Muningerzee

STOP by SPICE GIRLS Can you imagine? That song we danced to from the Spice Girls is already 20 years old? STOP was produced for the group’s 2 nd  album “Spice world.”  The song was a baby of Geri Halliwel all due to the exhaustion the group was feeling at the time.    Ironically it was also Geri who put the stop to the number girl group of that decade.   The group broke up a year after the movie.  This song only landed on the number two spot of the charts, never making it to number 1.  But to Filipinos back then, this song is number 1. See this cute dance tribute of Regine Tolentino, who is a huge fan of the group.  She appears as all five of the Spice Girls.  Check out the video below.

DIRTY DANCING This year marks the 30 TH anniversary of the release of the 1987 hit movie Dirty Dancing.   The film stars Patrick Swayze as Johnny and Jennifer Gray as Baby.   Set in 60s the movie is about a bakasyonita who falls in love with a dance instructor.   But what makes this movie amazing were the dance routines including the finale which featured the song “Time of my life’.   Choreographer of this particular dance was Kenny Ortega, also worked with Michael Jackson, and Madonna on the ‘Material Girl’ Video.  His credentials included directing highschool Musical Series. In this movie, girls swooned over Patrick Swayze.   He passed on in 2009 at   the young age of 57 after battling pancreatic cancer.   He and Jennifer gray would always be in our hearts and mind for showing us how to have the time of our lives.

People go to Puerto Princesa for many beautiful reasons—the beaches, the underground river, the cashew nuts, the seafood.   I went to Puerto Princesa to renew my passport J   The latest appointment in the capital was September last I checked.   I tried searching nearby provinces like Batangas, Pampangga and even Baguio and Legazpi but all were fully booked till September.   So I grabbed my best option—Puerto Princesa!   It’s also a great excuse to getaway from the toxicity of the metro.   I booked with AirAsia and the cost was just   PhP 3337.00 two way.   Lucky Me!!!! Hotel was also relatively easy to find.   I reserved mine through Expedia.com    Cheaper than the rates in Tripadvisor.   Well at least for this boutique hotel.   I booked 1 small room with a twin bed at Islands Stay Hotels Puerto Princesa.   It’s located at 420 Rizal Avenue, Brgy Bancao-Bancao in Puerto Princesa.   In truth I chose Islands Stay due to its proximity to the airport, it was just a short flight afteral

I made a very short video about legendary Jazz singer Billie Holliday to commemorate her passing more than five decades ago.  The video is just a simple highlight. Her real name was Eleonora Fagan Gough.  But she changed in to Billie Holliday in tribute to a film celeb named Billie Dove. She doesn't know how to read music and had no formal music training but she went on to sing for jazz big guns like Count Bassie, and Benny Goodman, and signed many deals with recording companies. Considered as one of the highest paid performer during her time, Holliday passed away July 17, 1959 with just $750 to her name, according to NPR.   Eight years after that, also on July 17, the world lost another jazz great--John Coltrane.  I'll do a short video about him next year.  Meantime, please enjoy:

One of the Jessica Soho’s stories last Sunday reminded me of a conversation I had with a driver. He said, apart from working as a taxi service for grab, he also sidelines as driver for a bahay-ampunan (adoption-house)based somewhere in the outskirts of Manila. This NGO is kinda successful in a way, he said, because it helped a lot of kids get new parents. I asked him what exactly was his role in the NGO. Just a driver ma’am. I drive those couples from the airport to the bahay-ampunan (adoption house). If they need ride somewhere else, I do that, too. Then, I also drive them to the airport with their adopted kid. So I asked him, paano po ba muna nangyayari, bakit napupunta sa bahay ampuanan ang mga kids, iniwan ba ng magulang? May iba daw ganun ang kwento (what usually happens, why do they end up in the adoption house, did the parents leave them there?  There are kids with that kind of story he said). Similar to those tagalog old movies. Babies end up in churches. But most often

Why the 65th Miss Universe is a pageant to remember   Photo from Stever Harvey FB page Royalty, fashion, politics, controversy, and 86 gorgeous candidates--the 65th Ms Universe pageant a night to remember.  Here’s why: 8 Queens under one roof A total of eight (8) Miss Universe title-holders graced the beauty pageant including the reigning Queen. Those who lend their Miss Universe appeal were Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Dayanara Torres (1993), Sushmita Sen (1994), Natalie Glebova (2005), Riyo Mori (2007), and Leila Lopes (2011). Some of them sat as judges. Photo lifter from FatimaSusmita Sen Twitter Account Steve Harvey’s back Who doesn’t know Steve Harvey? The American host made a huge mistake on live TV last year when he announced Miss Colombia as the pageant’s big winner.  But, he rectified his mistake and proclaimed ‘confidently beautiful with a heart’ the rightful winner.  He made a comeback as main host for this year’s grand coronation night.   There w

When I was a kid, the movie I was watching , just don't remember if it was LVN or Sampaguita Pictures,  featured a song that goes "Tayo na sa Antipolo, at dito maligo tayo!" Later, I learned from my nanay the place was called Hinulugang Taktak. I told myself someday I'do go see Hinulugang Taktak. Someday came about 2 weeks ago. I took a jeep from Cubao to Antipolo, then rode a tricycle to the place from Sumulong Highway near Taktak Road. Twas such a beauty to behold....from afar. Unfortunately, the more steps you take forward, the bad the air gets.  Hinulugang Taktak is so polluted you can't even take a dip.   So opposite of what I saw in that old sepia movie.   People there say, rehabilitation is on-going but it would take about 3-5 years before people can finally swim again. Until then, peeps can swim in the pool for free.  Or they can hang with family and friends in one of the cottages around the area.