Movie review: Kung Fu Panda 2 "Of black and white"

"You're my son...right?"

It must be a rare misconception that we think our past truly defines who we are. I've watched a lot of movies where heroes were trapped by their pasts, and even villains who, back then, had chosen to accept they were "meant to be" bad guys. But then we learn from Po our dreadful pasts are not a hindrance to what we can be now, especially when we've got great teachers and a great foster family.

Dragon Warrior. Hero. A newly coined identity motto of "My fist hungers for justice". And that red mark reawakening that nightmare. Watching Kung Fu Panda 2 (directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson) with my best friend Gemma and my siblings, I easily concluded how equally awesome it is given the fact that not many "Part 2" movies became as famed and epic as its first.

Dreamworks Animation-style, Po (Jack Black, Gulliver's Travels) stays as the humble, adorable and hairy panda now serving as the Dragon Warrior in a region in China where kids are all rabbits and adults are pigs and geese. With the help of the Furious Five, he keeps the city safe from bandits and other enemies.

And just like any hero, Po was haunted by his past curtailed in horrible flashes of his mother leaving him, jeopardizing his mission to stop Lord Shen (Gary Oldman, Sirius Black in Harry Potter series) from destroying kung fu. After many attempts, baskets of awesome Kung Fu moves, and recruitment from Kung Fu Masters like Master Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and Master Thundering Rhino (Victor Garber), Po finally gained inner peace and learned "it doesn't matter how horrible your past may be; how your story goes, how you choose your life makes you who you truly are."

Kung Fu Panda 2 perfectly and equally hit-smashed its first release with more amazing kung fu moves and high doses of off-the-seat laughs, from Po's clumsy but cool kung fu style to his efforts to "cook" a serious look and speech only ending in untimely punch lines.

Po's humble character--not wanting revenge but only the truth--greatly inspired me that even though he knew Lord Shen killed his parents, he didn't even plan to kill him.

"Now that's pretty hardcore." I especially loved the scene when Po argued with Tigress (Angelina Jolie) she wouldn't understand his frustrations with his past, and in one blink we all thought she pounced on him but actually hugged him, saying "a hardcore can understand".

Aside from the new and awesome kung fu masters like Master Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) and Master Oxen (Dennis Haysbert), the Furious Five's back to "stop something that stops kung fu": Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross) and Viper (Lucy Liu). Po's master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) became the key ingredient for our charming panda to learn inner peace.

In the end, the movie brought me to tears when Po told his dad Mr. Ping (James Hong) he already knew who he truly is: "I'm your son."

Nuffnang and Hapee Special Screening

They're both Filipino. They're both first class and world class. And they both bring smiles to every Filipino worldwide.

As a 17-year-old amateur blogger, I've always loved and patronized Nuffnang, Asia-Pacific's first and leading blog advertising community. From the legendary name itself originally coined from a Jafaikan word, Nuffnang is more than "real good" and "real cool" because it does not only unite Filipino bloggers, but they also design amazing blog writing contests with cool prizes that serve as an opportunity for young bloggers like me to explore the beauty of blogging.

And, even at 17, I still use the Philippine-made and world-class Hapee toothpaste. I've always liked its colorful box tubes specially designed for the Filipino "trademark" and also for Filipinos of all ages.

Earning the seal of approval of the Philippinie Dental Association (PDA), Hapee has a wide variety of flavors, from the Classic Fresh and White with that mild mint tang containing Allantoin and Vitamin E for gum and maximum fluoride protection. They also have the Blazing Explosive Menthol Red with sweet mint flavor, Refreshing Fresh Green Outburst, Healthy Mandarin Orange Blast and Cool Outrageous Blue Chill flavors.

What's best about Nuffnang and Hapee is they both have one thing in common that truly make them first class: they cater only the biggest smiles for every Filipino and promote this native trademark around the globe.

More power to you Nuffnang and Hapee!

Movie review: The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader "The Temptation Odyssey"

"You can't run away from who you are."

Beauty. Power. Pride. The journey back to Narnia was no merriment, as Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), along with King  Caspian (Ben Barnes) had yet to overcome a power so evil and wise it could tear them apart with their worst nightmares and their deepest, secret frustrations.

Life was dull as Lucy and Edmund stayed with their cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) while Susan (Anna Popplewell) and Peter (William Moseley) were in America. Edmund missed his glorious life back in Narnia and itched for battle as he tried to apply for military school.

As a painting of the open sea served as the passage back to Narnia, Lucy, Edmund and their spoiled and annoying cousin were to accomplish a difficult mission with the help of King Caspian and his crew in the Dawn Treader ship.

Evil had conquered Narnia. People were sacrificed and sold, and the heroes had to search for seven swords owned by the seven lost Lords of Narnia hidden in hideous and dangerous islands to save the kingdom. But the most difficult quest they had to face was overcoming their fears and frustrations in life.

The movie made an inspiring theme for us kids as it taught us how to fight temptations involving worldy pleasures and pride. We discovered how difficult it was but how possible it can always be if we stay focused on our goal.

It also taught us that what we once thought of as spoiled relatives aren't so bad after all, because, just like Eustace, they can also gain a change of heart and even save our lives--big time.

Temptation can disguise and hide in the most unexpected places--right in our hearts. We can only overcome it if we truly know--and accept--who we are.

A great bonding with nanay with Pizza Hut's Super Panalo Meals @198 only!

It's always the lessons I learn from Ms. Josephine Bonsol and no one else can teach--and acknowledge-- that always make my day worthwhile.

It's been a while and she decided to treat me to lunch after we checked papers at school last Thursday. We stopped by at Pizza Hut at SM Fairview to check out its Super Panalo Value Meals at only P99.

She said it doesn't advertise the promo much that's why a lot of people know little of such affordable and satisfying meals. You can already indulge on an appetizer, a main course meal of Buddy Pan Pizza and pasta/ rice meal and drink.

It was amusing as the waiter sat beside us while we ordered, saying they usually do the routine when there are few people around. Ms. Bonsol ordered Caesar side salad for her appetizer, and my favorite Cream of Mushroom soup. We also chose the new Chicken Barbeque Buddy Pan Pizza, Chili con carne spaghetti and iced tea for our drink.

I missed the mushroom soup and enjoyed munching on the herbed croutons. The chicken barbeque pizza was mouth-watering with its juicy chicken meat and thick cheese crust. I thought the Chili con carne spaghetti was spicy but it wasn't and I took the time chewing on the crunchy meat while I listened to my nanay's stories.

I'll definitely invite my mom and dad here so they can experience a truly satisfying and affordable meal at Pizza Hut.

Thank you very much to Ms. Josephine Bonsol!

Movie review: Gulliver's Travels "Small jobs, small people"

Maybe the reason why it's hard to reach our dreams is because we had wished to have another life.

If you were given a chance to rewrite your story--your life--how would you start and end it? Somehow this remains a question and not a chance at all. But not for Lemuel Gulliver (Jack Black), after he made the worst and awful move to woo his longtime crush Darcy (Amanda Peet). From Jonathan Swift's classic novel Gulliver's Travels (2010, directed by Rob Letterman), we discover a world where Old English people resemble ants: tiny, hardworking and funny.

Even though he's very good with words, Gulliver couldn't have the guts to mingle with people, preventing him to be promoted and even to make a move with his crush Darcy. After trying to impress her with a fake resume saying he'd already traveled the whole world, he instead ended up in another world called Lilliput, and made a whole new life he'd always dreamed of.

As Gulliver piled lie after lie saying he's the president in his kingdom called Manhattan while resembling his life with Anakin's story in Star Wars and Jack's in Titanic, he realized how much he had thought lowly of his old life and felt the invincible power as a giant, only to discover in the end he'd hurt "the small people who have grown very large in his heart".

On the other hand, the movie brought me to a lot of laughs, especially when Gulliver saved the king (Billy Connolly) by taking a leak to the building on fire, and when he was banished from Lilliput and became a girl's barbie doll in an abandoned island. Because it's Jack Black, the classical Gulliver's Travels became a more exciting and hilarious musicale with popular songs like "Rock and Roll All Nite" by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss, "Listen to Mama" by Walkerman and "War" by Norman J. Whitfield and Barrett Strong.

I was also inspired by Gulliver's positive outlook by "posting" his dreams (like his dream home) on his bedroom wall, so he could see it everyday and be equally inspired to reach it. And he actually did.

At one point in our lives, we may dream and wish to have another life because we're too "small", but let's not forget how wonderful ours is because we're "big" enough to RULE IT.

Greenwich Overload with its Pasta Supreme Meat Plates and Big Time Lunch Meals!

Lasagna Supreme and Jumbo Crunchy Chicken

Discover delicious. My Greenwich memories have always made me come back for more. After a tiring trip at UP Diliman and Quezon City Hall for my scholarship last Friday, my big sister Ate Nadine, Jillian and I decided to pig out at Greenwich in Morayta, Manila and indulge on our favorite pizza and pasta we've all missed.

Ate Nadine ordered Greenwich's new Pasta Supreme Meat Plates with her Lasagna Supreme and Jumbo Crunchy Chicken (P159, with drink). She said she already missed its delectable and meaty lasagna and enjoyed her crunchy chicken wing.

Big Time Lunch Meal B

My twin sister dared to order the Big Time Lunch Meals, with Hawaiian pizza, crunchy chicken wing with rice and spaghetti supreme (P131, with drink). She tried to gobble all of it until she grew tired of chewing and shared to us her chicken and pizza.

Chicken Carbonara and Premium Beef Strips

I also ordered Pasta Supreme Meat Plates with its new Chicken Carbonara and Premium Beef Strips (P159, with drink). I especially enjoyed the juicy and tasty beef strips and shared it to my siblings. I also enjoyed the chicken carbonara as the sauce was not too think or too flavorful.

I'll always come back for more with Greenwich's innovative delicacies in both pizza and pasta.

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOSE, YOU WIN.

I finally got my big break.

My mentor Ms. Josephine Bonsol simply told me to write. Every day. And I did.

The way I see it, my article published in the Philippine STAR was mostly about making my parents proud. My article, entitled "The Woman I Never Understood" was also supposed to be a surprise Mothers' Day gift to my mom, as I wrote and sent it online three days before the event.

But the one thing I'm proudest about this feat is the fact that, I suddenly realized, I can already help my parents financially, after I also won P5 000 worth of gift certificates from National Bookstore. It was an overwhelming feeling when I made my siblings happy because I helped them buy all the books they want and the school supplies we need.

My big sister Ate Nadine bought her favorite books by Jessica Zafra and Bob Ong. My twin sister Jillian finally got her dream come true with a complete set of art materials, from oil pastels to colored pens and watercolor. My brother Norman, on the other hand, finally got his set of school supplies. I also helped mom buy her office materials at work.

Ms. Josephine Bonsol was right: writing is the one thing I can enjoy and even make money from. My writing then made me realize I could even help my parents save money and allot it to other needs.

Sometimes when you lose, you win. Once I thought I'm simply a hopeless, frustrated writer every time I lose a writing competition. But then Ms. Josephine Bonsol told me to not linger on the past, analyze my mistakes and keep moving forward. She told me a lot of writers and media people became famous and rich even though they didn't win such writing contests.

Most of all, she reminded me that everything has a reason. Maybe it wasn't my time yet back then, she said, but I believe it is now.

Thank you very much to Philippine STAR, National Book Store and Globe! Nanay Bonsol, mom, dad, Ate Nadine, Jill and Jigs, this is all for you! I love you!

Dad: "You are already my gift"

Puppets by my tiwn sister Jillian

We finally made a groundbreaking record: making our dad shed tears of joy.

It's his birthday today and we decided to experiment on another childish presentation to amuse him on his special day: a puppet show. His seasonal cold was a spoiler, but he managed to watch our unrehearsed play with a big smile on his face.

Entitled, "Around the World in 10 Minutes", the story was in Dora the Explorer style: we were about to give our gift to dad when Cuba Gooding Jr. (Swiper) stole it and scattered the pieces around the world. We met dad's favorite artists along the way, like Sylvester Stallone, Sean Connery, Richard Gere and Jason Statham, and they helped us in our "mission". 

We also inserted The Beatles songs ever after stopover, which made him laugh while he told my big sister Ate Nadine the song titles.

In the end, dad had tears in his eyes we seriously didn't expect, and even my brother Norman secretly cried and said to me he was moved by dad's tears of joy.

When we announced we had a surprise gift for him, he said, "Gift? Eh kayong mga anak ko na ang regalo ko para sa birthday ko."

Well, that moved me to tears.

We love you dad!

I love Nuffnang because it helps me weave special bonding moments with my family!

"I'm proud of you, Je. Thank you for this experience, anak."

I knew my parents have always been skeptical about my amateur writing career. But not until Nuffnang, the first and leading blog advertising community, helped me prove what I got.

I was aware enough of my limitations as a 17-year-old when I first joined Nuffnang. At such a young age with my one-year-old blog, I cannot even earn money from blogging that easily. But what I love the most about Nuffnang is their monthly blog writing contests with amazing prizes--from VIP tickets to IPADS to family trips, like its first Nuffamily Day!

These contests gave me an edge to experience such exclusive privileges and discover my writing skills better, and what's more, I finally got my parents to say I am doing something worthwhile, even during summer breaks.

I'll never forget my feat when I won the Pacquiao-Mosley Big Ticket writing contest last May 8. It became not only a truly memorable experience for me, but a chance to prove to my parents they can also benefit from my writing. I brought my dad to watch the live streaming fight of Manny Pacquiao and Sugar Mosley at People Support, Makati City and he was truly amazed at how it ended in a matter of minutes, without the long commercials we've always endured back home.

And now with Nuffnang's first-ever Nuffamily Day, I won't even think twice of joining and bringing my whole family this time! It's always been my childish dream to watch big lanterns fly up into the night sky and disappear like stars, just like Rapunzel's wish in the Disney movie Tangled.

My big sister Ate Nadine, my twin sister Jillian, my brother Norman Jann and my dad (we're 5 in all) will definitely enjoy the lifting of lanterns, too!

Thank you very much Nuffnang! Godspeed!

Movie review: A Beautiful Mind "The mysterious equations of love"

"Classes will dull your mind. Destroys the potential for authentic creativity."

Albert Einstein: drop-out. Thomas Edison: failure. Mark Zuckerberg: undergrad. John Nash: schizophrenic. And so we learn from these unreasonable people the art of intelligence not wholly being dependent from the educational standards we've all thought to be that necessary.

And we learn their struggles to cope up with the unreasonable world.

We may hate economics, but the name John Nash (Russell Crowe) rings heroic and legendary to this field practically affecting the world's existence in its cruel benchmarks. One day he's in Princeton University proving a mathematical equation for how bad a tie is, and discovering a logical possibility for how rhythmical is a flock of birds' eating positions. Another day he's in Pentagon preventing any nuclear and terrorist threats by breaking codes.

And another day he's in a mental hospital, not knowing what's real and what's not.

They say it's worse than hell, to see things others don't. They're not ghosts, but real people blending in with your environment, and then you find out they're horribly figments of  your imagination. During his early life at college, John Nash had already suffered from this mental illness called "schizophrenia", but the worse part was he didn't even "suffered" from it; his imaginary roommate even became his friend--his only friend.

I've read a book about schizophrenia, entitled "Autobiography of a Schizophrenic Girl". From what the girl described, things, people and places seem to "expand" and become unrealistic. There often were flashes of illuminating light and she saw people as "mechanical robots", while she was alone, threatened by her own mind, and unrealistic herself.

These may be worse scenarios of the mental illness, but it didn't equally get better for the math genius as his imaginary friend Charles (Paul Bettany) and top secret colleague Parcher (Ed Harris) began to haunt him, jeopardizing his looming career.

Sometimes what we can't solve in our minds we can solve in our hearts. It became very difficult for John to submit himself to the real world, while his "ghosts" always tailed on him. But with the help of his faithful wife Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) he managaed to emerge from his blackhole and became a legendary Nobel laureate.

"I need to believe that something exrraordinary is possible.'- Alicia Nash

As John said, "It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found."