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Rating: ★★★ Category: Music Genre: Pop Artist: Barry Manilow I have heard and enjoyed the previous "greatest" series of Barry Manilow, and this one is no exception. Although I am not that ecstatic like in the first three "greatest" albums, I like the fact that Manilow took a chance in reinterpreting the songs popularized by the artists of the 80s (Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Rick Astley, etc.). What makes this one a novel concept is the fact that it answers the question, "What if Barry Manilow sang _________________ (title of song here)?" And yes, you get a Manilowed version which is quite a delight to hear. Just one gripe: I didn't like his take on I Just Called To Say I Love You... but then, it's still refreshing to hear his version. If you're a Manilow fan, but this one to complete your "greatest songs" collection.

November 12, 2008.  Wednesday. I woke up with my whole body aching.  As if I had a strenuous workout the day before.  I was still exhilirated and at the same time, tired. What happened to me yesterday was just only sinking in today. I was just feeling it now.  And I allowed myself to cry out to God with thanksgiving.  Yes, I cried thanking God for what happened to me.  It was totally unbelievable! And it happened to me! -oOo- I took the day off from work, calling in sick.  Somebody told me that my episode would air either this Friday (Nov. 14) or on Monday (Nov. 17).  It aired on Monday.  (Please see my previous entry, And On With the Show ). -oOo- Your grace is sufficient for me.  Your strength is made perfect when I am weak.  All that I cling to, I lay at your feet.  You grace is sufficient for me.  

So many scenes were edited out of the 30-minute show.  Hmmm... 7 minutes were alotted for the commercials.  -oOo- Being the last one to be taped (there were three tapings that day), it appeared that Kris Aquino was already tired.  It showed, as a matter of fact. In the middle of the game, she seemed to get bored from it all.  But towards the end of the game, when the people in the studio were getting excited, her energy picked up.  Kris is a very good gameshow host.  Her timing is impeccable.  And she's nice when she wants to be.  And yes, hindi siya maarte (She's not prissy) .  Even if my face was full of sweat and cautioned her about it, she gave me a buss, saying, "ok lang." (It's okay.) -oOo-      When the game finished, we all had an opportunity to have a picture with the host (of course) and Veronica, the 26k girl who's holding my choice of suitcase. After the photo op, the 26k girls were asked...

Rating: ★★★★ Category: Music Genre: Pop Artist: Regine Velasquez This is what the other side of Regine Velasquez is. And it's so refreshing! After picking some "quiet" songs she did in her other albums (which I also posted here), Low Key is a rewarding experience for me. The covers (very good choice of songs) were rearranged to showcase Regine's vocal range without having her shouting. The result is a tempered Regine, a far cry from the belter that the public knows so well. Truly, it's a treat for the ears sans the ear-piercing high notes she's known for. By all means, buy a copy.

November 11, Tuesday. Coordinating my kapamilya  (those who have played with me in the mock game, and an additional four more players) was somewhat easy, except for the fact that Mimi (the producer) had to beg off because of a prior commitment--she had a recording of a radio commercial and a meeting with a client.  My line up of players were now: Papa, Tito Bine, Tita Chona, Waldy, Erwin, Meach (Mimi's proxy), best friend Ruel and his sister Rhoda, cousin Ogie and Emily. Tito Bine, Tita Chona and Kuya Ogie went straight to Mother Ignacia around 10am.  Papa will go straight to Mother Ignacia after his hearing.  Ruel and Rhoda left their home around 11am and will just see each other in the area.  I called up Joseph and asked him to fetch me and Emily from home and deliver us to Mother Ignacia.  Ruel, Rhoda, Emily, Meach and I went to Joey Pepperoni.  We had a quick lunch except for Meach.  She had with her some food she bought at...

November 7.  Friday.  A week has passed and I still haven't heard from Channel 2.  Hmmm... will I play on KDOND or has my journey ended with the VTR?  Arrggg!  I hate this waiting game.  I am on edge.  Every time my cellphone rings, I eagerly answer it, especially if the number is an unregistered one.  It might be the staff from KDOND after all.  But the calls all came from the human resource department of some call centers... Oh well... -oOo- November 10.  Monday. Around past 6pm.  I got a call.  I was in transit, on my way home.  The call came from Kapamilya Deal or No Deal . I was set to tape for the game show tomorrow.  Yes!

October 29, Wednesday. I thought the ABS CBN crew will be at our place around 9am.  Good thing I called up JR and found out that they were just leaving the studio.  And that was like around past 10am already.  At least that gave us time at home to tidy up.  My uncle came by just in case they need more people to tape. A hi-ace van brought JR and his crew to our home.  They didn't have a generator with them and they were a company of six, as JR mentioned.  JR asked if he and the crew can go inside the house, I told them to wait because Bogart (our dog) needs to be transferred to the kitchen.  After that was done, they all went in.  I introduced my dad and uncle to JR and his crew.  JR introduced me to his crew, "Sya yung maglalaro."   (He's the one playing.)  As if the crew was thinking that  it was either my uncle or my dad who's going to play. JR asked for my photo albums.  He b...

October 28, 2008. Wednesday. 2:36pm. My cellphone rang.  The caller's number was not in my cellphone directory. "Good afternoon. May I speak with Rey Beltran, please?" "Speaking.  Who's this?" "JR from ABS CBN." "Okay."  I stood up from my table and went out in the veranda of our office. "Yes?" "Is it okay kung pupunta kami sa house nyo for VTR tomorrow morning?"  (Is it okay if we go to your house for VTR tomorrow morning?) "Ha? S-sure!" "Sa Deal or No Deal kami..." (We're from Deal or No Deal) "Yeah, I know... what time?" "Mga 9am?"  (Around 9am?) "Yes, yes!" "Pero may pasok ka bukas, di ba?"  (But you have work tomorrow, right?) "A-absent ako.  Magli-leave.  Pwede ako bukas!"  (I'll go on leave.  I'm game tomorrow!) "Ok!" "What's your name again?" "JR." "JR, tha...

"Choose six suitcases," Jim told me. I can't remember what number I picked but what I do remember was that I picked out the paper suitcases with the high amounts first.  I got the P1 million in the first round of choosing.  On my second round, I got the P2 million.  The screeners were disappointed.  "Naku! Wala ng manonood nyan! Nakuha mo na yung mataas na amount!" (Oh no!  No one's gonna watch the episode anymore! You got all the high amounts!) So Jim said that perhaps, I needed the help of my "kapamilya" --the friends and relatives I brought with me to the mock game.  "Papapasukin na ba natin sila?" (Shall we call on them?) "Sure!  Ingat, ha? May kasama akong indie film producer at producer ng mga commercial!"  I cautioned Jim, thinking that he'll tone down his vulgar humor once people like Erwin and Mimi were there--who knows they might give Jim some work in the future, right? (Sure! Just be careful! I have with me...

We were told to wait in   the anteroom of the studio.   Erwin found that day's Inquirer newspaper lying around the room and read it.  The rest settled themselves on the seats.  We were all hearing the players inside the studio yelling and screaming.  "Lower!!"  "Higher, banker!"  Laughter.  Then the yelling and screaming began again.  It lasted around 10 minutes. Soon after, the potential player and her entourage exited and wished us good luck.  The event marshall separated me from my support group (heheheh).  He then led me to the entrance way where the players emerge.  Jim was there and briefed me.  As far as I remember, this was how the conversation went: "Rez Cortez!" He greeted me, "'tol, ano name mo?" (What's your name?) "Rey." "Ok. Rey, papasok ka na mayabang ang dating.  Tapos punta ka dun sa may upuan at may marker.  Pagdating mo dun, sabihin mo pangalan mo, bakit ka sumali at san mo da...

October 15, Wednesday.   Of course, I didn't go to work. Hehehe.  Tita Chona and Tito Bine arrived early, around 11am.  My dad was taking a quick nap then.  I just had a late breakfast and asked them if they ate already.  Come 11.30, the four of us (my dad, my aunt and uncle) rode an FX to Cubao.  From there, we took a cab to ABS CBN.  I texted Mimi, Waldy and Erwin that we're already on our way to the studio. It took us an hour to arrive at ABS CBN.  Mimi was there first.  She waited at Panaderia Pantoja and I asked her to join us at Joey Pepperoni  Both establishments were in front of the Mother Ignacia entrance gate of ABS CBN.  Waldy and Erwin were still in transit.  We had tuna al olio for lunch.  When the gates opened, I saw that among those who got interviewed from my batch, only three familiar faces were called to return for the mock game.  All in all, 13 potential players were called back.  And f...

October 13, Monday. After almost three weeks of waiting, I got a call from ABS CBN from a certain Em.  I am going up to the next level of screening on Oct. 16... the mock game! Yay!  Call time was 1pm.  The requirement was for me to seek out six  "kapamilya" members to play with me... Hmmm... I called on Waldy del Rosario (our Tagalog Praise and Worship Leader), Erwin Navarro (our resident bass who produces indie films on the side), Mimi Gahol (producer of tv commercials I've done), my dad, my aunt and uncle.  All of them agreed to join me. Am so excited!  -oOo- The following day, October 14,  I got another call from ABS CBN.  They told me that the taping for the game was moved a day ahead and was now scheduled on Oct. 15 instead of Oct. 16.  Same time.  I almost fell off my seat.  Arrrrgggh!!!!  Will my team members be available on Oct. 15?  So I called up my kapamilya  again.  And one by one,...

Those left behind were grouped into three (ten people for each group). We were all led through a long hallway where the dressing rooms were.  They weren't able to find a place to hold an interview for each of us.  So we all waited in the long hallway.  The ten of us.  We were all kinda nervous and tense and delighted. The girl who's going to be interviewed first expressed her nervousness about the interview and we assured her that she'll do fine.  I was fourth in line.  And it's only around 3pm.  Soon, ten seats arrived, courtesy of the maintenance guys.  We seated ourselves comfortably and made small talk.  I learned that the guy on my left (fifth in line) was a seminarian.  To my right was an ex-professor in CSB who's taking up his MBA (Roby is his name).  The seminarian was starving already.  I took out my Sky Flakes and handed them out to my batch. I got out from my knapsack a bottle of water and told them t...

It was past 12 noon when we were all allowed to have lunch at the studio's canteen. All 34 of us.  Jim appointed a leader of the group (whose name escapes me).  We were all told that we have an hour to re-assemble ourselves in the garden so that the marshall can fetch us all.  A word of caution from Jim: if all 34 aren't complete, we have to be rescheduled for another day.  So we all filed out of the studio and were guided to the canteen to have our lunch.  Food was okay.  A lot of us formed cliques.  The young ones (early 20s) were bunched up in one corner.  Likewise with the thirtysomethings.  And one old guy who qualified were with us (the late 30s and early 40s).  After eating, I called up Ruel and told him that I passed the first screening.  Then I called my dad and told him what happened, that I might be in the studio for the rest of the day. One by one, all 34 of us began to gather in the open garden to wai...

Rating: ★★★★★ Category: Music Genre: Other Artist: Michael Feinstein The Great Interpreter of the American Songbook meets Ol' Blue Eyes... This is one cd that should belong to your collection of standards,whether you're a Michael Feinstein fan or a Frank Sinatra fan (am proud to say, I am both!)! So when I saw this cd already out in Music One, I just had to buy it. Backed up by Bill Elliot and his orchestra, Feinstein has put his singing talents to work wonders on songs that were just recorded once by Sinatra. What makes the songs delightful and seem new again is the fact that Feinstein has the knack for discovering discarded or unsung lyrics, then putting them back in the song, that when you hear it, it's like hearing it for the first time. And the highlight of the album? A song composed by the Bergmans (Alan and Marilyn) just for Sinatra... "The Same Hello, The Same Goodbye." In his liner notes, Feinstein wrote that when Sinatra heard Alan sang t...

I really thought that was the end of it and charged it to experience.  It was kinda fun while it lasted.  Am a little bit disappointed though.  Part of me was wishing that I be selected as one of the studio contestants. But it wasn't to be.  Which made me think, what where they looking for in a studio contestant?  Was it whim on their part?  Up to this day, I still wonder what the criteria is for a studio contestant.  Even though I wasn't chosen, I still enjoy watching Kapamilya Deal or No Deal when I get the chance to watch it. Two seasons have come and gone for the show and the thrill of each suitcase being opened one by one is still there... And I found myself texting them again.  I still want to join the show after all. -oOo- I think it was September 20 when I got a text confirmation from a certain Jimmy Capulong of ABS CBN. The text message said that I should bring with me a picture, a pen and valid ID on Se...

It was the second week of September when I texted Kapamilya Deal or No Deal (Third Season) to become a studio participant.  I'm sure I was absent from work when I watched the show and texted that same day. Yes, I texted them for the second time. Who knows I might get lucky this time around, right? The first time, I only got as far as the first test-- a general profiling done by the resident ABS-CBN psychologist/psychiatrist Randy Dellosa. But was sent home after they had handpicked those who were qualified for the second round of test. And I thought at the time, that it was the end of my try-outs to join gameshows.  -oOo- I remember the first time because I filed a leave of absence just to attend the audition.  It was a Friday, May 25, 2007.  I even bugged my best friend to join me (Ruel graciously agreed). We were there around 10am.  The queue outside the main entrance of ABS CBN in Mother Ignacia was long!  I told myself, the n...

My closest friends know that I read Jessica Zafra's stuff.  I even have one book signed by her ("To Rey, king of what?"). Not that I am a loyal fan, but I have all of her Twisted books.  I don't read her other books, though.  But I think, whatever it is she has written, it's good. Jessica is an acquired taste.  Like beer.  But I digress. That's not the journey I'm talking about.  I'm talking about the journey I took more than ten  years ago, in search of Jessica Zafra's Planet of the Twisted , in one of National Bookstore's branches.  When I read that her third book in the Twisted series was already out, I went to the nearest National Bookstore to see if it was really true.  At that time, I had no cash with me but the assurance that it was there on the shelf and that I would buy it as soon as payday comes is enough.  And yes, there it was, in the Filipiniana section of National Bookstore Cubao.  I leafed through the pa...

Rating: ★★★ Category: Other ABS-CBN gave a fitting tribute to the King of Comedy aired last Sunday, August 3. Taped live in the Meralco Theater on July 31, all the guests sang live (thank heavens for that!). It was a breath of fresh air seeing all the celebrities paying tribute to Dolphy sing live (German Moreno, hear! hear! I think this is the proper way to give tribute to a celebrity). The boring part of the show was the cast of "Goin' Bulilit". At first, it was nice to see a bunch of talented kids singing, dancing and acting out episodes from the past tv shows of Dolphy. But alas, the spiels were terrible, bordering to corny. Cuteness can only last for a couple of minutes but to extend it beyond that, it would be tiresome. The most disappointing part was when Willy Revillame went on stage, showcasing his insensitivity. I just found it totally terrible of Revillame to coax and dare Dolphy to do some dance moves with him. Dolphy even told him that he...

Rating: ★★★ Category: Movies Genre: Action & Adventure Two hours and a half of telling a story seemed too long. Violence, although implied, would be too much for kids to watch. A parent even told me that some kids were crying while watching the movie, clearly terrified. Makes me wonder why the movie was locally rated PG instead of PG13. "The Dark Knight" continues where "Batman Begins" left off. This time, it seems that Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is winning their crusade against crime until a new player comes into town, wreaking violence-- The Joker (Heath Ledger). Let me see... You have to tell the story of the following characters: Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face, Joker, Lt. Gordon's transition to Commissioner, the resolution of Rachel Dawes and Bruce Wayne's relationship, Lucius Fox' integrity, Joker's plan within a plan, hmmm... I am sure I am missing something here. And all of thes...

Rating: ★★★★ Category: Movies Genre: Other I never thought I'd enjoy "Mamma Mia! The Movie" so much that I have to see it three times with Ruel, my best friend. I even told my father to see it (and he and my uncle watched it, too! And they liked it!) Yes, I admit it, I saw it three times and I bought the soundtrack and will buy the dvd once it's out in the market. The movie tells about Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and her quest to find her father on the eve of her wedding, without really thinking of the repercussions it will bring to her mother Donna (Meryl Streep). The music of ABBA was used ingeniously as a device to tell the story. While other movies tried the same route by incorporating existing pop music in telling the story, (thereby making it a movie musical, examples are "Moulin Rouge" and "Across the Universe"), "Mamma Mia!" proves to be a much better execution than the others. The movie was fun all throughout. The...