Supreme Top 10: Salon, suicide, and Snow White's inauguration cameo
July 4 is Fil-Am Day
MANILA, Philippines - After the lush spending our government did for Independence Day, it’s the USA’s turn to party as they celebrate their own Independence Day, this time minus the gargantuan spaceship towering over California to abduct the Governator. Of course, we don’t expect Obama to parade down NY Square on a $10-million float with a giant PCOS machine, but expats here in the country can be part of the festivities in the States via the Fil-Am Friendship Day, part of the annual Philippine holiday calendar. GI Joes will be given day passes from their barracks so they can wander outside their military bases and have some clean fun, meaning no Nicoles allowed. But should a girl complain about an American soldier, a US visa can be arranged.
salon.com reviews 'Ilustrado'
Last week, salon.com released its illustrated review of Ilustrado, Miguel Syjuco’s award-winning novel delving on Philippine realities. Describing it as a “graphic journey to the Philippine underbelly,” Ward Sutton, the review’s author, meticulously dissects the book in perfect detail; each of his nine slides an interesting frame to the storyboard. Lauding Syjuco for his contemporary style and ambitious inventiveness, this latest review adds up to the pile of good raves the book has received. In fact, only stand-up comic Vice Ganda said something bad about the book, mishearing the title as Ilus-Tado.
RIP Viveka Babajee
Miss Mauritius and supermodel Viveka Babajee died last Saturday in apparently another case of supermodel suicide. Police found her body hanging on a ceiling fan in her Mumbai apartment. Babajee rose to fame in the early 2000s with Bollywood films and TV shows. She was also part of the Metro Manila Film Fest Scam in 1994, which eventually led to the demise of her career in the country. Authorities are still looking into the suicide’s motives.
Aussie wins 'PBB'
Pinoy global takeover came to a halt this season courtesy of the dismal finish of Pinoy housemates in Kuya’s latest dorm opening. James Reid from Australia was declared the season’s big winner while Layan, err, Ryan Bang from Korea finished second. Since homegrown teens lost to foreign blood, we’re trying to dispute if Pinoy Big Brother is still applicable as the show’s title.
Virgin Congress opens wide
Virgin lawmakers are set to bring down the House of Representatives this week when the 15th Congress opens it doors wide to the likes of Lucy Torres-Gomez, Lani Mercado and Manny Pacquiao. There will be much mentoring as well, coming from veterans like GMA and Imelda Marcos, who are expected to teach the virgins how to get the rhythm of the job. Chairmanship for committees are already eyed this early: GMA is reportedly to head the Committee on Growth; PacMan the Committee on Karaoke and Magic Sing regulations; while Lani Mercado co-chairs with GMA on the Committee on Mole Care.
Kris Aquino bids ‘The Buzz’ and Daddy James goodbye
In the June 2010 edition of the State of the Kris Address, Kris Aquino ceremoniously bid farewell to The Buzz and James Yap. Kris decided to quit The Buzz and SNN (Showbiz News Ngayon) to “avoid giving Noynoy additional stress.” For the Yap split, however, in an uncharacteristically restrained move, Kris decided to withhold the reasons for the split, saying “the only person I will owe an explanation to... is my son,” referring to Baby James. Last Sunday, Kris lost a show and a husband. But on the same day, she gained dignity, the respect of mothers everywhere, and the sympathies of the Twitterverse.
Ronaldo’s whimper
With over $17 million a year, one of the world’s biggest clubs under his leadership, and a waxed-to-perfection Vanity Fair cover under his belt, the world had its eyes on football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for a heroic World Cup performance. So when Ronaldo had the chance to lead Portugal’s comeback against Spain, we expected fireworks. Instead, we got a whimper, the ball limping wide of the net, the crowd booing behind him. Next time, maybe less time on waxing bed, more on the practice pitch.
Chris Brown's tears
At this week’s BET Awards, Chris “Ima transform your face” Brown sang and moonwalked his way through a Michael Jackson medley in tribute to the fallen icon. But by Man in the Mirror, the usually swaggering Chris melted into a blubbering mess — head hung and tears rolling down his cheeks. But before you take your MP3 of Run It out of your Trash folder, rapper Lloyd revealed a day later that Chris and himself discussed Chris crying before the performance to “really show his heart out to the world.” Uhm, no thanks.
‘Magkaribal’
Prostitution, OFWs, the Milan fashion industry, infidelity, daddy issues, make-up sex, death, virginity, and hoop earrings. Some shows pick one or two themes and run with it for a season, sometimes even two. Others are faster paced, tackling a couple of themes every few episodes and creating an interwoven ensemble piece of Altman proportions. Still, some are faster. In ABS-CBN’s new prime time soap Magkaribal, for instance, they tackle those issues and more in the span of a single episode. Is the soap overstuffed and overcooked? Yes. Is it terrible storytelling? Yes. And are we watching? You can bet your 12-year-old prostitute we are.
Snow White visits P-Noy
Someone’s been spending too much time in Disneyland. Fresh from one of those Disney makeovers where squirrels and doves dress you, golden-voiced Charice stole the inauguration spotlight in a black and yellow imitation of the forest couture fashion-forward Snow White was rocking in the 1930s. Style savant Cecile Van Straten picked up on this, of course, remarking “Kulang na lang seven dwarfs” on her popular Chuvaness blog.
