Shameless plug.

Okay, here's the official invite. Heh heh...

I hope you guys are free this coming Friday, Matilda will be launching the music video Iyak Ni Maria on December 3 @ Freedom Bar.

(click here for a bigger image preview)

The video is directed by Sherad Sanchez (he, together with Myka Arnado, did this as a final project for film class under Quark). I've seen the vid and it's really good. It's one of the finalists for the .MOV film festival (see article below). I think he's also submitting this for the Rotterdam festival.

(Oh, and if you guys are going to the Rock Awards this Thursday, punta kayong maaga. Matilda will be playing at the pre-show at around 7pm. The event starts on time.) :-)

.MOV finalists revealed

The top 10 finalists for the Philippine shorts, Southeast Asian shorts, and SMART CUTS categories of the 2nd .MOV International Digital Film Festival were announced at a press conference held at Alliance Francaise last November 23.

The Philippine shorts finalists include BLOODBANK (Pam Miras), MARITESS VS. THE SUPERFRIENDS (Dino Ignacio), RED SAGA (Krista Dalena), BINALIW (Kristoffer Villarino), APPLE (Sherad Anthony Sanchez), TAWID GUTOM (John Torres), IYAK NI MARIA (Sherad Anthony Sanchez), FIESTA 2052 (Michael Rivero), EGG (Ramon del Prado), and BLIND BEAUTY (Melvin Calingo).

Making it to the SEA shorts category are CUT (Royston Tan), LOVE FOR DOGS (Woo Ming Jin), GOODBYE TO LOVE (James Lee), WOMAN OF THE COSMOS (Diffan Sina), SHELTER: THE CITY OF FORGETTING (b.thiam), LOST (Amir Muhammad), EXODUS (Sherman Ong), CROOK (Aaron Chung), OUT OF THE CLOSET (Chi Too), and SAMA ORIGE (Bryant Low).

The SMART CUTS entries which made the cut are BITIN SA PAGMAMAHAL (Victor Louie Villanueva), FOR LOVE OR MONEY (Christian Vallez), TAP (Gabby Alcazaren), PUTEK (Ramon del Prado and Tey Clamor), DJEMBE (Emmanuel Cogama, Jake Ofrasio, and Audrey Silo), THE DIET (Gabby Alcazaren), SIGE YOSI PA (Titam Rebueno and Ramon del Prado), MOCHI (RICE CAKE) (Elmina Rayah Dizon), PINTUAN (Richard Legaspi), PISO (Kristoffer Villarino), TOILET DREAMS (Jules Katanyag), and BAGUIOMORPHOSIS (Rogerson Dennis Fernandez).

The pre-selection jury members for the Philippine and SEA shorts are French Embassy cultural attaché Martin Macalintal, NCCA Committee on Cinema member (independent sector) Teddy Co, writer/filmmaker Mes De Guzman, Cinemanila head of publicity and promotions Seymour Barros Sanchez, British Council assistant director for communications and marketing Susan Isorena-Arcega, Alliance Francaise cultural and press relations assistant Christine Sace, and Cebu marketing and events organizer Michael Sarthou. There are more than 150 submissions for the Philippine and SEA shorts categories combined.

Judging the SMART CUTS entries at the pre-selection also held at Alliance last November 20 are Co, De Guzman, Sanchez, Sarthou and SMART public affairs officers Novaleeh Clotario, Nora Imelda Wilwayco, and Rejoy Peñacerrada. A total of 62 entries made it to the deadline of the 60-second digital film competition organized by independent production company Filmless Films and sponsored by leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc.

All the finalists will be screened at .MOV to be held at SM City Cebu from March 2 to 8, 2005 and at SM Megamall from March 9 to 15, 2005. Another jury composed by foreign critics Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chris Fujiwara, and Peggy Chao, among others, will determine the winners for each category.

For more information, please contact Chits Jimenez at 0917-8211093 or at info@movfest.com.

*****

Finally, after a series of short and long meetings, nakadaan ako sa Nakayama the other night! Didn't get to see the usual suspects, though (awww...), pero still, nakapag-tocilog ako after a long time. My barkada and I didn't get to stay for long, they wanted to test their skills at billiards after a bottle of red wine.

*****

I'm sooo swamped with work. Ngarag na talaga ako. I missed Marie's party last night. (So sorry!) Hayyy... I want these projects over and done with. I have a busy year to look forward to (sana maraming raket, at, uhm, kasi elected officer na ako ng Ang I.n.K., and we have lots of plans for the org.).

Ayun. In a nutshell.

Ooohwow.

I haven't seen the Matilda video yet but from the still shots that I've seen-- WOW. I'm looking forward to seeing this tonight. The video is directed by Sherad Sanchez, and is a finalist for the .MOV Indie Film Fest March 2005.

For the rest of you guys in town next week--

Iyak ni Maria - the video launch
03 December 2004 @ Freedom Bar

Weekday blah.

I braved yesterday's transport strike to go to Shangri-La for a couple of commitments that I have set for the week. One thing pushed through, the other postponed. Comme si, comme ça. Such is life.

Highlight of the week would be my barkada's little rendezvous at Tomas Morato and Mister Kabab the other night which mostly consisted of talk about each other's lives and lovelives (or lack thereof), and work.

Work. Bleah. If there weren't deadlines to meet and bills to pay, I'd skip town this coming long weekend and disappear for a while. Buti pa si Nico, he's on a 7-hour drive to Vegas for the Thanksgiving weekend as I type.

This I gotta see.

Got this off a Brit dude hours ago.

RADIOHEAD guitarist JONNY GREENWOOD is set to appear in the next HARRY POTTER film alongside PULP singer JARVIS COCKER, according to reports.



The pair are to make a cameo appearance as a group of witches called the Wyrd Sisters, in 'Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire', reports The Mirror (courtesy of the good people of nme.com haha)

Talaga lang, ha... ;-)

Two heads don't necessarily make up two brains.

Was browsing in between layouts and came across some Blur Q and As (fans were asked to send questions to Dave Rowntree, Blur drummer). They're pretty old (some of them came out in an NME article a long time ago), but I think they're still funny.

Rupert asked: Since you boys seem to have international concerns I am curious if you can answer me this: If I wrap my penis in aluminum foil will it save it from the nuclear holocaust?

Dave says: I think so. You will be a blackened charred lump attached to a baked penis. Is that what you want?



Jordikins. asked: Have you ever studied Latin?

Dave says: No, though I tried to learn Sanskrit to write a letter to a girl I fancied. It was a lot of work, but I got laid.



Tyne asked: My roommate is obsessed with your group. She asks questions every day. Please answer my question just to piss her off... what color is the sky?

Dave says: I'd rather answer your roommates question. She's actually obsessed with my group, you know.



Michael Harkin asked: Hi Dave my question is: why does Donald Duck wear a towel when he comes out of the shower when he doesn't normally wear pants anyways?

Dave says: Maybe he's got an erection.



Dasha asked: I have a good imagination but when it comes to asking questions it doesn't work!!! But still: do u (or other members of Blur) have a lucky charm and what's it? Thanx

Dave says: Again, thats a kind of boy band question. If we were tough guys singing sensitive love songs we might all have lucky charms and long lists of favourite things.



Crazy and obsessed Blur fan asked: Hi!!!! I'm a crazed and obsessed fan and I wanted to tell you guys that I think you're great and I love you. I love your music! I was just wondering if there's anyone in the music world (dead or alive) that you could collaborate with... who would it be and why?

Dave says: I'd like to collaborate with a dead person if I had the chance. I would get more say in the outcome

When you ask stupid questions you can only hope for a stupid answer. Heh heh heh... ;-)

Wala lang ulit.

You are Lisa Simpson

"I don't want your pity." Which Simpsons character are you?

Buffyverse.

Another wala lang post.

Your Life in the Buffy Universe by Karen_Walker
Your Name
You are a	slayerpotentialwatcherdemonvengeance demontiny fear demonvampirewitchhyenawerewolfgiant snakekeyrobotpuppethumancoplawyerprincipallibrarianphysicistmayor
You work at	the bronzethe doublemeat palacethe librarythe graveyardthe high schoolthe mayor's officethe zoothe magic boxthe construction sitethe museum gallerykaratoswolfram & hart
Your mentor is
Your current lover is
You were once engaged to
Tried to kill you
The new big bad
Your best friend
Your sidekick
Your best quote	I do what I want to do & I wear what I want to wear & you know what? I'll date whoever the hell I wanna date, no matter how lame he is.
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Happiness is--

-- a long distance phone call. :-D

Slowing down.

I haven't been doing much progress in the last three days. Oh well. I'm still on it, I have to finish these projects soon. Very soon.

Nico posted pics of his stay so far at SLC. Wow. Kainggit.

Kelan kaya ako makakalabas ng Manila? I need a change of venue.

'I know that you could be mine.'

Happy birthday, Jeff! :-)

***

I had a good night, despite the waves of panic every 30 minutes or so. I know someone who would've enjoyed Ciudad's set if only he was here. Oh well.

***

Thank you Marnie, Kathy, Echo and Jazz! :-)

Bahala na.

I'm going out tonight. I have to. I need to.

***

Happy birthday, Ciudad! Happy birthday to KF, too! :-)

***

Ay, btw-- my org's site is a Philippine web awards finalist (congrats Lance!!!). Please support us by voting via the Philippine web awards website or via SMS:

For Globe Subscribers, type – Myvote webbies org ink and send to 2363 For

Smart Subscribers, type – Myvote webbies org ink and sending to 283

Voting period is from November 9 to November 23 2004 till 12:00 Noon.

Thanks in advance, everyone! :-)

What I should(n't) be doing.

I did this sample spread for my book last month. My coordinator and the writer liked it, except that they wanted the main character to be in it.

Recently though, I got a note from the publisher saying something about heavy black lines and that they don't want 'em in the book.

I guess they've never seen rubber cuts and the like before.

Fine. I'll render my outlines some other color then. :-P

Down do be do down down.

*sigh*

How sad. My mailbox is filled with skeds of gigs that I can't go to, spam, work-related issues, generic messages sent to friends. I make phone calls to friends who aren't home, who are working, who are too busy for anything. I am pissed with the way things are with work. I feel deadlines breathing down my neck. I can't go out and socialize 'cause there's so much to do. I don't even have time for most of the items on my guilty pleasure list any more.

I try to do what I can with what I have at the moment, but that doesn't take away the pressure, the weight of other people's expectations, the unwanted state of solitude.

*sigh*

I guess if I told people I am happy no one will believe me. But deep inside, I know I am. I am happy that I have projects. I am happy that I'm busy. I am happy to have the stuff I need to accomplish what I have to do. I am happy being 'with someone'. Pero 'yun. I know there is a better way of running things, a better way to treat other people. And it frustrates me that it isn't happening, or more aptly, it breaks my heart. And when I look for an assurance that I am not alone, that there's someone to share the burden with, sometimes-- just sometimes-- I only find myself.

Names worth mentioning today, my heartfelt thanks: Zarah, Marnie and Luis.

Think happy thoughts.

Pretending to have a life.

You are Michiru Jo. You are one of the most popular people on Takeshi's Castle and always have a good laugh.



Which Takeshi's Castle Character are you?

Wala lang.

***

Nakakairita. Binura ng Brinkster 'yung laman ng isa sa mga sites ko. Hmf. I need to fix that soon.

Guilty pleasures.

A list of things that keep me from going nuts permanently and completely:

(opinion may change without prior notice)

• Ruffles Sour Cream & Cheddar

• Lucky Me Instant Sotanghon

• maryjanes ('yung sapatos ha!)

• fast food kiddie meal toys

• ukay-ukay

• Meiji chocolates

• tattoos (I want another one)

• telebabad

• intentionally dumb movies

• blogging

• Alicia Keys & Usher (heh heh ewan)

• Diablo I (wahahah barok)

• 711's roast beef hotdog

• PDA Text Twist

• papparazzi

• long distance phone calls

• Graham Coxon

• Gameboy Pokemon

• Snoopy/Peanuts anything

• 12 hugs a day

• tambay sa UP

• Ctrl+Z

• movie marathons

• Nakayama nights

• Yahoo/MSN messenger

• glitter nail polish

• snail mail

• gigs

• hiram na comics

• High Fidelity

• cute underwear

• hot oil & spa

• daydreaming

• hand-made paper (and several other kinds of paper)

• postcards

• singing in the shower

• surprise parties

• Michael V and Rufa Mae

• roadtrips

• cartoons (kahit 'yung mga Pinoy-dubbed anime)

• up/down-loading polyphonic ringtones (Friends of P rawks!!!)

• conversations with the self

• Wildboyz on MTV (may mas sira ulo pa kaysa sa atin!)

• post-midnight internet

***

Happiness is a free make-over. :-) (Perfect for de-stressing!)

Ayoko nang mag-isa.

TAE. I just came from a very stressful meeting, and now I suddenly feel I have way too much responsibility than what I originally agreed to handle. It's so un-fucken-fair that some people can just choose not to show up at a very crucial meeting. It's so un-fucken-fair that the people who were present had to put up with their absence. It's so un-fucken-fair, I shouldn't be feeling more alone than I already am.

Leche. This is so not worth putting off my book for. Sayang ang pagod ko.

TAE.

TAE.

TAE.

Cross-eyed.

This is my official 30-minute break from work. I'm getting cross-eyed already from reading and laying out several documents. Nakakapagod, kahit nakaupo lang ako maghapon dito sa harap ng computer.

I am slightly panicking. I'm focusing too much on this one project, I need to focus on my book already.

*sigh*

Buti pa si Nico, nag-eenjoy ng weekend. He went skiing with his officemates Saturday afternoon (this morning here). Balita ko masakit ang legs niya ngayon. Heh heh...

It's time again--

--for retro pics.

From last season's last PBA finals game with JJ Helterbrand (pic taken by Nico's dad):

And from our visit to the butterfly farm a few weeks back (pics taken by yours truly):

Nico with the spawn

And a feeling artsy shot. Shempre. Hwehehehe... :-P

Happyhappyjoyjoy

I woke up to good news today. First my mom called me on my private line to tell me that the puter tech will be coming over to replace my weirdo DVD-ROM. (Weirdo, kasi wala pang 4 hours na kadedeliver pa lang ng bagong PC last week ay biglang nabasag 'yung backup cd ko na binabasa ng drive. These things can only happen to me.) Second, Nico called me up. Wheee! :-)

***

Sunday was a day for discoveries. (I don't think I can put details down here though, sorry.)

***

Monday was just blah. Spent hours manually transferring files from one pc to another.

***

Break is over. I'm going back to work.

Bon voyage.

Just got home from the Admit One anniversary party @ Freedom Bar with a happy-sad feeling. In a few hours Nico will be leaving the country and and he won't be back until the new year.

*sigh*

Take care, Nico.

Happiness is--

--a spankin' new kick ass pc. Woohoo! :-D

And while I'm on the topic of change--

I have a new contact number. (I'm not using the Narda hotline anymore.) If you didn't get an e-mail from me, that's probably because (1) I don't have your e-mail address, (2) I assumed you're in the same mailing lists as I am and you aren't, or (3) I don't have a clue who you are. I am too cheap to text everyone in my phone book, but I won't be posting the number here. Instead, write me and I'll e-mail it to you if I feel like it hehehe...

Turning leaves.

This week will be a week of changes-- replacing the old with new, letting go of certain things and welcoming other opportunities. That means I'll be getting rid of things I don't need, making priorities, adapting a more suited lifestyle, focusing on what I do best, and thinking of more positive things.

I will need to cope with Nico's two-month absence, too. He's leaving this Sunday and he won't be back until after eight long weeks. I will miss him terribly.

Some things/ideas/people will remain (I'm still the same person anyway). I guess that's a good thing. :-)