An Amazing Race Sandwich

They were in town for a few days, and of course I had to meet them. Paula (of Paula and Natasha) and Vanessa (of Pamela and Vanessa) were every bit as pretty and as charming as they are on The Amazing Race Asia Season 2. The 21 year-old Paula is a VJ and model in her native Thailand, while Vanessa manages the career of her brother, Malaysian singer Vince Chong. No, they didn't tell me who won the race, but of course, I knew well enough about the Race rules not to ask. They did talk about their experiences throughout the race, particularly Vanessa, who told me about her now famous "temporary amnesia" scare a couple of episodes back and her almost-breakdown driving that manual shift car en route to the pitstop in last week's episode. For the full stories of these Race-r hotties, plus some really sizzling photos, pick up a copy of Manual magazine (shameless plugging!) in the next couple of months.

Off the Net Somewhere

Arundhati was with a friend, and they were discussing the subject of dreams. "The only dream worth having," Roy explained, "is to dream that you will live while you’re alive and die only when you are dead." "What exactly does that mean?" asked the friend.

So Roy wrote it down for her on a napkin:
To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate was is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.

Heard the new Alicia Keys single yet?

It's called No One. All I can say is: wow. Great lyrics. Great melody. Great vocals. Great production. It has HIT written all over it. Sadly, can't find an mp3 yet. But if you're curious, you can listen to it here.

Am posting the lyrics as well.

NO ONE
Alicia Keys

I just want you close
Where you can stay forever
You can be sure
That it will only get better

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cuz
Everything's going to be alright
People keep talking they can say what they like
But all i know is everything's going to be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

When the rain is pouring down
And my heart is hurting
You will always be around
This I know for certain

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cuz
Everything's going to be alright
People keep talking they can say what they like
But all i know is everything's going to be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you
Can get in the way of what I feel

I know some people search the world
To find something like what we have
I know people will try try to divide something so real
So til the end of time I'm telling you there is no one

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

Ganda di ba?

Tarantino Overload

The irrepressible QT turned up yet again at the Cinemanila Film Festival at Gateway. I caught the back-to-back screening of Kill Bill One and Two last night, and he was there in the audience with us. During intermission, he thanked everybody who came out to see the films. Outside the theater, he had a photo taken with this girl who dressed up as Gogo Yubari (it ain't clear, my ancient cam-phone's to blame, but that's them in the pic). It was a bit extraordinary because we noticed he usually doesn't like posing for photos. Every time people went up to him to have their picture taken with him, he'd decline, though he didn't stop people from clicking away just the same.

I didn’t let the opportunity pass without talking to the man. I went up to him, shook his hand and congratulated him on the film. I kept racking my head for something else to mutter other than the usual "So how long are you staying?" Sadly, though, I couldn’t think of anything else to say. (I really oughta learn how to be more spontaneous when it comes to social situations). He was genial though and we chatted briefly about him flying off to Boracay today for the Film fest leg there. He was loquacious and moved around a lot, like he overdosed on caffeine. That or he probably hasn’t had his Ritalin shot for the day.

He says he loves it here and wouldn't mind coming back again and again. Funny but when he said that an image of David Pomeranz flashed through my brain. Oh well. An actual Academy-award winner coming for frequent visits in these parts can’t be that bad.

Tarantino in Manila

How many times do we get an iconic director strolling down a mall like a regular guy? Well, maybe not so much like a regular guy, especially with the hordes of camera-wielding freaks (like me) trying to document his every move. Then again, I'm not sorry I was one of those camera-wielding freaks who zeroed in on Quentin Tarantino when he appeared at the opening of the Cinemanila Film Festival at Gateway mall yesterday. After all, it isn't everyday a well-known Hollywood actor-writer-director makes his way to these parts. I even got to shake his hand! Now that's something.

I wonder how their cheer went...

A real banner I saw recently. I sure hope they won.

CLUB DREDD IS BACK!

How cool is that? The seminal music venue where some of the biggest names in Pinoy rock started out is reopening its doors to a new generation of music-starved geeks like me. I wasn't old enough to have been part of the whole scene during Dredd's heyday, but you can be sure I'll be making up for lost time. In fact, if I had known about it earlier, I would've gone to the exclusive "soft" opening last night. Read the whole statement at their website: www.clubdredd.com

Club Dredd Eastwood, The Noisiest Place in Town is at 2/F Gweilos in Fuente Circle, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City.

(Say what you will about the choice for the new location of the club, but as owner Patrick Reidenbach was quoted as saying last night, at least there's more parking).