*****

original characters by Jose “pepesan” Arboleda Jr. Please do not use without author’s permission.

*****JHAJR*****

It’s been almost a week since the airing of the eco-documentary that pretty much got my attention. Title pa lang, I thought when I first saw the promotional ad, may wow-factor na.

And throughout the week, I witnessed thru various media how people expressed their positive feelings for the said documentary. I, on the other hand, couldn’t help but wonder what it was that made Planet Philippines so good.

Honestly speaking, I thought it was a waste of time and money.

Sure, there were some parts that made me glue my eyes on the television but the bad parts far outweigh them and so I couldn’t remember the good parts now. Hmm…I guess only the scene where a black bird was sighted and for the first time (as they stated) was caught on camera for a longer time. After nun, wala na akong maalala.

However, pagdating sa mga hindi magandang napansin ko, I can dish out 4. Four things that make Planet Philippines a documentary that I’m not proud of, not impressed with and makes me go: WTF?! (forgive me) This is made by GMA7?!

One: The opening. I thought it was cliché. The host getting out of bed, the city moving on and on and on not caring about what is going on with the environment. That’s how students start a documentary about the environment—by showing the stark contrast between the industrial and the natural environment. Gasgas. And napanood ko na ‘yun sa ibang eco-docus.

Two: The script. Somewhere along the documentary, I thought the script started to sound like something I would have read on a book when I was in elementary or from another eco-documentary.

I cringed and felt so bad when the voice over went to say that there is one bigger threat to the environment (parang ganun yung lines eh) and then, a pause, then the voice continued…Man.

Gadz, ilang beses ko na ba narinig ang ganyang suspense kuno line? I was bracing myself for the word “man” and when it finally hit, ayun sapul ako sa gut at hindi ko nagustuhan ang pakiramdam ng pangingilabot. C’mon, who writes this kind of script these days?

Noong una, I thought, okay para sa mga younger audiences yung ganung script. But then, I realized na late na ng gabi pinalabas ang documentary. Sinong bata naman ang manonood nun?

I thought I was watching an old documentary only with new and updated images.

Three: Where are the Filipino environmental organizations? Nakatulog na yata ako kaya hindi ko nakita kung may binanggit o may na-interview. Meron ba? I remember the foregn scientists lang kasi, hi hi.

Four: The end credit. Sa lahat ba naman ang mapapakailaman ko, end credit pa? But from watching other documentaries—even I-Witness—hindi ko yata naalala na ang nakita kong images alongside the rolling credits ay shots ng production team.

Madalas, excerpts mula sa documentary mismo like interviews,  or voice-over or even just images that always make me look back at what I just watched. That way, nare-retain sa isip ko yung napanoond ko.

So I was very surprised to find the production team on the end credit. Naisip ko tuloy: Is this really an eco-documentary or ginawa lang to for the sake na may masabi lang? Pakiramdam ko kasi, hindi naging faithful sa laman ng docu…

Kasi nga, wala akong nakuhang bagong info. Wala akong natutunan na napaka-importante para naman I could also extend a helping hand. Wala akong napala. Puro cliche. As I have said, para akong nanood ng lumang documentary about the environment na may bagong videos.

Somewhere in the documentary, when the ocean and the corals were being shown, I remember blurting out: “Banggitin mo ‘yung Coral Triangle! Banggitin mo ‘yung Coral Triangle!” kasi I don’t think a lot of people know how important the corals in our islands are and how much of the coral population is present within our islands. Pero hindi nangyari ang inisip ko at doon ako nagsimulang ma-disappoint.

I think sometime last week, narinig ko’ng sinabi ni Richard Guttierez na may nag-re-request na gawing regular ‘tong ganitong documentary. Pwes, kailangan nilang galingan sa susunod.

So far I wasn’t impressed by Planet Philippines. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ang station na gumagawa ng pinakamagagandang Filipino documentaries na napanood ko ay nakagawa ng isang docu na kasing-boring ng Planet Philippines.

Of course sa bandang huli, kakabig ako para sabihing “this is but my opinion”.

*****JHAJR*****

Ten years ago, I had the idea of coming up with my own yearly top 100 songs. Since then, I haven’t stopped the enjoyment.

Wikipedia.com lists down some noteworthy events in music from the most unforgettable year in modern history and are as follows:

~ January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band.
~ February 1 – Jennifer Lopez becomes first female and artist to have both a number one album J.Lo and a number one movie The Wedding Planner in the same week.
~ March 14 – The Court of Appeals in Rome finds Michael Jackson “not guilty” of plagiarism, reversing a decision made in 1999 by a lower court. Italian songwriter Albano Carrisi had claimed that Jackson’s “Will You Be There” was a copy of his song “I Cigni Di Balaka.”
~ March 28 – Two super-mega hit albums : Hikaru Utada’s Distance and Ayumi Hamasaki’s A Best are released on exactly the same date. Their debut week sales are 3,002,720 and 2,874,870, respectively, setting the world’s #1 and #2 one-week album sales records.[1]
~ March 31 – Whitney Houston and husband Bobby Brown are banned for life from Hollywood’s Bel Air hotel and arrested after destroying their room. Property that was allegedly damaged included a TV, and two doors. According to Hotel Workers, the walls and carpets were also stained by alcohol. The Hotel closed down the room for five days for repairs.
~ April 24 and October 30 – Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson release albums in the same year, respectively. Janet releases All For You and Michael releases Invincible. Both albums would hit #1 on the album charts.
~ June 2 – Christina Aguilera scores her fourth number one single on the Billboard 100 for “Lady Marmalade” a collaboration with Lil’ Kim, Mya, and Pink. The video wins the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.
~ July – Backstreet Boy A. J. McLean enters a rehabilitation facility to deal with alcoholism and depression, as the Black & Blue summer tour is put on hold.
~ July 17 – Aaliyah’s long-awaited third album is released debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200
~ August 25 – A Cessna 402 aircraft carrying 9 people, including R&B singer Aaliyah, crashes in the Bahamas, killing all aboard.
~ September 21 – America: A Tribute to Heroes airs uninterrupted on all major networks. The solemn concert, only 10 days after the September 11 attacks, included performances by Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Celine Dion, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, and others.
~ November 16 – Britney Spears’ third album, Britney debuts at #1, making her the first female artist with her first three albums to debut at #1.
~ December 1 – Backstreet Boys release the classic hits album, Greatest Hits: Chapter One.
~ The following bands disbanded:

• Aqua (reformed in 2007)
• Pizzicato Five
• Savage Garden
• Skunk Anansie
• Spice Girls (reformed in 2007)
• Steps
• Backstreet Boys (Hiatus)

Top 5 Selling Albums of Billboard Year

• Hybrid Theory – Linkin Park
• 1 – The Beatles
• A Day Without Rain – Enya
• J.Lo – Jennifer Lopez
• All That You Can’t Leave Behind – U2

Notable Hit Songs of 2001***

• A Little Respect ~ Wheatus
• Another Day In Paradise ~ Brandy feat. Ray J
• Can’t Get You Out Of My Head ~ Kylie Minogue
• Chop Suey! ~ System of a Down
• Don’t Tell Me ~ Madonna
• Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) ~ Train
• Get Ur Freak On ~ Missy Elliott
• Here With Me ~ Dido
• Hero ~ Enrique Iglesias
• I’m a Slave 4 U ~ Britney Spears
• I’m Real ~ Jennifer Lopez
• It’s Raining Men ~ Geri Halliwell
• Just Like a Pill ~ Pink
• Love Don’t Cost A Thing ~ Jennifer Lopez
• My Sacrifice ~ Creed
• Teenage Dirtbag ~ Wheatus
• Thank You ~ Dido
• Walk On ~ U2
• Whenever, Wherever ~ Shakira
• With Arms Wide Open ~ Creed
• Wish You Were Here ~ Incubus
• Wrong Impression ~ Natalie Imbruglia
• Yellow ~ Coldplay

_____

Top 100 Songs 2001
Tabulation Date: Dec 24, 2001

Songs No. 100 ~ 091

• I LAY MY LOVE ON YOU ~ WESTLIFE
• ROCK MY WORLD ~ MICHAEL JACKSON***
• CAR CRASHES ~ STANDFAST
• THAT DAY ~ NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
• LOVIN’ EACH DAY ~ RONAN KEATING
• YOU GOT IT BAD ~ USHER
• FALLIN’ ~ ALICIA KEYS***
• U.G.L.Y. ~ DAPHNE & SELECE
• JADED ~ AEROSMITH***
• THERE YOU’LL BE ~ FAITH HILL

Songs No. 090 ~ 081

• LITTLE THINGS ~ GOOD CHARLOTTE
• IT’S BEEN A WHILE ~ STAINED
• JUST ANOTHER GIRL ~ MONICA
• OUT OF REACH ~ GABRIELLE***
• HUNTER ~ DIDO
• POP ~ ‘N SYNC***
• SAVE ME ~ HANSON
• MORE THAN THIS ~ BACKSTREETBOYS
• I’M ALRIGHT ~ JARS OF CLAY
• CHEMISTRY ~ SEMISONIC

Songs No. 080 ~ 071

• DAMNED ~ SHIMOLI
• RUN FOR COVER ~ SUGABABES
• DON’T SAY GOODBYE, SAY GOODNIGHT ~ BINOCULAR
• ONE MORE TRY ~ A1
• WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING LIKE THAT ~ WESTLIFE
• THE PAINTING ~ 0 TOWN***
• MAD SEASON ~ MATCHBOX TWENTY
• I NEED YOU ~ LEE ANN RIMES
• SURVIVOR ~ DESTINY’S CHILD***
• DRIVE ~ INCUBUS

Songs No. 070 ~ 061

• DROWNING  ~ BACKSTREETBOYS
• FAMILY AFFAIR ~ MARY J BLIGE
• ANSWER THE PHONE ~ SUGAR RAY
• MY WAY ~ LIMP BIZKIT***
• GIVE A LI’L RESPECT ~ WHEATUS
• VIDEO ~ INDIA ARIE
• ANALYZE ~ THE CRANBERRIES
• SON OF A GUN ~ JANET JACKSON
• NOBODY WANTS TO BE LONELY ~ RICKY MARTIN / CRISTINA AGUILERA

• SOUL SOUND ~ SUGABABES

Songs No. 060 ~ 051

• ACT NATURALLY ~ SEMISONIC
• EMOTIONS ~ DESTINY’S CHILD
• MACY’S DAY PARADE ~ GREENDAY
• GONE ~ ‘N SYNC***
• YOU SAY ~ VERTICAL HORIZON
• SING ~ TRAVIS***
• I WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN ~ VERVE PIPE
• TOMORROW COMES TODAY ~ THE GORILLAZ
• WHAT IT FEELS LIKE ~ MADONNA
• RENDEZVOUS ~ CRAIG DAVID

Songs No. 050 ~ 041

• FADE ~ STAINED
• CLINT EASTWOOD ~ THE GORILLAZ***
• HIT ‘EM UP STYLE ~ BLU CANTRELL
• CAN’T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT ~ LEE ANN RIMES
• WAITING ~ GREENDAY
• HAVE YOU EVER ~ S CLUB 7
• ELEVATION ~ U2***
• ONE STEP CLOSER ~ LINKIN PARK***
• SEND IT UP ~ VERTICAL HORIZON
• BOOTYLICIOUS ~ DESTINY’S CHILD***

Songs No. 040 ~ 031

• I’M LIKE A BIRD ~ NELLY FURTADO

• PAPERCUT ~ LINKIN PARK
• IF I COULD BE LIKE THAT ~ 3 DOORS DOWN
• ONCE IN A LIFETIME ~ CRAIG DAVID
• SOMEONE TO CALL MY LOVER ~ JANET JACKSON***
• IN THIS LIFE ~ RONAN KEATING
• ALL FOR YOU ~ JANET JACKSON***
• STUCK IN A MOMENT ~ U2
• IN THE END ~ LINKIN PARK***
• TALK AND TALK ~ ‘D SOUNDS

Songs No. 030 ~ 021

• LADY MARMALADE ~ MYA, LI’L KIM, PINK, & CRISTINA AGUILERA***
• DEEP ~ BINOCULAR
• ANDROGYNY ~ GARBAGE
• SUPERMAN ~ FIVE FOR FIGHTING
• LOSING THE LOVE ~ JOY ENRIQUEZ
• NATALIE SOMEWHERE ~ PEEL
• 19-2000 ~ THE GORILLAZ***

• BREATHING ~ LIFEHOUSE
• GOD-SHAPED HOLE ~ PLUMB
• TURN OFF THE LIGHT ~ NELLY FURTADO***



Songs No. 020 ~ 011

• HANGING BY A MOMENT ~ LIFEHOUSE***
• HEAVEN BY YOUR SIDE ~ A1
• ROCK DA HOUSE ~ THE GORILLAZ
• I’M ALL ABOUT YOU ~ AARON CARTER
• CRAWLING ~ LINKIN PARK***

• SICK CYCLE CAROUSEL ~ LIFEHOUSE***
• SIDE ~ TRAVIS***
• BROWN EYES ~ DESTINY’S CHILD
• PROVE ME WRONG ~ CAEDMON’S CALL
• BEST I EVER HAD ~ VERTICAL HORIZON

Songs No. 010 ~ 001

• WHAT’S GOIN’ ON ~ ALL-STAR TRIBUTE

• THE DISTANCE ~ JARON & EVAN
• HERE’S TO THE NIGHT ~ EVE 6
• EVERYWHERE ~ MICHELLE BRANCH
• LATER ~ FRA LIPPO LIPPI
• WHEREVER YOU WILL GO ~ THE CALLING***
• HOW YOU REMIND ME ~ NICKLEBACK***
• LOVE ALONE ~ CAEDMOND’S CALL
• I BELIEVE IN YOU ~ JOE / ‘N SYNC
• COME WHAT MAY ~ EWAN /MCGREGOR & NICOLE KIDMAN

*****JHAJR*****

April 9, 2009

Perhaps Scott MacIntyre‘s talent really came with his piano. This week’s performance night saw a different Scott – a spunky, guitar player. Unfortunately, his efforts were futile. The judges didn’t really dig him and Simon who’s known to like him from the start was offed by his performance and asked him to play the piano next time. Alas, there won’t be a next time for this one-of-a-kind Idol.

The song choice for this week was from the year the contestants were born. Anoop, who had been in the bottom three last week was asked to sit on one of the three stools again with Lil and Scott, even after the judges’ good comments during performance night. Lil who seem to have a problem with song choice was once again barraged with negative commentaries. But the two turned out to be lucky enough to go through next week’s round.

Judge Simon admitted after Scott’s performance that the decision was sliced in half. However, in the end, it was Simon’s words that sent him packing home. Judge Paula commended him on being a gifted artist as her final words of comfort.

I immediately saw Scott as someone who could get into the Top 12 not just because of his talent but because of his condition. I hope takes this the wrong way (because others may think it’s mere pity for his condition why he’s there) but if I were in the U.S. I’d probably be voting for him as well because seeing him on the stage – with his condition – is inspiring. Scott is not just an artist up on the stage. He’s a symbol of hope not just for people who pursues singing but to everyone who dreams of succeeding over things in life.

Scott is definitely better off with his piano. And being the first blind idol contestant, I believe there’s a great and wide path laid out for this guy.

Next week, 4 American Idol Survivors remain . Who will go next?

*****JHAJR*****

When The Da Vinci Code was released into theatres some years back, it was clear how much controversy it created especially among the Catholic community. This time they’ve got more reasons to shake in their boots with the upcoming release of Angels and Demons in movie houses this May.

A prequel to the Da Vinci Code, Angel & Demons introduces the character Robert Langdon with his first mission that takes him to the depths of Vatican City and where he discovers a conspiracy and a shocking revelation which I personally consider more jaw-dropping than that of The Da Vinci Code simply because it’s far more believable and realistic.

For more information about this movie coming in May 15, 2009 in the Philippines, go to http://angelsanddemons.com

*****JHAJR*****

Rihanna’s Revenge

Click here to play this game

*****JHAJR*****

Monster Radio RX 93.1 closes each year with a list of the 20 biggest songs played by the radio station based on listener requests.  The Year-Ender Countdown airs during the last two hours of a closing year.

*****

The Year-Ender Countdown also gave out awards and were as follows:

The Year-Ender Countdown Top 20 is a production of DWRX 93.1

*****JHAJR*****

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April 2, 2009

It was a very tough week, with the contestants’ wrong song choice pulling them down and putting Anoop, Allison, and Megan to another set of bottom three. The judges were against almost everyone that performance night.

But I knew something about Megan was about to happen…

Week after week of wrong song choice finally brought Megan Joy Corkrey out of the competition. But was it only because of a tinge of arrogance when she told judge Simon off that pushed her out? Could she have been given a chance had she kept her mouth shut?

When asked about how she feels about Simon’s comments during performance night, Corkrey answered “I love you, Simon but I don’t care.”
And by the time it was announced that she was the one who received the lowest number of votes, judge Simon was quick to tell her that in response to what she had said, they (the judges) “don’t care” as well and are not interested in saving her.

In a touching farewell video for Corkrey, ironically, judge Simon was recalled telling her how he (Simon) thinks she’s the one he’s going to remember the most and that she was the best so far in the audition; judge Paula was recalled saying how relevant and beautiful Corkrey is; judge Kara said she (Cokrey) puts a signature in every song she performs. And Motown legend Smokey Robinson (an Idol fan himself) commented that she is the show’s most original-sounding contestant.

Megan Joy Corkrey, best known for a surprisingly quirky personality and unusual movements while performing that at first glance seem shadowed by a dark personality as shown by a huge tatoo on her arm, leaves the show remaining quirky and funny. The fire may have burned her, but this fan would never forget her.

The moment I heard her sing back in the audition, I quickly knew she would be my favorite. I knew she was going to be chosen for the Top 12 if only for theunmistakeable voice she possesses. I could never agree more with what the judges once said to her about being original, relevant and beautiful.
I loved how judge Kara said Megan puts a signature in every song she sings. I really really feel that given a chance, Megan could enter the music industry – she’s likable, has talent (only needs to harness it more), and very beautiful. After Dolittle in season 6 and Archuleta in season 7, I’ve never felt so strongly for an Idol contestant.

Farewell, Megan Corkrey. Hope to hear from you again in your very own song.

***

It’s interesting that the three AI threats I’ve mentioned here before are so far the biggest contenders in the competition. They are one-by-one picking out my American Idol Survivors like petals to a flower. Tough competition. But I know that’s when the excitement begins.

*****JHAJR*****

MANILA, Philippines — More than 15 million Filipinos were estimated to have joined Earth Hour on Saturday night and a total of 647 cities and town participated, making the Philippines number one among all the countries that joined the global event, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippine representative said on Sunday.

“Earth Hour Philippines is an astounding success,” said Yeb Sano, WWF Philippines campaign manager, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Sano said the country ranking was based on the initial reports of WWF offices the world over.

Greece was second with 484 participating towns and cities.

Sano said the WWF Philippines noted a “very significant drop” in power consumption during Earth Hour but that the group was still “validating exact figures” from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Earth Hour was a global effort encouraging people from all over the world to turn off electricity from 8:30 to 9:30 pm to raise awareness about the effects of climate change and global warming.

Only a million Filipinos were estimated to have joined the 2008 Earth Hour and the 10-fold jump in the number of participants in 2009 was attributed by Sano to the Filipinos’ increasing awareness about climate change and its effects.

Sano added that WWF also stepped up its campaign for the 2009 Earth Hour.

He said the group networked with several other non-government organizations, government agencies, schools, a thousand private corporations as well as the media, which proved to be an effective strategy to disseminate information about Earth Hour.

Sano said WWF Philippines was still gathering data as reports from various parts of the country continued to come in as of Sunday afternoon.

RP topped Earth Hour participation–reports

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:47:00 03/29/2009

*****

Whootwoo! Can’t believe Earth Hour turned out to be a success in our own country. I, for one, even turned off other appliances and listened only on the radio in my cellphone, with a candle inside my bedroom.

However, there are some things that rant for that Saturday night. First off, our baranggay didn’t join the call for concern. Lights weren’t turned off along the streets and that one hour of the neighbors’ lives were spent like it always were.

Sad to say, we have stupid neighbors who were either too dumb to know what’s going on in the world or too dumb to participate.

It seemed that only us, my brother’s family and another neighbor were concerned enough to switch off our lights. Well…with these kind of neighbors, I might as well consider the destruction of this world soon.

Then I overheard someone comment on why he has to join in explaining “I turn off the lights every night, so how’s this Earth Hour thing gonna help? Seriously, I felt so good inside knownig that I’m not him, that my train of thought is not as dense as his, that my lifestyle is unlike his (he’s poor in every sense of the word).

Earth Hour is not just switching off the lights to help cool this world. It’s a message of willingness to participate in the call to help Mother Nature and ourselves. It’s a message to those who are completely unaware of what’s going on in our planet.

In the middle of the Earth Hour, I thought of how to make more people participate next year. I thought if I go around my community and give a token of appreciation (a small gift) to households who participate in the cause, maybe they’d feel better. So maybe I’ll try to do it next year. I need to save up on money starting today…

I hope next year (and in the years to come), more people not just become aware of this special occasion, but participate or at least try. It won’t hurt to switch off the lights for an hour, right?

*****JHAJR*****

After Alexis Grace left the competition last week, another American Idol Survivor was sent packing. It seems that a jinx was placed on Michael Sarver after having been part of the bottom two last week.

This week’s AI has been proven tough for the AI castaways, with wrong song choices and trainwreck performances. The only one who did not get a negative comment from the judges was Matt Giraud who has shown a huge amount of development. Even Danny Gokey who has been a crowd favorite did not escape Judge Simon Cowell’s negative commentary.
Yet it was Megan Corkrey who had the complete mishap that night with a wrong song and struggling vocals. Nevertheless, she was lucky enough to escape the Bottom 3 made up of Sarver, Scott MacIntyre and surprisingly, Matt Giraud.
But the biggest suprise of the night was not Michael being voted out, but when Scott was asked to sit down leaving Matt Giraud part of the bottome 2. Despite the talent, it seems Matt will have to do more to win America.

The judges were not unanimous with their vote. The girls obviously like Sarver, so Judge Simon Cowell took it upon himself to tell Sarver that he’s going home.

Therefore, we say goodbye to Michael Sarver, who wasn’t able to fight the flame that killed him in this competition.

I always agreed that Michael didn’t look the way he could sing. It was pure talent. Not to mention it’s easy to tell that he is a gentleman. I knew Paula liked him a lot and I felt it was a bit unfair for Simon Cowell to just tell the decision when the two lady judges were clearly digging Sarver.

Next week, 6 remains, and yes, the threats are still there: Kris, Allison and Adam.

*****JHAJR*****