Rak en Rol: ISKWATERPANGK

Of all documentaries narrating every day life in the slums, “Iskwaterpangk” enters this genre with a whole new style. Shot within the duration of a single day, this film comprising an approximate of one hour, heavily illustrates everyday life of people, mostly children, in the slums. Captured in grey-scale to grasp the simplicity and to illustrate difference in perspective; our and theirs. With audio from the music of The Brockas nothing much is heard from the whole movie. Your ears will demand for conversation but its absence will strongly enforce your observation on the humility of the people. 


Despite how great I find this movie is, I also found it hard to watch. It took me patience and some adjusting to the unusual style. It isn't for those who are easily bored and uninterested in the story.

Happy 21st Anniversary Ma and Pa!

 It has been 21 years my father and mother have been together, I am not sure how many years they have been together before that. We had conversations and stories about how they met before that which was both really funny and sweet. They are going to Hong Kong in the weekend to spend their time for themselves. Second honeymoon? lol They have not gone anywhere, in any trip with just themselves after their marriage so it is understandable. I hope they enjoy it and bring home pasalubong.

Arriving at Alabang Town Center(ATC) we walked around for a while, waiting for Jan, our brother, to join us from school.

We really just looked around and took pictures and stuff. Here is a picture of my parents making sweet "pa-pose" for the picture with the background of Ace Hardware. lol.

They treated us to redkimono which served us really amazing food. We should come back and eat there again and perhaps earlier. They were already closing while serving us which kind of delayed their service.

January the 19th

A date with Ging because it is the 19th. Yeah yeah that would be because it is our monthsary today. We don't really celebrate it but I just thought why not. There is this place called The Wharf, Lakefront along East Service Road of Sucat, Parañaque. They have all these restaurants and bars and a (sorta) stage in the middle. We ate in Dencios and saw some of Ging's officemates. Their office is quite close there, which is also why that's where we went. Yeah the pictures are just our faces, deal with it. We really haven't been spending much time together because of some constraints but we're trying to make up for it. 

Skeletons Review

Directed and written by Nick Whitfield, Skeletons is about the exorcism of skeletons from cupboards of people's lives. One must not expect twisting of bodies to surreal positions and such because of the mentioned exorcism. Instead expect twist of events after they perform the so called exorcism.

It is both a brilliant and touching film as the two exorcists change lives of other people and how it affects them. In a dramatic suspense you are pulled into their world, just waiting on how things would turn out. This is really one of the best films I have ever seen and that is with a low budget film starred by unsung actors.

Annual Family Reunion

 Every first or second Sunday of the start of the year, the Estuesta family gathers to celebrate another year of being together. We commemorate those who started the idea of having a reunion every year and to all those who at the beginning of the year are already in a better place. This annual tradition started in Alabang Hills, but a milestone has been obtained and was able to move forward elsewhere.

This year's reunion was celebrated in Aunt Betty's house in Pasig. It was a great place to hold the reunion with the great amount of space provided. A lot of them were already there when we arrived around 11-ish. It was great to see their faces that we have missed. As the years continue to go forth, there have been a lot of kids included in the family. I mean, since the batch my brother's and myself are included, there was an absence of kids.

One of the expected highlights of the reunion was the intermission during the raffle. For the past years, my brothers and myself have did a lot of performances. This year, we heard a lot of voices and different talents. There were also games which showed skill. Lol

The weather did not cooperate as much as we expected. I don't remember a lot of reunions where in which it rained but this is one of those that it did. No complains here the rain gave us a cold weather which was better compared to hot heads under the sun.

Everyone was happy at the end of the day. Full with food and going home with a smiles :D

Review: Gulliver's Travels

Directed by Rob Letterman and starring Jack Black, Gulliver's Travels is a modern version of Jonathan Smith's classic novel of the same title. The story revolves around Gulliver who ends up in Lilliput just as the novel goes. Found by Liliputians he was held captive for what I think was trespassing, this is where the movie goes in a separate direction to the novel. After seeing Gulliver as a man who is of great value, they pay him homage. The rest of the movie you might have to find out by yourself.

Personally, I didn't like the movie. I might have been too old for its target market or something else I am not sure but I really didn't enjoy it. Not even when they showed it in 3D, which was barely noticeable. The story was too shallow for my taste. Also, honestly, Jack Black doesn't seem to fit in movies with this taste. I would prefer to see him in a movie with an older range of audiences. Sure, there are those moments when you will laugh but you might just be able to count them in your fingers. They tried too much in this modern version and it really is something for the kids by ending it with a moral.

First Week of 2011

On the midnight of the first day of 2011, our family had a simple celebration of watching fireworks our surroundings provided with us. We aren't the type who colors the night sky due to asthma being in our family. It has always been enough to watch the pretty lights and noise. We all went in when the smoke out was getting really thick.

Media Noche was pretty heavy, plus we had red wine. If I remember correctly we had ham, some burritos and that pasta I could not recall what it was called(Marinella?)

I would have opted to update you about what happened throughout this week, however, to be honest nothing much has happened after the festivities.

Another term in college has started last Wednesday, January 5, and in my part, it did not end well. I was supposed to be taking a major subject which might not push through. There is a lack of professors to teach that subject for the students requesting for it. This would mean that we are going to get further delayed. I have been really working to pass all my subjects to be able to graduate already. I feel old being in school and I really want to start making my own money.

After going to school for paying tuition, attending class, adjusting, etc, I would go straight home. I do not find spending idle time enjoyable anymore. meh. I have yet to see what is in store, since after all it is only the beginning.