U2's song of praise

I was watching Good Morning America two days ago and when Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer announced that U2 was going to perform, I just had to stay up! (GMA is shown at 1 a.m. on Velvet TV.) U2 has been promoting "No Line on the Horizon", the band's new album (strange to call it these days considering these no longer come in LP form, haha) in the U.S. and its first public stop was Fordham University in the Bronx. Gads, these kids are soooo lucky! What an experience to be watching U2 perform live, huh? Kakainggit!

Anyhoo, here's a clip of that "Magnificent" performance on this great Sunday, and I'm so glad Bono isn't ashamed of his faith. This is the kind of uplifting music we all need these days.



I was born to sing for You
I didn't have a choice
But to lift You up
And sing whatever song You wanted me to
I give You back my voice
From the womb my first cry
It was a joyful noise...
Justified until we die
You and I will magnify
Magnificent.

Palin eyeframes by Kawasaki

SO I've been going on and on about how I just luuurv those eyeglasses of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin. I don't necessarily agree with her politics but my, my, this woman has apparently created a fashion trend in the U.S. because now, every American woman — Democrat or Republican — wants Palin's eyeframes.

Well, it turns out, those rimless titanium specs were made by industrial designer Kazuo Kawasaki and cost about $375 (roughly P17,250) for the frame alone. (Oof! even the rimless Roberto Cavalli frame I had been coveting from an online optical shop only a few months ago cost only $290.) Sigh...the price one must pay for great fashion. BTW, Palin's frames are from the Kawasaki 704 series which have really cool choices for its temples.

(Sarah Palin's eyeglass frames by Kazuo Kawasaki from the 704 series. Photo from Vision Glasses)

Check out this feature from ABC News' Good Morning America. They're calling Palin's eyewear "the new pantsuit."
* * * *
NOW, this is interesting...an interview with five of Sarah Palin's closest pals. Only one of them has categorically stated that she is voting for the Alaska governor as Vice President.

Edu Manzano: From Makati to the world

I have always believed in the talent of Vice! "Vice" is what I always called Edu Manzano, who was my Vice Mayor when I lived in Makati for the longest time. (Whenever I would bump into him I would always josh about the flooding along Buendia Ave. right in front of my condo — Cityland 8 — and demand that he have it fixed. I dunno if it still floods there, but then who cares, I don't live there anymore, haha!)

Anyway, Vice has always been my idol...he's really hilarious and I loved watching his Late Night with Edu back in the 80s. He was an excellent talk show host who would gamely spar with his guests with witty comebacks. People often compared him to David Letterman, but to me, Vice was an original. I don't get to watch him that much anymore because I hardly watch local programming, except for the news. So I was quite clueless about this Papaya dance that Vice had apparently invented until I watched Good Morning America and there was the respectable Dianne Sawyer (!) and her co-hosts all doing the Papaya! Good God!

Per waw, grabeh Vice! Bilib talaga ako sa 'yo! Not even the champ Manny Pacquiao could get featured on GMA! (That is a bit disturbing though, if you think about it.) While Vice wasn't actually interviewed by the GMA hosts, they did mention that the dance originated from a TV show in the Philippines. Let's give it to Edu and his Papaya dance shall we? (Clap! Clap!)

Another proudly Pinoy moment! (Now can anyone tell me why exactly it's called "Papaya?")



(Pardon the blurry video. The embed feature in the clearer videos have all been disabled by request, possibly by GMA itself. You can watch the original post on the GMA web site.)