More histrionics and drug-crazed musings

Something Like Life
June 29, 2007

INFLUENZA sucks.

I say this with the little strength I can still muster while I lie in my bed, half-upright, half-comatose, tapping on my notebook. No energy. No exclamation point.

My bones are all achy and creaky, while my breath is ragged and shallow, in between the hymen-breaking coughs that spare me no mercy throughout the day. My nose constantly drips, even as my sinuses are congested. I try to seek relief in sleep, but then I wake up tired and sluggish as if I’ve downed a whole bottle of Rivotril.

So too bad for you, dear readers, there will be no advice to the lovelorn nor intimations of other people’s slutty behavior. I shall bore you instead with ague-laden details of the past three days (I write this on a Tuesday evening) as I lie feverish and pained on my 100-percent jersey cotton bedsheet (yes, the kind that’s used for T-shirts and just what Oprah likes), surrounded by my fluffy pillows which, sadly, now hardly provides me any comfort. And as every sixth hour of my illness is marked by a round of paracetamol (1,000 mg), carbocisteine (500 mg) and antibiotics (625 mg), you can bet that this piece will be chock full of histrionics and drug-crazed musings.

I don’t remember the last time I had been downed by the flu. I’ve been pretty lucky. I hardly get sick despite my lack of exercise and a mostly unhealthy diet. I make up for that by eating lots of veggies now and then, and having seafood every chance I can, walking a distance, and downing loads of vitamins and minerals. Then, as you recall, I did go back to the gym. Which is pretty ironic. Now that I’ve decided on taking the path to a healthier lifestyle, I get the flu! A friend of mine thinks I could have picked up the virus in the shower. Ick! Remind me next time to take a bath at home after my workout.

The illness just crept on me, not giving me any fair warning at all. One day I was up and about doing my yoga poses at the gym, the next day my muscles were sore to the bone, my body wracked with the chills, a cough and the stuffy nose. Of course, in between all that, I had chomped down a whole bagful of cheese-flavored popcorn. And as is the usual, my throat got all scratchy the next day despite the glasses of water I guzzled in between the fistfuls I shoved in my mouth.

Normally, the scratchy throat goes away after I gargle with warm water and salt, and suck on two or three zinc lozenges for a day. This time, it didn’t. I started sneezing like mad, one, two, three blasts in succession. Then my scratchy throat gave way to full-blown hacking. Soon thereafter, my bones were groaning like an old lady’s and the chills started.

It’s driving me mad. I go under the covers for a few hours, trying to seek protection from the cold permeating through my entire anatomy. Then the next minute, I am sweating. I switch on the air conditioner to give me some relief from the mugginess that's making the dogs outside my window pant their poor little tongues out, but also because of the heat that running the course through my poor defenseless remains. Then I get the chills again. What’s worse is that my mouth is always dry, and my taste buds have given up the ghost. Despite the hunger pangs, it’s pure and simple torture not being able to taste any of the food I eat. So I quit after a few spoonfuls. I have no joy.

The last time I got this sick, I was bored out of my wits watching afternoon soaps and endless repetitions of HBO and Star Movies. My saving grace this time around is my torrent downloads of Little Britain, Entourage and Ugly Betty. (Yup, that’s Betty La Fea to you, telenovela fans of yore.) And, of course, I had just finished the much-talked about, endlessly debated finale of The Sopranos. Was Tony whacked or not? (I think he was; after all, that’s how mob bosses are supposed to go. And for someone who has suffered a whiny wife like Carmela, death would surely be a welcome release.)

If not watching my torrents, I am catching up on my reading. Not books, unfortunately, because I can hardly keep my eyes open while I’m shot up with all these drugs, but Vanity Fair. If there is any magazine that you must subscribe to in your entire life, it has to be VF. It has a bit of everything. Heavy investigative pieces of criminal or political activity (yes, crime and politics now seem to be synonymous with each other), lavish spreads of gorgeous celebrities with in-depth interviews, and lots of amusing sections and sidebars along with gorgeous photography.

(VF cover of US President George Bush and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Why couldn't I have gotten the George Clooney cover?!)

But here is a spoiler alert: get your copy of the July issue. It’s all about Africa and is guest-edited by Bono, who says he had always wanted to become a journalist. Now how cool is that? I just hope you have more luck than me getting a better cover. (VF shot 20 separate covers for this issue—Oprah Winfrey, Don Cheadle, Madonna, Barack Obama, Iman, Bono, of course, among others—with celebrated portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz at the helm.) I got George Bush, yes, a first on the cover of a usually anti-administration publication, with a prayerful Archbishop Desmond Tutu. You can guess who he’s praying for. (They have Condi Rice, too. Wipe that smirk off your face. You must understand, this is how Bono gets his philantrophic work done. He sucks up to the right people in power. I love Bono but he is human just like the rest of us.) All I can say is, I would have been happier with the George Clooney cover in my hand.

Okay, I’m off rambling more than usual. I just hope I get well by the weekend. My back is killing me from all this lying down. And I’m afraid my hard drive will give out from all this downloading. I’m also running out of VF issues to read. Mother! I need my drugs!

****

MY deepest condolences to the family of the late Renato Faustino, “Mang Ato” to all of us reporters who had covered the agriculture beat. Mang Ato was an old-time government publicist who endeared himself to the journalists who made it their business to investigate every piece of BS coming out of the mouths of his often lofty-minded bosses. (True, there have been one or two exceptional heads at the Department of Agriculture, the present dispensation not one of them, though.)

Mang Ato just did his job, disseminating information to the reporters, getting officials to explain themselves out of the messes they got themselves in, ringing up editors to ask for some support to the agency programs. Even when his beloved DA was dragged in the mud a few times in the last few years, Mang Ato never cast aspersions on the motives of the reporters or the columnists for the negative stuff. He knew they were just doing their job as well.

The last time I saw Mang Ato was last year, at a friend’s wedding. We had joked that he became teary-eyed because our friend was getting married for the second time. I imagine the buckets he would have wept if I had been the one who got hitched! But that was how Mang Ato was. He was always a softie, and I have never once heard him utter a harsh word about anyone or anything, even if he was the one put at a disadvantage. He was truly a friend we could always go back to for a few laughs as we reminisced about the good times at the DA.

Thanks, Mang Ato, for being the kind of person many of us can only hope to be.

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror. Photo from BusinessMirror – nope, that's not my bed!)

Surviving the long distance

Something Like Life
June 22, 2007

A FEW days ago, as I was riding a taxi on my way to the Ortigas Center, I was thoroughly entertained by the radio program my cabbie was glued to.

It was one of those programs where the radio hosts try to ring up an overseas Filipino worker and get him reconnected to his long-suffering wife and growing kids here at home.

A few conversations took on an amusing turn like in the case of one OFW whose boss, in his barely understandable English (think Yilmaz Bektas), kept on saying that his employee was “Not here! Not here!” before launching into what sounded like a diatribe against the radio host-caller, berating him for disturbing his work.

There were a few moments of joyous telecommunication bonding, with wives and kids happy to finally hear their padre de familia’s voice, before the call degenerated into castigations for not calling his family or sending any money, while they were left wondering whether he was still alive or dead. Talk about reality radio!

Some cases of adultery were discussed by the hosts like these were a matter of fact, just part and parcel of an OFW family’s life. It can go both ways—the spouse who left a humble existence finds someone else, usually a fellow lonely kababayan also away from her family, in a strange land in the sweltering heat, just trying to survive from paycheck to paycheck; or the spouse left at home, trying to keep the family sanely together with the little money her husband wires back, missing her partner and finding some comfort in another’s arms.

According to the National Statistics Office, there was an estimated 1.52 million Filipinos working overseas last year. Imagine how much emotional torment has to be weathered by our kababayans just so they’re able to put three square meals a day on their family’s dining table while paying for household rent and other basic necessities, as well as sending their kids to school here at home.

It isn’t easy trying to keep the home fires burning when spouses live miles and miles apart from each other. The matter is made even more complicated by poverty, by curious children asking where their absent parent had gone, by creeping loneliness and, yes, by sexual temptations.

I’ve never been a great believer in long-distance relationships. I think the bond between couples, no matter how strong at the beginning, will slowly unravel as the individual needs of each partner increase. Aside from the usual loneliness, there are frequent bouts of homesickness on the part of the spouse who is away, and gnawing suspicions and paranoia on what his partner is doing to amuse herself in his absence, and vice versa. And growing apart is all too common. There may still be love between the couple, but somehow they can no longer relate to each other’s experiences while they both exist in different worlds.

Given that, couples may still find ways to weather the long years apart and the sea of separation. Perhaps, all is needed is a firm commitment to each other’s happiness and well-being (and hundreds of dollars worth of prepaid phone cards!).

Seriously, sometimes it can just boil down to constant communication. Before the OFW leaves home, he and his spouse must agree to give each other regular updates of the goings-on in their respective lives, and activities of the other family members. Agree on the frequency of the phone call—will it be daily? Every other day? Once a week? And what time should the spouse here at home expect the phone to ring?

If you are the spouse who is away, try not to miss placing that phone call! You have to have a pretty good reason not to call...like your truck ran over a masked Fatah escapee while driving for your new Hamas boss.

If you are the spouse left here at home, also understand that there are frequent demands on your partner’s time by his bosses, so if he does miss a call, it doesn’t mean he has been kidnapped by an Iraqi insurgent, or—worse—fallen in love with a Pinay nurse at some hospital near his place of work. So try to be flexible when it comes to communication.

Like if phone calls are expensive, try texting. The Philippines is not known as the text capital of the world for nothing! Use your inherent SMS skills as a means to convey your thoughts about your work and your other daily happenings. So even while at work, your spouse will constantly be updated about you and the kids.

Make the most of your telecommunication time. Talk about yourselves, your feelings for each other, the kids, their schooling and their cute activities. Don’t spend the entire time ragging on your spouse for missing the last phone call or remitting the household budget two weeks late. It’s bad enough that he has to be away from you, his family, to work. Don’t add to the pressure by burying him in guilt and regret.

With the Internet becoming more and more accessible in the country, sending emails to family members abroad is becoming a cinch. But do not—I repeat, do not!—send those irritating forwarded e-mails of stupid jokes or Catholic guilt-trips via prayer chain letters! Use the Internet to tell your husband how terribly you miss him, or to send a nice photo of you and the kids that will wrench his heart and, hopefully, make him send your $500 faster than you can say Osama bin Laden. (I just love Flickr! You can post an entire album-worth of photos and your relatives abroad really appreciate it.)

Send little gifts to each other. It’s amazing how so many online stores have sprung up over the last decade, making it possible for families separated by geography to spring a surprise on one another during important occasions. All one needs is a credit card, which many banks and credit-card companies are virtually just giving away these days.

For those less affluent, you may send little items via snail mail. Sure, you run the risk of the gift getting lost or stolen while in transit to your sweetheart (from experience, I’m pretty sure the pilferage will occur here in the Philippines than anywhere else), so don’t send a five-carat diamond ring! Besides, meaningful gifts need not be expensive. What’s important is the sweet romantic thoughts that go with it.

And to those who have left to work overseas, please come home. Even if it’s for a short two-week vacation or a just a month, try to visit your family at least every year. Sure, a plane ticket cost a lot and sometimes the itinerant spouse chooses to postpone his visit in order to save more money to send home. But for all the financial surplus you will have, it will not mean a lot if you keep missing out on your wife’s cariño, or not seeing your kids grapple with binomials and polynomials. Better yet, let your family visit you so they will be familiar with the places and events you keep talking about in your mail.

The amazing innovations of modern communication may ease some of the loneliness of being away from your partner and your family, but these can never replace the caress of your wife’s hand on your face, or the constant tug of your five-year-old on your sleeve, and the laughter all of you will share when you are together.

Of course, I can’t guarantee that all these suggestions will work for everyone. But perhaps it’s a start. And for all my irreverence, I realize the agony experienced by separated families can hardly be eased by a Hallmark greeting card. But maybe what all families need to look at also is the bright future ahead to make the pain of separation hopefully less traumatic and depressing.

(My column, Something Like Life, is published every Friday in the Life section of the BusinessMirror, which was recently recognized by the Rotary Club of Manila as the National Newspaper of the Year in its 2006 Journalism Awards. Photo from BusinessMirror)

Cinemalaya 2007

Got this from one of my yahoogroups. See you at the movies!

Cinemalaya 2007
Philippine Independent Film Festival
July 20 to 29 2007
Cultural Center of the Philippines

Festival Schedule

SPECIAL EVENTS

Cinemalaya 2007 Awards Night
(Open to the Public)
Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo 07:00 PM 29 Jul/Sun

The Cinemalaya Film Congress
Theme: Harnessing Technology for Artistic Expression
Day 1 Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 24 Jul/Tue 8AM to 5PM
Day 2 Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 25 Jul/Wed 9AM to 5PM

Cinemalaya 2007 Opening Ceremonies
Special Screening: FOSTER CHILD by Brillante Mendoza
Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo 07:00 PM 20 Jul/Fri

The Cinemalaya Sine Taktakans
Meet the Cinemalaya 2007 Filmmakers Forum
(Free Admission)
Day 1 Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute 27 Jul/Fri 1PM to 5PM
Day 2 Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute 28 Jul/Sat 1PM to 5PM

COMPETITION SCREENINGS

The Cinemalaya 2007 Full-Lengths

ENDO by Jade Castro
21 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
22 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
24 Jul/Tue 06:15 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
25 Jul/Wed 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
26 Jul/Thu 12:45 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
27 Jul/Fri 12:45 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
28 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

GULONG by Sockie Fernandez
21 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
22 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
24 Jul/Tue 09:00 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
25 Jul/Wed 06:15 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
26 Jul/Thu 10:00 AM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
27 Jul/Fri 03:30 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
28 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo

KADIN by Adolf Alix Jr.
21 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
22 Jul/Sun 10:00 AM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
24 Jul/Tue 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
25 Jul/Wed 10:00 AM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
26 Jul/Thu 03:30 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
27 Jul/Fri 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
28 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

LIGAW LIHAM by Jay Abello
21 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
22 Jul/Sun 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
24 Jul/Tue 10:00 AM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
25 Jul/Wed 06:15 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
26 Jul/Thu 06:15 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
27 Jul/Fri 10:00 AM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
28 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo

PISAY by Auraeus Solito
21 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
22 Jul/Sun 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
24 Jul/Tue 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
25 Jul/Wed 09:00 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
26 Jul/Thu 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
27 Jul/Fri 10:00 AM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
28 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

SINUNGALING NA BUWAN by Eduardo Lejano Jr.
21 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
22 Jul/Sun 06:15 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
24 Jul/Tue 12:45 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
25 Jul/Wed 09:00 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
26 Jul/Thu 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
27 Jul/Fri 12:45 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
28 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo

STILL LIFE by Katski Flores
21 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
22 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
24 Jul/Tue 06:15 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
25 Jul/Wed 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
26 Jul/Thu 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
27 Jul/Fri 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
28 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

TRIBU by Jim Libiran
21 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
22 Jul/Sun 06:15 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
24 Jul/Tue 09:00 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
25 Jul/Wed 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
26 Jul/Thu 06:15 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
27 Jul/Fri 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
28 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

TUKSO by Dennis Marasigan
21 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
22 Jul/Sun 09:00 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
24 Jul/Tue 03:30 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
26 Jul/Thu 12:45 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
27 Jul/Fri 06:15 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
28 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
29 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

The Cinemalaya 2007 Shorts

Shorts Programme A:
DOBLE VISTA (Nisha Alicer, Nix Lañas, Caren Crisologo), MISTERYO SA HAPIS (Mark DelaCruz), NINEBALL (Enrico Aragon), ROLYO (Alvin B. Yapan), TAGAPAGLIGTAS (Ma. Solita F. Garcia)
21 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
22 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
24 Jul/Tue 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
25 Jul/Wed 12:45 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
27 Jul/Fri 06:15 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
27 Jul/Fri 09:00 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
28 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

Shorts Programme B:
DUROG (Tara Illenberger), GABON (Emmanuel DelaCruz), LIWANAG SA DILIM (Lawrence Fajardo), MAIKLING KWENTO (Hubert Tibi), TONI (Vic Acedillo Jr.)
21 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino
21 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
22 Jul/Sun 09:00 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
26 Jul/Thu 10:00 AM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
26 Jul/Thu 09:00 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
28 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 1 - CCP Main Theatre / Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
29 Jul/Sun 10:00 AM Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino

EXHIBITION SCREENINGS

The Cinemalaya 2007 World Premieres

BARAKO by Manolito Sulit
Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde 09:00 PM 24 Jul/Tue

CURE FOR BOREDOM by Ato Bautista
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 06:15 PM 25 Jul/Wed

HANGGANG DITO NA LAMANG AT MARAMING SALAMAT
by Lino Tañada
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 06:15 PM 22 Jul/Sun

HAW-ANG by Bong Ramos
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 06:15 PM 26 Jul/Thu

HILO by JP Carpio
Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde 09:00 PM 25 Jul/Wed

KISS MEEH, MANANANGGAL ME! By Cris Pablo
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 09:00 PM 26 Jul/Thu

SAPI by Arnold Argaño
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 09:00 PM 27 Jul/Fri

SIGNOS by Aloy Adlawan
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 06:15 PM 24 Jul/Tue

WEN TIMAWA MEETS DELGADO by Rey Gilbraltar
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 06:15 PM 21 Jul/Sat

TBC: BALIKBAYAN BOX by Mes Guzman
Venue 2 - CCP Little Theatre / Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino 06:15 PM 28 Jul/Sat

The Cinemalaya 2005 Films

ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS
by Auraeus Solito & Michiko Yamamoto
21 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
26 Jul/Thu 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

BARYOKE by Ron Bryant
23 Jul/Mon 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
28 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

BIG TIME by Mario Cornejo & Monster Jimenez
21 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
25 Jul/Wed 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

ICU BED #7 by Rica Arevalo
21 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
26 Jul/Thu 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

ISNATS by Mike Dagnalan & Jun Aves
24 Jul/Tue 12:45 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
28 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

LASPONGGOLS by Sigfried Barros Sanchez
24 Jul/Tue 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
28 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

PEPOT ARTISTA by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.
21 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
26 Jul/Thu 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

ROOM BOY by Alfred Aloysius Adlawan
24 Jul/Tue 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
27 Jul/Fri 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

SARONG BANGGI by Emman dela Cruz
24 Jul/Tue 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
28 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

The Cinemalaya 2006 Films

ANG HULING ARAW NG LINGGO by Nick Olanka
25 Jul/Wed 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
29 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

BATAD: SA PAANG PALAY by Benji Garcia
22 Jul/Sun 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
27 Jul/Fri 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

DONSOL by Adolfo B. Alix Jr.
25 Jul/Wed 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
29 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

IN DA RED KORNER by Dado Lumibao
25 Jul/Wed 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
28 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

MUDRAKS by Arah Jell Badayos & Margaret Guzman
25 Jul/Wed 12:45 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
29 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

ROTONDA by Ron Bryant
22 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
27 Jul/Fri 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

SAAN NAGTATAGO SI HAPPINESS
by Florida Bautista & Real Florido
24 Jul/Tue 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
29 Jul/Sun 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

TULAD NG DATI by Michael Sandejas
22 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
26 Jul/Thu 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

The Cinemalaya 2005 & 2006 Shorts

Cinemalaya 2005 Shorts: ALIMUOM (Rommel "Milo" Tolentino), BABAE (Sigrid Bernardo), BLOODBANK (Pam Miras), KULTADO (Lawrence Fajardo), MANSYON (Joel Ruiz), PANAGINIPAN (Anna Isabelle Matutina)
21 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
26 Jul/Thu 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

Cinemalaya 2006 Shorts A: 10:25 NG GABI (Reggie Gulle), GEE-GEE AT WATERINA (J. Dennis C. Teodosio), KWARTO (Jose Maria Emmanuel C. Taylo), LABADA (Raz DelaTorre), NO PASSPORT NEEDED (Pepe Diokno)
22 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
27 Jul/Fri 12:45 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

Cinemalaya 2006 Shorts B: ORASYON (Rommel "Milo" Tolentino), PARANG PELIKULA (Hubert Tibi), PUTOT (Jeck Cogama), PUWANG (Anna Isabelle Matutina), SA SILAW (Reinzi L. Balao)
22 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
27 Jul/Fri 10:00 AM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

More Exhibition Screenings

ANAK NG TINAPA by Jon Red
21 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

ANG ANAK NI BROCKA by Sigfried Barros Sanchez
26 Jul/Thu 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

ANG DAAN PATUNGONG KALIMUGTONG by Mes Guzman
21 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
27 Jul/Fri 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

ANG HULING BALYAN NG BUHI by Sherad Anthony Sanchez
27 Jul/Fri 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
28 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

ASTIG by Jon Red
23 Jul/Mon 09:00 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

BALAY DAKU by JP Carpio
22 Jul/Sun 09:00 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

BALIW by Redd Ochoa
23 Jul/Mon 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
27 Jul/Fri 09:00 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

BLACKOUT by Ato Bautista
22 Jul/Sun 06:15 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
28 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

CARE HOME by Suzett Ranillo
22 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
24 Jul/Tue 09:00 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

CAVITE by Neil Dela Llana & Ian Gamazon
24 Jul/Tue 06:15 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

COMPOUND by Will Fredo
21 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
26 Jul/Thu 09:00 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

DILIM by Topel Lee
21 Jul/Sat 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

DILIMAN by Mes Guzman
25 Jul/Wed 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

FACES OF LOVE by Eddie Romero
26 Jul/Thu 12:45 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
27 Jul/Fri 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

HEREMIAS (Unang Aklat: Ang Alamat Ng Princesang Bayawak)
by Lav Diaz ( 9AM to 6PM 9 hours - counts as one programme)
29 Jul/Sun 9:00 AM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

ILUSYON by Paolo Villaluna & Ellen Ramos
26 Jul/Thu 06:15 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

IMAHE NASYON
by Lav Diaz ("Nang Matapos Ang Ulan"), Raymond Red ("Mistulang Kamera Obskura") Roxlee ("La Pula"), Neil Daza ("Biyaheng Edsa") Ellen Ramos ("Speci Men"), Robert Quebral ("Barado"), Paolo Villaluna, ("One Shot") Mes De Guzman ("Tsinelas"), Topel Lee ("Ang Manunulat"), Emmanuel dela Cruz ("Imagining Edsa"), Lyle Sacris ("Dibuho") Milo Alto Paz ("Lugaw"), RA Rivera ("Public Service Announcement"), Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez ("Aksyon Star"), Tad Ermitaño ("Local Unit"), Ogi Sugatan ("5 Minutes"), Poklong Anading ("Between Intersection"), EJ Salcedo ("Talahib"), Dennis Empalmado ("Bwahaha") and Yeye Calderon ("Silid").
d/w The IMAHE NASYON Behind The Scenes by Jon Red
(counts as one programme)
27 Jul/Fri 06:15 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

INANG YAYA by Pablo Biglang-Awa & Veronica Velasco
25 Jul/Wed 03:30 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

KALELDO by Brillante Mendoza
22 Jul/Sun 06:15 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
26 Jul/Thu 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

KUBRADOR by Jeffrey Jeturian
21 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
26 Jul/Thu 06:15 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
29 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

LA VISA LOCA by Mark Meily
24 Jul/Tue 03:30 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

LAMBANOG by Paolo Herras
25 Jul/Wed 10:00 AM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

MANORO by Brillante Mendoza
24 Jul/Tue 06:15 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
28 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining

MASAHISTA by Brillante Mendoza
26 Jul/Thu 03:30 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

METLOGS by Cris Pablo
24 Jul/Tue 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
27 Jul/Fri 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

MGA PUSANG GALA by Ellen Ongkeko (TBC)
22 Jul/Sun 10:00 AM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

NASAAN SI FRANCIS? by Gabby Fernandez
22 Jul/Sun 09:00 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute
25 Jul/Wed 06:15 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

NUMBALIKDIWA by Bobby Bonifacio
21 Jul/Sat 09:00 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
27 Jul/Fri 06:15 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

PANDANGGO by Dennis Empalmado & Wilfred Galila
22 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
25 Jul/Wed 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

PINOY BLONDE by Peque Gallaga
21 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

RAKET NI NANAY by Lawrence Fajardo
25 Jul/Wed 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
29 Jul/Sun 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

REKADOS by Paolo Herras
22 Jul/Sun 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
24 Jul/Tue 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

ROME & JULIET by Connie S.A. Macatuno
22 Jul/Sun 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
25 Jul/Wed 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

RUPTURA by Ron Bryant
24 Jul/Tue 10:00 AM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

SA AKING PAGKAKAGISING MULA SA KAMULATAN
by Ato Bautista
23 Jul/Mon 06:15 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

SA ILALIM NG COGON by Rico Ilarde
21 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
26 Jul/Thu 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

SA NORTH DIVERSION ROAD by Dennis Marasigan
24 Jul/Tue 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

SANDALANG BAHAY by Denisa Reyes & Mark Gary
28 Jul/Sat 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

SEROKS by Eduardo Lejano Jr.
22 Jul/Sun 03:30 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
26 Jul/Thu 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

SITAK by Liza Cornejo
24 Jul/Tue 10:00 AM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

SQUATTER PUNK by Khavn (with a live band)
28 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

STILL LIVES by Jon Red
25 Jul/Wed 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

STOCK ROOM by Hero Angeles
21 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 4 - CCP MKP Hall / Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining
28 Jul/Sat 06:15 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

TODO TODO TEROS by John Torres
21 Jul/Sat 12:45 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall
26 Jul/Thu 09:00 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde

TRABAHO by Ned Trespeces
22 Jul/Sun 09:00 PM Venue 3 - CCP Dream Theatre / Tanghalang Manuel Conde
26 Jul/Thu 10:00 AM Venue 5 - CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute

TULI by Auraeus Solito
25 Jul/Wed 09:00 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

UPOS by Jose Maria Emmanuel C. Taylo
25 Jul/Wed 06:15 PM Venue 6 - CCP Silangan Hall

* Kindly note that screening schedules may be subject to change.

The Sopranos finale

(Tony, Silvio, and Paulie)

I finally got to watch the controversial finale of The Sopranos. I have always been a Sopranos addict since Tony Soprano (played by the super-brilliant James Gandolfini), struggling New Jersey mob boss, first stepped into the office of psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (return-of-the-comeback Lorraine Bracco). Anoh ito? A depressed Mafioso?

I was always so frustrated that our local HBO didn't carry the series. I don't know how true this is but our local HBO is a feed from Singapore daw, which supposedly has strict rules on blood and gore on TV. Merese! The Sopranos is more dark comedy than anything else. Truly funny...it's like Analyze This on downers. Who would've thought that mob bosses and their employees have lives we can relate to outside of the senseless violence they always perpetrate. Sometimes tuloy, you end up cheering some of the whack jobs.

(Hala kayo, gutom na si Bobby!)

Much of the acting was understated but very effective. Each actor managed to make his or her character, no matter if they had just committed bloody murder, very sympathetic. It's quite difficult to pinpoint who my favorite characters or actors were. Of course, Tony Soprano is definitely one of them, the alzheimerish Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese, a veteran of a number of mob films), Silvio Dante (a really different Steven Van Zandt! Who knew Bruce Springsteen's lead guitarist-aka Little Steven- could act?!), Bobby Bacala (truly nakakaawa being married to Tony's sister, crazy Janice. Underacting week after week by Steven Schirippa. I just love him! He's so zany on all the talk shows!).

Too bad the oh-so-gorgeous Federico Castellucio's character, Furio (Tony's import from Italy), disappeared after only a few episodes. Kasi naman he was falling in love with Tony's wife Carmela (Edie Falco...beyoootch!). But those were cool episodes, too. And of course, who could forget the superb late actress Nancy Marchand who portrayed Tony's loon of a demanding and whining mother Livia?! Like everyone else, a lot of Tony's problems stemmed from his impossible relationship with his mother. Sa inis ni Livia, she had plotted to have her son killed! can you imagine?!

(Yummy Furio!)

Anyway, thank God for Limewire and Bittorrent! I was able to watch the entire series just by downloading each episode. (Dang! I had to pray every night that my hard drive wouldn't give out!)

About the finale, it became controversial because it seemed like it was a hanging ending...as Tony looks up from the table in the diner where he and his family are eating, everything fades to black. The series' creator David Chase was heavily criticized for what appeared an unresolved conclusion (doncha just love indefinite endings?). Some felt they were shortchanged and Chase had set everybody up in preparation for a Sopranos movie. But after the initial..."What the....?", I thought it was an outstanding ending as well. It's a finale everyone will continue to talk about and have his own take on what actually happened. Gee, and I thought only we Pinoys wanted our endings to be really final and spelled out. Let your imagination work naman, noh!

(Livia and Uncle Junior out for a drive)

Personally, I think Tony was whacked. Like all mob bosses, how else could he go (unless he turned FBI witness), di ba? Sad pero, that's how it should be. Sure it's unfortunate the series ended. It had a great run and I don't think any other series after this will be able to match the excellent acting, well-written characters, and TV-defining episodes of The Sopranos. But as Tony always says, "Look at the bright side!" May the series live on in worldwide syndication and pirated DVDs forever.

Monday bitching...Ruffa, the woman with 9 lives

(Photo from The Filipino Express)

I don't know how you guys are taking the weekend pronouncements of Ruffa Gutierrez, the latest Pinoy celebrity who has confessed to having been physically abused by one's spouse.

Normally, I feel sympathy towards women who have been abused and violated by their husbands, or men in general. But in Ruffa's case, I somehow find some of her statements almost unbelievable. (This woman, after all, was involved in the 1994 Manila Film Fest scam, along with her mother, the irrepressible Annabel Rama, brother Rocky, and that woman with the truly unforgettable name...Viveka Babajee.) I mean, being physically abused for 15 hours daw? Buhay pa sya? Then she says she was electrocuted by hubby Yilmaz Bektas while she was in the bathtub...again, buhay pa din sya? My God! This woman must have 9 lives, like a cat!

So the beatings began even before she and Yilmaz were married...so what possessed her to marry him? That's awfully stupid isn't it? I mean, all this time I thought she had some brains to go with her beauty...Baka nasilaw sa dami ng carats na binigay ni "lovee" anoh? Ayan, nainggit kasi ke Greta.

Btw, how come not one showbiz TV host has actually pinned down Ruffa and gotten a real honest answer on whether or not she was married to one Richard Daiola prior to Yilmaz? Who the hell is this guy and why, despite the massive resources of both GMA News and ABS-CBN/ANC News, he has yet to be unearthed. No one has secured even one photo of this mystery man.

Naku 'dong, bet you there's gonna be a Ruffa Gutierrez Story film out soon. Heh!

Some kind of fitness story

Something Like Life
June 8, 2007



A NUMBER of my friends texted their congratulations.

Some, curiously, asked, “Ano’ng nakain mo?” which I don’t think has a proper translation in English. (The closest I can think of is “What’s up with you?” but in the tone that meant, “What the hell were you thinking?!”)

Anyway, what my friends were referring to was my sudden decision to enroll in a gym. Okay, don’t laugh. Yeah, yeah, it was a sperm of the moment decision, as I like to say. But bear with me as I try to entertain you with tortuous details of this life-changing moment.

When I went to the mall near my home, I had all the intention of purchasing a spare cell phone to replace my battered one, which has missing keys, and already unreplaceable as it is a Siemens phone. (An aside: I don’t know why Siemens gave up on the Philippines. Its cell phones were, quite honestly, pretty good workhorses, easy to operate, with designs that were actually ahead of their time. Very stylish. The company just lacked the right marketing strategy to sell its units to keep up with the competition. So Siemens has pulled out its service centers from the malls and now I can’t replace the keys on my S57. I am told that I will have to go all the way to Siemens’ head office in Mandaluyong or thereabouts just to have my phone repaired. Tama ba ’yon?)

Not finding the cell phone I had saved up for, and still having enough time on my hands before the hordes of people swarmed the building, I checked out the health and fitness floor of the mall. First, I went to a popular medical clinic to find out what its membership fees were, because I was due for an executive checkup; then, somehow, my pretty feet just brought me next door to the fitness center.

I’ve been to that gym before with Mrs. M, as she was a member, and I was aghast that there were so many people working out almost side by side. It was like walking around the mall on a weekend in the afternoon, and all you do is bump into other people. Which I absolutely detest.

But I was just curious, and inquired how much I would have to pay to be a member of this popular fitness center. Having gone freelance as a writer, I no longer have an excuse not to exercise. My days are flexible enough to have a fitness schedule and if I was serious enough, I could plan the rest of my activities around my gym time. I’m not really exercise-phobic. In fact, I loved doing yoga, and attended classes fairly regularly to strengthen my back which had given me problems in the past. But when I moved to Quezon City, I couldn’t find an instructor in my area that would teach in the afternoons, a schedule which I had become accustomed to, being a late riser.

Anyway, I was surprised at the rate that was offered to me to enroll in that gym, which cost just a tad over the amount of the cell phone I had been angling to purchase. The monthly dues are somewhat expensive but I was told I would be able to use any of the gym’s branches nationwide and even internationally. I was also told that from about 10 am to 4 pm, the gym would be virtually empty since everyone is supposed to be at work. So that solves my claustrophobia. Well, as you may have already concluded, I got sold on the idea, turned over my credit card for swiping, and committed myself to a year’s worth of fitness.

I would like to say that I enrolled in the gym mainly out of concern for my health. True, I’ve been feeling the tightness in my jeans’ waistband the last couple of weeks, and find myself out of breath sometimes when I walk short distances. My family has a history of hypertension and diabetes and I am probably at risk of inheriting these, so it’s as good a time as any to get back to exercising. Coupled with this is my being a foodie. I love to eat. And I know going to the gym would allow me to keep my weight down even as I continue to indulge my, ahem, healthy appetite.

Then again, as my Mader F surmised, there was a deeper reason for my going to the gym. Or maybe, a shallower one. It had to be a man. Guilty! Let’s just say, one night I suddenly realized I was absolutely attracted to him and, quite strangely, wanted to drown myself in his steady gaze. Ick! Ma-drama na ba?

Going to the gym is probably admitting to myself that I feel powerless under his sway and just want to look my absolutely fabulous best the moment I give up control. So there’s my fitness motivation, and maybe it’s wrong, but what the heck! It got me back to the gym, so it’s as good a reason as any. The women libbers out there can throw all their rotten tomatoes at me but I don’t care. I’m just a grrrl, noh?

Anyway, I hauled this tired but sexy body of mine to the gym for the first time in decades and found the experience quite exhilarating! Not wanting to unduly exert myself, I attended the yoga class for starters. After more than a year of not having any regular yoga practice, naturally I felt stiff all over. I couldn’t hold some of the asanas (poses) as easily as I did before, although I still remembered how to breathe correctly, so I didn’t end up panting and wheezing like the rest of my classmates. Mo-ching, my teacher at Mandala Spa, would have been proud as well of my downward facing dog. And toward the end of the class, I still managed to do my shoulder stand and easily dropped my legs at the back of my head while the upper portion of my body lay supine on the yoga mat. Aba, flexible pa din ang lola n’yo!

But, man, how I sweated buckets! For those who think yoga is easy and just for wimps, you have it all wrong. The asanas are very difficult, especially if you’re just starting out. Despite an air-conditioned room, you will perspire, and your muscles will feel like they’re being torn apart. Talk about feeling the burn. But unlike sports or other fitness exercises, there is no competition with others, only with yourself. You challenge yourself to perfect the pose at each practice, and with every effort, your mind is conditioned to focus on your breathing, your practice and your space.

After the class ended, I felt rejuvenated. I really missed my regular yoga practice. It was what my body and mind had been craving for all this time. Sure, my muscles are aching all over right now, but I look forward to going back to the gym again and perhaps trying out the fitness machines next time.

I’m not going to give out any lengthy sermons on the importance of health, the proper diet and exercise. Or how our relationship to our body should be sacred and should be of utmost priority. I’m pretty sure you will find your own motivation to exercise soon enough. And if it’s a man who gets you running to the gym, then embrace it. Perhaps soon, he might just be embracing you.

(My column, Something Like Life, appears every Friday in the Lifestyle section of the BusinessMirror. Photo from Maconstate University web site.)