"Poor thing, she needs that perfect man to fulfill her happiness"

....or so these films make women think so....

Being back home in good ol' Riverside affords me ample time in front of the television. I practically spent the entire day watching random movies on TBS and HBO. By the time I finished the 3rd or 4th movie I felt upset!

These are the movies I watched in order:

1. Because I Said So (I liked this movie. ha)

2. Never Been Kissed

3. 27 Dresses

4. Sweetest Thing


I must admit that no one forced me to watch these movies. It was strictly voluntarily and I was definitely entertained and into these movies.

HOWEVER, after the 4th movie, I began to feel pathetic! Now let me clarify things first. No, I did not feel pathetic because I spent the entire day in front of the TV watching these movies (as a matter of fact, I cherished every moment of it!)

I felt pathetic because all these movies were about ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY: a broken-hearted and bitter/helpless/hopeless woman who is in search of that perfect man to sweep her off her feet...and the "perfect ONE" happens to be the "guy next door" whom she doesn't initially notice.

Therefore, identifying myself as a woman and watching these women in the film made me feel pathetic! Damn. These movies are different in storyline but have the same bottom line theme.

So I started to think about movies that portray independent and empowered women that have nothing to do with men "sabotaging" their happiness. I COULDN'T THINK OF ANY! I still can't think of any. How would that look like?

Then I started to think about if the script was flipped and it was centered upon a brokenhearted man who is bitter/helpless/hopeless and is in search of the perfect woman. NOPE! COULDN'T THINK OF ANY MOVIES EITHER. How would that look like?

Anyway, this is problematic! It's problematic for both men and women. It's problematic for the men because they look like the villains and it's problematic for the women because they look like the helpless romantic victims. It makes women think that their sense of self-worth comes only with the validation of a man's attention.

( I need to be more productive with my time in River)

20/20 Vision

Wish I was able to take a picture of the city today and post it on my blog to share with you all what I saw differently today.

For some extraordinary reason, my vision today was crystal clear. As I was driving down the 10 to downtown LA today, everything around me looked so crisp and the world looked so much cleaner and brighter. I looked towards the northwest and for the first time ever I was able to read the "Hollywood" sign from afar. It was as if the pollution parted ways and the trees gave way to the clear skies. I took the entire view in, since I knew it wouldn't last.

As I neared downtown off the 10fwy around 4-5pmish, I looked at the downtown buildings. Damn. It was a dope sight. The pinkish skyline reflected off the windows of the buildings and it looked like I was staring at mixed media of anime and reality.

Everything looked so clear and every edge of the buildings and trees around me were well-defined. It's crazy because it wasn't my own eyes that made things look crystal clear for me. It was everything in my eyesight that cleared up for me.

I guess it was just one of those special days when you walk out of your home and you see the world differently for just a moment.

Sometimes we just need to take a step back from our hectic lives and breathe in our surroundings....or at least be more aware and mindful of our surroundings. Maybe our days would be much better if we practiced this daily.

Heck, who would have known that the route I drive everyday of the week would look differently to me today.

Love Lasts...

One of the sweetest things that makes the world smile and makes my day.

Great film: Slumdog Millionaire

Finally got to watch the film, Slumdog Millionaire. I have to say that it is one of the greatest films I have seen in such a looooonnnng time.



The form and content of the film was harmonious and enriching. I appreciated the way the storyline was conveyed in the film---interweaving from past to present to understand the main character's life. I appreciated the way the beginning scenes were intricately cut in such a way that we were able to get a feel of the main character's community and way of living. One could definitely see and begin to understand the political, economical, and cultural struggles the people of India face. As I watched the film, I rewinded back to the time when I was in the Philippines back in 2005. Life in India is like life in the Philippines: from the young kids hustling and playing in streets barefoot...rummaging through the "smokey mountains," to the brutal sharp contrast of the "developed" and "affluent" cities... Even the culture---"pop" culture of spin-offs from American TV shows, "Who wants to be a millionaire" was an integral part of people's lives.

I think the film did a good job in portraying the different sectors of society in India (socially, culturally, politically, economically, and religiously).

It was a bit romantic and poetic, but not the sick-type of romantic. It was pretty deep. I must admit, I liked the scene where the characters, Jamal and Latika were in the kitchen and she asked him, "What will we live off of?" and his reply, "Love."
ha. That's deep......Now, at first, if you haven't seen the film, you may think that's cheesy. But if you take that scene into context and understand that these two grew up on hustling/poverty/nothing...that line was deep.

Something else I kept thinking about as I was watching the story unfold:
TRUE KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM EXPERIENCES. Sometimes the "uneducated" is the most educated amongst us all.

The film was all kinds of ironic...

1. The main character, who did not receive a formal education his entire life becomes a millionaire.

2. He becomes a millionaire strictly based upon his experiences---which, has become his alternative education.

3. He becomes a millionaire based upon the American TV show, "Who wants to be a millionaire." America, a capitalist nation based on corporate greed and entertainment and the belief that in order to become "rich and wealthy" is to be "educated."

Anyway, thank goodness for a good film.

Freakonomics' Levitt approves... so should I not worry as much?

So just when I was getting a bit critical of Obama's choice for NSC [Robert Gates (boo), and Hillary Clinton, James Jones], maybe his choice for Education is hopeful...?


Obama just announced his appointment for Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. [check this link out, interesting read on 'reformists' and 'traditionalists.'

I must research more on this feller.... But at least he has experience in the third largest school district in the nation. Not sure if that is necessarily a good thing, but coming from LAUSD, it's good to know that he is aware of the problems that plague big inner-city school districts.

In addition, as a fond reader of Freakonomics, I hope that Duncan remains critically conscious (culturally, socio-politically) when making major education 'reforms' and policies in the upcoming years.

Bush STINKS! But, has great reflex!

So one thing I do give Bush props for--- his sharp reflexes. LOL.

I love it.



PS. on TIME's December 15, 2008 issue:

"I think I was unprepared for war." ---George W. Bush, AKA "the sharp reflex man".

what a mathafacka.

Seniors' Choir Hip-Hop

Another reason why I love seniors. They're gangsterrrrs.


Thanks ceeeeg.

Music that makes you FEEL

..and smile inside.

When was the last time you listened to a song that sounded so HEARTFELT it made you almost want to cry?

I can honestly say the last time was back in december 2007...when i listened to a song by nujabes--luv sic pt. 2...

But this dude, Nitsua-----is off the hook! I listen to these songs and others on his myspace (specifically "no one like you")and i just FEEL the SOUL in the songs he produces..


Enjoy. and check out his myspace too.

"Snow Walk"

It's like my soul is revived... I can't explain it. It's like when you see something so beautiful, you feel a tear coming on.. ha.


"Morning Horizon"


"Sun is Loud"

When the vocals drop on this... DAMN!