Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I'm doing grape!

Steven's family in Nuriootpa have their own grapevines. Some are red grapes and the other ones are white. They are all lovely!

Grapes like these ones are very expensive in the Philippines. I remember my mother giving each of us equal portions of the bunch that she buys from the market.

Now, I can eat them everyday without competing with anyone because I love this fruit more than my husband.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Valentine's Day 2009





I cannot remember having another Valentine's Day date. Maybe, there were others and they were so bad that I cannot remember them anymore.

It was lovely having a picnic with my partner at Apex Park. We played with the ducks, water hens, pigeons, seagulls and other sorts of birds while men walk around probably searching for their own date.

Afterwards, we went to Henley Beach to watch some men go kite-surfing. Then my mother called me just to check how I am doing.

It was a lovely day spending it with a man I love.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Remembering Lawrence King

12 February 2009 marks the first year anniversary of Lawrence King's murder. Larry King was only 15 years old when his 14-year old classmate Brandon McInerney shot him in the head twice.

This happened inside the classroom at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California. It was believed that Larry was openly gay and Brandon allegedly made threats to shoot him.

The hearings are still getting postponed. To read more information about this, please click here.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Changeling (movie)

"Changeling" is about a mother's never-ending love for her son amidst a police scandal. The story is very much relatable and simple but there are lots of subplots that affect Christie Collins' case.

The kids in the movie are very disappointing. Most of them are obviously acting and they did it poorly. I know that their roles are very difficult but child actors have performed well in difficult roles like Kirsten Dunst in "Interview with the Vampire" and Haley Osment in "AI".

Supporting cast are bordering stereotypical like the psychotic serial killer, the Nurse Ratched and the corrupt politician.

But Angelina Jolie is just very good. This is her best performance after "Gia" which was released on HBO several years ago. She is very raw and very convincing.

Production design is superb. My partner Steven was even impressed with the car details (he is a car nut). I am sure this was shot in a huge sound stage.

Makeup design, hair design and costumes worked well. It is not a "Sex and the City" but more natural. I won't be surprised if they used makeup in the 1920s to transform Angelina Jolie.

Angelina's performance is a very good reason to watch this movie. I almost forgot Lara Croft.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Surviving the Heat Wave

A few weeks ago, South Australia suffered because of an intense heat wave. It killed a lot of trees and some elderly people.

The temperature reached 45 degrees Celsius and I have never felt that hot in my life. Unfortunately, we lost power for 17 hours. I was left at home with nothing substantial to eat. I could not open the fridge because I was afraid of spoiling the meat.

I slept on the hard cool floor to keep myself from going insane at night. My partner tried it as well. But the heat was just too much.

Here are some photos that I took while I was starving. I opened a tiny tin of tuna and dissolved a pack of instant soup in hot water from the tap.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Adelaide's National Railway Museum








I am not a big fan of trains because I am also not a big fan of long rides. I think I value my hemorrhoid veins too much.

But many of my friends are into trains and that includes my partner. When Peter visited us a few weeks ago, Steven brought us to Adelaide's Railway Museum.

It is very impressive that such massive machines are well taken care of. I do not think many of them are operational but they all look new. Visitors can even climb some of them and touch the controls. Some have open compartments where people can have a feel what it was like to ride the carriages.

There are lots of recordings and speakers hidden in the machines. There is also a massive miniature set that is very detailed. Visitors are also treated to a miniature train ride around the compound.

By the way, this museum is so close to our flat that I can even take you to it on foot.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Dexter: Mover and Shaker

Thanks to Outrage for writing an article about me. I actually forgot about the interview as I have been busy settling here in Adelaide.

This article shows the movers and shakers in Philippine gay politics. It feels very good to be granted this recognition amidst the stress I have been facing here. It also feels humbling as some of the people here are people I have worked with and looked up to. Pau Fontanos is an alumnus of Babaylan, my very first gay organisation. Fr. Richard Mickley is the founder of a gay support group I used to go to. JM Cobarrubias is a TV personality I loved watching when I was still based in Manila.

Thanks also to Filipino artist Daniel Tayona for accidentally informing me.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Milk (movie)

This movie is enjoying a commercial release in Adelaide. I just gasp everytime the trailer is shown in the gym. Though there are lots of gay men around, bigots also lurk amongst us. I do not know yet if people are actually watching this.

I am very impressed with the research that came with this movie. Gus Van Sant showed real clips of the Stonewall Riot and raids conducted by police officer in the 70s. It also showed video clips of all the characters in the movie.

The production design is excellent. Sometimes, it is hard to distinguish which is a real video clip and which one is re-enacted. The saturation of the colours created a good mood for the main plot.

James Franco is charming and looks good with an Afro. Sean Penn's portrayal terribly reminds of his performance in "I am Sam". Perhaps, he associates "sexual deviance" with intellectual disability.

I am grateful that big-name actors are supporting this movie and that a great director is in it. But I am somehow disappointed that openly-gay actors are not taking the major roles in this movie. Harvey Milk saw coming out as a political statement so why can't it be shown in this movie?

It is very humbling to see how far the gay movement has moved. Unfortunately, there is not much progress in the US, especially after the win of Proposition 8.

This is a helpful tool to educate young minds about equality and human rights. Though it is not an excellent film, I really hope that this will be shown in many schools around the world. I doubt if this will ever be shown in my old Catholic school.

Monday, February 2, 2009

They Eye (DVD)

I was bored and Steven was not around. This DVD was in our shelves so I watched it.

It is absolute crap--I am telling this to you now. The acting was ho-hum. Jessica Alba is beautiful but she is far from being a great actress. Her acting reminds me of Ben Affleck's in "Daredevil". The supporting cast was not that good either.

There was no originality in the special effects and none of them was really scarey. The sound effects and music were totally forgettable.

The special features were really bland. I wonder why they did not mention the original movie.

Do not even waste your time looking at this DVD in the shops.