Clue: It isn’t her “sensational” singing voice— it’s something else about her that makes her extra-special.

Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as “The Most Talented Girl in the World”, Charice Pempengco is, by far, the most famous Filipino singer that ever graced show business. She is now beyond the likes of Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda, American Idol top contender Jasmine Trias and nationwide singing sensation Sarah Geronimo. Ellen DeGeneres, a self-proclaimed Charice fan, believes that “the best singers come from the Philippines”. But what exactly does Charice have that makes her so special?

First, she does not look like a superstar. No long wavy hair, svelte body or glamorous clothes. No celebrity qualities whatsoever. When Charice first made her “big break” on The Ellen Show, she was just a normal, youthful, unassuming 15-year old who spoke very bad English.

In no way did she raise expectations, but when she started singing, all their mouths dropped. They thought, how could a very ordinary-looking girl from a third world country sing so remarkably? No one saw it coming, but Hollywood embraced her for this particular quality—her simplicity. She is an amazing singer, and she didn’t need to glam it up for people to notice. In addition to that, she was (and is still) really humble. Everyone thought she was just as good as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston, but they loved her, because she wasn’t a diva like them.

Second, she is so good for her age. Americans love child prodigies, since a lot of the children and teenagers there seem to be busy pouring their talent on their Blackberry phones instead. It’s really uncommon for young people to be extraordinarily good at something, so talk show hosts love to feature talented children. Charlie Green was such a huge hit. Everyone loved Dakota Fanning. Spelling bees with genius child spellers are extremely popular. Child prodigies are Hollywood’s Prozac.

Third is a little something called “The Oprah Syndrome”. Oprah Winfrey’s influence was a huge boost to Charice’s career. It’s not everyday that you get to be endorsed by one of the world’s most influential people; and the way people believe whatever Oprah says is just amazing. She can feature the most average John and Jane, and still manage to turn him or her famous.

But why did Charice have to fly all the way to Los Angeles to get noticed? Why wasn’t she as appreciated back in the Philippines? It’s not like she was completely unknown. In fact, she joined the singing competition “Little Big Star” when she was a kid, but merely ended up in third place. The answer? Same reasons, only here in the Philippines, things work the other way around.

Filipino technology: do we make the cut?

Modern-day denizens of the Philippines are keen to embrace technology— that much is fairly certain. A stroll about Manila’s many nooks and crannies will reveal that this particular urban metro is tightly woven with all things tech. Mobile phones and their various parts are vended in even the most uncanny of places, malls boast different kinds of tech hubs that cater to peoples’ growing digital needs, and Internet shops seem almost perpetually packed with people.

All of these are representative of how truly tethered we have become to technology in all its arguable splendor— but the question remains: how competitive can our nation be in the global technology industry? Filipinos are clearly very potent consumers of tech, but are we capable of being productive game players in the tech market? Or are we better off with sticking to top-notch brands brought to us by America, Japan and Finland?

Unsurprisingly, stalwart Filipino patriotism wouldn’t stand for this. About three years ago, Solid Group Incorporated brought the myPhone brand into the Philippine market with the goal of creating a purely Pinoy brand that’ll earn a good spot in the tech game. Since then, they’ve released several models under myPhone, garnering a fair amount of popularity and penetration across the nation.

Despite how popular it has become, another question persists: how good is our tech compared to other internationally-made and readily-available products in the market? To find out, I recently got my hands on a myPhone TV21.

This particular unit is known for its dual-SIM capability and a plethora of other features that come as generally standard among today’s phones. Within the seven thousand peso range, you’re getting a touch screen, a two-megapixel camera, analog television with an antenna, expandable memory via SD card, MP3, MP4, the works— the TV21 definitely isn’t just a regular phone.

Like most garments, the Terno has gone through elaborate changes. It originates from the Traje de Mestiza— a four piece ensemble with huge bell sleeves, a wide skirt and a decorative scarf called the Pañuelo. This wasn’t very practical, because women were constricted in tight bodices that limited movement. So when the sleeves were shortened, the Pañuelo was taken out and the skirt lost some yardage— the Terno was born.

The transformation however, doesn’t end there; designers and fashionistas today are bringing the Terno back to the limelight. Now, the Terno isn’t just an itchy costume you wear on Filipiñana day— it’s a comfortable and fashion-forward alternative to run-of-the-mill dresses.

Reinventing a Classic

Aries Lagat rose to the challenge of turning the Terno’s heavy sleeves to a comfortable statement piece. Lagat, who is famous for his multi-functional designs, developed a cushioning system to prevent bruising at the shoulders. Likewise, designer Veejay Floresca experimented with the gown’s construction. Instead of the traditional closed, pleated sleeve, his version consists of two flat patterns sewn together with an open armhole for greater movement.

Local designers have tapped into different mediums to embellish the Terno. Who could forget the late Bryan Leyva’s Terno pantsuit made out of 5-centavo coins? His odd choice of material is a tasteful and ultramodern interpretation of the traditional classic. Lagat explains how designers must look for new ways to adorn the Terno. “If you really want to make a name in the industry, you have to make something uncommon,” he says. He’s a man of his word— his innovations such as digital printing and embossed butterfly sleeves take the Terno beyond the 21^st century.

Tracklist: Intro, Bitag, Radio, Gatilyo, False Hopes, Blinded, Nightingale, Sulyap, Down and Turbulence

You’ve got a gigantic library stashed in your iTunes, and you’d think that your usual playlist would get you through the day. But as you trudge along to school, you find out that your songs actually work better as midnight lullabies—only the sun’s still up. The audiophiliac in you says otherwise: you’re just dying for refreshing sounds.

Well, wake up and smell the ashes. Lo and behold, Paramita’s back with their third album Liyab to set your ears ablaze.

Rooting its origins back to 2003, Paramita has managed to crank up its revolution as a three-piece rock band up until now. Despite its rapid growth, Paramita still chooses to remain independent for the sake of retaining its image.

Paramita’s spread of musical effort among all of its the members makes them unconventional to the rest of the bands out there. At present, the band is composed of Alsey Cortez on the bass, Marco De Leon on the guitar and Ria Bautista on the drums and vocals (yes, that’s a girl on the drums!).

Faithful to Paramita’s distinguishing rock style, Liyab boasts 10 original tracks. This is a rare piece of good news for the Filipino music faithful—OPM has just gotten better, and the only thing to do is to air-guitar all night.

We at g have taken it upon ourselves to demystify the Ateneo student government once and for all— we’ve even come up with an awesome graphic for your easy perusal.

In a refreshingly new light, this is your Sanggunian.

The fourth and most overlooked option is to take public transportation— and no, hailing a cab in the city or taking a tricycle from your condominium doesn’t count.

I’m a commuter. This means I regularly take multiple vehicular modes with plenty of stops along congested thoroughfares, burning my airways with noxious fumes. I’ve sacrificed brand-new footwear while charging into the rain, knowing that I must keep moving towards home and the promise of a warm meal.

Tales of similar experiences dissuade most university students from hitting the streets. Given a choice, people would rather not risk sweat stains or getting soaked by the rain. The greatest fear is always that for personal security, regularly corroborated and affirmed by incidents of theft on nearby sidewalks and establishments.

People sometimes rationalize that if the Ateneo environment is supposed to be a bubble sheltering us from the “real world,” then the real world is something we’d like to avoid. In my case, I told myself that my lack of a dispensable vehicle shouldn’t stop me from going where I wanted to go.

I’m not going to tell you that the dangers don’t exist. I’ve found myself in places I didn’t mean to end up in. Just recently, I lost my cellphone in a public restroom. I’ve dealt with harassment from strangers on a train and the ravings of inebriated passengers in jeeps.

Photo by Abram P. Barrameda

There is something undeniably charming in the way a Mini Stop resides comfortably in an old-fashioned, white washed building, the glowing sign from the store sticking out prominently. Intramuros is a contrast of a city that stubbornly repels and avoids modernity thriving outside its very walls.

“I’ve been to Intramuros lots of times,” says senior Leiron Martija. “The place never fails to surprise me.”

But his favorite part, he says, would have to be the walls. “Back in the day, Intramuros was literally a different world from what was outside its boundaries,” Leiron explains. “In a way, nothing will be more historical than its walls.”

But as with all coexisting elements, influence can hardly be avoided.

Take, for instance, the guard decked in colonial fashion who strides along the length of a cobbled road, headed towards a decorated stall to have his afternoon fix of Coke.  Just above him, a construction worker in jeans makes his way atop a worn, moss-filled wall. He is heading to a half-built building as his comrades hail him with chicharon.

Ateneo's Bo's Coffee has branches in Matteo Up and the MVP Basement.

A coffee cup a day keeps the crammer awake— especially for the sleep deprived, whose day-to-day miracles rely on cups of heaven-sent coffee concoctions. Luckily for Ateneans, the recently-opened Bo’s Coffee branches in the MVP Basement and Matteo Up are brewing up a solution to our much needed caffeine fixes.

But is Bo’s our cup of coffee? Relax a minute, and put that cup down— g will tell you soon.

On the Coffee Stand

Bo’s Caramel Latte
Short at P90, Tall at P99 and Grande at P112.50

Bo’s Caramel Latte is one of Bo’s Ateneo’s best selling hot drinks, according to Kuya Eric, the resident Bo’s barista in Matteo Up. In Matteo alone, they sell at least 10 cups each day.

For an espresso, the caffeine is surprisingly not too overpowering, so you can forget about that aftertaste that makes you feel like you’re always on the edge. The flavor however, is kind of generic, so it’s like any other Caramel Latte experience. It’s also a bit expensive for its price, so your pockets might feel lighter once the presence of caffeine starts losing itself in the watery body of the actual drink.

But coffee junkies can’t be choosers, so if what you’re looking for is a light coffee that has enough oomph to keep you from dozing off in class, then Bo’s Caramel Latte is for you.

Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo
Tall at P117 and Grande at P126

With soft whipped cream crowning the Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo, you’ll be a merciful servant to the drink’s sweet reign of flavor. Although we’re used to having Oreos infused and added with almost anything, this budding romance with coffee looks quite promising.

Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo lets you happily fulfill your sweet tooth without having to worry about chunks of Oreos or ice obstructing your experience with this well-blended beverage. It’s the kind of drink that makes you want to lick the whipped cream off with your straw, and smack it between your lips after you’re finished— especially when you’re more “sweet” than caffeine-inclined.

Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo Tall at P117 and Grande at P126

Coffee Culture

Although Bo’s boasts of quality beverages, serving approximately 60 to 70 drinks in MVP basement, real coffee experience is more than just good taste. While the flavor is supposed to awaken your taste buds, the atmosphere needs to stimulate your mind to engage in quiet conversations with yourself or with your friends.

“The ambiance is decent and I can sit down,” says Angelo Galindo, a Chemistry freshman, “but I can’t study here at MVP.” Angelo gives Bo’s a 6.5 rating (out of 10) for the environment, but an 8 for the coffee itself.

In Matteo Up, the situation’s a bit different: “The men running it are always missing,” says Margaret Sandoval, Management freshman. This doesn’t pose as good news for Bo’s: when you’re in dire need of a caffeinated pick-me-up, where are the black aproned, khaki pants wearing baristas when you need them?

Coffee convenience

Whether or not the coffee or ambiance is good, the truth still stands— students need their coffee. Even if it’s “a little expensive”, as Margaret admits, she still buys it for convenience, especially when student-run food mall JSEC has no coffee.

“It’s inside the campus; there’s coffee, and you need coffee. Students need coffee,” Angelo emphasizes. Indeed students thrive on these cups of magic, what with all nighters becoming increasingly part of our lifestyle.

Overall, whether you’re a crammer or simply just a coffee aficionado, Bo’s Coffee serves the right kind of cup for you.  Be it sweet or caffeinated, the beverages will definitely keep you awake.

After writing this article, I know it did for me.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

]]> http://g.theguidon.com/2010/08/20/is-bo%e2%80%99s-your-cup-of-coffee/feed/ 3 http://g.theguidon.com/2010/08/11/cinco-not-worth-a-five/ http://g.theguidon.com/2010/08/11/cinco-not-worth-a-five/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:17:56 +0000 Arbie T. Baguios http://g.theguidon.com/?p=1549 Directed by: Frasco Mortiz, Enrico Santos, Ato Bautista, Nick Olanka, Cathy Molina

Starring: AJ Perez, Robi Domingo, Sam Concepcion, Jodi Sta. Maria, Maja Salvador, Rayver Cruz, Mariel Rodriguez, Pokwang, Zanjoe Marudo

After watching Cinco, I was scared. Not in a “saw-a-horror-film, can’t-sleep-at-night” kind of scared. But more of a “is-this-really-the-horror-film-of-our-generation?” kind of scared.

We’ve seen by-gone years spawn the most definitive of Pinoy horror films (Tiyanak, Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara, and the earlier, better half of Shake, Rattle and Roll series). Although, the industry have struck gold in more recent films too like Sukob and Feng Shui.

But with the plethora of dime-a-dozen romantic comedies, one can only be skeptical of even the formidable reputation of Filipinos for crafting movies to scare you half to death. I kept my doubts at bay and held high hopes for the movie Cinco, a collection of five short films (much like Shake, Rattle and Roll) all titled after a part of the human body.

We witness short number one, Braso. It pans out with three fraternity initiates being trapped in a morgue where they are haunted by a decapitated arm. It’s basically fifteen minutes of topless matinee idols being chased silly by a poorly-animated hand which, at one point, ends up in a very suggestive position. There was promise in the tension from two of the characters in the last five minutes, but as is the nature of a mass of Pinoy movies, it is too wholesome to show anything interesting or horrific. Nothing extraordinary happens when it could have.

Paa is about a mother being terrorized by the ghost of her daughter’s departed friend. Teleserye mainstay Jodi Sta. Maria delivered a solid performance in her little time on-camera. The story was a little more thought of than the rest with a pretty good twist by the end. Easily, this was the best short.

Mata tells the story of a girl haunted by a man killed by her boyfriend, and experiences the night of the crime several times to her torment. The premise had potential but the protagonist’s acting and reaction were off. Her screams and “scared” face were delivered as if on cue, and in a very mechanical manner at that. If somehow, you managed not to feel the movie dragging during the earlier shorts, Mata will be your epiphany.

Mukha is a short about a woman alone in her office, tormented by a dead employee she recently fired. Mariel Rodriguez is casted as a stereotypical “mataray” boss. Do not expect quality— hilarity may ensue if one has a keen eye for details, too. From all the ghost-in-the-mirror screaming the starlet does for most part of the short, you can tell it’s going to be one of those films where people narrate their predicaments while emoting, and lengthily stare and yell at the bad guys before moving away.

Lastly, we have Puso. It follows an unattractive circus girl who uses a love charm to gain the unrequited affection of a handsome man, who later turns into a zombie out to get her. Of course you should take this short, and moreso this whole movie, seriously. It stars Pokwang, whose face is dotted with prosthetic hairy moles! For something ought to be scary, it’s tragically funny.

All of this is a collection of thoughtless stories tailored to be played by simply talented-enough, bankable stars. This movie presupposes an easily scared and amused audience, and therefore thinks that it can get away with its trite and overly-baked clock-and-dagger attempts for a scare. But really, the “shocks”, few and abrupt as they came, are shallow.

Cinco provides thin entertainment that doesn’t quite par with preceding movies of the horror genre. The film, despite it’s name, is not worth a five. In all its hilarity, you will find yourself smirking more than actually being frightened.

Back then, devoted Katipuneros tirelessly fought for the independence and freedom we presently enjoy. Today, the blood they shed leaves a mark every August as we commemorate their endeavors during National Heroes’ Day.

In Ateneo, the journey to heroism may be less bloody, but equally as patriotic. Here we have our own set of Katipuneros, each yelling out their own passionate cries— some stemming from a unfortunate circumstance, some growing from their natural affinity to serve.

None of them may be donned in red, but these heroes sure use their skills and passion to selflessly make a difference in the community— and we are in good company, because Ateneo has a long line of them.