Sunday, April 17, 2011

Frutti FroYo

Today's a food trip day. Me, my mom, and my brother went to Alabang to buy some groceries, and well, eat. And in the heart of Alabang, a heaven lies... a heaven for sweet tooths like me. And that heaven's name is FRUTTI FROYO.


So what's so special about this place? Well, first things first, it sells frozen yogurt. Maybe that's where they got the Fro (frozen) Yo (yogurt) part of their store's name. Nice, isn't it? But it's name isn't the only thing special about this. I have tasted a lot of frozen yogurt, but so far, I'm proud to say that this is by far the best.

It does not only provide delicious froyos, but it gives a UNIQUE yogurt experience! Well, you see, you're the one who will customize the yogurt! Yup, you heard it right. You choose the flavor of yogurt... you choose which toppings to put... and you choose how much of these goodies to get! With a price of Php18 per ounce, it's not bad at all. Just be careful with how much you get, or you might pay a pretty pricey cup of yogurt.


Toppings Dispenser
Here's the good part: there are a LOT of ingredients to choose from. First, the yogurt ranges to almost eight flavors! Familiar with soft ice cream machines? Well, the yogurt machines are pretty much the same. You can even swirl some flavors. The toppings, on the other hand, are placed in glass cylindrical stuff with a faucet-like contraption at the bottom, which you'll twist to have the toppings sprinkle over your yogurt (sorry, I'm not really good at describing things). I think we can simply call it... toppings dispenser! There are chocolate chips, marshmallows, sprinkles, various nuts and more! Fruit lovers will also enjoy the center island with a variety of fruits ranging from strawberries and bluberries to mangoes and my favorite, nata de coco (ok, it isn't a fruit.. but it tastes nice). They also have syrups to add for a finishing touch!

So what did I order? A chocolate-lychee-fruit medley-coconut-green apple-vanilla flavored yogurt, topped with strawberries, nata de coco, cherries, brownie bites, sprinkles, chocolate chips and marshmallows, with dark chocolate syrup on top. Now that tasted really nice and sweet. Even my cough can't stop me! I paid around Php150 for my small cup of bliss.

I'm sure I'll go back again. Sorry, I wasn't able to ask what time they close, but I think it's pretty late or it might even be open 24 hours, can't tell. You should try too :)

For more information, you might wanna look at their FB page: http://www.facebook.com/fruttifroyo
>>> seriously, did they paid me to advertise? Nope. I'm doing this coz I love Frutti FroYo~


photo sources: Frutti FroYo's FB page

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Parasitology Today: Directly Transmitted Diseases


I remember us doing this video for a project in Parasitology, back in 2009. We present to you four of the most common directly-transmitted parasites: enterobius, scabies, head lice and pubic lice. Know what they are and what to do to keep them away.

Directly transmitted parasitic infections are transmitted, well, directly. Most of the time they are transmitted through skin contact or sharing personal belongings such as combs and caps.

--> I just started using After effects when I made this video. A total newbie... well, until now. Sorry for the poor quality

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Top 8 Most effective settings for horror stories/movies in the Philippines

Lahat ata ng tao, mahilig sa THRILL. One way or another, people try to search that feeling of excitement, that feeling of my-heart-is-beating-so-fast. Some people would venture into prohibited acts such as vices, crimes and porn. Others would be more adventurous and try on daredevil sports such as bungee jumping and rock climbing. Amusement park rides like roller coasters are well-known too, although I wouldn't really try them (I'm tachophobic). But what I believe to be the best THRILLer of all are horror/suspense movies.

Na-feel niyo na ba yun? Na habang nanunuod ka ng isang horror movie, everything seems to be normal, tapos biglang may lalabas sa screen na makakapag-patalon sa puso mo. I hate that feeling, pero hinahanap-hanap ko sya. Maybe that's why I love horror movies. Most of the time, I would go to the movies with my family, and we'll watch the latest horror movie... I still remember one time, we would be watching a suspense movie. Before we entered the cinema, I prepared myself that I will be watching a suspense movie. I internalized that feeling of fear so that it would be more effective. Then suddenly, when we opened that big door into the theater, a woman comes out. I jumped in surprise! (actually, I even shouted... but in a lighter voice. ahhh~). She was actually the theater lady (the one who gets the tickets from us). She laughed!!! I ended up having my eyes half-open while watching so I won't get surprised when something scary appears. But what makes these horror movies effectively horrifying? Well, of course, the villain. May it be a ghost, a demon or a blood-thirsty serial killer, the way he/she/it conducts himself, the way he act and especially the way he looks makes the whole movie either scary or boring. But aside from that fact, I think that what makes these flicks effective are the settings or places the story happens.

My TOP 8 Most Effective Settings for  Horror movies/stories in the Philippines

8. Cemetery


A place where the deceased are buried. Of course people would think it as a scary place and quickly associate it with paranormal phenomenon. It is a well-known notion that ghosts and apparitions are quite numerous in this burial ground. What makes this effective as a horror setting is the ambiance. Syempre ba naman, kung may mga krus sa paligid mo at mga nitso, nakakatakot talaga. Samahan mo pa ng fog...

Para sa akin, mas effective yung typical na sementeryo sa mga baryo at probinsya. Either yung mga sementeryo kung saan hindi pantay-pantay yung laki ng mga nitso at makipot ang daanan, or yung nakatusok lang yung krus sa lupa tapos tabi-tabi sila. Mas nakakatakot yun kasi ang hirap tumakbo kapag masikip yung daanan. I don't think it would be that scary if something happens in a high-end cemetery, one with beautifully aligned tombstones in bermuda grass. Masyadong sosyal at malinis para isipan nang nakakatakot.

Pero hinuli ko sya sa ranking kasi gasgas na gasgas na sya. I've watched A LOT of Pinoy movies na ginawa sa sementeryo. At dahil nga over the years, this place has been used for horror movies, feeling ko nakondisyon na ang tao na kapag nakakakita na ng mga krus sa lupa at mga lapida, merong magaganap na nakakatakot. Yes, the ambiance is scary, but it becomes too predictable. Malamang may zombie dyan. Yung tipong lalabas yung kamay nung patay sa lupa tapos isa-isa silang babangon at hahabulin yung bida. Old school horror  movie, but it's still quite effective, so I placed it on my list. It's classic. Just make sure walang squatters dun sa cemetery, nakakawala ng ambiance pag bigla na lang may sumigaw, "Sweetheart! Kumain ka na?" o kaya "Nay, pakamot ng likod!!!"


7. School

Narinig niyo na ba yung ganitong kwento: "alam niyo ba yung school natin, nung wala pang nakatayo dito at puro damuhan pa, binabagsakan daw ng na-salvage... tapos ginawa syang sementeryo. Pagkatapos ng ilang taon, tinayuan sya ng ospital. Pero dahil nga maraming nagpaparamdam, giniba na lang yung ospital, at ngayon, tinayuan sya ng paaralan."


Basic na siguro yung tsismis na yan. Parang lahat ata ng lumang school sa Pilipinas, either dating sementeryo o kaya dating ospital. Kaya daw may nagpaparamdam. I can still remember, andami ding horror stories sa school namin dati. May mga multo daw, kesyo nanay na hinahanap yung anak, o kaya naman may batang babae na sumisilip sa bintana ng classroom. May time pa nga na may nakakita daw na doppleganger ng principal namin na naglalakad  sa pasilyo at may hawak na kutsilyo. The scary stories themselves, passed on from students to students, makes this place a good setting for horror. Wild kasi ang imagination ng mga bata, kaya ang sarap pag-trip-an using these stories.

As what I've said, what makes this setting effective is because the students are susceptible. Bata pa kasi, madaling matakot. But they also have this curiosity, na kapag may nagsabing may nakakatakot sa ganitong lugar, sama-sama pa silang pupunta dun. Sama-sama rin naman silang sisigaw sa takot pag may nakita man sila. Nakakatakot din kasi yung idea na pumapasok ka everyday sa school, tapos malalaman mong hindi lang studyante ang nasa class room niyo. Nakakatakot din kasi yung corridors, lalo na sa areas na madilim.

Usually, ang nagpaparamdam daw sa ganitong setting ay mga namatay na estudyante na gusto pang mag-aral, o kung Catholic school, paring pugot ang ulo. In other scenarios, may monster na makikipaghabulan sa'yo throughout the school. But the bottomline, teachers and students ang victims. Duhh..

What makes this less effective is the students themselves. Masyado kasing busy sa school para magisip ng kababalaghan. Yung mga nagkakalat ng nakakatakot na kwento, sila yung mga walang magawa sa  buhay dahil panay bagsak ang grades. Tsk tsk tsk...


6. Apartment/Dormitory


Imagine this: You're away from your family because you have to study in a far place. You're alone in the dormitory when you feel something cold in the air. Someone whispers into your ear, but no one is there with you...

Ok, hindi masyadong nakakatakot ang guided imagery ko, but I'm sure you would agree how scary dormitories are. Lalo na yung mga lumang apartment. Mas nakakatakot pa kapag mag-isa ka lang sa kwarto, or worse, someone not seen is sitting right beside you while you read this blog. Marami na rin akong naririnig na kwento about apartments. For example, may parang nag-pi-ping pong sa upper floor kapag gabi kahit wala naman, o kaya may nagpapakitang babaeng nakaputi sa kubeta. I can't really expound more on this subject kasi hindi ko pa na-try tumira sa apartment or dormitory. At ayaw ko. The ambiance is too scary for me. Madilim, tahimik... a perfect scene for horror stories. And the fact na you're away from your family, wala kang shoulder to cry on or whatsoever.

One effectively scary thing about apartments is that you don't know what happened in each room before you occupy it. Paano kung may nagpakamatay pala dun, for example, yung kama pala na hinihigaan mo kapag gabi, ginawa palang tungtungan nung nagbigting occupant before you. O kaya naman may krimen na nangyari dun where in yung student ay sinaksak nang paulit-ulit nang isang magnanakaw, at ngayon, ang kaluluwa niya na sabik na bumalik sa eskwela ay nakikisabay sa pag-review mo sa exam.

Don't be scared, just focus on your studies. At least you don't have to travel to and from school.


5. Hospitals


As a would-be nurse, I don't really advocate horror movies that uses hospitals as settings. Because, for one thing, dun din ako magta-trabaho in the future. Hospitals has  been one of the favorite settings for ghost stories since time immemorial. Syempre ba naman, araw-araw may namamatay sa isang ospital. And take note, they come in various ages and backgrounds. But the scariest part of it is the ghost's assumed appearance. Ewan ko lang ah, pero dahil nga ospital yun, at puro may sakit yung mga namamatay, I think the ghosts would not appear as beautiful as they used to be. Siguro may sunog sa mukha, o kaya putol ang mga paa, and things like that. Hindi pa naman ako nakakakita ng multo sa PGH, and I don't dream of seeing one.

A hospital, especially something as big and as poor as PGH, has so many features that make it a very effective  spot for horror stories. The color of the walls of a hospital tends to be monochromatic, most of the time white. This makes an ambiance of dullness and somehow it renders your senses to be more sensitive. In my opinion, you can easily see something move in the corner of your eye when everything around you is plain white, rather than when there's a palette of color everywhere. Another thing is the atmosphere of sadness and despair. Some of the patients in a hospital are nearing death and so the negative atmosphere around attracts spirits and whatever. Nakakatakot din kapag tig-i-isa ng kuwarto. Baka pag-gising mo na lang, may nakatayo na dun sa paanan ng kama mo... o kaya may naghahabol ng mana na magiinject na air bubble sa swero mo. hihihi

Sa tingin ko, ang lugar na pinakamadalas pangyarihan ng nakakatakot sa isang ospital ay ang morge at ang elevator. Given na siguro na nakakatakot ang morge, kasi dito muna tumatambay yung mga namatay sa mga ward. Ang alam ko, dito rin ginagawa yung autopsy, kaya madalas may mga kwento-kwento na habang nag-a-autopsy daw yung isang doktor, bigla na lang gumalaw yung bangkay, o kaya yung kwento wherein nalaglag yung ballpen nung doktor, tapos nung pinulot nya, pagtingin nya sa harap nya, nakatayo na yung ino-autopsy nya. At ang pinaka-ayaw ko sa lahat, yung elevator ng ospital. Buti na lang may elevator boy o girl na pumipindot dun sa floors, e pano kung mag-isa ka lang? Mabuti nga kung mag-isa ka lang, e paano kung may nakisabay sa'yo na naka-puti, tapos nakita mo, may "tag" sya sa kamay. You know what happens next...


4. Old abandoned buildings


Nung pumunta kami ng Baguio, hindi namin pinalampas ang pagkakataon at pumunta kami sa Diplomat hotel. True to the stories, creepy nga yung lugar. Walang tao, tahimik... Umaga nung pumunta kami, so we don't really expect something scary to happen. Kaka-ulan lang din nung mga panahong iyon kaya maraming puddles of water sa first floor. Pag-akyat sa second floor, ganun din, walang tao, tahimik and the walls doesn't have paint. Pero sa mga kwarto, may mga vandalisms. The Diplomat hotel, sitting on top of Dominican hill, used to be a rest house and seminary back in 1911. Nung World war II daw, maraming pinugutang madre at pari dito kaya siguro maraming nagpapakitang multo na walang ulo sa hotel kapag gabi. Although the ruins is off-limits at night, people living nearby are often disturbed by banging of doors and windows, clattering of dishes and screaming, agonizing voices. The Diplomat hotel is open to visitors from 8am to 6pm, but the caretaker does not let people beyond the time because surely, they would see what they are looking for.

Old abandoned buildings are perfect for ghost stories. Dahil walang ilaw, madilim at malamig kapag gabi, simple shadows would really creep you out. At dahil sobrang tahimik sa isang lumang gusali, madali mong maririnig ang mga kalampog mula sa malayo. The long, unrecalled history of a place is an additional factor, because you never know what happened in that building. Maganda rin syang gamitin sa isang thriller/suspense flick. Usually, maghahabulan dun sa isang lumang building yung killer at biktima nya. Magtatago yung biktima sa sulok at tatakpan ang kanyang bibig upang pigilan ang pag-iyak at pagsigaw. Typical na siguro ang scene na ganito. Effective kasi. Nakaka-thrill tuwing may ganung eksena.

Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay kung bakit laging may pumupunta sa ganitong lugar. Maybe they're looking for fun. Well, actually, nage-gets ko naman kasi yun din yung dahilan namin kung bakit kami namasyal sa Diplomat... The THRILL of seeing a real ghost. It's just scary and fascinating at the same time how much stories and accounts have been witnessed by the cold, stone walls of Diplomat hotel


3. Restrooms


Have you ever heard about the story of bloody mary? Wherein you have to face a mirror in the middle of the night and say "bloody mary" three times, then you will see the person you will love, or the face of the devil... or how about the story of a guy who went to take a bath in a public shower, then he felt something tapping his forehead. Then when he asked the guard about what happened in the cubicle, the guard said that someone hanged himself in that same cubicle, and the thing that tapped his forehead is the ghost's feet! Isa pang kwento ay yung babaeng estudyante na nagbanyo sa school nila ng gabi. Habang nakatingin sya sa salamin, may lumitaw na demonyo at tinitigan sya ng masama. Nagdasal ang bata ng "Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with you..." at biglang sumigaw ang demonyo, "HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR US SINNERS...". Scary. But what's similar between them? Yes, they all happened in the restroom.

Napakarami na sigurong kwento at horror movies na nangyari sa restroom. Laging may ganung scene wherein gumagamit ka ng restroom at nakikipag-commune with nature, at bigla na lang may duguang kamay na dudungaw mula sa kabilang cubicle. O kaya naman ang mas madalas na kwento kung saan habang naghuhugas ka ng kamay, at pagtingin mo sa salamin, may babaeng nakatayo sa likod mo at nakatitig ng masama sa'yo. Epic na siguro yung mga ganitong kwento. May napanuod ako sa T.V. before na kinuwento ng isang singer/comedienne na habang umiihi sya sa c.r., may kumakanta sa kabilang stall... at sinabayan niya pa! Nang pagkalabas niya, nalaman niyang, wala palang ibang tao sa banyo.

So what makes this essential place an effective setting for scary story? Based on my stories above, the main feature of a restroom that makes it scary is the MIRROR! Ang sabi nila, ang salamin daw ang parang portal ng spirit realm to our world. Kaya maraming nagpapakita sa mga salamin. E sa mga public c.r., ang lalaki ng salamin! Isa pang feature ng banyo ay yung hiwa-hiwalay na cubicle. Dahil nga separated ang cubicles at may pinto pa, we don't really know who's using the cubicle next to you. Isa pa sigurong dahilan ay dahil hindi naman tambayan ang banyo. Bihira lang pumunta ang mga tao dito. Maliban na lang sa mga malls, kung saan napakaraming gumagamit, doon, hindi na nakakatakot. Pero kung ang kubetang pupuntahan mo ay yung pipitsugin at maduduming palikuran sa tabi ng mga sinehan sa Recto, either makakita ka ng multo o kaya naman mga taong nagmimilagro.


2. Forested province


Perhaps the most used setting for old Filipino horror movies. Ang mga gubat sa probinsya. Philippine horror does not only showcase ghosts, but moreover, the ones more popular are monsters and elementals such as aswang, manananggal, tikbalang, kapre, engkanto etc. And always, these creatures of the dark live in the forest or some shanty in the middle of the woods. The usual story goes like this: may magkakaibigan na naka-van at mamamasyal sa isang malayong probinsya. Pero mawawala sila sa daan at kung kelan gabi na, tsaka masisiraan ang makina. Madalas, mapapadpad sila sa isang lumang bahay na wala man lang kapitbahay at kalapit lang ang gubat. At dito magsisimula ang gabi ng lagim.

I've placed this second on my list because it represents the majority of classic Filipino horror movies. Mahilig kasi tayong mga Pinoy sa mga nilalang tulad ng engkanto, kaya madalas sa probinsya nangyayari ang mga kababalaghan, and more often than not, sa isang madilim at masukal na gubat. Dito rin nagbunga ang mga pamahiin ng mga matatanda sa probinsya tulad ng pagbaligtad ng damit mo kapag nawawala ka sa daan etc. And what makes these stories in the province frightening is that these creatures can actually harm you! Feeling ko naman kasi ang ghosts, tatakutin ka lang. But in the stories depicted by our ancestors regarding the aswangs and mangkukulam, they can actually hurt or even eat you.

Madalas din sa mga kwento, these creatures of the dark appear as beautiful ladies, but behind that fair skin is a monstrous appearance. O kaya naman pag umaga, nagpapanggap silang magagandang dalaga na nagtitinda ng longanisa. Ngunit sa gabi, nagpapahid sila ng langis sa katawan at napuputol sa kalahati ang kanilang baywang. Ang napansin ko lang sa mga Pinoy horror movies na nangyayari sa gubat, may isang mamamatay sa mga  bida. At dahil nga akala nila, nawala lang yung kaibigan nila, mag-hihiwa-hiwalay sila at iisa-isahin silang patayin ng monster. Usually din, may isang myembro ng barkada na babaeng iyakin at laging nagyayaya na umuwi na, habang may isang guy na ubod ng tapang na ayaw umalis hanggang hindi nila nahahanap ang kasama nila. I wonder how this kind of movie will work out if these two characters exchange places. Yung lalake yung iyak ng iyak, tapos yung babae yung bida na magtatapang-tapangan.

What makes this setting very effective is the mere fact that you're outside the coverage of civilization. Walang tutulong sa'yo kung sakaling may mangyari. And you are lost in the first place. Malamang sa malamang, mawawala ka sa loob ng gubat habang nakikipagtaguan sa mga engkanto na syempre, mahahanap ka rin. The trees also give an additional spooky effect because you will have a difficulty in running around, and you don't know where the killer will be coming from.

But don't worry. Horror movies such as this always ends up having the monster dead with one boy and one girl as survivors. Maganda na lang kung malalaman sa huli na buhay pa pala yung engkanto.


1. Your own house


And the top on my list... your own house! This very fact makes this place the most effective setting for horror stories. In my opinion, a horror movie or story becomes effective when it makes its audience scared for several days just by remembering the story. Kaya para sa akin, nakakatakot pag ang setting ng horror movie ay simpleng bahay lang, kasi parang nakikita mo yung sarili mo sa kwento everytime you move about in your house. Lahat na ata ng parte ng bahay, pwedeng gawing setting ng horror story.

Nakakatakot kapag sinabi ng kapitbahay niyo na may naririnig silang nagsasaya sa dis oras ng gabi sa bahay niyo kahit wala kayo sa bahay... o kaya naman may mga nakikitang anino na nakatayo sa sala nyo. The restroom is no exception. Naaalala ko, nung nagkwento sa akin yung kaklase ko nung elementary na habang nasa banyo daw sya, may nakita syang duguang kamay sa maliit na bintana nung kubeta nila. Hanggang ngayon, kinikilabutan pa rin ako tuwing naaalala ko yun at nasa banyo ako. There were times na ayaw ko tumingin sa salamin ng c.r. namin everytime maghihilamos ako kasi natatakot ako na baka may babae sa likod ko pagharap ko sa salamin.

I hate it when the scene of a horror movie happens in the bedroom. Yun na nga lang yung place where you can rest, tapos may nakakatakot pa na mangyayari. The most epic example ay yung pagkagising mo, may nakatayo sa paanan ng kama mo, or worse, katabi mo mismo, face to face pa kayo. Mabuti kung nakahiga sya, e paano kung nakalutang siya sa ere at kaharap mo habang nakahiga ka sa kama? Lagi ko ring hinihigpitan ang kapit sa kumot ko sa takot na anytime, may humila ng kumot from the foot of the bed. Nung bata din ako, lagi kong binabaluktot ang binti ko, kasi baka pag inunat ko sya, may biglang humila sa paa ko at kaladkarin ako.

Kadalasan, yung mga nakakatakot na pelikula about houses ay umiikot sa isang sumpa. Usually, the ancestral house that they inherited holds a deep secret, perhaps of a curse, or a murder. O kaya naman may specific na bagay or furniture sa bahay na may kababalaghan like a bed or a cabinet.

There was one time, habang nagrereview ako sa sala, it was about 2:30 in the morning. Bigla na lang nagbukas yung radio sa kusina in full volume! It really scared the crap out of me. What scared me most is when I tried to turn it off, and it won't. I have to unplug it just for it to stop.

The idea that you are not safe, even in your own house, makes this the most effective setting for horror stories. The human mind is creative, and it can incorporate frightening stories in any part of the house: beds, garden, restrooms, stairs, television, christmas tree, ba gua, and even refrigerators! The possibilities are endless, and so is the horror...


Photo sources: various blogs and internet sources









Thursday, April 7, 2011

Typical Filipino Teleserye Formulas

Mara-Clara, Mula sa Puso, Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin and Kristine

Aside from the fact that all of these are products of the creative minds in ABS-CBN, what these words or phrases share in common is that they're all teleseryes. I think a lot would agree that these teleseryes have indeed become a part of the evening habit of most of us Filipinos, especially the graying generation. Dahil dito sa mga teleserye na 'to, natutunan nating tumawa, umiyak at mag-inarte. I can still remember myself watching "Mula sa Puso" back then, and being sad with the death of Rico Yan. Bagay na bagay pa naman sila ni Claudine! But anyway, somehow, I've become bored with Filipino teleseryes. With the birth of technology and globalization, new forms of drama such as koreanovelas and jdoramas have invaded the Philippines. Even if we don't understand they're language, subtitles or almost-fail dubbing has brought us closer to their culture and celebrities. Pero bakit nga ba medyo nabawasan na ang nagkakagusto sa local teledrama? It's not about the language my friends, no, I think we are not enticed by the foreign tongue. Ang problema kasi, masyado na naging predictable ang Filipino teledramas.

So allow me to discuss some of the most typical teleserye plots in television.

1. "Nagkapalit kami"
As what they say, "Ang Mara Clara ang ina ng mga teleserye". True, Mara Clara has indeed paved the way for teleseryes. And I think what enticed the Filipinos with Mara and Clara is the plot itself. Dalawang tao na magkakapalit ng posisyon. Usually, yung isa naging mahirap at laging pinapahirapan ng kanyang pamilya, at yung isa naman naging mayaman na nakukuha ang lahat ng gusto. But the twist is, one should be in place of the other. But unfortunately, it hasn't became a twist anymore, lalo na kung marami nang similar plots na lumabas with the same theme. Pero one thing is for sure... kadalasan, at the end, malalaman din ng lahat ang katotohanan. Similar din ang theme na 'to sa mga magkakamukhang bida. May dalawang bida na magkamukha, usually, isang mayaman at isang mahirap, tapos magkakapalit sila ng posisyon at iibigin nila ang taong makikilala nila sa buhay ng kamukha nila.

2. "Ang nawawalang eredera"
Ito siguro yung theme na pinaka-kinaiinisan ko. The typical flow of story, may isang anak-mayamang bata na mawawalay sa pamilya, at pagkatapos ng isang aksidente (maaaring sunog, o kaya naman sasakyan na sumabog o nahulog sa bangin), mawawalay ang bata sa kanyang pamilya. Usually than often, the child will be raised in a poor, loving family (pero kadalasan din, may isang myembro ng pamilya na magmamalupit sa kanya, pwedeng lasenggerong tatay, lasenggerang nanay, o lasenggerang lola na mahilig sa mahjong... basta mahilig sa alak). Sa pagdating ng takdang panahon, malalaman niya ang katotohanan. Pero yung twist na ayaw-na-ayaw ko, may isang tao na magpapanggap bilang siya upang makuha ang mana na dapat sa kanya. Naiinis talaga ako pag may nagpapanggap! Ang nakakainis lang, sa sobrang bait ng bida, hindi na niya ipaglalaban ng husto ang kanyang karapatan. Hahayaan na lang niyang tapak-tapakan siya ng impostora.

3. "Sino ako?"
Ang pinaka-gasgas na theme sa balat ng lupa!!! AMNESIA. Yan na lang ba ang sakit sa mundo? Bakit lahat na lang nang bida nawawalan ng ala-ala? Pwede naman siyang magkaroon ng AIDS, pressure ulcer o kaya Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation... Pero at least, mas flexible ang ganitong theme, pwede siyang i-apply sa iba pang plots. For example, pwede siyang i-apply sa nabanggit ko sa itaas. Pwedeng nagka-amnesia yung bida after an accident, tapos hindi niya maaalala na mayaman pala siya! And the villains would make sure that she won't remember at all, or at least dispatch her before it happens. Another application: After an explosion, everyone would think that the protagonist is dead, but it happens that she is actually alive! and with amnesia! How unlucky can she get? What's more unlucky? Yung magkaka-amnesia ka tapos yung kukupkop sa'yong doktor na taga-hanga mo ay papaniwalain kang ikaw ang kanyang asawa, at pipigilan ka niyang malaman ang katotohanan sa pamamagitan ng pagtago sa'yo sa isang malayong lugar at pag-hi-hire ng isang katulong na magbabantay sa bawat kilos mo.

4. "Bida-Kontrabida"
Bago lang ang theme na 'to, but it's popularity has been growing in the modern times. Siguro kasi, nagsasawa na ang Pilipino sa masyadong mabait na bida. They want something better, they want someone fiercer. And there came forth the Bida-kontrabidas. Ang mga bida na gumagawa ng masama. Kakaibang theme pero effective. Para naman makita natin side ng mga kontrabida. I think this is a good theme because we are able to see the reasons why these villains do their evil stuff. Lahat ng bagay may rason. Pero what I don't like is the pattern wherein the bida-kontrabida must always have to be a sexy, beautiful girl wearing sexy clothes and a red lipstick. Feeling ko, masyado nang nafocus sa face value ang mga pinoy. Bakit, maganda lang ba ang pwedeng maging bida? At pang-aakit lang ba ang pwedeng gawing paraan upang makapag-palaganap ng kasamaan, in a BIDA-ful way? Sana may bida-kontrabida na pangit. hihihihi.

5. "Ang panget na superhero"
In the not-so-far past of Pinoy teleseryes, the usual themes are quite realistic, focusing on actual things that happen. But with the birth of computer graphics and multimedia arts, the so called fantaseryes or telefantasya has flourished the Filipino primetime television. Masyado nang nahilig ang pinoy sa kathang-isip, to the point na halos lahat ng primetime show sa isang tv station ay puro fantasy, maliban na lang sa isang dubbed koreanovela sa bandang dulo. I can understand them, because I think these out-of-the-world themes became a venue for the stressed Filipino to be unstressed, and for them to make-believe that the impossible can actually happen, even for half an hour. Winner na winner 'to sa mga bata. Pero ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit ang superhero na pagkalakas-lakas at super talino, kapag sa normal na buhay, ay kadalasang mahirap, may peklat sa mukha, o kaya naman pilay na naka-saklay. At kadalasan, nakuha nila ang powers nila dahil tumulong sila sa isang matandang babae na diwata pala, o kaya naman nakapulot ng pirasong bakal at bigla na lang may maririnig na boses na magsasabing, "ikaw ay itinakda". Hindi na rin ako nagtataka. This kind of plot brings a moral lesson that whatever flaws you have in your appearance, your kindness and inner beauty will always matter at the end... Understandable naman ang part na kung saan, naging superhero sila dahil tumulong sila sa isang tao. Pero mahirap lang ba ang mabait? Panget lang ba ang mabait? At lahat ba ng pilay, may busilak na kalooban? I think Filipinos have to change that notion that those who are the underdogs will always be nice. Sana i-consider din nila na magkaroon ng superhero na pag sa likod ng maskara, ay ubod ng ganda, mayaman at may magandang pamilya. Yeah, kung gusto niyo maging realistic ang palabas niyo, lubos-lubusin niyo na. Tutal, life is unfair talaga, may iilang tao na nakukuha ang lahat ng maganda sa mundo.

6. "Tiyang, wag po!"
Villains would always be a part of a teleserye. Kung walang kontrabida, walang bida. Their spice always brings the color and flavor in a pinoy teleserye. But based on my observation, kadalasan ang kontrabida, yung malapit sa'yo. Maaaring kamag-anak tulad ng tiyahin, lola, o kaya step-mother. Yes, kadalasan nga babae. Ewan ko, magaling siguro tumawa ng evil ang babae. High pitch. Nakakatakot. But what's scarier is that you and this villain is actually sleeping under the same roof! Be close to your friends, but your enemies closer. E pano kung pareho kayo ng tahanan diba? Super close na kayo! The usual reason why these kontrabidas assault the bida (usually a child) is because they want to use them to become richer, or perhaps to have every inheritance entitled to the protagonist. And yeah, kadalasan nga, either magaling sumampal or magaling tumawa ng evil yung kontrabida. It has become a requirement. Imagine a kontrabida na mahiyain at mahinhin. Baka yung bida pa yung sumapak sa kanya. At kapag mayaman ang kontrabida, payat... pag mahirap, mataba. I guess that's just the way it is. Tingin mula ulo hanggang paa, at tatawa ng malakas, sabay sabi, "MGA HAMPASLUPAAA!" Sweet... sabay sampal o kaya tapon ng juice sa mukha.

7. "Tubig at langis"
Isa pa siguro sa pinaka-gasgas na teleserye theme. Halos lahat ng teleserye, may ganitong tema. Langit ka, lupa ako. Tayo'y tubig at langis. Mayaman ka, mahirap lang ako. Pangit ka, maganda ako (parang ang sagwang pakinggan nun, parang panlalait), . What's the bottomline? Dalawang tao na kahit magkaiba sa maraming bagay, na kahit ang buong mundo ay tutol sa kanilang pagsasama... sa huli ay magkakatuluyan pa rin.

One example is the cityboy-probinsyana plot. May isang manilenyo na mapapadpad sa probinsya. Sa una, ayaw niya na pumunta dun, pero nang makilala niya ang isang maganda, mayumi at inosenteng babae na kadalasa'y anak ng tauhan, magkakagusto siya dito. Magliligawan sila at maghahabulan sa dayami at pilapil. Ngunit ang city girl na may gusto kay lalake ay malalaman ang nangyari at gagawin niya ang lahat upang masira ang buhay ni probinsyana.

Another example: ang typical amo at chimay love team. Feel na feel siguro panuorin ng mga maid ang ganitong theme. Magkakagusto ang amo sa kanilang katulong at ang unang-unang tatanggi... ang kanyang mama. Hahamakin nila ang lahat upang makamit ang wagas na pagmamahalan. Madalas din 'tong theme ng mga pocket book. I think the makers of these teleserye are really intelligent. They try to find out what composes the majority of the population bago gumawa ng teleserye. Oo nga naman, para bumenta. But I think this plot, even if used over and over again, does not fail to make our hearts wonder and be joyful. I think everyone is obsessed with the idea of true love despite everything.

8. "The happy ending"
Believe me, almost every teleserye found in Filipino archives have good ending. Either the two couples, who have experienced every hardships and challenges, will end up in a grand wedding, or mamamatay ang kontrabida dahil nabaril ng bida, o kaya nahulog mula sa abandonadong gusali at nakaladkad ng sasakyan.

Syempre, ito na nga lang ang time ng mga pinoy para libangin ang sarili nila, tapos bad ending pa. What they want is that everytime they reminisce a teleserye, they would remember something happy at the end. Understandable naman, on my view. Pero kadalasan kasi, it suppresses the creativity of Filipino writers. They always think that they should enclose themselves in a rainbow box of happy endings. Ito yung isang teleserye formula na nagudyok sa akin para ibigin ang dramang banyaga. Foreign, especially Asian, dramas offer a variety of twists and conclusions. Mahilig kasi ako sa bitter sweet endings, something that you will really remember, not because of wedding bells and true love's kiss, but because of painful partings and unrequited love. Mas mahapdi sa puso, kaya mas may tatak.


These are only a few of the many patterns found in a typical Filipino teleserye. But no matter how typical these teleseryes are, they will always be part of our culture. It has given us opportunities to express our self through crying, lauging and getting over-excited, with the bidas and kontrabidas. It has given us lessons on how to effectively laugh and slap like a kontrabida, aside from the memorable evil quotes. It has given us values in life, that no matter what happens to us, there will always be hope and promise of a happy ending. But more than that, teleseryes have somehow, given us identity as Filipinos. Emotional, loving and optimistic Filipinos.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Taglish forever

Globalization has indeed swept the world by storm. With the advent of the internet, it is even inevitable for us not to have interaction with people from different countries. I, for one, has friends in USA and in Thailand (we are friends in facebook, but they don't know me at all). And so, we have come to realize that clinging to our own comfort zone and insisting that we should only speak in Filipino (my native language) is bullshit. You'll definitely become a loser, and that's it... What's worse, is the birth of TAGLISH, the offspring of the expressive Tagalog, and the straight-forward English. People would even persecute these people for sounding weird and inappropriately sophisticated.

E ANO NGAYON? Kung mas masaya ba mag-Taglish e. Perhaps, I am proud to say that I love speaking in appropriate Taglish. I've mentioned the word "appropriate" because I try to separate the two languages in different sentences. Yun lang naman ata ang problema ng iilan sa atin. Yung tipong sa iisang sentence, nag-iinterchange ang ingles at tagalog, yun bang ginagamit ng mga konyo. "O, where na you? Dito na me. Let's make inom-inom the kape, it's making less init na kasi with the aircon everywhere"... ampota, nakakainis. (excuse my french. I get over-excited). Ok lang naman yung pa-isa-isang salita tulad ng "sentence" o kaya "interchange" kasi ang hirap isalin sa English nun e. I believe that as long as the sentence is nice to hear, it's already fine. And the speaker must also remember that he/she must adjust to whoever he is speaking to. E paano kung hilaw na bangus yang kausap mo, ta-taglish-taglish ka, e di sinapak ka na nun diba?

I firmly believe that those who can speak Taglish in a good way are intelligent and talented individuals. They know the responsibility of using the complex language. Alam nila kung kelan gagamitin ang Tagalog at English. Alam nila kung ano ang pinagkaiba ng dalawa, at hindi yung pinaghahalo-halo lang.

But of course, as what I've said, we should be aware of the context of where we use language. Kung formal letter yan, syempre hindi pwede ang Taglish. Pero kung katulad lang naman nito, BLOG, o kaya naman comment sa facebook, ang arte naman ng dating mo kapag todo english ka sa comment, kung alam mo namang kapitbahay mo lang yung ini-i-stalk mo... o kaya naman parang ang makaluma kapag super tagalog ang comment mo. Try mo rin kaya magpaka-makata sa twitter, tignan natin kung magkasya yan sa 140 characters.

So why am I writing a blog about this? Somehow, as what I've said in my introductory paragraph, I have come to realize the importance of speaking in English in international site such as blogger. Yes, I do understand that when I use English as my mode of communication, more people will understand what I wanted to say. But at the same time, I've realized, what is the use of having a lot of people able to understand you, if you yourself cannot express your thoughts in its fullest potential? Siguro, kasalanan ko na rin na nagpa-alila ako sa kagandahan ng taglish. Pero tapos na yun e. I have already inculcated APPROPRIATE taglish as my medium for conversation. Gusto ko kasi sa blog, parang kinakausap mo lang yung readers mo. So I've decided that yes, in spite of the globalization ravaging the whole world, I intend to remain as what I used to be. English in one sentence, Tagalog in another... I guess that's just how it will be. At least the words can flow freely from my mind to my fingers... to the keyboard... to the screen... to the internet... to your screen... to your eyes... blah blah blah.

I'm sorry to say to my fans worldwide (if there are any) that I will be inserting tagalog statements every now and then in my blog. It puts my mind at ease, not thinking of having a perfectly english blog post.

Speak Taglish.
Be yourself.
Wehhhh.