Rock of Ages

Last night truly was a memorable one for me. First off, I got to see Lea Salonga IN PERSON!!! I was literally hyperventilating the moment I caught a glimpse of her! She's my childhood idol, and there she was: just a few paces away from me! Too bad, photos were not allowed to be taken with her. Talk about being famous, like Tony-Award-Winning-Famous! Haha!

Fan-girling aside, we watched the Philippine production of Rock of Ages, and it was superb! The cast was amazing. They delivered their roles flawlessly, and their voices...just WOW! Actress Vina Morales is just fitting for the role of aspiring-actress-turned-stripper "Sherrie". Local singer Nyoy Volante impressed the audience once again with his musical chops by playing the role of music underdog "Drew". And, MiG Ayesa marked his Philippine stage debut with a bang by reprising his role of rockstar "Stacee Jaxx". The supporting cast was superb as well. It was a rollicking good time, singing songs from the 80's with a crowd who had been alive in that colourful musical era. 

After the show, we got to meet the entire cast. And knowing my Broadway-freak cousin, he went crazy again. I managed to take decent photos of him with the actors. But the photos he took of me with them, geez! Blurry!!! Making my eyes look more distorted than usual. Anyhow, here are the photos. 

♥Andz

The First Harvest

OK, so I was a little bit too eager to harvest the seeds of the sunflowers I planted, and most of the heads I cut contained premature seeds! I was really frustrated, and it's not because I managed to get only a few good seeds, but because I got so carried away again by my excitement. Geez! I never learned to wait. Patience really is something I need to work on. 

♥Andz

Happy Father's Day!

It's 10 PM of a very tiring day, but I hope I'm not too late to wish all the amazing fathers a 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

♥Andz

A Rosy Saturday

Another week of school has ended, and I'm piled with school work - as usual. I have to memorise the exact locations of rivers, seas, capitals, cities, deserts, and what not in Asia for Geography. Try not to puke on the statistical tables. Read more newspapers. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Anyhow, I'm happy in school. I just love being busy!

But sometimes, being busy exhausts me too. So, to loosen up, I took some photos of the roses my grandmum bought at the market this morning, after we visited Lolo's grave - the colours are just stunning, and the petals are simply lovely. I also napped a lot (gotta catch up with my ZzZz's). And right now, I'm watching Taare Zameen Par (English: Like Stars on Earth). So far, so good. It's about this dyslexic little boy. I'll see what happens next. So... LATERZ!

♥Andz

Book Review: Trash

In a place where trash is not trash but a bridge to food and life, come three dumpsite boys – Raphael, Gardo, and Rat – who are about to embark on a dangerous journey that will change their lives forever.

One unlucky-lucky day, Raphael finds a black leather bag in the vast mountain of garbage, where he lives. Inside it is a wallet, which contains a few bills and some other interesting stuff. He decides to keep it. But when the police starts to search his area for a lost black leather bag, and offer a desirably large sum as a reward to the one who finds it, Raphael realises that his simple decision of keeping a piece of trash signed him up for the biggest mystery he and his friends are to face.

This fast-paced thriller by British author Andy Mulligan will tag you along in an unforgettable and heart-racing adventure that will help you unlock the dirty agendas of corrupt politicians, brutality of police officers, and the endless injustices the poor experience in a Third World country.

Trash is a great story about friendship, courage, and hope that doesn’t come by very often. It will keep the readers turning the pages till the very end, and make them realise how blessed they are to have a book in their hands, instead of a hook – like what the heroes of the story have – to help them get through everyday.

♥Andz

World Day Against Child Labour 2012

Today's not just the Independence Day of the Philippines, but also World Day Against Child Labour. So, to participate, I decided to post one of my favourite literary pieces that I wrote a few years back, Somewhere, Right Now. It's about how poverty affects children. I wrote it during a very boring Physics class in my senior year in high school. It's very special to me, as it's really hard-hitting and it became one of Teen Ink's top rated articles in 2010. 

SOMEWHERE, RIGHT NOW

Somewhere, right now, in this big, big world are children and teenagers just like you, setting their calloused and wounded feet on the ground, enduring the pain and the heat of the sun as they run down the busy streets, trying to find a way to sell those trinkets slung on their tired and fragile shoulders; while you sit in class, counting the minutes until the next bell rings.

Somewhere, right now, in this vast land are our young, sneaking behind a fast food restaurant, untying bulky black bags that contain something they call food, which would satisfy their stinging empty stomachs, while you turn away from the table, just because you don’t want the food your mum prepared for you this morning.

Somewhere, right now, as you write your boring lessons on your notebook with a pen you can buy a thousand times over, are students just like you saving those tiny pencils in their hands for the whole year ahead.

Somewhere, right now, in this unfair world are dirty little hands, saving those pennies they earned from a hard day, searching for bottles and scrap to be sold at the junk shop, believing that a little amount at a time would save them from their present pain, as you splurge on that gorgeous dress at the mall or waste your money on some rubbish computer game you’ve played a million times.

Somewhere, right now, as you curse your teachers for giving you a heap of homeworks, are teenagers avoiding the prying eyes of the cops, to sell those tiny white crystals in similarly small sachets to people with those scary dark circles around their raging red eyes.

Somewhere, right now, as you switch your bedside lamp off, are sold bare young bodies pressed against somebody else’s, crying for help and justice, hoping that someday, somehow, they’ll have a good night’s sleep just like yours.

Now, tell me, how lucky are you?

♥Andz

Book Review: Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT

Say hello to the cruel world of college, where professors continue to terrorise, and students continue to mug.

In his rollicking and feel-good debut novel, Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT, Chetan Bhagat unveils the many struggles and mayhem any student at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) might face if they don’t think straight during their excruciating four-year stay.

Through the words of IIT student Hari Kumar, and a few from his best friends, Ryan Oberoi and Alok Gupta, the reader is taken on a wild ride of college life mishaps, which include failing grades, falling in love with the daughter of a well-feared professor, and a near-to-death experience.

Hilarious, zany, and highly relatable, Five Point Someone is a great break from the emotionally and action-charged novels of today.

If you want a good laugh and a good read at the same time, do yourself a favour and grab a copy of Five Point Someone. It might just be the book you’ve been looking for.

♥Andz

Tricycle

Though there are thousands and thousands of tricycles here in the Philippines, it's not everyday that you get to see such a cute sight like this - two kids chatting atop a tricycle, their dirty feet swinging about. Now tell me, how adorable is this?! Although I didn't take the picture (my cuz wass seated in the passenger seat, while I was in the back seat, so I let him take the photo), I'm proud enough to say that I'm glad I brought a camera along today, even if I was just on my way to buy school books. Without it, this lovely image won't land on this blog. Capturing a scene like this just makes me smile.

♥Andz

Confession

I'm pretty sure, you're fed up with all my I-had-a-crappy-summer drama. But, I just want to remind you that this is my blog, and it is I who decides what to publish in here, which means, you don't have much chance of changing the nature of my posts. Feel free to complain at the comments section, though. They'll be a worthwhile read.

Anyway, my first week in school just passed, and I'm very confident to say that it went well. More tension, more crazy professors (I think), and more school work, but there's nothing I can't handle, so yeah, I'm cool..... 

Of course, I'm fibbing! 

If there's one thing in the world that would describe me right now, it would certainly not be cool, or anything near it, because I'm totally freaking out! I have to memorise all the capitals of Asian countries all over again, since one of our professors in history (we have two history courses this sem) requires it. We have to stalk some random person, and take note of all his actions for psychology. One word: STATISTICS. And since we have a news writing subject now, we will have to read the newspaper everyday to keep track of current events, so we could deliver something sensible to our journ prof whenever she asks us to recite a news story.

I have a confession to make right here and right now: I hate reading newspapers. Politics makes me puke. Business does the same. And, crimes make me jelly in the stomach. I only touch the newspaper for celebrity gossip, Sunday comics, and puzzles. 

Why did I take Journalism then? Because there's nothing else close to creative writing in the only university that admitted me. I could've pursued literature, but there's a certain tone in my mum's voice that put me off when I gave her the idea. So, I didn't put lit in my application form. 

When I found out that I made it in journ a year ago, I knew that I just have to endure the scent of newspaper and ink in my hands for the rest of my life, and that there's nothing much I could do about it any more. Not that all journalists are stuck in the newspaper area, but most are, and which I'll probably become in the near future. My fate is sealed - secured. I'll be a journalist in the second most dangerous place for journalists in the world. 

On the bright side, I just finished reading Five Point Someone, and I loved it! I couldn’t blame Chetan Bhagat for claiming that 3 Idiots is 70% inspired by it, instead of the 5% Rajkumar Hirani (3 Idiots director) says. I wouldn’t go further about that though, since the controversy had already cooled down a long time ago. I'll post the review soon!

Oh well, gotta catch up with my dad's classical guitar. I kinda missed it :)

♥Andz

Back to School!

After a really boring summer, I'm glad that school kicks off tomorrow. Though I'll be waking up at 4 in the morning everyday, and will be facing more challenging subjects this semester - never mind this year - I'm really, really, excited to be back on the school track, which includes piles of bloody homework and projects, constant cramming, rumoured strict professors, and relentless worrying. I guess being busy and anxious keeps me sane, rather than making me otherwise. Plus, I can't wait to read Five Point Someone: What Not To Do At IIT by Chetan Bhagat. I swore that it'll be my companion on the bus tomorrow, so yeah...

♥Andz

I Swear, We Are Infinite

After the long wait, here's your chance to catch a glimpse of Perks. Quite awesome, isn't it? Logan Lerman and Emma Watson together in a movie - now, that's a good move. And, judging by the trailer, it's safe to say that the film will turn out fine. I've read the novel by Stephen Chbosky, and I loved it; almost missed a station while reading it on a train in Singapore during the holidays. It's that good.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower hits theatres on 14 September this year.


♥Andz

Q&A: A Book Review

I have always thought of giving reading Q&A - a.k.a. Slumdog Millionaire - by Vikas Swarup a go, since the day I saw it on the big screen back in 2009. I loved the film’s story, and I had no doubt that I’d love the book as well. However, for some unknown reason and despite its availability in the country, I never got hold of the book until last Sunday, when I finally decided to grab a copy of it. 

Eighteen-year-old Ram Mohammad Thomas is arrested for winning the biggest prize offered on a quiz show: one billion rupees. His surprising win generated suspicions of cheating, for the producers and host of the show could not believe how could he answer all twelve questions correctly, when he is nothing but a mere waiter at Jimmy's Bar, who has never had formal schooling?

In his own words, Ram Mohammad Thomas narrates his whole life story with full honesty to a lawyer who came in his defence. He tells her about the cruelties he faced in his childhood up to his adolescence, which included being abandoned by his own mother when he was just a baby, working for a vain actress and an Australian colonel, and posing as a Taj Mahal tour guide to foreigners, who knew very little about the landmark. All of which are important clues to answering the questions in the quiz show Who Will Win A Billion.

With Q&A, Vikas Swarup uncovers the many aspects of social injustice and the divide between the rich and  the poor in a farcical and clever manner. Q&A is an unforgettable read filled with twists and unexpected turns.

I have no regrets on buying Q&A three years after seeing Slumdog Millionaire, as it only heightened my dreams of visiting India, which I’ve been having only lately. Five stars out of five!

♥Andz

And So...

• School's starting soon, and I just can't wait any longer! I've always been the kind of kid who loved school dearly, which is why my parents never have to worry about me straying off somewhere.
  
  

• Things have been going well lately, too, except for the death of my grandaunt. It's sad that she had to go, but she has lived and served and loved for 86 years, and I think that's enough. It's time for her soul to rest. We'll be heading to the province tomorrow for her funeral.
  
  

• I've been having so many fantasies of visiting the colourful country of India lately, and that's weird, since I've never considered visiting - even dreaming of visiting - the place before. But after watching many Bollywood movies over the past few weeks, I found myself falling in love with the country and its rich culture. In fact, I have this debate in my head everyday, whether I'll go to Japan or India for something-I'll-tell-you-soon-but-not-now. However, I don't think my parents will agree if I pick India, and their first reason for me not to go there is that I don't eat curry!
  
  

• I received the book I purchased on eBay yesterday, which is totally cool cos I've never received my eBay purchases in the past - my ma did. The book's title is Five Point Someone: What not to do at IIT! by Chetan Bhagat. It's the book which inspired Rajkumar Hirani to create the film 3 Idiots. Both the film and book generated so many controversies, and I just have to see for myself what caused all the fuss.
  
  

• I'm currently listening to Kris Allen's new album Thank You Camellia, and it's awesome! It's better than his first record, and the improvement in his voice quality is apparent in all the songs in the album. A favourite of mine is Loves Me Not, featuring Meiko. It's a very fun and catchy song. No wonder Kris said that that song is a potential single.

♥Andz

Recipe: Choco-Buttercream Cupcakes

Last Saturday, I had another baking session. This time, with my mum's friend, Tita Grace and her son, Kuya Joseph. It was really fun finding out all those tips and tricks I've never known before. Getting artsy with the design and all, puts me on high. And the sweet scents that float in the air when you mix the batter, and pop a batch into the over are just divine! I'm not a pro, but I just love baking!

CUPCAKE

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk

What to Do

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost with your favorite frosting when cool.

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Ingredients

Condensed Milk

Butter

Shortening

What to Do

-We did not go for the complicated frosting, which means...this is an easy one! All you have to do is mix parts of each ingredient with an electric mixer until you get your desired taste and that frothy consistency. 

-If you wish to add food colouring, do so after the frosting thickens.

-Refrigerate once in a while when piping.

♥Andz

Yummy Yum Yums!

Sweet tooths, UNITE! These mouth-watering sweets will get you craving till you go mad! 

...I don't own any of these photos...

 

♥Andz

Pucker Up: DIY Lip Gloss

A fan of lip gloss myself, I understand that these wondrous sticks and tubes can be quite expensive, especially if you opt to buy products from big cosmetic brands, but are on a tight budget. Well, worry no more, cos you don’t have to throw your savings on a very expensive tube of lip gloss! Here’s a trusty DIY lip gloss that works just the same as branded ones.

What you need:

-Unused/Excess Pink Eye Shadow (Every girl has this!)

-Petroleum Jelly

-Lip Brush

-A Small Cosmetic Container (You can find these containers anywhere!)

What to do:

-Scrape off a bit of the eye shadow from its palette, and place it in the small cosmetic container -Take a small amount of petroleum jelly, about the size of a pea, and mix it with the eye shadow using a lip brush.

-Mix well, so chunks of eye shadow will be dissolved completely, and to avoid making the mixture too runny.

-Apply.

*Note: Don’t hesitate to experiment with other colours. Mixing a bit of pink with a bigger part of orange produces a peach shade, while mixing pink and a bit of yellow and orange produces a nice coral shade. Lavender works well with pink, too. Just mix, match, and experiment! Working with colours is fun!

Remember, it’s always better to be practical. Why spend so much on lip gloss at the shops, when you can make some at home? It’s cheap. It’s chic. And it’s super easy to make! Pucker up, Middle Class Princesses!

♥Andz

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas: A Book Review

Having a late afternoon run at the bookshop last Thursday to claim my renewed discount card, I went through my usual bookshop ritual of scanning through the spines and covers of books on the shelves. More often than not, I’d encounter the same titles and the same authors, but that day was different. I happened to spot an interesting book at the children’s section, which I’ve never seen or heard of before – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne.

                

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2006) is set during the Holocaust, and it takes the reader on a journey with a nine-year-old boy named Bruno, a son of a German commandant. Later in the story, he meets a Jewish boy of the same age, named Shmuel, serving at a concentration camp, and soon enough, they become best friends.

Though told through the most innocent prose possible, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is not a book for children. It requires historical knowledge that intermediate or adult readers have, as some terms and ideologies related to the war have been concealed with very naïve words, which a young boy or girl will find easy to understand but difficult to interpret.

The theme of the novel is basically depressing. However, Boyne eased the bitterness of the story by dealing with it through the eyes of a child. Some parts are quite comedic, although the rest are tragic. The plot is highly commendable. It’s perfectly panned out and beautifully written. The characters are also fittingly created for the roles they’ll play in the story.

To sum it all up, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a painfully poignant story that has the power to move you beyond words. 

♥Andz

Friday Feast Fit For Friends :)

I had a lovely Friday with two of my closest friends, Angel and Felis. We haven't had much time together this summer (apart from playing badminton two weeks ago), so I decided to invite them over my house for a baking session.

We met at around 10 in the morning at the supermarket to buy some ingredients. We then headed to my house, and played a round of Jenga - one of my fave games. I thought I was boring them, so I let them watch 3 Idiots. I've been itching to let them see that film, and I'm glad that they liked it! 

For lunch, we had my mum's garlic shrimp pasta over small talk. After filling our stomachs, we started baking. Damn, it was hot! Mixing the batter, heating the oven, and taking the baking pans out burned our stored energy, but it was fun!

Angel made these really yummy s'mores muffins, without following a recipe at all - the girl is an expert - while Felis and I started off with the basic batter. Felis made her chunky blueberry jam muffins, which are waaay better than the blueberry muffins I attempted to bake before - they're really good! I made some hazelnut muffins, coloured hearts, carnival mud pie, and vintage swirls - I just like experimenting! Not all of them turned out right, though. In fact, the hazelnut muffins are my only success.

To celebrate and cool down a bit, we had a little muffin party with a bit of non-alcoholic wine soda in our garden to taste what we came up with. They were quite a lot, and we cannot scarf them all down, so Felis and Angel took some for their folks at home, and I kept a few, too, for dessert later that day.

It was a truly awesome day, and I can't wait for our next baking session!

PS.

I'll post the recipes as soon as we decide on the names of our outputs, which we have yet to do. 

♥Andz