I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.

It is not yet cold during mornings in the Philippines. But my mother, and my sister, said that snow has already fallen in Salzburg. It is officially winter in Europe. Bring out the boots, coat, cap, and–ahem–thermal underwear. And, no taking a bath for days.

Will Kate Winslet bring home the Oscars next year?

Kate Winslet is a good actor. Period. Her two upcoming movies are reeking with Best Actress buzz from left to right. Below are the trailers of The Reader and Reservation Road.

The curious life of Benjamin Button.

I first saw the trailer of this movie two months ago. I thought it was The Time Traveller’s Wife, because it has the same premise. Until I saw Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt (Time Traveller’s Wife has Eric Bana and Rachel Adams). This is directed by David Fincher, who also directed Brad Pitt in his earlier films Se7en and The Fight Club. The movie I am talking about is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

The movie is loosely based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The gist of the story is that Benjamin Button has a condition where he looks old (wrinkles and all) when he was young, and looks younger when he gets old.

Critics are saying that this might be Brad Pitt’s ticket to Oscars next year. The movie is slated to open in the US on Christmas Day 2008.

Countdown to the busiest month of the year…

December is fast approaching! The glitzy lights of Streetscape are aglow night after night. The super red hanging Christmas trees in Power Plant Mall also is inviting onlookers and shoppers. The streets of Mega Manila are enlightened with lights. Yes, Christmas season is here and I am excited.

This is the time of the year where you forget about work deadlines, and sales quota. You have January 2009 to brainstorm for that. December will be focused more on parties after parties after parties.

Torrent sounds like Tourette’s, isn’t it?

The past three weeks was reserved for downloading latest episodes of my favorite US TV shows. I spent most of my free time hanging out in a coffee shop in Shangri-la Mall. Out of that, I was tag as a regular client, ie, frequent visitor to the establishment. But I don’t demand special favors from them. No, not even asking for a free mug or other freebies.

Anyway, because the latest seasons of good US TV shows will not come to this part of the world anytime soon, torrent sites are good alternative to view these full length episodes. I cannot afford to wait for next year to watch it on local cable channels, too.

CSI: New York (Season 5) is a personal favorite. I can’t wait to watch their latest episode with Daughtry as a special guest. I am also hooked on House (also on its fifth season). The sexual tension between House and Cuddy keeps me glued always.

When will the Philippines possibly have good shows on TV? I mean, we cannot compare ourselves to the TV shows in the US in terms of special effects and technology, but give me something worthwhile…something that do not insult my intelligence. The only local shows I watch are limited to documentaries of GMA 7 (normally late nights), and nightly news. Canned TV shows are just too dumb; it is the epitome of TV’s other moniker, “boob tube.”

I’ll stop ranting now. It’s a waste of time. I’d rather preview latest episodes of Dexter. Gruesome, bloody gruesome.

Filipino film wins CNN APSA Viewer’s Choice Awards

Himala, the movie of Ishmael Bernal, was voted by viewers of CNN Screening Room as the Best Film of Asia and the Pacific. Another feat for the country, for its director, and its famous actress, Nora Aunor (photo above).

Video of the Week: Estelle & Kanye West “American Boy”

Penguins on the lose.

How many of you watch Madagascar 2 not so much of the four main animal characters but more after the smart, witty penguins? How did they survive the scorching heat of the African savannah, I don’t know. But they are a bunch of funny black-and-whites. The alpha dolphin even married the love of his life in this movie.

 

Although not as funny as the first Madagascar movie, it still entertains here and there. And I don’t like the hyphenated exposure of the old woman from New York. It gets the attention away from the main characters.

The gall of these public servants.

If you read the dailies in the Philippines for the past two weeks, you will be upset (no, more like run amok) to read the headlines screaming of “euro generals”, “fertilizer scam”, and other keywords which are now part of every Pinoy consciousness. It is so disgusting to hear the fact that our government leaders are using public funds for their personal gains.

And the sad part of it is that it involves gargantuan amount of money! Money which are sourced out from every working Filipinos like you and me. You know, everytime I received my pay slip and see how much of my hard earned money is withheld (tax) every month, it’s just frustrating to know that this will just go to corrupt officials of this land.

The national budget next year will be the biggest in Philippine history. The buwaya are happy; and they have already think of things how to amass portions of this budget to their own personal advantage.

Let us all be vigilant. I know it’s hard to correct a system which has been used to an existing system. It’s akin to Pavlovian theory of classical conditioning, wherein corrupt officials salivate when they hear the bell of money.

The gall.

Video of the Week: Get Far “Shining Star”