Ratatouille Review

This is an AWESOME movie - visually stimulating, funny, and yet value-loaded in a very amiable manner. My favorite cartoon movie thus far. You don't get to see such movies often, so much substance, heart-warming, full of life's
lessons yet doesnt bore you at all.

The scenes that have a lasting impression on me are:

Deep scenes:
1) Gusteau's review - of course who would forget the catchy lines at the end of the movie.
Indeed so true, we are always capable to bring someone down, we tend to underestimate the potential of others. It takes a movie like Ratatouille to remind us that anyone is a star in his or her own right.

In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we
critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize that only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more.


2) Remy's drift
When Remy was carried by the currents and got separated from his family, he was sullen. Gusteau appeared with his funny 'I'm a figment of your imagination'lines <- i love this figment line hehe. I totally agree with what he advised Remy 'If you're focused on what you've left behind, you will not be able to see what lies ahead. Now go up, and look around!'

It was also the same time when I got ticked off by a friend's comment. There are a few unpleasant things that got me disappointed, and I chose to brush them OFF completely and start anew. My friend sort of told me 'moving on is NOT about not
looking back' because he finds me skeptical. Whenever someone drops a 'disturbing' harsh line to me, I sometimes couldnt help but to be affected haha, anyway something for my new year's resolution then hehe. So at least this line from Ratatouille affirms my point. :)


3) Mouse trap
Remy was brought to a place with dead mice on mouse traps by this father, purpose of which is to let him see the real world and give up his dreams of being a chef.

'The world we live in belongs to the enemy, we must live carefully. We look out for our own kind. When all is said and done, we're all we've got'.
---It sounds positive to me. It shows the concern and unity of a family, a race. At the end of day, when the whole world turns its back on you, your family is all you've got.

Change is nature, Dad. The part that we can influence. And it starts when we decide.
---Everything is a matter of CHOICE. Decide for you own. I am a firm believer of 'kung gusto, may paraan'! :)



Funny scenes:
1) Remy's aroma scene
When Remy asks his brother Emil to take time to eat slowly and meditate, experience the aroma of strawberries combined with cheese, and then flashes the blissful smile. 'Now close your eyes, take a bite of this..' Really funny scene.

2) Cooking rats in the kitchen
The scene where a battallion of rats was preparing the food, there was this sanitizing heat cabin that cleanses them before they start cooking. Funny to see their hairs standing up and stiff.

So what's the effect of watching Ratatouille.. After watching the movie I decided to take my cooking prowess to the next level (haha feeling lng). I finally took the challenge of cooking a dish that I've always wanted to try but never really got
the inspiration to proceed. Crabs! I guess nobody in the right mind would think of buying crabs (i mean for my profile - my age, a supposedly busy overseas worker, etc). Viola, I was able to prepare 3 kinds, chilli crab, crab vermicelli and butter
garlic crab. :p I'll just blog about the last episode of my Food Lab next time. :)

It's Raining Cats and Dogs

I've been searching for pictures of cute kitties and doggies. Interesting images.


Image 1 - Sisterhood
This is so cute! I'm reminded of my kapatids hehe.


Image 2 - Sunbathing
Now I understand the advantage of being a human - tipid sa bathing suit. Imagine if we were created in the likeness of these creatures, we should be spending for 4 sets instead of 1!


Image 3 - Kung Fu fighting
Is this Bruce Lee? Jet Lee? Jacky Chan?


Image 4 - Sampayan
Beyonce in the house.. Can you keep up.. (baby boy) make me lose my breath.


Image 5 - Family Planning
The 9th+ unfortunate ones. How does a dog nurse a 9th, 10th, 11th.. baby doggie? They only have 8 slots for breastfeeding. First come first served?! Wawa naman!

zzZ zZz zzZ.. :)

The pictures below describe how I am during office hours.





Can't help it, so sleepy! Thank God I have petix office days to experience the luxury of being sleepy. :)

Go Korea!

I would love to see the setting of Winter Sonata and have my picture taken there!


First pic - Tree scene
I like the effect of this huge walkway sandwiched in 2 columns of big trees. Of course it will sure be better to have a guy (as gorgeous as byj) with me in this famous traditional bike scene. :)


Second pic - Snow scene
Snow snow snow.. I want to see snow!!! I like this scene with the small snowmen.. the couple and the kissing snowmen look so adorable. :)


Extra: Harry Potter edited pic.
Extra si Johnny from EL1. ang kulit! :)

Living with Other People

I didnt know living with other people is not an easy task. All my life, I have just lived with my family.

I've always considered hygiene as SOP. I've met people who don't take a bath everyday (sheesh). There are people who seem to be clean, but when I saw their toilet, grabe ang dumi ng bowl, (yun tipong matatakot kang gumamit uggh), o di kaya tons of unwashed plates that have been left for days in the kitchen sink. There are also people who are BURARA, as in walang isang salita, magulo at mahirap pakisamahan. At may mga mahilig rin mangialam ng buhay at gamit ng iba - the most annoying for me.

And oh for the first time, I encountered a group of ultimate OCs, neat frieks (intolerable to some extent). Here are some of their rules:
-You should mop the kichen floor everytime you use it.
-There shouldnt be any hint of garbage in the waste can at night before going to sleep, even if it's just some empty cans.
-You should not bang doors (bedroom) but have to close it slllowly.
-Drips of water outside the bathroom (from someone who has just taken a bath) is not acceptable.
-Changing of bedsheets every week.

Now I slowly get to understand why the Western culture has 'live-in' practices. You really get to know a person very very well once you live in the same house. It's so easy to put up a decent, jolly, and pleasant disposition/image in few hours of gimiks or dates. Even in the Philippines, there are people who practice 'live-in', but that's usually for reasons of convenience ehem. But no, I'm not promoting 'live-in' at all. :)

the key: compromise, adjust, and lots of patience... which is so much easier said than done :)

Raising Children

Whenever I encounter really naughty kids, napapaisip ako. Raising children is a huge responsibility and is getting complicated nowadays. The way a person behaves reflects the upbring he has. Perhaps tumatanda na ako kaya ko napapansin to hehe.

In some households, there are rules like:
1. no tv on weeknights
2. lights off (sleeping time) before 9-10pm
3. no bf at schooling age
4. no sleepovers for outings, or even for college thesis nights
5. no hairlength beyond shoulder length - this is crazy!
6. no eating of street food (fishballs, dirty ice cream, etc)

Crap! All of these I did NOT have, that's a serious statement! Even without those rules, I think I grew up pretty much normal hehe.

Spoiled brats are commonplace (lalo na in pampered Fil-Chi households). I've seen how kids make a 'show' in toystores when their parents refuse to buy their favorite toys. Yun tipong uupo sa sahig at papadyak. Then the kid wins and takes home the toys. After one week, most probably the toys have been 'massacred', yun tipong sira-sira na at nakatapon kung saan-saan sa bahay. They hardly know the value of money, hindi maingat sa gamit.

I remember my parents didnt attend a single PTS (parent-teacher seminar) event in my school before. PTS in my HS actually looks more like a chika-chika and sipsip session to me. Society says school and family should work hand-in-hand to promote the well-being of a child, but probably in my case, I can consider them as two separate entities.

Back in school my grades were somewhat good. (hindi ko na rin maalala bkit ako naging masipag hehe) People used to think I have strict parents at home who force me to study hard and be in honor roll. Hehe I dont, at all. They dont really care to check my grades. I remember my mom would persuade me to sleep when she spots me studying at 11pm for college exams. --- hehe the other way around.

And probably in my time, i can comprehend the lack of time of parents to their children because of work. It's just as simple as someone needs to earn money to provide for everyday needs. As the world gets complicated, so the evolution of several sickness, the popular ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). I'm not saying that parents have the excuse to leave the children to yayas, it's just that kids nowadays are getting too vulnerable, and I also dont know what the cause is either.

I think probably one of the biggest factors is how you nurture the firstborn. If the eldest is matino, chances are the succeeding ones will just follow. Not applicable all the time.

During a bible study session, I was asked the question 'what is the most unreasonable rule that your parent has set for you?'. Isip ako nang isip, wala akong maisagot. I answered, 'parang wla, kasi sa amin, ang rule is more like makuha ka sa tingin, malaki ka na alam mo na dapat ano ang ginagawa mo'. :)

Actually it works for me that we were raised in a not-so-strict yet seems strict environment. It's hard to explain. Probably they entrust us the freedom to think and make decisions on our own. They trust me that I can handle myself. They trust me too much that probably it has gone to a deeper level, that it's my free will to keep that trust they have in me. :p

(Well I can still mess around if I really want to.. haha ooops)

I'm not saying that the way I was brought up is better than the others. Case to case basis. Perhaps if I got a kid like myself in the future, matatakot din ako hehe.

I dont know any secret formula in raising kids. But there's just one thing I think everyone should at least know - kung ano mang balak mong gawin, panindigan mo. :)

Rants (Again) ?

I still remember those days in my previous company, where almost everyone has their own fair share of rants hehe. That I guess is still acceptable to some extent. (pakwento na lng kayo sa mga taong naiwan dun :p)

After I move here, I was surprized to see a few people with so much rants again.. (which I actually find senseless)

And this time, these people are complaining about boredom! That's it, just boredom. 'Walang magawa dito sa SG, puro mall lng' - bukambibig nila. Well SG is actually a small place, I read somewhere in a magazine that it's 1/8 the size of Cebu.

Philippines is a big country, but I dont think you get to tour each of the 7107 islands every weekend right.

They complain about the small salaries in Manila, about insufficient work-life balance.. so probably here are their criteria for working abroad:
-**high salary
-**cheap airfare for frequent vacation trips to Manila
-safe/decent environment
-low tax
-low cost of living
-better lifestyle/quality of life
-a big place for weekend out of town trips

I really feel like knocking them in the head and telling them:
'You idiots, there's no perfect place in this world. You probably should go back and relearn that there's such word as TRADE-OFF. You can't get the best of everything. You yourself are not perfect enough and do not deserve a perfect spot in this world.'

Dont take me wrong, I'm not a big fan nor promoter of SG. Even I still can't picture myself settling down in this country. Let's say that I'm just being fair. And as one of my favorite lines goes 'Everything is a choice'. Being bored is a choice. Tulungan mo ang sarili mo. Find things to do and stop being a loser. And besides, if you feel so strongly about SG being so small that can't provide you with weekend out-of-town trips, then shell out money and go to nearby countries.

Hehe it's been long since I've written an entry with emotions. I just got ticked off by these people who dont know how to be thankful for what they're getting, and worse they tend to overgeneralize that eveyone is like them too.