So when I had the chance to be invited to last night’s (June 8 ) special screening of Nestle’s Kasambuhay Habambuhay Short Film Anthology at PH Nestle’s HQ, I decided to attend the event, dragging my youngest daughter with me who had her initial session at Global Art yesterday. No rains nor high water can make us not come because my Bunso was not going to take “NO” for an answer. It was after all, a chance for her to see what she has been singing about for several days.

Anyway, I’m glad we went. We sure did have a great time as I’ve written earlier in my Teacher Julie FB page.

So there, I think my laughter was one of those that resonated the venue’s walls where we watched the Nestle Kasambuhay Habambuhay Short Film Anthology. I don’t know if it was obvious when my tears were falling but I know, there were some whose heart strings were tugged just like me.

There are 10 shorts films with 10 minutes each featured in Nestle Kasambuhay Habambuhay Short Film Anthology. Please click on the title to be directed to the YouTube trailer:

• The Howl and the Fussyket directed by Chris Martinez (Genre: a family comedy of manners; Brand: Bear Brand Instant Milk which is my mom’s favorite brand of milk for several decades now). 8-year old Aaron (Gerald Pesigan) volunteered to be his grade 2 class’ representative in the coming English Declamation contest. Will he win the contest despite his obvious difficulties interchanging “p” and “f”? How will his mother (Eugene Domingo) and sister (Kiray) help him prep for the competition? This is a story of perseverance, family unity and knowing what triumph is all about. Guaranteed howls of laughter and “awww…” moments.

• Unplugged directed by Raul Jorolan (Genre: a feel-good adventure of discovery; Brand feature: Milo hands down my kids fave chocolate milk drink). Foot ball coach (Marvin Agustin) brought his team of young football players to his grandfather’s (Eddie Garcia) home in the province to bond. But as the grandpa observed, they are all engrossed with their handheld gadgets so he asked them to give it all up and stay unplugged. The boys had so much fun enjoying the outdoors, coming to the realization that by going offline, they are able to reconnect back to (the simple joys) in life: a life unplugged. Note: one of my personal favorites.

• Silup directed by Jun Reyes. Genre: A Gritty Urban Drama. Brand feature: Bear Brand Sterilized Milk. Silup, Pulis spelled backwards, is about a Manila cop (Sid Lucero) who is a third generation policeman. He sees crime, had been shot at which missed. He is strict and tough but at home, he is that caring person who lives with his grandma (Gloria Romero). Be prepared to see what these cops deal with and believe me, some of the scenes are not something you’d probably want to see in real life.

• Isang Tasang Pangarap directed by Sid Maderazo. Genre: a comedy of epic proportions. Brand feature: Nescafe (our favorite brand is Nescafe Protect). Elias (Ramon Bautista) lives in a town devastated by calamity and chaos. he has one simple joy: his love for a cup of hot coffee everyday. In his symbolic red mug, he sees hope when he had an enlightening realization after talking to a sari-sari store owner. Soon, people came to see him because he became The Coffee Psychic. Would he be able to give these people the hope they all long for? Can’t seem to find the YouTube trailer.

• Sali Salita directed by A/F Benaza. Genre:  family fantasy drama. Brand feature: Nido (my kids favorite milk). A writer mom who writes stories for children doesn’t seem to have the time to spend with her child. The child is a playful imaginative child who strives to seek attention from his busy mother. The child found time to unleash  his creativity when his grandpa (Kuya Bodjie Pascua) came to visit and they start playing Story Starters where they exchange ideas about magical places, heroes, and villains. The boy’s grandfather leaves with the story left hanging and without an ending. It is now up to the mother to help her son give the story an ending. How will the ending be? This is the other one of my favorites.

• Oh! Pa Ra Sa Ta U Wa Yeah! directed by Jeorge Agcaoili. Genre: Original Pilipino Music. Brand feature: Nestea (which my kids ask me to prepare for them especially when the weather is hot). This is a story of a family who helped their teenage son Nicos (Neil Coleta) figure out how he can make his love known to the girl of his dreams. His dad gave him a Womanual with the ABAKADA of how to win a woman’s heart. I love the songs I just wished they included the lyrics while they were singing, LOL.

• Downtown directed by Stephen Ngo. Genre: A quiet story of love. Brand feature: Coffeemate (what goes with our Nescafe Protect). A Chinese man who has floated through life with his wife beside him now lives alone in dirty home with unshaven beard and uncut hair. Realizing he needs to get his act together, finally takes control of his life and at another chance to reconnect with his love one. Found out how as the story unfolds. This definitely tugged at my heart strings, thinking how the hubby and I will be when the children are all grown up and we are both in our golden years.

• Tingala sa Ibaba directed by Henry Frejas. Genre: a coming-of-age satire. Brand feature: Nestle Ice Cream and Nestle Koko Krunch (my kids’ favorite ice cream and cereals along with another brand for each product). One child from a well-to-do family who has a dad who tells him he always has to be “on top” is sitting on the lower end of the see-saw because the other boy at the other end was thinner and smaller. Rich kid looks up at the poor kid while the poor kid looks down at the rich kid. How will they reverse their roles on the see-saw? Will they still play when they see each other as they prepare to go home, one boy pulling his bag with casters as he gets into their family car and the other boy walking away with his big sister? A story of friendship.

• Cooking Mo, Cooking Ko directed by Chris Martinez. Genre: A Shakespearean Food Film. Brand feature: Maggi Magic Sarap (we don’t use this one nor the competition because I steer clear of seasoning mixes). Two formerly friends but now warring families, the Montano and the Capule vie to get more customers for their own carinderias. But alas, their youngest children fall in love and one’s family’s secret to a better taste was revealed. Will the families stop fighting with each other? Will they finally accept that their children are in-love with each other? This is my daughter’s favorite so she tells me though she has also watched The Howl and the Fussyket several times in YouTube, both directed by the same director.

• Sign Seeker directed by Carlo Directo. Genre: Romantic Comedy. Brand feature: Nestle Fitnesse Cereals and Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt (kids favorite are Very Berry and Yogurt Jelly). Bien (John Lloyd Cruz)who doesn’t seem to believe his friend’s suggestion that he ask the girl of his dreams (Solenn Heussaff) for a date ask for signs to mean a “go for it”. He asked for signs, would he get the signs he’s looking for? Yes, be careful what you wish for but if it’s for the girl of your dreams, why not? Fun film to watch and you’d just want to believe in the coincidences too!

June 11 and 12 is Free Movie Weekend, and viewers can watch for free at selected SM cinemas nationwide (Megamall Cinema 3, Southmall Cinema 6, Rosales Cinema 1, Davao Cinema 1 and Cebu Cinema 7). Check out this site regarding ticket concerns.

Thank you Nestle Philippines for making this short film anthology. Do bring your loved ones and watch Nestle Kasambuhay Hambambuhay Short Film Anthology. Don’t forget to bring tissue with you

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.

Instead, I laughed. I said “Awww…” I felt happy. I felt some regret about the characters and the “it could have been” scenes playing in my mind. I felt relief. I admit, a few tears flowed. I felt different sorts of emotions.

Those messages written on stones are just awesome and these are the thought bubbles we have that are most of the time, unspoken.

In short, “Miss You Like Crazy” movie is like watching real-life happening in front of you, from the ferry boat rides, the jeepney, the Divisoria crowd, the old home being renovated, the office cubicles, the working-abroad-to-support-the family situation, the support system when working overseas, the Filipino humor, even the noisy family setting and the hope of being with the one you love even if it seems impossible.

• The movie is about knowing when to let go much.

• It is also about caring for the family and setting your priorities before your dreams which could men a setback to your dreams.

• It is about believing in yourself and also believing in love.

• It is about love that does not focus on the self and the loved one alone.

• It is also about knowing that there is a second chance or maybe, another chance.

“Bakit ba tayo may second chance? Maybe because this is not for us to have happy ending… But to end things right.”

Some things are meant to be and for those that are not, there are reasons for being so, my thoughts about the quote.

This is Bea’s movie more than John Lloyd’s. Her lively character and  her sense of humor are  believable that you just gotta know her situation could happen to anyone or has happened to another woman.

Star Cinema’s Miss You Like Crazy starring Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina is still showing in theaters nationwide.

Erik Santos sang the theme song. Watch the full trailer of Miss You Like Crazy trailer here.

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My Miss You Like Crazy movie premiere invite was made possible by Biogesic, the leading fever and headache reliever trusted by millions of Filipinos.

The younger children were behaved in the movie house. They have watched all earlier HP movies. I have read all seven books myself.

Since it has been a looong time when I have read the book, I knew there was something amiss in  the movie.

The obsessive-compulsive in me had to look up the book, particularly during the ending part. Then I saw it: the “funeral” or tribute to Dumbledore.

I knew how the ending will be but a tear or two still managed to escape my eyes. Drama queen not, am just a cry-baby.

The kids were a bit disappointed we were not able to go to their favorite toy store because we only had a few minutes to spare before the movie started and had no time to look around. I was planning to see the lcd monitors on sale in one of the stores.

Oh well, next time, when we have more time, we definitely will spend more time to look around.

The movie was fun, fun fun!

The TriNoma Digital Cinema is also a great venue for movies like these because the Digital 3D experience was simply wonderful and unforgettable!

Thanks Ayala Malls, GMCI and the different sponsors: Fish and Co, The Body Shop, Timezone, Hershey’s, and The Travel Club.

Thanks AB for the invite

]]> http://teacherjulie.com/2009/07/03/ice-age-3-in-3d-at-trinomas-digital-cinema/feed/ 3 http://teacherjulie.com/2008/11/28/have-you-watched-twilight-yet/ http://teacherjulie.com/2008/11/28/have-you-watched-twilight-yet/#comments Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:06:19 +0000 teacherjulie http://teacherjulie.com/?p=2618 The most awaited movie has been shown and our young family all trooped to the movie house yesterday to watch it.

The verdicts have been out whether it lived up to the book‘s storyline or not, and of course, as it always happen, “we can not please everyone”

Here are my two cents worth of thoughts:

Robert Pattinson is a cool Edward, I mean, not because he is supposed to be “cold”. I was skeptical at first because he seemed “thin” for the role. His wary smiles, the way he looked at Bella, its as if one can feel the tension and the passion building up. His sparkling body did not really sparkle much or maybe my eyesight was just a bit blurry even when looking at the big screen.

Kristen Stewart as Bella looks like she can’t possibly drive a humongous truck that she must have trained at a truck driving school back in Arizona. Her passion lacks in the movie like she was just there for the thrill in being with a vampire. I like her reaction though when she was in the hospital and she was shaking her head, saying “No” or something like that. I also liked when she was shouting at Edward as they “broke up”.

Sure, the tender moments were enough to make one giddy but there seems to be something lacking, and I can’t exactly pinpoint what it was. The meadow seems was not what I had in mind though.

The baseball game was exciting to watch too.

The other characters were good, including Charlie and Jacob who could have been given more time to appear on screen to establish his future role.

The Cullens were gorgeous except for the makeup which seemed too thick (or maybe its just me).

The high school gang looks cool and one would wonder why hanging out with a vampire seems better than hanging out with them.

The place, oh, just exactly what I want to explore. The wild beach, the fresh air, the trees and the rains, including those gray and dreary skies. Yes, even if I don’t like rains that much.

My verdict? Though the movie seems to lack something, I want to watch it again. This time without the kids. My son wants to watch New Moon, so he tells me and of course my eldest daughter would want that too.

When you can live forever what do you live for?

There are many ways to interpret dark. This can be interpreted literally meaning without light. This can also be referred to as a time of day where sunlight can no longer be seen. This can also be interpreted philosophically meaning different things depending on the person interpreting the word. Click here for the different interpretations.

It is dark inside a movie house. This was at an IMAX Theater when we watched The Alps, documenting about conquering one’s fears and facing these fears. There is a correlation here to being in the dark and not facing our fears.

Have you ever experienced traveling on a long road on a very dark night with heavy rains and fogs? The sight of the lights welcoming one back to civilization is both a relief and unwelcome. A relief because the travel has almost come to an end and unwelcome especially when one has to face “reality” upon arriving at the destination.

People have many dark moments in their lives. With so many problems one has to encounter day in and day out, it is easy to give up and not do anything at all.

But let us remember that God had His dark hour too, when His Son Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the people.

That is more than enough reason to get out of the dark and see the Light.

photohunt