Home-Cooked Yumyums

Lately, I've spent more time at home. It's been a month since I moved to the new apartment. (Yes, it's been a month, and this is only the first time I am writing about it. I want to show pictures only when I feel I've completed all the decorating of the place. Until then I will hold the post.) And since then I've been working at home a lot, writing my scripts and articles here, and checking and responding to mails.

I've also taken to cooking (rather, gone back to it) and to inviting friends and family over for dinner. I love preparing meals for friends and family, and cooking meals for myself.

This one was for dinner last Monday: tenderlean pork cooked in balsamic vinegar and rosemary, topped with pesto.

This one was for tonight, at the dinner I gave my little brother and sister: Breakfast steak cooked tender in olive oil and soy sauce, topped with sauteed asparagus and garlic slices.

My guests: niece Wendy, brother Andrew, and cousin Wilma.

This is me with my baby sister, Mikee, and niece, Wendy.

Of course, we had fun. And of course, they liked the food. So here's to more home-cooked meals and to lasting bonds with family and friends! Cheers!

Multiple Intelligences

Always wondered what types of intelligences I have so I googled for tests and arrived at the site called, Multiple Intelligences for Adult Literacy and Education.

I took the test, with the following results:

Your top three intelligences:
Intelligence Score (5.0 is highest)
Description

Musical (5.00)

You like the rhythm and sound of language. You like poems, songs, and jingles. You enjoy humming or singing along with music. You probably remember things well when they are associated with music or rhythm. Try to incorporate sounds into your lessons, such as using a familiar tune, song, or rap beat to teach spelling rules, or to remember words in a series for a
test. Here are some other ways to use your musical intelligence:

• Create a poem with an emphasis on certain sounds for pronunciation.
• Clap out or walk out the sounds of syllables.
• Read together (choral reading) to work on fluency and intonation.
• Read a story with great emotion — sad, then happy, then angry. Talk about what changes — is it only tone?
• Work with words that sound like what they mean (onomatopoeia). For example: sizzle, cuckoo, smash.
• Read lyrics to music.
• Use music as background while reviewing and for helping to remember new material.
• Use rhymes to remember spelling rules, i.e., "I before E except after C."

Spatial (4.00)

You remember things visually, including exact sizes and shapes of objects. You like posters, charts, and graphics. You like any kind of visual clues. You enjoy drawing. Effective techniques of enhancing your learning using your spatial intelligence include creating and/or using pictures, maps, diagrams, and graphs as you learn things. Other suggestions:

• Write a language experience story and then illustrate it.
• Color code words so each syllable is a different color.
• Write a word on the blackboard with a wet finger. Visualize the word as it disappears. See if you can spell it afterwards.
• Take a survey. Put the information in a chart.
• Write words vertically.
• Cut out words from a magazine and use them in a letter.
• Visualize spelling words.
• Use colorful newspapers like USA Today.
• Use crossword puzzles.

Self (3.86)

You have a very good sense of self. You like to spend time by yourself and think things over. You will often take in information from another person, mull it over by yourself, and come back to that person later to discuss it. You like working on projects on your own. You often prefer to learn by trial and error. Effective techniques to enhance your learning include keeping a journal and giving yourself time to reflect on new ideas and information. More ideas:

• Go on "guided imagery" tours.
• Set aside time to reflect on new ideas and information.
• Encourage journal writing.
• Work on the computer.
• Practice breathing for relaxation.
• Use brainstorming methods before reading.
• Listen to and read "how to" tapes and books.
• Read cookbooks.

The scores for your other five intelligences:

Social 3.71
Nature 3.57
Language 3.29
Body movement 3.29
Logic/math 3.14

Just because these five are not in your top three doesn’t mean you’re not strong in them. If your average score for any intelligence is above three, you’re probably using that intelligence quite often to help you learn. Take a look at the Practice section to see how to engage all your intelligences.

The Long Road Home (The Full Story)

SEQ. 1. INT. DAY. G'S APARTMENT.

G is busy with house work when his cellphone rings. It's Ces Aldaba, his actor-uncle whom he recently met at the taping of an infommercial. Tito Ces asks if he's available for taping the next day for an afternoon soap. He excitedly says yes and agrees to wait for more details from Tito Ces.

SEQ. 2. INT. NIGHT. G'S APARTMENT.

Piper and G are busy with work when G receives final instructions for taping the next day in Pampanga. The call time was 6:00 AM. The role was going to be a doctor. The soap was Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan, starring Marvin Agustin and Camille Pratts. Scenes of international stardom flash before G's eyes.

SEQ. 3. INT. DAWN. G'S APARTMENT.

It's 5:30 AM. G is packing some doctor clothes and preparing to leave. He did not finish his writing assignments and resolves to finish them on the road as he closes the door to his apartment and leaves.

SEQ. 4. EXT. DAY. 7-11 OUTSIDE GMA.

It's past 6:00 AM. G is waiting for the production staff, Jonsky, to call him into the van that will bring them to Pampanga. Jonsky tells him he was supposed to have been called at 5:00 AM and should have joined the rest of the talents/extras in the jeepneys. In his mind, G thanks God for his luck. He gets to ride with some of the minor actors/celebrities in the van.

SEQ. 5. EXT. DAY. PARKING LOT OUTSIDE MT. CARMEL HOSPITAL.

The van arrives in San Fernando, Pampanga, at the location - Mt. Carmel Hospital. G and the actors/celebrities get off the van and proceed to the hospital building. Jonsky instructs them to proceed to the standby room at the 2nd floor. G follows the actors/celebrities. Jonsky stands by the door and looks G in the eye, and says, "Go and have breakfast at the parking lot." G quickly realizes he does not belong with the actors/celebrities and lines up for breakfast - heaps of rice and one slice of paksiw na bangus. He lugs his wardrobe and laptop bag around and looks for a decent place to eat in. He finds a spot in the basketball court and picks his way through the fish bones of the bangus. He decides not to eat the rest of the fish for fear of having fish bone stuck in his throat the rest of the day. He hears some lady yelling for the talents to gather.

SEQ. 6. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

G joins the rest of the talents in the exodus from the parking lot to the 2nd floor lobby where they were supposed to wait for their call. G suveys the lobby and tells himself, "So, this is camp. Bummer." He picks a spot at the stairs and begins working on his writing assignments.

SEQ. 7. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

G occasionally looks up from his work to check if any of the staff are calling him. None did. Many of the other talents are busy putting on nurses' costumes and doctors' costumes and rushing to and from camp. G wonders when his call will come.

SEQS. 8 to 16. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

Same as Seq. 7. This goes on through lunch. No calls. No instructions. No nothing.

SEQ. 17. INT. DAY. MAIN LOBBY.

G is surprised to find an old acquaintance from theater entering the main lobby carrying all his coats, shirts, and pants. G thinks to himself, "Aha! A co-actor! Finally, someone I know! Now, I am not alone." G approaches Allan, an actor more experienced on TV than G, who promptly introduces him to his girlfriend, fellow actor, Mimi. They exchange a few words and Allan and Mimi camp out with G at the 2nd floor lobby. G and Allan are handed scripts by one of the staff. A few minutes later, Allan announces he has found a nice, comfortable place for us to camp out in at the ground floor. G joins them but says he fears he might miss his call. He leaves his things with them and goes back up again to the 2nd floor lobby.

SEQ. 18 to 101. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

Much like Seqs. 7 to 16, except G finishes his writing assignments and starts wondering how much longer he has to wait. He occasionally visits Allan and Mimi to chat, but nothing seems to appease his growing anxiety.

SEQ. 102. INT. NIGHT. CONFERENCE ROOM.

Ground floor camp. Very comfortable seats. Air-conditioned room. The staff that gave G and Allan their scripts earlier comes in and announces G has been memorizing the wrong script. G gives a faint smile as he receives the correct script.

SEQ. 103 to 856. INT/EXT. NIGHT/DAWN. ALL AROUND THE HOSPITAL.

G waits. And waits. He smokes. He waits. He eats. He chats. He sleeps. He waits. He plays computer games. He waits. He sleeps again. He waits. And waits still. He washes his face. And waits still.

SEQ. 857. EXT. DAY. PARKING LOT.

G calls Tito Ces to get advice. He has been waiting 24 hours to be called for his scene. Tito Ces says he should wait. G puts the phone down and briefly considers committing suicide.

SEQ. 858 to 903. INT. DAY. CONFERENCE ROOM.

G waits. And waits. He smokes. He waits. He eats. He chats. He sleeps. He waits. He plays computer games. He waits. He sleeps again. He waits. And waits still. He washes his face. And waits still.

SEQ. 904. EXT. DAY. PARKING LOT.

G is smoking his last stick when he finally gets his call. He rushes inside and everything suddenly becomes a blur. Before he knows it, the scene is over and he is sweating like a pig. He breathes a silent prayer that the ordeal is finally over.

SEQ. 905. EXT. DAY. ON A BUS.

G collects his thoughts as he makes his way back to his life. He remembers doing the scene with Marvin Agustin and Camille Pratts. He remembers the Assistant Director calling a cut when he missed his blocking and completely blocked the lead stars from the view of one camera. He remembers hitting his foot on the bench on the scene. He remembers forgetting his line and imagining the director cursing because of it. He remembers hitting the door on his exit. He remembers saying sorry a lot and Jonsky shushing him because his lapel microphone was on and the scene was still ongoing. He remembers briefly swearing off show business for the rest of his life. He remembers needing only one take for the other half of his scene and taking back his decision to swear off show business. He remembers all this and starts writing on his blog,

After 28 hours at a taping out of town, I am finally on my way home (literally writing this on a bus). This is probably one of the longest days of my life. There are stories to tell. More in a later entry.

Then G falls asleep.

Looking for a Public Relations Officer

QTV's Hired is looking for a Public Relations Officer with the following qualifications:

• Male or Female, 18-26 years old
• At least college level with excellent interpersonal skills
• Loves to party with a strong fashion sense
• Confident, aggressive, and up to date with current trends
• Creative, fun-loving and able to work in a dynamic environment
• Willing to join a reality show

Send your resume with photo to hired@gmanetwork.com.

Deadline of submission of applications is on 31 October 2008.

For inquiries, call 9264523 or 9827777 loc. 3025.

What's in a Name?

Got this from www.asiaflash.com.

The Personality of Your First Name: Glenn

There's an extremely pronounced individualistic side to your character. In all those with this first name, there's always something of a free, wild stallion. This means that it won't be easy to make them accept rules and that they'll often refuse any too imperious or too restrictive order. Their enterprising spirit, their dynamism, their ability to see far and wide can hardly make do with impediments to their freedom of action.

You like responsibilities and you refuse to be taken care of: you only long to look after yourself even if it sometimes means erring because of exaggerated optimism. You never want to walk in someone's shadow. Fundamentally, you feel free enough, strong enough to be able to exist by yourself. You don't need someone who comforts you, neither a protector, neither a guide.

Your relations with authority, whatever it may be — parents, teachers, superiors, administrative powers — are always more or less tense. Your often rebellious attitude makes one believe that you're tactless. But on the contrary, when you're yourself invested with authority, you want others to respect it duly.

Your intelligence is above all lucid and logical. You're too direct to ever get lost in existential meanders, and you aren't either inclined to mull over the past.

Extremely enthusiastic and anxious to succeed in all your undertakings, you're nevertheless sufficiently conscious of your chances of success. You're endowed with the faculty to adapt yourself to circumstances and to use them as a springboard. As you're an emotive person, you can experience depression in the wake of a brutal failure, but you don't let yourself be downhearted: you'll wait for your forces with a view to making a new start.

Of an irascible nature, you flare up quickly, and you often happen to lose your temper. But your anger is that of a superficial and touchy personage who'll get indignant or become angry but who'll thereafter look for forgiveness. When annoyed, you'll shout very loudly and will immediately forget all about it. Your anger once cooled off, you'll bear no grudge. If you sometimes happen to give in to shattering fits of anger, there're at least no actual manifestations of hostility: you simply try to assert yourself!

You're prompted by a powerful passion. But your passion is not raw and overflowing: it's rather a fire that smolders under the ashes and which emits more heat than flame. It manifests itself in your taste for risks and your desire to remove the constraints that are imposed on you.

In everyday life, you're sociable, merry, and of agreeable company. You're also often obliging. Your enthusiasm is contagious. In your relationships with others, you appear rather conciliatory, understanding, and tolerant. You're generally frank and direct in your words as in your acts.

The Long Road Home

After 28 hours at a taping out of town, I am finally on my way home (literally writing this on a bus). This is probably one of the longest days of my life. There are stories to tell. More in a later entry.

Done Reading

I finished reading them soon as I announced I was going to. I just forgot to say I was done with the first set of the Vampire Chronicles (Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, and The Queen of the Damned). Tinz has yet to lend me the 4th installment, The Tale of the Body Thief.

And then there's the following to find:

• Memnoch the Devil
• The Vampire Armand
• Merrick
• Blood and Gold
• Blackwood Farm
• Blood Canticle
• Pandora
• Vittorio the Vampire

I still have Lord of the Flies to finish. And Prue has yet to lend me Twilight. Prue? Or maybe Jes can lend me. Jessica?

Somebody please lend me more books to read!