…hindi pala
Sa sakit, ako’y hihimatayin na pala

Haaayyy pasasaan ba’t ito’y maghihilom din
Darating din ang panahon na ito’y gagaling din
Sigurado ako mag-iiwan ito ng peklat
At sigurado akong hindi ka mawawaglit sa aking alaala
Paano ba naming hindi?!
“I’ve been here” pa ang napili mong pangmarka
Wala ka namang lahing sadista sa lagay na yan

Sabi ko, darating din ang panahon pag naghilom na ito
At isang peklat na lamang ang magsisilbing palatandaan
Sa isang pag-ibig na minsan sa buhay ko’y nagdaan
Maalala man kita, hindi na ako masasaktan pa
Buhay nga naman, naisip kong bilga
May mga peklat palang kumikirot pa rin
Lalo na sa panahon ng tag-lamig
Gaano man ito katagal na

Sa mga darating pa na pag-ibig ang dala-dala
Siguraduhin nyo lang na pag kayo’y lumisan
Isama nyo na balat at kalat ng regalo nyong di ko naman inasam
Maawa naman kayo sa akin
Iwanan nyo ako kung paanong ako’y inyong dinatnan
Na parang wala lang, di ko pansin at di ramdam
Dahil sa susunod na mangyari pa ito sa akin
Ipapa-LBC ko ang mga yan patungo sa inyong kinaroroonan
Tignan natin kung kayo’y matuwa
Pag kayo na mismo ang nakatikim ng pait ng isang paglisan

Paano ko ba tatapusin itong aking drama?
Ahh, alam ko na.. ng may pag-asa
Pag-asang isang araw ay babalik ka
Sapagkat nais mo pa lang
Sa iyong paglisan ako’y iyong isama
Ohohohoyyy Asa ka pa!

Ngayon, magtitiis na lang muna ako
Sige lang ng sige hangga’t pupuwede
Wala naman ako magagawa at ganyan talaga
Pero wag kang mag-alala, bukas may LBC ka.

Ang Pag-Ibig Ni Ycoy

Hindi man kita na-text o natawagan ngayon
Wag mong iisipin na di ka laman ng aking diwa
Wala nga yatang pagkakataon na nawala ka sa isipan ko
Hindi man kita nasamahan noong minsang nais mong magliwaliw
Wag mong iisipin na sa'yo wala ng panahon
Kung noong minsan na tayo'y magkasama at nagmadaling umalis
Wag mong iisipin na ika'y di na nais pang makasama
Kahit kelan di ko ninais na sayo'y mawalay pa
Hindi man kita pinipigilan sa mga nais mong gawin at marating
Wag mong iisipin na sayo ako'y walang pakialam
Pagkat kahit na tayong dalawa ngayon ay iisa
Di ko hinangad na kalayaan mo'y aking pigilin
At kung may pagkakataon man na ako'y nagduda
Wag mong iisipin na iyon ay dahil sa iyo'y wala akong tiwala
Mahal, natakot lang ako na sa akin ika'y maagaw ng iba
Kung ako man ay mapatingin sa ibang babae
Wag mong iisipin na ako sayo'y nagsasawa na
Ganda nila'y masarap lang tignan
Mga mata ko'y pansamantalang kanilang binigyan ng ligaya
Subalit sayo nama'y nabubusog puso ko't buong pagkatao
Ika'y di kakayaning ipagpalit pa sa iba
Marami man akong nagawa na iyong di nagustuhan
Nasaktan kita't napaiyak, minsa'y nasigawan na't napagdabugan
Marami na ring sayo'y naging mga kasalanan at pagkukulang
Mga bangayan, selosan at tampuhan nati'y di na mabilang
Wag mong iisipin na sa akin ika'y wala ng halaga
Pagkat mahal na mahal kita
Wala ng ibang pang mamahalin
Ngayon at sa mga darating pang mga araw
Walang ibang panalangin kundi ang ika'y makapiling
Ikaw at ikaw lamang, ikaw ang buhay ko
Alam ko mga sinabi ko'y mahirap paniwalaan
Ganyan talaga ang pag-ibig ko sayo
Hindi perpekto subalit totoo

Cupid, Where Art Thou?

Cupid, where art thou? Make use of that bow.
Aim right. Check where the wind blows,
And strike my heart with thy mythical arrow.
I've found the girl, now make love grow