Dear John

I wish all the world can agree that war is indeed over, John--that they gave peace and freedom a chance, but war is spreading like wildfire out there.

John Lennon looked rather expectantly over the ever busy midtown Manhattan. On this side of the world, people are free as a bird to do whatever they please: shop, travel, look for hotel deals, eat three straight meals. Somewhere in an oppressed continent, however, Boston hotel deals are the last thing on their minds, because freedom is what they wish to find.

Decades after your untimely demise, John, we still sing your song with the same intensity of wishing upon a star for something profound. Though we are far away from all the chaos going on, we cannot deny the ripple effect this has upon us all. After all, we live in the same planet.

When they said “love is perennial as the grass,” they must have also meant the same for war, albeit the latter is the true weed we’d rather not have return. Yet it’s there...again and again and again. Only the method and motivation vary. The innocent victims? Always many.

War can be over, if they want it. If they let it.

Litratong Pinoy #99: Itim (Black)

She's probably the most influential black woman in the United States (and the world). She owns her own network now, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). Everything she says is gospel, and every book she's promoted on her book club is a sure bestseller. I've seen Oprah Winfrey...but only in wax form at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York.

Another noteworthy black celebrity is Tyra Banks, famous model (especially with Victoria's Secret). Now she has her own talk show and goes on these model search shows. Plus, I heard she just enrolled in business school to put her fashion savvy to greater profitable heights, I suppose.

Both are prime examples of powerful and beautiful black women of our time. I sure am glad my camera runs on covenient AAA rechargeable batteries that let me photograph a lot of wax celebrities that day. Wax Paparazza (singular form of female "Paparazzi," just in case you're wondering) I was!

Ikaw, sinong paborito mong itim na celebrity?

Litratong Pinoy #96: Ito (This)

This is a partial view of the Chrysler Building, one of the famous New York skyscrapers which I photographed back in August 2010 when I first got my Nikon DSLR. I stood at a corner right outside Grand Central Terminal, a detail of which is the statues to the left.

A few months later, or in January this year, I went back to that spot. It was winter (it still is as I write this), and I had just spent a day with friends from Amsterdam I met for the first time (The Becky and husband Panelomo).

Same location, same camera, but different circumstances: day and night, summer and winter.

Ito nga pala ang isa sa mga una kong nakunan ng litrato gamit yung DSLR ko. Maganda palang idea yung malitratuhan mo ang isang lugar ng magkaibang panahon. Comparison and contrast, baga. Try niyo rin!

Litratong Pinoy #94: Malambot (Soft)

This is one of the very first photos I took with my DSLR back in August last year. I assume this soft Liberty Duck makes a quacking noise when you press its tummy. This plush piece of poultry was spotted at a souvenir shop in Manhattan, where you won't find weight loss pills that work, but will find postcards to send back home.

Bigla ko naalala si Aiza Seguerra noong maliit pa siya. Pinasikat niya yung "duck walk" sa Eat Bulaga! at sa mga sine niya kasama si Tito, Vic at Joey. Hindi na siya bibe ngayon.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Green Day it was not for the New York Jets yesterday, as their football uniforms grew gray from their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were struggling at a score deficit wider than the whole nine yards, 0-17. They did show signs of catching up in the second half, but the clock was against their favor, so was the field they were playing in (Pittsburgh). Their 19-24 defeat was grim enough to make them wish they played instead in the green, green grass of their home state.

I must emphasize that I am no football expert: I hardly understand the rules involved. But being in this country with such rabid passionate love for this sport (played nowhere else in the world) sparked some curiosity to at least watch it when I can. The Superbowl starts next month between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I did admire the baked goodies at our grocery decorated with NY Jets colors. Would an appetite suppressant be powerful enough to kill your craving for cookies and cake and everything in between? Perhaps so, but I'm not one to desert delightful desserts such as these.

And that's how the cookie crumbles.

Litratong Pinoy #93: Malamig (Cold)

I love spotting prettily-packaged products at the grocery. Here's a cold and creamy case in point: Turkey Hill ice cream inspired by the NY Yankees! Being a fan of this baseball team surely made me buy this faster than you can say "Home Run!" Too bad the Yankees didn't make it to the World Series last year.

Even if I'm not an expert on adapexin reviews, I can definitely say that ice cream is a year-round favorite here in the States, even in this frigid winter! Turkey Hill also carries my favorite ice cream flavor: Birthday Cake! It has bits of colorful cake batter that makes it feel like your birthday!

But nothing beats Ube-flavored (Purple Yam) ice cream!

What's YOUR favorite ice cream flavor and brand?

Mamang sorbetero, tayo'y sumayaw!

Kawaiiness For Kayni

My birthday wish for Kayni, my fellow East Coast inhabitant, is that her camera would capture all things colorful (like these cute plush celfone charms from Chinatown in New York, photographed in October 2010) every chance she gets; that her life be filled with all her favorite things: whether they be books, postcards, travel souvenirs, memories to cherish, but most of all, loving people to share precious moments with!

You know what else would be cool? That I would someday meet her in person. I have more luck meeting new people in Times Square of late!

My birthday isn't until September, so instead of my own birthday wish, how about my recent Christmas wish? Chronologically speaking, it may be (hopefully) granted well ahead of my birthday wish, which although unformulated at this time, will surely be similar to said Christmas wish.

Happy Birthday, Kayni! Nevermind that the Zodiac Chart recently went awry with "Ochiuphus," all signs should point to a wonderful birthday celebration!

Wanna join Kayni's Birthday Blog Giveaway? Lovely prizes await! You could be one of three lucky winners! You and ME hopefully!

Litratong Pinoy #92: Lata (Can)

Did you know that even the most ordinary of ordinary things, like a Campbell's Soup can, can be elevated to high art status? That's what pop artist Andy Warhol did with his work entitled "Campbell's Soup Cans," in which he painted 32 varieties of the favorite American canned soup available at the time in 1962. That's 32 individual canvases! Don't you think it's just...SOUP-er? Mmmm...mmmm...good!

This work as well as others by Warhol, such as his famous Marilyn Monroe painting, CAN be seen at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). I was able to see these soup cans once again in November 2010.

Some of Warhol's art have been turned into tote bags and purses that can be purchased online with Amazon gift cards. I think it would be more fun, though, to visit his museum in his native Pennsylvania!

Pang-museum ang mga de lata ni Andy Warhol! Mmm...mmmm....galing!

Cape Odd

 

I was quite baffled seeing Father Duffy's statue in Times Square while touring my friends from Amsterdam recently. He was cloaked in a black cape! He's hardly the person to ask for good cheap cigars. Then a sign below him revealed that he was being used as a promotional prop for the new NBC TV series called "The Cape." 

There will always be a superhero-themed show out there. This one has the same basic ingredients: tortured innocent man framed by evil arch-enemy and is now on a mission to fight crime and avenge himself. Throw in a cape and mask, and voila, a comicbook superhero for television.

When we went further downtown to City Hall, we spotted another statue with the same black cape draped over its shoulders. I failed to take a photo of that, however.

I got to watch a little of that 2-hour premiere episode on Sunday night. Gotham: meet your new caped crusader--he's got a few circus tricks up his sleeve.

It's Christmas Time In The City

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks...that's definitely New York City.  But it's even busier around Christmas time. On Thanksgiving weekend, we saw how Manhattan was already dressed in holiday style. A Santa Smurf sat on top of a canopy at Macy's in Herald Square. The new Smurfs movie should be out sometime next year, featuring the voice of California Girl Katy Perry (now Kerry Brand) as Smurfette.

The Salvation Army people were all over the streets ringing their bells for charity.

Inside Penn Station, wreaths hung above commuters' heads. No mistletoe, though.

There was a giant fake Christmas tree near Ground Zero. However, the pinecones on it were very real and huge.

Just outside Century 21 Department Store was an Amish choir singing Christmas carols. They were actually selling their self-recorded CDs to passers-by.

And speaking of Christmas, I am pleased to report that I am done with my holiday shopping. Since I come from a family of nurses, I considered getting some of them Christmas-themed soft cotton scrubs. Unique scrubs enable them to be professional AND fashionable at the same time. But sometimes, their rank at the hospital only lets them wear white medical lab coats, nothing colorful.

I hope they like what I got them. Most important of all, it's the thought that counts!

Jordin Sparks Sparkled in "In The Heights!"

Last August, my then very pregnant sister and I watched the Tony Award-winning musical "In The Heights" on Broadway. We took advantage of the fact that Jordin Sparks was guest-starring in the role of Nina (until November 14th only). It was her first Broadway performance and indeed, she sparkled! The audience cheered the moment she appeared onstage. She looks tall in person! (She probably got the height from her football-player dad) She has a kissing scene, too!

Ignoring the announcement prior to the show, I was able to sneak a snapshot of the stage. Hey, we weren't the only stubborn ones in the audience! See the girl in the black outfit down there? She had her photo taken while sitting on the edge of the stage!

The musical is about the struggles of different characters in a Latino neighborhood in New York's Washington Heights. The Dominicano hero, a convenience store clerk named Usnavi (whose name has a funny etymology in the story) raps his dream of a better life by winning the lottery AND the secret love of her life (which matters more than the $96,000 lotto jackpot to him). The original Usnavi is the musical's creative genius, Lin-Manuel Miranda. His story-telling style is like a Caribbean-flavored Eminem.

Heartfelt and full of hope it was! The bilingual chatter also adds to the show's comedic factor. Each character will endear you: from the positively amusing Piragua guy to Nina's abuela Claudia. Near the end, it got emotional that you can hear sniffles across the darkened theater. Yes, I got teary-eyed, too because I remembered my deceased grandparents.

Despite the varied flags that fly on their small neighborhood in the "Heights," they all share common dreams that we can all relate to. Running a family business that may require PCI compliant hosting to keep up with the times, finding support and comfort in one's family, and that elusive, life-changing lottery prize.

Here's a clip of the "96,000" song performed during the 2008 Tony Awards in which they won multiple awards including "Best Musical."

What would YOU do if you won 96 grand dineros? Would you stay or would you go?



This inspiring musical ends its Broadway run on January 9th, 2011!

Pop-Tarts World Is Becoming Popular!

Last August, I spotted the newest novelty store near Times Square: Pop-Tarts World. If you're a fan of this flavorful toaster-activated breakfast pastry, then you should visit its shrine in New York City. It's just along 42nd St. I'm not an authority on P90x reviews, but I'm better off reviewing Pop-Tart flavors!

Inside you'll find a Cafe with different desserts inspired by all things Pop-Tarts...such as Pop-Tarts ice cream and even Pop-Tarts Sushi! I have yet to sample anything from their delicious-looking menu, though!

I know Pop-Tarts is best enjoyed warm from a toaster, but I actually don't mind eating it straight from the pack!

The Pop-Tarts Varietizer is a fun machine that lets you choose which flavors you want in a souvenir box. There's always a queue here! Right now they have seasonal, limited edition flavors such as Pumpkin Pie and Gingerbread.

And you can wear your Pop-Tarts love with these customizable shirts, too!

Stay for a little while and you get treated to a brief light-and-music show inside the store! Since I can get Pop-Tarts at our local grocery store, I simply bought a few Pop-Tarts postcards to pop in the mailbox.

What's your favorite Pop-Tarts flavor?

Owl Be There For You

It's been two months since I joined the populace of people owning Nikon DSLR cameras. Before that (way back in July), my Sony Cybershot spied these Halloweenish details at the Bethesda Terrace in New York's Central Park.

An owl with bat company. Speaking of owls, I have a Halloween owl shirt from Target. Not sure yet if I'm just wearing that on Halloween or dig up a black dress.

 

Witch in flight on a broomstick. 

Odd, but they were really there. It's easy to miss them if your eyes aren't keen on spotting little details that make up the whole. See if you can find them too when you visit Bethesda Terrace!

Lego-Lust

Last July, I visited the new Lego Store in Rockefeller Plaza. It opened in June of this year! It's a place to indulge your Lego-lust in! What was so cool about that store was that they have Lego-fied replicas of the art deco sculptures seen around Rockefeller Plaza, such as this imitation of the golden Prometheus statue.

You can let your imagination run as wild as this green brick dragon! The wall to the right has round dispensers of Lego pieces in a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from. What's to be built is totally up to you!

Here's a Lego version of the Atlas statue, a famous sculpture that originally stands opposite St. Patrick's Cathedral along 5th Ave. The guy below must have thought I was taking his picture, but I later thought it was good he stood underneath it so his head can be a reference point for the sculpture's size.

Look up and you'll see more Lego masterpieces. Like this cartoony impression of the artwork originally seen on the entrance of the GE Building in Rockefeller Center. They took the artistic liberty of replacing the words "Wisdom and Knowledge" with "Creativity and Imagination." Don't you think this piece is just begging for a comic bubble?

I played with Lego and some Lego-like toys as a child. This man, though, took his love for Lego to the level of fine art: Nathan Sawaya. He calls himself the Brick Artist. I hope to check out his upcoming exhibit in New York City next month!

Litratong Pinoy #86: Makapal (Thick)

I love "Saturday Night Live. (SNL)" Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Fred Armisen are just a few of the famous funny actors in that show. I loved their spin-off on the U.S. presidential elections in which they poked fun at then Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Here's a wacky window display of said show at the NBC Experience Store in Rockefeller Center. It has papier-mache structures of their more popular characters, with heads donning thick hairdos. SNL has been making people ROFL and LOL for 35 years!

 

Also on display at said studio store are these Central Perk tote bags thickened by faux contents. Fans of the show "Friends" would certainly love these!

Ang galing ni Tina Fey gayahin si former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin sa SNL noon. At pati na rin yung skit nila kasama ni Beyonce dun sa "Single Ladies" video! Mga lalake kasama si Justin Timberlake na naka-leotard at heels!

She's Got A Ticket To Ride, Eat, Pray & Love

So I finally saw "Eat Pray Love" yesterday after all the hype over said Elizabeth Gilbert travel memoir-turned-movie has long been intercepted by such films as "Inception" (which I still haven't seen, by the way). It was like a sauteed version of the Travel Channel, simmered in soul-searching sauce and slow-cooked for two hours.

I wanted to eat spaghetti afterwards. Jollibee spaghetti. Then I imagined doing my own travel trilogy, such as Croatia-Czech Republic-China. Or Turkey-Trinidad & Tobago-Thailand. Or Mexico-Morocco-Madagascar. One can dream of multiple-destination trysts, right?

Ah, to have that money to travel. Those plane tickets don't exactly cost the same as a mere pimple remover. But like Julia Roberts' character, I collect travel magazines. However, they don't fit in a box anymore.

Litratong Pinoy #85: Dalawa (Two)

While strolling at Central Park last July, my friends and I encountered this lovely pair of street minstrels singing in their little black dresses. One played the violin while the other strummed the guitar. If I knew about a fat burner that works, I'd look stunning in a little black dress, too.

They were singing a lively tune about it being such a wonderful day for "paying the bills". Weird lyrics, I know, but their song was pretty cheerful. They were also selling their own recordings on CDs and gratefully accepted tips from appreciative tourists.

Paminsan-minsan ay makakasalubong ka ng mga amateur talents sa paligid ng New York City...mapa-subway man o Central Park, gaya nitong dalawang babaeng ito. Hindi ko makita sa Youtube ang kanta nila. Sana ma-discover sila.

9/11, 9 Years Later

My friends and I visited the Ground Zero Memorial in downtown Manhattan last July.

It's hard to believe it's been nine years since the tragedy occurred.

My sister and I were fortunate enough to have climbed the top of the World Trade Center just three years prior to that incident. It was our first trip to the United States, too. Life was simpler back then. People weren't hooked yet on gadgets prefixed by "i", much less iPhone 4 accessories.

There's a heavy shroud around your heart while staring at these badges which once belonged to the first responders who lost their lives on that infamous day.

May this nightmare never befall any nation ever again.

Mi Motorola Ha Muerto

My Motorola Razr has just died.

I stuck it out with its imperfections for far too long than most people would endure. But it was time to move on to a Samsung Upstage. I still live in a cave with non-android/smart phones. In memory of my recently departed celfone, here are some of the last photos I took with the celfone's camera during my temporary gig in New York City last month:

















I liked how the Razr was slim and lightweight. Domo Arigato, Mr. Moto. You have served me well.