GETTING MY LIFE BACK

 

After the dramatic testimony in the court last Tuesday during my estafa hearing, I felt a great sense of relief knowing that I and my brother may not really be the bad guys in this case.  The recent admission of the witness actually shows that they may be the ones in the wrong - and not us.  And I am praying that the judge sees it that way.

Anyhow, I am not yet out of the woods, but I know now that if the judge sends me to jail, he's the one in the wrong and not me.  So I am just leaving everything in God's hands since I have no power to decide on these things.

What I do have power on is reclaiming my life back - and it has been a huge relief on my part that maybe, just maybe, I could claim my life back, a life that has been hostaged by these two groups of people (may they rot in hell, really!).

I can't believe I allowed them to hold me in my own mental prison for the past six years.  But what is good though is that the truth can really set one free.

So, I am slowly reclaiming my life back.  I am still in a state of shell shock because of the good turn my life has taken.  I am not living in fear anymore.  I just have to trust that the justice system will be fair to me.

I have to thank God for being there always, and stopping me from doing stupid  things to myself.  And all my ancestors, Vic, Papa, my lolos and lolas, and aunties and uncles - they who have passed on to heaven - thank you for finding ways to guide me and show me the right way to solve my problems.

As I said earlier, nothing yet is set in stone, but my relief comes from the fact that we did not hurt anyone or did bad to anyone.  At least in my conscience, I feel that way, and I have always felt that way.  It does hurt when people accuse you of doing things you never really did and drag you to the muck.  I am powerless to seek revenge so I just invoke divine justice on you (and you know who you are).  

And I will not waste time thinking of getting even.  I want my life back, and even though I am already in my fifties, I want to spend whatever time the Lord will give me to further improve myself and embrace life and all the adventures it can offer me.

I can't wait to write the next page of my life.

COMFORT FOOD: ME LIKEY MUSHROOM BURGER

My good friend Anna, introduced me to the delicious food of Mushroomburger.  Not only is their food uber-delicious, it is also healthy eating as they use mushrooms instead of meat.

The picture above are my favorites - their spaghetti and two-piece burger steak.  It was love at first taste and after that, if I do get a chance, I always try to pass by the resto.  I also love their lomi, which is super delicious when served hot. Marami syang sangkap and the flavouring is just right - not over salty and not overburdened with Ajinomoto.

Unfortunately, there is only one branch of this restaurant in my area and it is in West Avenue.  I only get to eat here when I go to my gym at North EDSA.  I wish I could eat here more regularly but I have to depend on my circumstances to be able to eat there.

Nevertheless, it is comfort food that I always look forward to eating whenever I am in the Trinoma-North EDSA area.

CLUBBING IN CEBU: The 'Icon' Dance Club Offers Laid-Back Island Flavored Nightlife

The Icon Club in Cebu City

Dancing the night away

 I haven't partied in Cebu City in over two decades and I am not familiar anymore with the clubs which are popular there.  So it was fun last night that Cha and her friend brought me over to Icon Club, with no warning or preparations.  We just went even if I was just wearing shorts!  Buti na lang at laid back na rin ang rules ng Cebu.

The entrance fee was just 300 pesos and although we did not get a table because the place was fully booked, it did not stop us from having fun.  We ordered some drinks and went straight to the dance floor, which was just a tiny sliver of an area.  It was fully packed with revelers and everyone seemed to be having a good time  There were a good number of Koreans and Indians in the club and they were having a good time with the local Cebuano boys and girls.

There were also several goodlooking Korean boys but since my photo skills are not as alert, I was not able to get photos of them.  I should be more quick next time!

Even though we only danced for about 20 minutes since Cha was worried about her friend being alone in the corner, I still had a great time just crowd watching.  Maybe next time we come earlier and get a table, and hopefully, maybe stay in the VIP section so we can sit down lol.

Clubbing in Cebu is definitely on top of our list of things to do when we visit the city again, hopefully during the kids' sem break.  Bahala na.  

MOVIE REVIEW: 'Last Seen Alive' Should Be Buried Never to Be Seen Again

 

Gerald Butler ventures into Liam Neeson territory by starring in, voila, a 'kidnapping movie' - a career decision Liam Neeson made during the twilight of his career - a smart career move I might say, as Neeson starred in several glossy and quite exciting 'kidnapping' movies including the very successful 'Taken' franchise.

However, 'Last Seen Alive' is no Taken.  Far from it.  I have seen many bad movies, but this movie takes the cake this year as the worst I have ever seen.  There seems to be no inspiration or spark in any of the actors' performances - it is as if they just want to get their paychecks and finish their embarrassing scenes. 

The movie has the standard kidnapping plot and I am no writer but many questions immediately come to my mind as the movie unraveled.  However, it is not worth discussing it here as the movie is devoid of any inspiration or thrill or suspense.  The cinematography is amateurish, even the explosion in the end looks like it was done by college kids experimenting on their school project.

The movie is currently the top movie here in the Philippines which I think was mainly due to the star power of Gerald Butler.  Otherwise, I suggest you give this movie a pass.  There should be other interesting ways to spend your leisure time.

Restaurant Review: Fauzia Tweini - Abucay's Indian and Arabic Restaurant

Beef kebab with Arabic rice - spicy!!

 

Shisha

One of the surprises during this year's Bataan pilgrimage was our discovery of a restaurant that offered Arabic and Indian cuisine, in the middle of Abucay.  Imagine that!  We did not bring any packed lunch and since there were no restaurants near the Abucay church, we ventured further from it and discovered Fauzia Tweini!

We ordered two beef kebabs and rice and the rice had dates on them.  It was also a bit spicy, as expected.  It was delicious!  It was not surprising to see that the restaurant was full!  Too bad the resto is far from Manila but if we do visit Abucay again, we are definitely dropping by for another round of chow chow!

Movie Review: The Evil of a Sick Mind Clashes with the Good Intentions of the Dead in 'Black Phone'

 

Black Phone was one of the movies that I eagerly waited for as our economy opened up.  It turned out that the movie was more than a horror story.  The horror lies in the despicable deed of the lead character of abducting teen boys and murdering them.  Yes, I waited for Ethan Hawke to come out in the movie, and since his character was wearing a mask, it was only in the latter part of the movie did we see Hawke's face, making it appear he only comes out towards the end.

What makes this story unique is the way the director uses the previous victims as helpers and enablers to ensuring that the abducted boy finds a way of escaping.  It is this unique camaraderie that makes the story interesting, as we pine for the boy to make that escape in the end.  

The boy's sister also plays an important part in the movie, as she has clairvoyance skills like her dead mother.  However, their father does not want her to use it, as it led to their mother's death.  Nevertheless, she finds a way to use her gift to help her brother in the end.

This is a great horror story and I was rooting for the boy till the end.  The director does a good job in making everything interesting and thrilling, as the boy tries to find a way to escape with the help of the souls of the previous victims.  It is this shared solidarity that makes the story watchable and it is the hope that permeates the whole movie that although we know we are dealing with a sicko, we have this hope that he gets his just desserts in the end.

Movie Review: 'Don't Worry Darling' Presents that Perfection Hides A Painful Reality

Oscar nominee Florence Pugh and pop superstar Harry Styles star in 'Don't Worry Darling' - a movie directed by Olivia Wilde, who also appears in the movie.  

This is another version of the Stepford Wives tale set in a Mad Men-esque universe where the men and women dress up in exquisite 50s fashion and where the world is orderly and everyone is in their right places - men at work, women taking care of the home and kids.

This is the backdrop of this tale and it is not difficult to sense that not everything is A-ok in Barbieland.  For in the real world, how can anything be so perfect?

Anyhow, that is all the excitement the movie offers as Florence Pugh's character becomes adventurous and more inquisitive.  I suggest you drive yourself to a theater near you  - it is still showing in Manila - and find out how this tale spins out of control.

Florence Pugh is in control of her role - showing vulnerability and curiosity at the right amounts.  She is not just one dumb blonde, as she senses something is afoot in this world created by Chris Pine's character.

Harry Styles, I should say, is cast perfectly here because all he has to do is look pretty and neat - and when that is what he has to do, you forget he's Harry Styles.  However, once he does have to do some heavy lifting - like act - well, it would be a good suggestion if he takes more acting classes so that he won't appear like he's acting especially if he's paired with 'natural' actresses like Florence Pugh - who makes the work look breezy.

Olivia Wilde does a great job in creating this glossy world of Barbie girls and Ken looking boys.  Costume and set design are impeccable and the harsh desert light is suffused with a warm glow, thanks to Fil-Am Matthew Libateque.  I do like the score as well, as it hints, ever so loudly that not everything is ok in this desert paradise.

Unfortunately, the writing does not offer any fresh insight into that debate whether women have to be subservient to their husbands, or what their role is in our society.  The movie is a more menacing version of The Stepford Wives, which I enjoyed watching as well (the Nicole Kidman version).  This movie is more messy and violent though in how it handles the denouement, unlike how kooky it was that the great Glenn Close had to be electrocuted and the suave Christopher Walken's decapitation in the more funny, The Stepford Wives.

It does show that Olivia Wilde should continue to direct movies so that she can sharpen her vision and eventually find her original voice.