Saturday night saw me at Instituto Cervantes for the Flamenco performance of David Perez Almagro.
Beautiful performance. Glad I came. Had dinner with F. and D. at Casa Espanol later. Did not stay for the disco. Too tired already.
Checked this year’s Cine Europa at Shangrila. "You Am I" (Lithuania) I like. It’s about an architect-dreamer who built a futuristic house in a tree, in a forest, where some young people happened to retreat and had party.
Got bored with "Dead Man’s Hand" (Belgium). Thought it’s a wacky comedy about a couple’s spending habits. Did not turn it that way - in my mind’s eyes. No enough humor to stay me put; or satire for instance.
Austria’s "Summer With the Ghosts" appeared to me as ‘corny.’ A film is being produced at the medieval fortress at the displeasure of resident ghosts: giggling and dancing nuns!
Went to Quiapo and got these great films: Angelina Jolie’s "A Mighty Heart" based on Marianne Pearl’s account of his husband’s beheading in Pakistan, Danny Pearl, a Wall Street Journal journalist.
Subtle and good shots. Angelina is perfect for the role.
"Why Did I Get Married" is fun. Somebody must make a movie now on "Why I Did Not Get Married" or "Why I Don’t Want To Get Married."
"Shortcut To Happiness" is Okay Lang. About a mediocre writer who sold his soul to a devil and got judgment and was pardoned after gaving up fame and women and money to write what really matters:) Hmm.
"The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating" by David M. Buss is about the human species, but it also points to similarities to animals and insects which I enjoyed more. Actually find the author’s views conservative. Remember something like dating for years before getting into sex? Guess the survey must be updated. Forgot what countries he was referring, too. Skipped that page ata after reading that line. Hehe.
Another one is "Some Men are More Perfect Than Others" by Merle Shain. An old book actually but I enjoyed this more. Perhaps because the author is a woman. Hmmm.
New book I bought, a novel by Singaporean Suchen Christine Lim: "A Fistful of Colors." Like her first novel that I’ve read, "Rice Bowl," OK LANG. Nice to know more about the past and the contemporary Singapore.
From the library, I’m reading Ayn Rand’s "Atlas Shrugged."
Read a review of Umberto Eco’s latest book, "On Ugliness." Be available soon in Powerbooks. Aahhh, there’s the 2nd book of Khaled Hosseini that I still have to buy.
Care to buy one for me this Christmas? Hehe.
Last Saturday, Oct. 20, after a bomb explosion at Glorietta 2 killed innocent lives, I woke up - thank God - without a hang-over from my first The Embassy party. Living these days with more conviction that life is indeed short and nothing is permanent, I decided to go out for another party. This time, with The Susana Heights. Saling-pusa ako dito. Salamat sa pag-welcome. 
Candy texted it’s a ’self’-fantasy costume cum Haloween party. So I thought of my white Lolita-like/Kamikaze-girl dress for the modern-day Filipina/artist effect, whatever, basta pa-girl. Jenny dressed as a bride; Candy as an expectant Mom; Althea was glowing for the engagement moment; Hazel in her pop-rocker bling-blings; Razel in her signature black costume complete with a roach pin; Louie as himself the poet/Ph.D. student, and Cherie was gorgeous in her green,cleavage-rich top.
Ater making a noise at Starbucks, we hailed a cab to JONAS in Retiro for lunch, and straight to Dr. CFB’s house. There in our mentor’s Japanese-inspired garden, we officiated Jenny’s wedding to herself and Althea’s engagement, with Hazel as the stylist/photographer.
E., my former student, called me last Thursday afternoon while in class to his party on that Friday night in The Embassy at The Fort.
The Embassy?! I wondered what made E. invite me to this kind of place; in this kind of gimmick. Did not ask; resolved to discover it on my own so I said YES, although it crossed my mind that I might be OP; got no date but heck, I said, opportunity to get hook. Ok, I know that’s where the celebrities and the rich party on weekend nights. Borgy and his fist-fight brawls. Time to check it out what’s so cool there; what kind of minds I can gather.
So that Friday night at around 10, after Harlequin’s Ka-Tribu concert at Yuchengco starring Noel Cabangon, in my party dress of black top and British India skirt and platfrom shoes, I hailed a cab to bring me there. I was early as expected so while waiting for E. to usher me in, I took a seat in The Prince of Jaipur, the bar next to The Embassy. I felt confident and beautiful while flipping their glossy magazines on India’s who’s who, and got to watch belly-dancing.
E. came with his girl friend and I was introduced to his two friends, M. and J. M. is his business partner actually, while J. is their salesman who is from Guimaras, an engineering graduate of CPU in Iloilo.
So that was it. We were ushered to the VVIP lounge. Very Very Important Persons where I sipped margarita and wine while dancing with MTV Korea dudes and babes and PBA stars and Joey Mead. In my 7 years in Manila, this is the first time I got to disco (because this is not the sort of gimmick my set of friends are into) and can’t believe it’s in this luxurious place. Reservation of our ‘nook’ is 10 thou, whispered J., his boss E. is paying.
Conversation with M. revolved around his toxic sched and depression and longing to have a ’steady’ girl. He commented I’m one cool prof to have accepted the invite.
E. proved to be a wonderful host; took care of me - his "Miss." Said this party is their celebration of their newly-established company: distributing Z2 all over Manila.
J. also took care of me when E. entertained his other guests. Flirted actually but boy, my mind was clear even if I was dizzy. He tried to be really funny. Nice guy actually and seemed responsible based from his story of his life; that I also found ‘drama,’ so reminded myself to ‘behave’ especially when he said he’ll bring me home.
So when E. checked on me, while J. looked for our bartender for cigarettes, I said I wanna go home now, past 3. He said he’ll bring me home but I refused; don’t wanna bother him. Just get me a cab, I said. So he brought me down and made talk to the guards for my security. Because I am his "Miss." I saw he gave them paper bill, and after a while, a taxi came in. E. repeating to the driver to bring me home safely. I said I’ll text him when I’m home and he must enjoy more the rest of the night and give my regards to J. and M.
Somehow felt guilty I did not say bye to J. We did not exchange number; had no will. Not my guy. I have H. Our set-up is just perfect.
On my way home, the driver spoke to me in English, reminding me to take care of my health. Putcha, I said, akala ko si Inday lang ang Inglesera. I did not bother to tell him, "Manong, this is actually my first time there. Mahirap lang po ako kaya dahan-dahan lang, ayaw ko pang mamatay. May isa pa akong kapatid na pinapadalhan ng tuition." I was too dizzy; too eager to reach the elevator and finally to my door, right straight to my bed.
Saturday morning, I woke up with the noise coming from CCP. Remembered reading something on Anlene’s dance campaign against osteoporosis led by Ms.D. Surprisingly, unlike my first memory of hang over in my senior high school, walang sakit ng katawan. I texted E., complimenting him on the drinks, and thanking him again for my first ever The Embassy experience. I had fun and felt safe.
And my cellphone blinked of another invite. This time, for a fantasy costume party with Susana Heights. I decided to go with them, instead of heading to Shangrila for the Cine Europa, or staying home for my dissertation. Caught myself rationalizing "ngayon lang ‘to."
For the recod, for future reference, for my own sake, these are the films I’ve watched in this year’s Spanish filmfest; order according to pleasure gained:
La vida secreta de las palabras (won the Audience Choice; Pedro Almodovar in collaboration - actually OK lang)
Tu vida en 65 (the leading actor’s guapo na nakakaumay)
Azuloscurocasinegro
El Aura
Ciudad en celo (tinupak ang copy kaya di ko natapos. kainis)
De profundis
El sueno de una noceh de San Juan
El proximo oriente (I walked out.The promise of inter-racial romantic comedy, guess, did not pull off. Or perhaps it was just me. Went down for a dinner of sushi and maki and miso soup in Haiku).
These last two are animations. Visually spectacular but I got bored. Dunno. But also seemed like the rest of the audience were.
Anyway, had fun dressing up. Stayed at Figaro and met up with Jesse. Bumped into Joni, RT and Daniel and that Saturday, with Tiny and Alvin.
My calm and happiness these past two Fridays came from attending musical concerts: DLSU’s Inner Soul @ the Yuchengco Theater (t’was fun seeing my previous students perform) and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at CCP’s main theater. The latter proved to be an acquired taste.
