Love and Other Drugs

 

Yes the poster with Anne Hathaway in a bed supposed to be naked behind that very lucky pillow is really tempting. The title of the movie poses inquiry of why such title. Here’s what happened when I tried watching it as seen in my facebook wall:

Hahahaha! I really considered not watching it because the main character is a pharmaceutical drug representative, which therefore explains the title. Anne Hathaway was nowhere in sight in the very first parts of the movie. I was really bored then I post it on facebook. Good thing people saw it then I was forced to finish it. Thanks a lot Facebook! Who will not be encouraged with the guarantee of seeing Anne Hathaway’s boobs?

About the movie, yes the drug selling thing is really boring. The year is supposed to be 1997 but I think there are a lot of inconsistencies about that like Jake Gyllenhaal phone is too hi-tech for that year knowing Keanu Reeves’s phone in The Matrix(1999) was still bulky and has an antenna. 

supposed to be 1997, but look at his cellphone

compare that to this phone from The Matrix(1999)

Also, when the main character attended a Pfizer event, they are dancing to Macarena. That song was not the fad that year. That song was a hit in 1994-1995. In 1997, people are laughing at themselves thinking they did dance to the Macarena. The electronics store also sells what it seems to be LCD TV, but I don’t know for sure if those are plenty that year. It's not a period film but hey, somebody can tell inconsistencies about the setting.

I did like the story though. The wiki page said that the story is pretty much a grown-up love story. I can relate to the predicament of having an incurable disease(like Achalasia perhaps, but not like hers, she has Parkinson's) and how it might affect your loved ones when the disease is on its advanced stage when you get older. A pretty serious plot for a person who watched the film just to see boobs but I liked that the dilemma of the story is something different.

Magkailaw man, madilim pa din

Paalam Pilipinas unang araw ng Marso 2011, 8:00PM Eastwood City. Kinda sounds like the name of the prohibited firecracker(Goodbye Philippines) but it is the title of the last concert of our beloved OPM alternative rock band Sugarfree. 1999-2011. In case you have your heart broken between these years and you know how to choose a good song to listen to during these horrible times(or phase if you may), chances are, you might have affinity to a song or two from the band. Hell Yeah!! Hindi na natin kailangan ng mga emo-screamo songs from guys who wears tight fitting jeans. Parang mas emo pa kasi tagalong yung mga kanta.

The first gig of Sugarfree that I went to was summer of 2005 at Hard Rock in Makati. The ticket was from a radio contest in NU107. Masaya naman. Perstaym ko pumasok sa Hard Rock. We went there straight after our shift from internship in Bayantel in San Francisco Del Monte. Ok sila pag live. Kinanta nila yung “There She goes’. Magaling din sila kahit cover, parang sarili nilang gawa yung kinakanta nila. Of course, mas maganda pa din ung sarili nilang songs. For me, Ebe’s writing is way up there with Dong Abay, Rico Blanco and the Eraserheads. Sila lang kasi yung inabutan ko, syempre may iba pang mahuhusay magcompose.

So dumating na nga ung tweet ni Ebe na lilisanin na nya ang pagbabanda. Syempre dapat makapanood naman ako ng kahit isang show lang sa lineup na farewell bar tour nila. Olats lang kasi wala naman ako makasama. Dumaan ang show nila sa Route 196, UP Fair kahit ung gig nila sa Baguio nung Panagbenga. Hndi ko din napuntahan. Buti na lang yung huli sa Eastwood lang. kahit wla ako kasama, mapapanood ko. Nasa bakuran ko na lang e, libre pa.mas masaya. Hindi masikip ang lugar,kahit madaming tao wala naman sigurong mga gago na manonood. Nabasa ko pa sa Facebook na may mga kaklase ako ng hiskul na manonood din. Swerte. May makakasama din naman pala ako.

Then there I was. Hind ko sila makontak. Nasa loob na ata sila. Buti na lang nakita ko si Rina. Hiskul batchmate na adik din sa Sugarfree. She’s been to two of their bar events. May mga uploaded vids pa. May kasama sya, si Victor kaso ayaw nya makisiksik sa loob, naiwan sya sa labas. Kaming dalawa lang yung nakisiksik sa loob. Kung wala sya baka hndi na ako nanonood kasi umaambon na nun. Ang swerte namin kasi nung lumakas na ung ulan nasa loob na kami ng tent. Thank God. With that, nailabas ko na din yung dala kong SLR to take photos. I am no that used to taking photos during these live performances. Mas gusto ko i-enjoy na lang yung tugtugan. Pero huli na to, so I took some pics when the songs they are playing are not that good for my taste.

(video uploaded by Rina. in-attach ko para makita kung gaano kami kalayo sa stage)

Enjoy yung concert. Maraming songs. Tumagal ng tatlong oras. May part ng gig na “old school Sugarfree” tapos si Mitch yung pinapalo tapos bago ibalik ulit kay Kaka ung drums may isang kanta(nakalimutan ko na pamagat) na dalawang drums sila. It is very cool na kahit wala na si Mitch sa banda, ahagi pa din sya ng farewell concert.

Pinakapaborito kong bahagi yung kinanta ni Ebe yung “Kandila” na may accompaniment ng violin at keyboard. Napakasolemn.

Pag tapos ng concert nakita ko sa crowd si Roman, klasmeyt ko din ng hiskul. Matangkad kasi kaya madali lang makita. Pagkatapos dumiretso na kami ng Cheesecake to meet the others. Andun na ung iba pa naming kabatch ng hiskul pati yung tropa din nila ng elementary na nameet ko na din dati. Malapit lang daw sa pwesto nila sila Juris at Sitti nung nanonood sila. May dalawa pang dumaan na kaklase, sila Jionel at Russel. Ayos, nakapanood na ako ng concert, nameet ko pa ulit ung mga klasmates ko. Malungkot na wala na yung banda, pero ayos na nagkaroon ng huling concert na nameet ko din ung mga katropa ko na naging mahalaga din sa kanila ang mga kanta ng Sugarfree.

Ano ang People Power para sa ating Batang 90s?

People Power. Sa mga batang 90s hindi ito masyado ganun kaimportante. Tayo ay pinanganak ng dekada 80. 1986 yun naganap kaya musmos pa tayo nun o kya ay di pa pinapanganak. Nabilataan ko na lang ito nung nagaaral na ako at syempre onting reference sa media nung late 80s at kwento ng mga matatanda pero wala naman talaga itong kahalagahan sa isang bata. Hindi din naman natin maikumpara kung may nagbago nga talaga nung nawala na si Marcos.

Nabasa ko sa Pillbox 3 ng Eheads dun sa “The Hatchets that would not be buried” ni Ely Buendia yung tungkol kay Marcos. A questionable thing he did was to ban Japanese robot shows on TV, this of course include Voltes V. They had to grow up without ever knowing how the story ended. He said that at that moment his childhood officially ended.

Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa napapanood ung ending nung Voltes V kahit ilang ulit na to inulit sa Channel7. Hindi naman talaga ako mahilig sa anime. Pero for a kid who would have loved this stuff then got deprived for no reasons, shit nga talaga yun.

Siguro kung hindi nangyari ang people power na yan, medyo messed up din ang childhood namin. Swerte pa kami at nalasap pa naming kahit konti ang mga cool na bagay na mararanasan lang pag bata. Pati na din ang mga bagay na meron noon na wala na ngayon. Tulad dati na may buhay pa ang channels 4, 9 at 13. Dun natin napanood ang Time Quest, Marimar, Ghost Fighter atbp. Masaya pa noon ang PBA. Tumigil na ako manood ng dumating na ang mga Fil-Ams, siguro mga 1997. Busy na din kasi ako nun sa pag-aaral sa high school. Nung bata ako naiinis ako pag may gusto kami panoorin kaso PBA ang kalaban na pinapanood ng mga tao sa bahay pero nung natuto na ako maglaro e nagustuhan ko na din manood. Gustong-gusto ko nun yung Swift na lagi naman tinatalo ng Alaska sa Finals.

Matino pang radyo. Kilala pa ang FM stations sa kanilang call signs. DWTM, DMZ, RX, WKC,DM,WLS, LA, NU. Yan na lang mga naalala ko. Hindi ko na alam callsign ng MRS(most requested song), Kool106, Mellow Touch at WRock. Tapos yung mga resulta ng weekly countdown nila na sinusubaybayan ko linggu-linggo e nakalagay din sa bandang likod ng mga SongHits. Asteeg pa kasi dati ang OPM. 90s nabuhay ang Yano,Rivermaya at EHeads. Nakakatuwa din nun pag may nakikita na akong pinoy artists na may music video sa MTV at ChanelV. Big Deal na yun dati na gumagawa sila ng video. Si Viktoria pa yung MTV queen dati. Tapos si Regine Tolentino pa yung unang pinoy vj sa MTV. Sa ChannelV, si Trey.

Nakikinig pa yung nanay ko kay Rod Navarro sa DZRH. Naalala ko pa si Lola Sela bungangera(isang radio icon) at ang footprints in the sand na tinutugtog pag umaga. Parang alarm clock ko sila pag narinig ko na sa karaoke namin. Inabutan pa natin ang Batibot. May mga educational shows pa ang ABS-CBN tuwing umaga na ngayon nasa Knowledge channel na lang ang reruns ngayon. Magaganda pa ang anime pag umaga yung World Masterpiece Theater na mga base sa mga classic literature. Tapos pag weekends may pang-batang cartoons din at For Kids Only, yung palabas na puro toys. Dun ko lang nakikita ang mga toys na hindi kaya ibili sa akin ng magulang ko. Pero ok lang. Tanggap namin na hindi kami magkakaron ng mga laruan na yun. Alam pa natin ang Funny comics at Hiwaga. Dati pag may laking abroad na papasok sa shobiz ang payo sa kanila ay magbasa ng komiks para daw gumaling sila magtagalog.

Madami din noong tagalog na pelikula. Ngayon kasi puro cheesy movies na lang ang ginagawa kapag hindi FilmFest. Nakakasawa. Dati may budget pa sila gumawa ng action films, comedy at horror na kung ngayon ko papanoorin ay lahat parang comedy din.

Masaya. Parang inabutan natin yung mga cool things from the past pati yung mga cool na bagay ng 90s na wala na ngayon. Siguro pag hindi nagpeople power ay iba pa din ang pamamalakad sa TV, Radio at print media. Kahit paano ay swerte pa rin kami.

Solitude

It’s a non bitter way of me being alone and enjoying it. Being alone and being lonely is very different. Alone is the physical state that you have nobody with you. Lonely is an emotional thing. After a long tiring week a very efficient “me” time is very much appreciated especially for us loners.

It’s when I wake up early in the morning and enjoy the sunrise. When I watch an old Tagalog movie with all the clichés I enjoy observing. When I can finish a novel that I’ve been trying to read for ages. When I can sleep all afternoon with or without the cool pre-summertime breeze. When I can I take a walk at nights and really appreciate the full moon rising. When I enjoy the beauty of the sky with only cirrus clouds and few stars visible. When I see the cityscape overlooking from our town and understand why the hell people flock the high lands and just these city lights to gaze at. When I can walk the dog at wee hours of the night with the cool winds blowing; when I can stay up late and watch whichever NatGeo or Discovery Channel feature seems appealing or any good movie of any language is available. When I literally bottom feed leftovers of oatmeal, porridge or whatever is left on top of our stove.

It’s been a while since I done all that. It makes me feel like a college kid again. I’m glad I did all that on a weekend. It’s my kind of fun, hanging around, let time pass by and not spending money.

Gone with the Wind

source of pic

“Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn”  - Rhett Butler

I’ve known this classic line long before but I just watched the movie just now. The film is almost four hours long but it was all worth it. A great classic in Technicolor. It is an MGM production from 1939 which is an Oscar Best Picture.  I think a real fan of great movies (not just commercial blockbusters of great visual effects) should at least see this. I for a very long time believe that movie goers nowadays just adorn the cinemas just to see effects. It’s like reading a book with a good cover or in the same vicinity with that. It is very good to see a movie how they are meant to be. With the great scores for cheesy scenes and the way they deliver their lines. The way the movie stars used to look like. They are gods and goddesses of the silver screen. Those were really the golden age of Hollywood.

The story is great as it shows how the heroine Scarlett O'Hara deals with different predicaments in her life. As a viewer, I tried to read her psyche and see what her drives are because of all the extreme decisions she made throughout the movie and see her humanity before, during and after the war and how she matures through all that she went through. The character also posseses an eighteen-inch waistline. It’s not really a chick flick though. The “war” element in the movie made it so just as American Football was to Jerry Maguire.

Good movie. I recommend it to someone who has fancy for classics especially hard core fanatics and should have a lot of idle time.

My Achalasia (so far)

I think it all began in November 2008 when I complained of heartburns probably due to working nightly from Monday to Friday and I forget eating the morning after work and just go straight to sleep. The heartburns started when I have to take up Clobetacort for some skin allergy. I told this to the Dermatologist but he told me that I just need to take antacid like Kremil-S or Maallox just to settle the acids in my stomach.

When I was in Lake Forest for three months, we had this awesome plan to get fat by drinking beers every night so we stacked beers in our own fridge and try to drink every time we wish. Gaining weight is good andpossibly having a beer belly would still be appreciated. I noticed the heartburns persist due to this lifestyle. I was not even able to consume all of them in my 89 days stay.

Before my Medicard expired on June 2009, I decided to consult a Gastroenterologist. I was looking forward to be diagnosed for ulcer at first since I knew two of my teammates have the same condition. I might as well get it due to the same schedule we had and possibly the same lifestyle and messed-up eating habits. What could be worse, I used to think to myself. I was bound for Gastroscopy but I was still waiting for the Health card to be renewed. It was July and I have to leave for US in August. I decided to put the procedure on hold until I get back after 3 months.

December 9 2009 when i had my first gastroscopy at The Medical City.  The procedure was terrible.  I was conscious the whole time and I cried a little. My sister was not expecting the look in my face as I returned to the waiting room. The impression shows that I have esophagitis. This is supposed to be better than having ulcer.  After that, I treat my sister and myself to California Pizza Kitchen in Greenhills. I have to eat a lot after 12 hours of fasting. We ordered half salad, four cheese ravioli and a mango juice for her. I end up paying 1230.89 but it was worth it. I wanted to reward myself for enduring hell.

It was December and a lot of Christmas parties went through. I partied the whole month until I went sick on the 26^th. I remember the doctor told me to stay away from alcohol but what the hell. I just got back from Texas. Let me have fun with my friends. It sucks though that I missed one party which was with my high school classmates.

The next year 2010, I was still complaining for heartburn. This time I told my doctor that I have difficulty passing food to my esphagus. I also have instances when I awoke in the middle of the night like choking. I am also starting to lose weight.

I had my first Barium Swallow August 21. This procedure involves swallowing a white barium solution while being x-rayed on three angles. Impression on this test is to consider Achalasia. This is the first time this rare illness comes up on tests. I googled what’s it about. Wow. The condition is rare, no known cause and it is incurable. This sucks! The word “incurable” made me search for alternative medicine which leads me to this site. The symptoms are dead correct. There are forums and blogs pertains to frustrations of sufferers regarding this illness.

The doctor told me next for another test called manometry. There is no equipment in The Medical City so I was told to try St Lukes. I called the hospital but I was told the equipment is out of commission. I learned that the equipment is not really scheduled for repair since it is seldom used and the cost will not be worth it. I returned to my doctor to consult what to do next. She made some phone calls and then another doctor told her to run CT scan. This is to rule out tumors which may also cause my symptoms.  I did this test October 1^st and the test is negative.

Achalasia still remains as the main diagnosis. I asked her for the cause for this disease. She asked me if I had any viral infections prior. I told her I was sick last December. She informed me that Achalasia is caused by viral infections. My mom thinks otherwise. She believes that my esophagus deteriorates throughout the years as a result of me drinking calamansi juice even on an empty stomach. I think that my lifestyle and messed up eating habits trigger the disease.

As a temporary fix, I can have a balloon dilatation. I am not really keen in getting this because all results I read on forums, blogs and support/awareness websites always say the results are not that long-lasting. Normal appetite will only lasts months the most.  A surgical operation called Heller’s Myotomy is a better solution but I deem this out of option because I am not sure if this operation is available in the Philippines. Their professional association of gastroenterologists will be having an outreach in December. This program will have free balloon dilatation. Unfortunately, I did not avail this chance because I am joining a half marathon in Singapore. This will mean that I have to forfeit. I decided to have the procedure the next month instead.

Come January. I decided to go to St Lukes for a check-up with a new doctor. I have to tell him all my history. I also brought all my test results in case he asked for those. He decided to give me another Gastroscopy to rule out dysphagia due to esophagitis and to consider achalasia. I had my 2^nd gastroscopy January 17^th. This time I was sedated though I was still conscious. I did not cry at all this time. This time, I only treat my sister on Lydia’s Lechon. I will not be able to eat a lot of food anyway due to my condition.

  The result this time is Achalasia. Now I really have to undergo balloon dilatation.  I went to Medicard office to check for my remaining balance so that I can schedule for the procedure right away and I can file for necessary sick leaves. They set my limit to 70k and my room would be private open. I was to be admitted January 31^st. My admission orders are all ready.

The procedure is scheduled at 8:00AM but we have to be admitted by 6AM so that everything would be ready by then. My fasting of no food, no water started 8PM the night before. I was already hungry this time but I was told that no food no water will continue for 24 hours after the procedure. I have to endure a lot of digestive pains for a very long time. I was brought to the operating room via wheel chair. I feel shameful because I can still walk by this time. I hate the feeling of being helpless.

Before the operation, I felt my arm itchy because of the Peraxin antibiotic they put via IV. After they removed the antibiotic, I was put to sleep. When I woke up, I was with my Dad and the deed is done. We returned to my room and then no food and water for 24 hours. To prevent my intestines from giving mutiny, they also put meds via IV for stomach acid and stuff. I’m not sure.

I had visitors that night, my officemates Angel and Frank. This is the start on explaining to people why the hell am I in the hospital for. My easiest and shortest answer would be this line: “masikip kasi dulo ng esophagus ko, pinaluwagan ko lang. Ginamitan nila ng balloon dilatation” short and i hope no further questions will follow.

Noon next day, I was allowed to devour on clear liquids. My mom visited me the afternoon and she brought her delicious beef broth. I get about two cups. This turns out bad for me. I was not allowed to eat hot food. I was not aware of that. There was bleeding in my esophagus and warm food will of course, made that worse. I was in excruciating pain for about an hour until I managed to sleep.  I feel bad for my mom. She was just trying to make me feel better. The night went well though. I was given Omeprazole before I had my dinner. I must get well or else, I may not be discharged the next day.

The next day, I tried to show I was fine. I was able to eat my liquid breakfast. The painful episode the night was a memory. My assigned RN for this shift is a male nurse which of course is a sign that I might as well go home and as my doctor did his round gave the green light. What sucks is that when I did my errands walking around the hospital I felt another heartburn. That was really bad. The hospital bills does not make me want to extend another day. So what I did was take my ever so useful skyflakes. It helped a little. For a very long time this has been to me what magic bean is for Son Gokou and spinach is for Popeye. I was able to ignore the pain thankfully because I was also sent out of the hospital through a wheelchair.

Two weeks since then now. Here I am.  My ability to swallow food was better just after the procedure. The real result of the procedure (which is temporary) is starting to manifest. I can swallow liquids now unlike before. Still chunky foods are still difficult to pass through but this is better than before.

I had bad case of Diarrhea this week and I was very dehydrated. I had two days of fever for it and my mom almost want me sent to the hospital Thursday night which I object. I was not also earnest at taking any meds which I may worsen the condition. Instead, I just rehydrate myself with oresol and Gatorade. My sister also told my mom to prepare food of no strong taste and just bananas and apples. It worked anyways.  

I just have to wait for my next month’s follow up for further actions.

(500) Days of Summer

I am all praises for this movie.

First it opens with an author’s note that it is a work of fiction, any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. Especially you Jenny Beckman. Bitch. Hahaha. I love it.

The title itself puzzled me. It is catchy, which is good but why 500 days of Summer? It turns out that the girl’s name is Summer. It’s kinda like “Good Will Hunting”.

What struck me first is the movie soundtrack. The opening song was a Regina Spektor. It automatically gives me a sense that the movie is “no bullshit”. I know I will not sleep watching this movie unlike the last rom-com I have seen which was “Going the Distance”. That movie sucked by the way. The shifting mood throughout the film is covered by great songs. It’s a movie since “Juno” that I liked the soundtrack. It is really good to see a movie wherein after seeing the film, I have to know all the songs used in the movie.

I also enjoyed the non-linear narrative form for the story. I have seen movies where the story is told backward. This type is refreshing for me.  There is also a dance sequence in the film during his high times on being in love with Summer and he thought she loved him too. I think this is cool showing the happiness of the character. It is funny. I always think that these dance montages are made just to lengthen a movie a bit but in this case, I think that it is being called for.

The characters are also great. It is very funny that the main character Tom seeks love advices from her younger sister. She is so young she’s still in High School. His problem is of course, Summer. He’s like the cuddle bitch of the highest form and nobody wants to be in that position.  Summer is played by Zooey Deschanel. I liked her eversince i saw her in “Almost Famous”. The Summer character is of course you want to hate but you can’t. She is Zooey Deschanel.  You would really feel for the Tom character the misery of being the cuddle bitch.

The narrator’s voice is also cool.

Cinematography is also cool. It is an indie film so I expected something cool in that department. I like one sequence during the story’s dénouement where there is a split screen of Tom’s expectation and what is reality. Very creative.

I really enjoy this film. I was lucky to stumble upon this title as I was searching for good movies worth watching during this Oscar season.