Father O'Niel SJ is a wonderful preacher at St.Ignatius who, despite being almost medievally old-fashioned, often triggers in me fitting reflection for these contemporary times. He's ye olde Irish - in his nineties- and the cadences of his voice are ever so comforting. Due to his age, of course, he has his good days and the days when rambling man appears in his stead.
At yesterday's 6pm Ash Wednesday mass, he opened with his perennial reminder of the Devil, and the war that is taking place in the world for human souls. "Remember," he chided us, "The devil hates you, but God loves you." This is a favourite thread of his, and one that I particularly like. T hates it, and my Mom doesn't like it either. And I ask them, why? I guess people don't want to be reminded that evils exists, let alone the devil who salivates over our souls. For me though, it's like bracing cold water. It's refreshing and allows me to see this modern world with open eyed clarity. As we go through the motions of our lives, we have to be reminded to choose God, to plant our feet firmly on his side of the battlefield, and constantly try to undermine the other side by our day to day deeds. Fr. O'Neill on his good days is a paradoxical breath of fresh air.
And my favourite part was when he mixed the ashes and water vigourously, the reverberating clicks against the tin pan picked up by his microphone. He looked up at us and with a gleeful smile in his voice, said, "I like to use plenty of water, so the cross is very black!"
I remember now that I am marked by God with a very black cross on my forehead. And so lent begins...
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Cut!
Never underestimate the wonderfully rejuvenating powers of a haircut. Got it all cut off yesterday with zero trepidation. I just walked into the salon with a determined stride and Eugene said, "Short?". I answered decisively, "Short - Cut it off."
We're at month's end, and a number of pages have yet to be closed still. The graphic designer is running on empty. The writer is resigning, switching industries. Right now, I have yet to lock in an art director to replace the one who left in January. A stressful situation to say the least, but I'm surprisingly zen. Must be all the yoga. Must be the hair cut. Sometimes, you just have to say cut it.
Cut the stress. Cut the bs. Cut the non-essentials. Snippety snip. It's a lot like deleting emails. And throwing out clutter. Very liberating. At the end of the day, you have to cut it...otherwise, what are you going to do?
Whoohoo! Just got a sms. Not only do I have an art director, I have three very good candidates for the writer...
We're at month's end, and a number of pages have yet to be closed still. The graphic designer is running on empty. The writer is resigning, switching industries. Right now, I have yet to lock in an art director to replace the one who left in January. A stressful situation to say the least, but I'm surprisingly zen. Must be all the yoga. Must be the hair cut. Sometimes, you just have to say cut it.
Cut the stress. Cut the bs. Cut the non-essentials. Snippety snip. It's a lot like deleting emails. And throwing out clutter. Very liberating. At the end of the day, you have to cut it...otherwise, what are you going to do?
Whoohoo! Just got a sms. Not only do I have an art director, I have three very good candidates for the writer...
Sunday, February 26, 2006
10 Things In Two Months
1. THE PRACTICE. Yoga at Pure Yoga. I'm frequently the heaviest woman in practically every class I attend. Then again, this is Singapore. But no judgement. The teachers are exactly as zen and inspiring as they should be, not too much as to be annoying, and not so little as to be ineffectual. Hot makes my insteps ache. Hatha feels tremendously satisfying. Power is like lifting weights - in this case, my own. When I'm doing standing poses and I can't find my balance, I will fall out and involountarily, an apology will issue from my lips. Why, I don't know. "Don't apologise," two teachers have already told me. No judgement, they keep saying. And keep practicing. It will get better. For where the eyes lead, the body will follow, they say. T says my body feels different. It feels like flesh is redistributing. But I'm not losing weight. Maybe it's those breakfasts with Maya at Toast.
2. YOU TOO! Come and join us. Five couples off to Sydney to see Bono jam up a storm at the end of March. Lots of jostling to get tickets, but finally, things have settled into place. It feels. Monumental.
3. FIRST GRADE. Coby going through adjustment. No, it's more accurate to say that the teachers of ACS Primary 1B are adjusting. At the end of the day, they don't know what to make of him. This little boy who comes in to class late from recess, saying, "Sorry, I'm late." and then the following day, does exactly the same thing. He also likes to skip out of TAF Program, often giving his "buddy"..."the slip". It's not just that he came from Montessori. It's not just that he's not Singaporean. It's mainly that he's Coby. There will be many PT conferences this year, boy.
4. AFTERMATH. Kaylee seems to have inherited both my temper and my poor quantitative skills. It adds up to frustration during homework time. What to do. What to do. She dislikes being taught and yet she does not know. T is much better at the teaching. But then again, he is also much better at the math.
5. WORKING OUT. Have found the best attitude toward work. Calm detachment combined with no-nonsense get-it-done verve. And leave it at the office. At the end of the day, you have to remember your priorities.
6. CASHING IN. Who would have thought it could happen. Then again, it may not. So let's just keep mum about it until it does...and visualise. Because boy, it could be a great, great thing.
7. STRUMMING ALONG. T gave us guitar lessons for our anniversary so that we could "learn something new" together. But the strings hurt man. And I'm always tempted to say, "Can't I just sing it?" The teacher who is a tad on the smug side does not help. It may also be that I have not commited. To me it's still, no strings attached.
8. UNMATCHED. Seeing Matchpoint has made me realise, yet again, Woody Allen is an unmitigated genius. It's the next thing I'm buying on Amazon.
9. COMING AND GOING. Oh no...the time that the Solivens are leaving is drawing very very near. Lots of things will change. Realising I can easily live in my own little world.
10. WRITE ON. If not now, when? Notes to Nowhere has to morph from journal-ese into what it was meant to be. Now more than ever. It's got to be about story. Remember all of them...and let them flow.
2. YOU TOO! Come and join us. Five couples off to Sydney to see Bono jam up a storm at the end of March. Lots of jostling to get tickets, but finally, things have settled into place. It feels. Monumental.
3. FIRST GRADE. Coby going through adjustment. No, it's more accurate to say that the teachers of ACS Primary 1B are adjusting. At the end of the day, they don't know what to make of him. This little boy who comes in to class late from recess, saying, "Sorry, I'm late." and then the following day, does exactly the same thing. He also likes to skip out of TAF Program, often giving his "buddy"..."the slip". It's not just that he came from Montessori. It's not just that he's not Singaporean. It's mainly that he's Coby. There will be many PT conferences this year, boy.
4. AFTERMATH. Kaylee seems to have inherited both my temper and my poor quantitative skills. It adds up to frustration during homework time. What to do. What to do. She dislikes being taught and yet she does not know. T is much better at the teaching. But then again, he is also much better at the math.
5. WORKING OUT. Have found the best attitude toward work. Calm detachment combined with no-nonsense get-it-done verve. And leave it at the office. At the end of the day, you have to remember your priorities.
6. CASHING IN. Who would have thought it could happen. Then again, it may not. So let's just keep mum about it until it does...and visualise. Because boy, it could be a great, great thing.
7. STRUMMING ALONG. T gave us guitar lessons for our anniversary so that we could "learn something new" together. But the strings hurt man. And I'm always tempted to say, "Can't I just sing it?" The teacher who is a tad on the smug side does not help. It may also be that I have not commited. To me it's still, no strings attached.
8. UNMATCHED. Seeing Matchpoint has made me realise, yet again, Woody Allen is an unmitigated genius. It's the next thing I'm buying on Amazon.
9. COMING AND GOING. Oh no...the time that the Solivens are leaving is drawing very very near. Lots of things will change. Realising I can easily live in my own little world.
10. WRITE ON. If not now, when? Notes to Nowhere has to morph from journal-ese into what it was meant to be. Now more than ever. It's got to be about story. Remember all of them...and let them flow.
Whatever happened to
...the blog. Did the pressure get to her? After all, there are a million more compelling blogs out there, cuter, smarter, funnier, thinner...What's a blog to do? Some blogs don't react well to competition. Some blogs just clam up in the face of eloquence. A blog can suffer angst about existence or be in need of therapy. She can suffer an inferiority complex aggravated by general blahness toward life and its nitty gritty. A blog may decide on her own to embark upon a self-improvement programme. Learn bells and whistles like other blogs. Or a blog can opt to remain unapologetic, defiant, persisting in her own quintessential right to be what she is.
Until the the urge comes once again, from deep within...after some sixty days. She says, okay, let's start over.
Until the the urge comes once again, from deep within...after some sixty days. She says, okay, let's start over.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Narnia
Our very own Lucy in Narnia
Let's just say it's like having your childhood come alive before your very eyes.
At a certain point...
...you have done just about all you can possibly do, and the only thing you should do is yourself a favour. Let it go. Relax. Move on to doing things for yourself. People have pointed out I'm too absorbed by my work -- funny, that this isn't even what I plan to do with my life! I must remind myself that there were other plans and now, there is the inclination and the opportunity to do them. It's time to sieze the moment, and make it happen.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
The last days of 2005
It was quiet at the office, but not slow. It was quite the opposite of snow, and with no trusty writer to delegate to, I found myself occupied by busy, thinking work almost every minute. Discovered that the MH team is quite a pleasure to work with. That run-in with DP, not fun, and SD was sympathetic but essentially powerless. I guess I understand why she did what she did. What bothers me (and might I say, this bothers me alot about people these days), is not what they do, it's the way they do it. Very few of them have a modicum of EQ, and even when you sense that they do, they just "can't be bothered" to make the effort. EQ and social skills are simply too much work. It's really rather dismal. And then you know who is being an unmitigated bitch, and they're such a grand divaesque gestures that I know she's baiting me. I'm telling myself, huwag mo nang patulan, para ke pa?
At home, the kids were bouncing off walls. I know they'll be happier when school starts and they have lots to do. Working as hard as I have been, it's easy to lose track of the holiday season, once Christmas itself came and went. Followed an impulse and gave myself what Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother called, "a lunatic fringe". I did an OK job, but still asked one of the art people to fix up.
Among the high points of the last days of 2005:
...reading the autobiography of Pelagia Soliven, a wonderful gift from the Solivens
...the 6pm Children's mass at St. Ignatius
...the scrumptious brunch at MELT in the Oriental
...baking Mrs. Esteban's gingerbread
...the deep tissue Balinese massage I got on Boxing Day
...discovering that I can swim 20 laps in the new pool first thing in the morning
...Seeing The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe not once, but twice
...Kaylee and Coby doing their thing
...Finding out that Ally's transplant engrafted
...Discovering that the canteen upstairs sells almond milk
...Settling the "what are we going to do" about the kids' bday party
...Greeting 2006 on the river
Looking forward to the rest of 2006...
At home, the kids were bouncing off walls. I know they'll be happier when school starts and they have lots to do. Working as hard as I have been, it's easy to lose track of the holiday season, once Christmas itself came and went. Followed an impulse and gave myself what Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother called, "a lunatic fringe". I did an OK job, but still asked one of the art people to fix up.
Among the high points of the last days of 2005:
...reading the autobiography of Pelagia Soliven, a wonderful gift from the Solivens
...the 6pm Children's mass at St. Ignatius
...the scrumptious brunch at MELT in the Oriental
...baking Mrs. Esteban's gingerbread
...the deep tissue Balinese massage I got on Boxing Day
...discovering that I can swim 20 laps in the new pool first thing in the morning
...Seeing The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe not once, but twice
...Kaylee and Coby doing their thing
...Finding out that Ally's transplant engrafted
...Discovering that the canteen upstairs sells almond milk
...Settling the "what are we going to do" about the kids' bday party
...Greeting 2006 on the river
Looking forward to the rest of 2006...
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Tales of Kaylee and Coby
After one week of sleeping proudly in her own room, seven year old Kaylee has regressed somewhat and demands to sleep on a mattress on the floor of Coby's room, which is also where yaya sleeps. This has not really bothered us; at least, we save on airconditioning.
Since she started sleeping there, she's posted a sign on the door of her room.
The sign is in red crayon with yellow doodles on the margins, and it reads:
"Out of order"
You have to laugh.
Since she started sleeping there, she's posted a sign on the door of her room.
The sign is in red crayon with yellow doodles on the margins, and it reads:
"Out of order"
You have to laugh.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
That holiday feeling
There's nothing in Singapore's weather that gives you a sense of Christmas. Some people claim it's a few degrees cooler, but I think there's really not that much of a difference. The sun shines vibrantly in the afternoon and the glare is still, pretty much, tropical in feel. It's beach weather more than anything else. And yet, amazingly, I always feel that tingle of Christmas. Maybe it's singing in the choir for advent. Or the flurry of holiday gatherings that always takes place between December 5 and 23, before the Pinoys head to Manila for family reunions, endless parties, last minute mall shopping, traffic, and queso de bola. Why, already we've had a Christmas brunch and a pre-Noche-Buena Noche Buena that involved hot chocolate laced with Peppermint Schnapps--all taken in air conditioned comfort, of course.
But I have my own queso de bola...and even managed to wangle some Majestic ham. My little family of four has come to enjoy our Singapore Christmas celebrations immensely, I must say. Yes, it's true. The Christmas that Kaylee and Coby celebrate is vastly different from the zaniness of my childhood holiday celebrations. But it's no less joyful, no less meaningful.
In fact, I spoke to my sister about their impending celebrations back in Manila, and I was surprised not to feel the usual twinge of envy and longing. What's up with that? Of course, Manila is a blast and seeing my family, plus all the many cousins, aunts and uncles for the holiday season is always loads of fun. And yet, and yet, and yet...I find that I'm content, even pleased to simply hear about it second hand, happy to plan the times when I'll be calling in to say Merry Christmas to one and all as my sis's handphone is passed from ear to ear.
The truth of the matter is, I am happiest to be home for the holidays. Right here in my own living room with my husband and our children, enjoying the magic of our own Christmas tree and our old-fashioned parol. On the 24th, we will bake Christmas cookies, the same old-fashioned dark gingerbread recipe that we used to do at the Estebans' house so long ago. We will have a light lunch of sandwiches and maybe a soup. We will head out to survey the crowds on Orchard...then attend the 6pm Children's mass at St. Igs, which includes a Christmas pageant. Then home to Roast Turkey dinner and all the trimmings. We'll do a holiday flick at home...and after putting the kids to sleep, T and I may skip out to a wild Kylie-Madonna Christmas party, thrown by a friend and colleague, who lives, interestingly enough, in the transvestite district of Little India. We will wake on Christmas morning to garlic rice and tuyo breakfast, ham and cheese and milo, open gifts and just hang until our tummies grumble...then it's time for Christmas day brunch. What happens after that just depends: we'll go out to the park or for a swim maybe, and what I'd like to do is drop off our boxes to the Salvation Army as well. Then home to the family tradition of Turkey Barley soup.
I am toying with the idea of a Boxing Day merienda of cookies, cheese sticks and maybe some prociutto, melon and wine for friends that have, like we have, chosen to stay in Singapore. That, will play by ear...
But I have my own queso de bola...and even managed to wangle some Majestic ham. My little family of four has come to enjoy our Singapore Christmas celebrations immensely, I must say. Yes, it's true. The Christmas that Kaylee and Coby celebrate is vastly different from the zaniness of my childhood holiday celebrations. But it's no less joyful, no less meaningful.
In fact, I spoke to my sister about their impending celebrations back in Manila, and I was surprised not to feel the usual twinge of envy and longing. What's up with that? Of course, Manila is a blast and seeing my family, plus all the many cousins, aunts and uncles for the holiday season is always loads of fun. And yet, and yet, and yet...I find that I'm content, even pleased to simply hear about it second hand, happy to plan the times when I'll be calling in to say Merry Christmas to one and all as my sis's handphone is passed from ear to ear.
The truth of the matter is, I am happiest to be home for the holidays. Right here in my own living room with my husband and our children, enjoying the magic of our own Christmas tree and our old-fashioned parol. On the 24th, we will bake Christmas cookies, the same old-fashioned dark gingerbread recipe that we used to do at the Estebans' house so long ago. We will have a light lunch of sandwiches and maybe a soup. We will head out to survey the crowds on Orchard...then attend the 6pm Children's mass at St. Igs, which includes a Christmas pageant. Then home to Roast Turkey dinner and all the trimmings. We'll do a holiday flick at home...and after putting the kids to sleep, T and I may skip out to a wild Kylie-Madonna Christmas party, thrown by a friend and colleague, who lives, interestingly enough, in the transvestite district of Little India. We will wake on Christmas morning to garlic rice and tuyo breakfast, ham and cheese and milo, open gifts and just hang until our tummies grumble...then it's time for Christmas day brunch. What happens after that just depends: we'll go out to the park or for a swim maybe, and what I'd like to do is drop off our boxes to the Salvation Army as well. Then home to the family tradition of Turkey Barley soup.
I am toying with the idea of a Boxing Day merienda of cookies, cheese sticks and maybe some prociutto, melon and wine for friends that have, like we have, chosen to stay in Singapore. That, will play by ear...
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
38 Feels Great
And so another year begins.
It's a cliche to say time flies when you're having fun, but I persist in the notion. And today, I was given the welcome gift of a meaningful way to celebrate the day I was born, thanks to RSM and the Samsons. She arranged for a group of us to do a Christmas carolling session at the Children's cancer ward at NUH. As I had been toying with the idea of taking leave, it was the final push I needed.
I was up at the crack of dawn to attend the 7am mass...make my connections as it were. Then it was back home to enjoy comfort breakfast of champorado and tuyo with T and life-long friend Rofel Brion of the Ateneo. Kids are on break, so they weren't up, before we left for the hospital. Picked up Celeste then drove to NUH. Not too many kids, but there were enough. And we kicked off everything with a Christmas poem and a Christmas story, before singing Joy To The World, Jingle Bells (twice) and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Margo, Gina, Rofel, Celeste, Ria and I were all in red. And we had a surprise appearance from Ally Samson and her parents Mikey and Lou, who have been discharged, thank goodness for the holidays.(Please see WHERE I CLICK for updates on Ally). After gift-giving, one more song and an impromptu "Fruit Salad" dance...we said our goodbyes.
Then it was off to Melt at the Oriental for buffet lunch--a sumptuous feast finished off by a Willy Wonka chocolate fountain fondu. Came home to find that my son and daughter made me gifts and cards, and we settled in for a reading of a chapter of CS Lewis's The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They then left me to nap while they went for a swim with "Nino" Rofel. Now we go for family crab dinner.
I couldn't ask for a better birthday!
It's a cliche to say time flies when you're having fun, but I persist in the notion. And today, I was given the welcome gift of a meaningful way to celebrate the day I was born, thanks to RSM and the Samsons. She arranged for a group of us to do a Christmas carolling session at the Children's cancer ward at NUH. As I had been toying with the idea of taking leave, it was the final push I needed.
I was up at the crack of dawn to attend the 7am mass...make my connections as it were. Then it was back home to enjoy comfort breakfast of champorado and tuyo with T and life-long friend Rofel Brion of the Ateneo. Kids are on break, so they weren't up, before we left for the hospital. Picked up Celeste then drove to NUH. Not too many kids, but there were enough. And we kicked off everything with a Christmas poem and a Christmas story, before singing Joy To The World, Jingle Bells (twice) and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Margo, Gina, Rofel, Celeste, Ria and I were all in red. And we had a surprise appearance from Ally Samson and her parents Mikey and Lou, who have been discharged, thank goodness for the holidays.(Please see WHERE I CLICK for updates on Ally). After gift-giving, one more song and an impromptu "Fruit Salad" dance...we said our goodbyes.
Then it was off to Melt at the Oriental for buffet lunch--a sumptuous feast finished off by a Willy Wonka chocolate fountain fondu. Came home to find that my son and daughter made me gifts and cards, and we settled in for a reading of a chapter of CS Lewis's The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They then left me to nap while they went for a swim with "Nino" Rofel. Now we go for family crab dinner.
I couldn't ask for a better birthday!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
A New York Movie
Back in the days of betamax, I was in charge of renting the family's weekend entertainment. Without fail, Mommy would tell me, "Can you get me a 'New York' movie?" Even at age 14, I knew what that meant. It meant much more than just--getting a movie set in New York. First, it had to be something romantic, or at least, something with romance. Ideally, it would be a city tale, New York City most obviously, but you could have a "New York Movie" set in Boston, San Francisco or even Chicago. Of course, the quintessential New York movie was Woody Allen's Manhattan. That's what Mom meant. I remember renting Romantic Comedy with Dudley Moore and Mary Steenberen from Sonix in Dasma. The Goodbye Girl with Marsha Mason and Richard Dreyfuss also counted, as did Kramer vs. Kramer as well as The Competition (Again with Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving) and Crossing Delancy (again with Amy Irving). These days for that New York Movie feeling, we revisit episodes of SATC and sometimes Friends.
Well, tonight, the husband, the mother and I went for Prime--a New York movie on all fronts. And it was okay enough. A good premise and a thin plot held up by a great cast and slick cityscapes of good old NYC. Uma and Meryl made the most of very thin characters and a "I see it coming" dialogue. Still, there were a number of charming moments alongside some utterly cheesy lines. ie: "Having you offer that to me only shows me just how deep your love goes."
But as a once-upon-a-time New Yorker, I did think more than once that this flick was a little bit like chewing on bubble gum when you're in the mood for dark chocolate.
Well, tonight, the husband, the mother and I went for Prime--a New York movie on all fronts. And it was okay enough. A good premise and a thin plot held up by a great cast and slick cityscapes of good old NYC. Uma and Meryl made the most of very thin characters and a "I see it coming" dialogue. Still, there were a number of charming moments alongside some utterly cheesy lines. ie: "Having you offer that to me only shows me just how deep your love goes."
But as a once-upon-a-time New Yorker, I did think more than once that this flick was a little bit like chewing on bubble gum when you're in the mood for dark chocolate.
Friday, December 02, 2005
It's always nice
to find someone who takes real pleasure in the work that they do for a living. As I sat for three hours while my cheery faced dentist filled four cavities, I was charmed by her murmurings, seemingly to herself. When the mold for my lower molar came out completely intact, she gave out a little, "Yay." When she studied the design for the porcelain cast, she clapped her hands. And whittling and polishing the newly filled tooth had her humming along to the whirr whirr whirr. She didn't know I was eavesdropping on her, and maybe, she didn't even know she was doing it. But it pleased me that her work pleased her so much. We should all be so lucky to love what we do...
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Onward ho
It's been two days of moving, and we're still not done. The husband is under the weather with a very nasty cold bringing on an equally nasty temper, the mother is in town, and the children are clamoring for their daily routine. I don't know where my clothes are and I still need to find out what the hell is in those boxes. Then there was a must-go family dental appointment that revealed the need for more work. And now I sneak out for a minute with Mom to an internet cafe. And as much as all that's going on right now is chaos, disorder and frustration, in an instant, I am thrown out of my own life and my own petty cares into the world of Ally Samson and her parents, dear friends Mikey and Lou.
With poignancy, passion and utter truth, Mikey gives us daily updates on Ally's transplant procedure, intended to finally stamp out her leukemia and expresses his own thought process as he struggles to make sense of these days. Ally-booboo turns two on December 4, and has proven herself powerful beyond her years in her ability to withstand experiences that are downright unthinkable. I can't get over Lou and Mikey and their complementary strengths as parents -- strength that calls to mind their name. As Ally likes to say, "Ay naku, naku, naku..." Read about her in the website that Lou built, under WHERE I CLICK. Get thrown out of your own life in an instant...
With poignancy, passion and utter truth, Mikey gives us daily updates on Ally's transplant procedure, intended to finally stamp out her leukemia and expresses his own thought process as he struggles to make sense of these days. Ally-booboo turns two on December 4, and has proven herself powerful beyond her years in her ability to withstand experiences that are downright unthinkable. I can't get over Lou and Mikey and their complementary strengths as parents -- strength that calls to mind their name. As Ally likes to say, "Ay naku, naku, naku..." Read about her in the website that Lou built, under WHERE I CLICK. Get thrown out of your own life in an instant...
Monday, November 28, 2005
Fifth time to Rent
Karen Mok and a New York cast are doing a run of Rent at the Kallang Theatre here in Singapore, for two weeks. And last night, their second night, was a rather uneven performance, I'm sorry to say. But the reasons are...multifactorial. First, as a veteran "Renter" that's seen the show four times previously, last night's performance suffered in comparison. Pregnant with Kaylee in 1997, I saw Rent on Broadway--granted, with seats going at $85 a pop, we were high up on the balcony...but that cast was excellent. In Manila, in 1998, I saw the New Voice Company's production at the Music Museum--the ideal, intimate concert venue for this show. I remember being blown away by JM Rodriguez's Mark and Monique Wilson's Maureen, and Jamie Wilson's Benny. Not to mention the beauty of the production itself. When Angel sings "Kiss me, it's beginning to snow" ...actual snowflakes fall to the stage. In fact, that show was so mesmerising, I saw it twice. Then in 2002, we saw virtually the same cast do it at the Victoria Theatre--JM was still doing Mark, Calvin Millado was still Roger...and Rachel Alejandro was a sultry vixen Mimi and her sashaying was totally hot to say the least...matched note per note by her golden vocal.
I will say though that last night's New Yorker Maureen was the best I've seen...beating out Monique, especially in vocal quality. But overall the production was on the uneven side...low-key and somewhat low-energy. It's true that the players may have been affected by the half-empty Kallang Theatre which is massive and a monster to fill. Or maybe they were discombobulated by the faulty sound system which sometimes caused erratic voice disappearances. I don't know. As for the much publicised Karen Mok and her Mimi--she was just on the okay side of the spectrum. There were a couple of instances that she was straining, even shouting vocally. Her Mimi was pretty, but not really the smouldering vixen of sensuality. And her "Let's Go Out Tonight" was actually awkward to watch, I don't know why. Most offputting was her British accent popping out at inopportune times. Hello. Mimi's a New Yorker, and hispanic to boot. I know she's the Canto pop queen of Asia...but...but...but...she doesn't make a very good Mimi, is all.
Still, Larsen's material overcomes in the end. And as a veteran "Renter" I still found pleasure in the melodies. It's hard to really mess up a great thing, I think. Or at least, you have to try really hard.
I will say though that last night's New Yorker Maureen was the best I've seen...beating out Monique, especially in vocal quality. But overall the production was on the uneven side...low-key and somewhat low-energy. It's true that the players may have been affected by the half-empty Kallang Theatre which is massive and a monster to fill. Or maybe they were discombobulated by the faulty sound system which sometimes caused erratic voice disappearances. I don't know. As for the much publicised Karen Mok and her Mimi--she was just on the okay side of the spectrum. There were a couple of instances that she was straining, even shouting vocally. Her Mimi was pretty, but not really the smouldering vixen of sensuality. And her "Let's Go Out Tonight" was actually awkward to watch, I don't know why. Most offputting was her British accent popping out at inopportune times. Hello. Mimi's a New Yorker, and hispanic to boot. I know she's the Canto pop queen of Asia...but...but...but...she doesn't make a very good Mimi, is all.
Still, Larsen's material overcomes in the end. And as a veteran "Renter" I still found pleasure in the melodies. It's hard to really mess up a great thing, I think. Or at least, you have to try really hard.
I'll Cover You
In this day and age, it's hard to come by, let alone write, a truly romantic song about selfless, unconditional love. Yet Jonathan Larsen manages with finesse in his
"I'll Cover You", a duet by the drag queen Angel and the macho homo grad student TA Tom Collins. Both as Angel says, "provide a comfortable home for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome" --and they find each other and fall in love...just in time.
How wonderfully quirky, new age and authentic that this most romantic duet is performed in heartfelt harmony by a homosexual couple. And that's just one of the things I love about Rent. Sing it, baby.
Live in my house
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back with one thousand kisses
Be my lover, and I'll cover you
Open your door
I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
I'll be there, and I'll cover you
You'll be my king, and I'll be your castle
Oh you'll be my queen, and I'll be your moat
I think they meant it, when they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it, a new lease you are, my love
On life...be
Oh...lover, I'll cover you
I've longed to discover something as true as this is
Oh with a thousand sweet kisses
(I'll cover you)
With a thousand sweet kisses
(I'll cover you)
With a thousand sweet kisses,
(when you're cold and your lonely)
With a thousand sweet kisses,
(you've got one nickel only)
Oh lover, I'll cover you
"I'll Cover You", a duet by the drag queen Angel and the macho homo grad student TA Tom Collins. Both as Angel says, "provide a comfortable home for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome" --and they find each other and fall in love...just in time.
How wonderfully quirky, new age and authentic that this most romantic duet is performed in heartfelt harmony by a homosexual couple. And that's just one of the things I love about Rent. Sing it, baby.
Live in my house
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back with one thousand kisses
Be my lover, and I'll cover you
Open your door
I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I've got to spare
I'll be there, and I'll cover you
You'll be my king, and I'll be your castle
Oh you'll be my queen, and I'll be your moat
I think they meant it, when they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it, a new lease you are, my love
On life...be
Oh...lover, I'll cover you
I've longed to discover something as true as this is
Oh with a thousand sweet kisses
(I'll cover you)
With a thousand sweet kisses
(I'll cover you)
With a thousand sweet kisses,
(when you're cold and your lonely)
With a thousand sweet kisses,
(you've got one nickel only)
Oh lover, I'll cover you
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Kids on break
So what are you going to do about it?
Reminder: Buy fruit
Likewise, Quintosians rule
on with family business
FLASHBACK MANILA
Isang Sandali
Sisterhood rules
Here's to being the best we can be!
Apparently, this is me. Now which card are you?
You are The Wheel of Fortune
Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of intoxication with success
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