JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

I was reading this interview a few days ago, and I remembered how much I loved going to screenings of old movies (from a 35mm print, not from a DVD) with friends who also love the movies.

On a lazy Saturday we’d have brunch, then catch a black-and-white movie, then have coffee and cake and talk about the movie (Not in a criticky way, more like “I had a shirt that looked exactly like that” or “the hero’s idiotic friend looks like someone I kicked in the shin”. These days going to a screening is almost scary, so competitive, everyone wanting to prove that their taste is better than yours, or just trying loudly to impress, which is a little sad), then visit a bookstore, then have some more coffee or alcohol and read our new books or write in our notebooks. Just a quiet, relaxing day; like being alone, but with other people.

The following day I was reminded that this blog will celebrate its fourth birthday on September 24 (fifth if you count the blogspot), and it would be nice to have some kind of event to mark the occasion. Event—there’s a scary concept; the accompanying stress would kill my enjoyment. If an event is to take place it would have to be a low-key gathering of people who like the same things. In short I want a Non-Event on a weekend afternoon, with a movie, coffee, dessert, books, and notebooks.

So I’m thinking of screening a print of The 400 Blows (and Antoine and Collette, maybe Bed and Board or Stolen Kisses. The Antoine Doinel movies by Truffaut because they make me feel nostalgic. Why, when they didn’t happen to me? That is why I love these movies) in a small venue for maybe 50 of our regular readers who are in Manila, followed by coffee, cake by Carlo and ice cream by Haagen Dazs, a book sale featuring titles I’ve selected, and an exhibit/sale of Moleskines.

This is off the top of my head, it might not happen at all, but I will keep you posted.

Quick trip to Cagayan de Oro for the My City, My SM launch. Indigenous trips performed a ritual dance.

Photo by Wayne Lim.

Since CDO is an eco-tourism and adventure tourism destination, some of the featured performers rappelled into the venue from the upper floors.

Tribal handicrafts were on display, including these soil paintings.

The different tribes live at the Eco-Tourism Village in the Gardens of Malasag. There they can practice their traditions in peace. Admirable idea; we have to do something for our indigenous tribes. I wanted to ask a bunch of questions but we were in a hurry. Questions like, How do they live? Does the government pay for their upkeep? Aren’t they entitled to some compensation for their ancestral land?

Or do the tribes make enough money off their traditional activities (Hunting and fishing? Farming? Weaving?) to support themselves? Do the children go to school?

How do they feel about being a tourist attraction?

We visited the agricultural fair at the Capitol. The towns and cities of Misamis Oriental displayed their produce and crafts.

Afterwards we had a snack at Vandep, makers of the famous pasalubong Pastel that originated in Camiguin.

Pastel is a soft roll with a delicious yema filling. There are new flavors—ube, strawberry, cheese, but yema is still the bestseller. Pastel keeps for a week, but if you chill it, it can last up to 45 days. The owners were adamant: Do not microwave! To heat, steam the pastry by putting it on top of newly-cooked rice.

The factory in Cagayan de Oro produces 2,000 pieces of pastel a day; a few of them make it to Manila, where they are sold at places like Market Market.

The Vandep store also carries Cagayan delicacies and Bukidnon coffee.

We had lunch at Tabing-Dagat, which is like Harborview except that the water is clean so you can see the rocks below.

1. If this is fake, then it IS the ad.
2. Roger looks fabulous.
3. It is an hommage to the Swiss hero William Tell.
4. The Fed actually looks better in a suit than in tennis gear. For him we will suspend our demand that players wear shorter shorts; we’ll allow him to play in long pants.
5. It is an ad for hair care products.

Thanks to Jackie for the alert.

Postertext designs posters using the text of famous books. (via Flavorpill)

Origin 8 Media just wrapped principal photography in Lucban, Quezon of its gay horror-comedy project, Patayin Sa Shokot Si Remington. Shokot is directed by Jade Castro from a screenplay by Castro, Michiko Yamamoto, and Raymond Lee.

Remington (Mart Escudero) freaks out as a Zombading approaches.

Meanwhile, the conservative website christwire.org has published a helpful checklist to help you determine whether your husband is gay. Among the items on the list:

6) Clothes that are too tight and too “trendy”
8) More interested in the men than the women in pornographic films
9) Travels frequently to big cities or Asia
11) Sassy, sarcastic and ironic around his friends
12) Love of pop culture

Conclusion: We’re all gay men! Lahat tayo bakla! Baklaaaaaaa!

What a shock.

Remington tries to escape his curse, which takes the form of a gym instructor’s body.

It’s a couple of months late, but here’s video of the Asian Division 2 rugby championship match between the Philippines and India.