When I got an sms if I wanted to watch the premiere showing of Star Cinema’s latest movie, Miss You Like Crazy starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, I said “YES”.

I was not sure hubby would say yes to me though, I just had to take a chance at that

It has been years since I watched a Filipino-made movie on the big screen. Except for a preview of this movie that I watched a few days before Miss You Like Crazy, I admit, my movie preferences are a bit different.

So, going to a movie premiere is fun, albeit crowd can be high energy and bit rowdy especially when the stars arrive: screaming fans, a bustle here and a bit of a jostle there plus a lot of small talk. Good thing we were asked to go inside the theaters before they arrived.

I deliberately did not read any reviews on the movie because I didn’t want mine to be influenced even for a bit by what others wrote. This is my take on the movie Miss You Like Crazy:

I have not watched the trailer in full before I went to the premiere. I was prepared to see an engagement ring filled with diamonds, travels to exotic places, mushy romantic scenes that will melt my heart, and scenes  that will move me to tears. The movie did nothing of the sort.

Here’s why.

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One of the things I don’t particularly look forward to in malls during weekends are sales agents. No, not that I am taking it personal since I know, like me, they have to earn a living.

But then again, maybe it is that “sensitive side” me of speaking.

Who would be pleased when they approach you with a whitening cream product.

An offer to do FREE BMI analysis so you can decide whether you would like to buy that exercise machine they are selling. Some offer a free hour at the fitness center where they want you to get a membership plan.

Ok, I get it, I look like someone in need to a fitness regimen. No need to rub it in

What about free insurance quotes? Or house and lot? Nope? Condo unit?

What? A secondary credit card? I don’t even have one, lol!

Like I even  need a new car huh? Oh, a van? Low interest rate?

“Oh, you mean I can get a chance to win a vacation package if i just fill out this form”. Hmmm…no thanks.

I know I’m rambling. Good thing the view is wonderful in this place we went to and I didn’t get to encounter a sales agent

Searching the net for summer shoes for my children led me to Polliwalks.

Polliwalks are shoes for kids.

“Aha!” I told myself, this fun for feet shoes for kids would be perfect for my kids to use this summer!

Being a mom, I am concerned not only about cute, fun and playful stuff for my children. I am also concerned with how safe these things they use with regards to their health and well-being.

So I found these about Polliwalks:

• Polliwalks have Footprinting Bottom and color changing lips. Now these are fresh and innovative ideas for these “character” shoes.

• Judging by how the shoes look, these seem well-fitting and comfortable too aside from exuding playfulness, happiness and innocence which basically sum up what children really are.

• Playfulness is one characteristic that I can describe my children. I let them run around and have fun through play (with restrictions of course). One thing I make sure of is that the shoes they are wearing should be: comfortable, easy to clean, lightweight, fits well and slip resistant.

• Environment-friendly packaging (recycled paper for tags and hooks) as well as environment-friendly water-based adhesives were used in the manufacture of these shoes.

My youngest daughter would definitely love this pair of pink t-Rex shoes:

Where to purchase:

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When I got the chance to watch a preview of THE RED SHOES  (A Love Story) last Friday night, I grabbed it and watched with my friends iMom and SassyMom.

Honestly, I was surprised when it was announced that the writer, director and some cast were present. “How could that be?” I thought, because movie is a foreign film. Turned out I was wrong.

The Red Shoes (A Love Story) is produced by Unitel Productions. Yes the same one who gave us Inang Yaya and Crying Ladies.

No, I did not get to watch both films. Truth is the last locally-produced movie I watched was that of a real-life sweethearts’ movie. Sadly, its leading man has passed away.

Anyway, The Red Shoes (A Love Story) is a love story of Lucas and Bettina that spanned several years. It is also the love story of the parents of Lucas.

Watch a teaser of The Red Shoes (A Love Story) here and here.

I will not dwell on the plot and spoil the fun for you. I will just give emphasis to the symbols that I feel are important in the story:

Shoes: For me, this is the focal point of the story: Imelda Marcos’ pair of red shoes that Lucas got from malacanang Palace. He gave the right shoe to his mother and the left shoe for his loved one, Bettina. Every character in the movie has a favorite kind of shoe to wear. Lucas’ mom, Chat, always gets a new pair of shoes for her birthday. In real life, we all wear different kinds of shoes, depending on what we hope to do, where we are going and what we hope to accomplish.

Bridges. Bettina loves bridges because her father used to build bridges. In the story, a certain bridge provided the setting for the highlight of the love story as well as the end of it. Bridges connect us with people much as it separate us from one another.

Spirista. When all else fails, we go to the spiritista, the one who will “talk” to our loved ones who passed away without telling us their last wish. Don’t we just wish this is easily done for our peace of mind, at least?

Home Altar. For  a predominantly Catholic country, home altars are common. Alongside these however are traditional Chinese thingamajigs like frogs or Buddha figurines. When a loved one died, it is also customary to “offer” food (called atang) to seek the favor of the one who died to intercede and ask help from the saints for a favor being asked. This is my opinion on this matter, by the way.

Moving on. Chat had difficulty moving on after her husband’s death more than two decades ago. This tackles how people deal with grief on their own terms. Or maybe because her intuition tells her otherwise that’s why she won’t stop until she gets a “message” from her dead husband. Moving on is one of the hardest things to do, especially after a sudden and/or tragic death of a loved one.

Jose Rizal snippet about slippers: Jose Rizal lost a slipper on a lake. What he did was throw the other slipper away so that whoever might find both would get to use the pair. There was something about this in the story and it moved me to tears.

Removing shoes/slippers when entering a big house. This used to be customary, as a sign of respect, especially if the one entering the big house is from a lower economic strata. This is a kind of demarcation line between the haves and the have-nots.

There are still a lot more to be discussed and I know this has gone too long.

Please go and watch the movie and I am sure you are going to love it.

The Red Shoes (A Love Story) will be shown in theaters on March 10, 2010.

It’s the time for Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Sadie, a Scottie won the best in show.

We love going to dog shows whenever we can. It is amazing to see dogs groomed and paraded for everyone to see. Most are oblivious to the cameras aimed at them and people ogling at how well they look. But there is always one that stands out, which turns out to be the best among the best.

Breeding dogs is not cheap.

When there are a lot of people who can’t even afford to purchase their basic needs like food, nor be able to get personal needs (things for hygiene like bath necessities, get adult acne treatment or weather-appropriate clothes), sometimes it looks “vulgar” offensive to some when these pets are given excessive pampering. Yes,this is big business after all.

We love dogs, in fact we have had several dogs but we chose a breed that will not drill a hole in the budget.

• Dogs bring out the good in people.
• Dogs help people relax.
• Dogs love unconditionally.
• Dogs are wonderful companions.
• Dogs give you a sense of protection.

These are just some of the benefits of having a dog. So there, maybe it is never always about the tag price that goes with taking care of these faithful companions but also the joy one feels in return.

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults.  Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment.  ~George Eliot

Just a few minutes ago, I was listening to Senator Pia Cayetano talking about the delaying of the signing of the Expanded Value Added Tax for Senior Citizens by PGMA. So what else is new? The fact that she is putting in new appointments in key government positions and having elected governors unseated because they were NOT the real winners this late is a sign that something is definitely brewing.

Anyway…

This issue about taking care of the elderly has been tackled in our homeschooling lessons in Social Studies. In the lesson about population, we discussed how each segment of the population is important:  the  very young, the working population and the elderly population.

The elderly population’s condition in this country is not one of the best when it comes to their age group. Retired government employees have problems with the pension. I know because my in-laws have this kind of problems and I go to a bank where these pension payments are processed.

Delayed check payments is one of the common complaints.  Social security disability? Errr…

I once remarked to my eldest daughter that for most of the working people in this country, retirement is not an option for its citizens, even if the country prides itself as one of the “perfect places” for expats to retire.

Ironic isn’t it?