Slap Slap!

OUCH!

Se Jie (Lust, Caution)

Lots of critics have disparaged this movie. They say it's too long, too slow, and too shallow. Etc. Etc. I for one, think it's one of the finest. The story is slow because it builds the tension. The sex scenes are intense and realistic. I blushed when Tony Leung "raped" the lead character. He was intense, fiery, and very cold at the same time. During the first sex scene, which was over an hour into the film, I felt extremely uncomfortable sitting there with Sam. the rest of the moviegoers were of an older age group. The cinematography was fantastic and Shanghai was recreated in great detail.

This movie is for those who like slow, intense films. It reminds me a lot of Wong Kar Wai's In the Mood For Love except the sex scenes were really INTENSE.

For those of you who didn't like it, you're in good company. Sam didn't as well. I won't hold it against you.



What I want to see next are:
the film adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement


and

the Coen Brothers' No Country for Old Men

Too Young

I love this song. I first heard it when I watched Lost in Translation. I heard it again the other night when Sam and I watched the movie. The video's kinda weird though. Dancing in yellow plastic waders?!?! WTF?!?!

Happiness?

I'm writing this while sitting up in bed. The lights are turned off and the TV is silently playing on mute. The temperature is a cool 72 degrees (thanks to airconditioning). My 600 thread count sheets feel so soft.

Most of all, Sam, TB, my special friend is silently snoring next to me. I forgot how nice it is to just sleep next to someone. He looks too gorgeous and dare I say cute sleeping in his boxers.

At his moment I can truly say I an Happy.

Quality Men

A friend e-mailed me this post he found on craigslist. It's pretty long, but I feel it applies to ALL Gay men out there! You know who you are...

I am a gay guy. I'll get that out of the way first. Grossed out by the boobs, turned on by the cock. It's a fact of life for me and there ain't no changin' it. I accepted it many years ago and life has been great ever since. I will also say here that I am a “quality guy”. I have a career that I have absolutely loved for the past 13 years, I have a wonderful long term partner of over 10 years, a wonderful daughter, vital relationships with supportive friends and family, lots of fun interests and hobbies, I volunteer and give back to my community. Oh yeah…and I know how to have fun in the sack to boot, AND I have been faithful to my other half for the whole time we’ve been together (and he to me). Go ahead and trash me for calling myself quality, but I know I am. I’m not saying I’m perfect by any means. I have my faults like anyone else, but I’m reasonably sure that I would be perceived as quality by most people.

OK...so now my point. I am amazed at the number of postings from gay men on this site who are complaining about the lack of "normal", non-racist, attractive, monogamous, non-druggie men out there. It truly is incredible to me. It makes me wonder if we are living in the same place!

If you scroll down a ways on this Rants and Raves list today, you'll see a posting from a gay Asian guy who laments the fact that the gay community is totally focused around white gays. I totally agree. But I had to laugh at his posting as he went on to say that he meets guys at clubs and online. THAT’S what he is judging the gay community by? How lame is that? Does he see Asian guys throwing themselves at White guys at book club meetings and running clubs? I’m guessing not. Post after post I read gay guys complaining about the lack of quality gay men out there and almost all of them talk about some creepy online experience or a bad scene at some bar or club.

To all you gay men who are complaining…do you realize there is more to life than meeting guys in bars and online? My God...you live in one of the major hubs of culture, academia, sports, you name it, and you're trolling for quality guys on the Internet or at Badlands?

Do you all know that getting your dick sucked or getting banged is not the center of your existence? Sure it’s fun and I’d never turn down an opportunity for either, but there is so much more to life than just being defined by being attracted to a penis. Make yourself more well-rounded than that. Quality guys can sniff you out in a second if you’re just horny. What more do you have to offer after you’ve both cum?

For all of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, here are 10 suggestions for how to find that quality guy. They are all based on common sense, but I have found them to work well for me:

1. Do you have a hobby or interest other than sucking cock or getting fucked? If you do, then join a club/group/social group around that interest or hobby. It doesn't have to be a gay club. Just join a club or group. You will meet people there who like the same thing you do. You will be yourself there (and not some phony posing at a bar or hiding behind a screen name) because you will be in a place where you actually enjoy what's going on. Do you enjoy spending hours on the Internet trying to find a hook-up? I’m guessing not. The hooking up is fun, but not the endless searching. If you join a group you won't meet a one night stand or boyfriend there most likely (although it could happen, huh?), but you will meet other people who know other people who know other people. It's like that lame MySpace site although in actual real life! Amazing, huh? Who knows? Maybe one of those people will invite you to a party and introduce you to the man of your dreams. And chances are that he will be a quality guy because the people who accepted you into their club or group or going to hold everyone else up to the same standards, whatever they are.

2. Go out and give back to others. Instead of trolling around the Castro or Gay.com, get off your ass and volunteer somewhere. Project Open Hand, Stop Aids, Equality California --- they all could use volunteers and are positively TEEMING with gay men who are all united behind a common purpose. Are those causes too "gay" for you? Then volunteer at St. Anthony’s Dining Room or Glide Memorial. Too religious for you? Then go do a Google search online for other volunteer opportunities. Help out at the Humane Society, be a mentor for a young person, go read stories to the local kindergarteners in your neighborhood. When you volunteer, you will meet other people who are selfless and who enjoy helping others (i.e. those “quality” people you are looking for). Quality guys appreciate someone who understands that life is not all about you. It’s also in part about helping others and learning about other people. If you don’t like to do either of those things, then I suggest you look inside yourself to see why not. You’re not a quality guy if you do not have this aspect of your personality.

3. Go out and get some exercise. No…I don’t mean go to a gym in the Castro and cruise the steam rooms for sex. Set a goal for yourself. Tell yourself you will spend a year training for a marathon (or a 5K, or a half marathon, or 3 miles) and then run it. Train for the AIDS Ride and then do it. Go for a run in another part of the City from where you live. Get out of your rut. Join a running club. There are lots in San Francisco and all over the Bay Area. It doesn’t have to be one of the gay running clubs, by the way. Remember, you’re not living your life around the sole idea that you are gay. Change your mindset that you are a runner, or a cyclist, or a weightlifter, or whatever. People who say they “hate exercise” come off as not quality. If you hate to run, find something you do like – dance, rowing, swimming? You do not have to be a porno god with bulging biceps and perfect pecs. Quality guys appreciate someone who takes the time to take care of their body in any way. This doesn’t mean hit the gym 7 days a week. It doesn’t mean you are 6’2”, 190 with a tapered waist. It means get some exercise, eat well, go to the dentist regularly. Show some pride in yourself by taking care of yourself.


Read the rest of the post here.

Sex & Music

When it's time to get into a seductive mood, my special friend TB likes to use music to well...seduce me. One night we made out while listening to Les Nubians...





And another night it was John Mayer.




You know sex is sooooooo much better with music.

Date Movie

From my previous posts, I'm sure y'all found out that I truly LOVE a good foreign film. The other night my 'special friend' and I decided to stay in and watch movies. I chose Wong Kar Wai's In the Mood For Love because it's one of my favorites and I really was in the mood. It's just a wonderful movie.



I just love this scene. It's like ballet.


To my surprise and delight, TB, my special friend chose this:


When I watched this scene, my heart melted.


TB gave me that look...Y'all know what it is...It's the look of love (corny?)
I laughed it off and he hugged me and snuggled in.

I don't want to fall in love.
It's just too much, especially after K...who I just wanted but became disappointed with.
I never thought it would get this deep with TB. He was just going to be a FuBu...Why do I fall in love so easily?

Am I really ready for this?

What if he is sincere?

At Wit's End

Love can make you do some fucked up things.

I have this friend. Let’s call him E. He’s like a brother to me. He’s a good looking guy and can probably bag any man he wants, but just lacks the confidence. Let’s start at the beginning.

About 8 months ago, E went to his boss’s house to play playstation and get drunk. Then one thing led to another and before they knew it, they were watching porn. As the scene grew hotter, Bossman looked at E and E looked at him. Something could have happened then and there. But E chose not to do anything. His boss is STRAIGHT.

Months later, after hanging out more often with Bossman, E fell in love. He began to live in a world of fantasy where he would follow Bossman’s every move. E would relish Bossman’s lingering scent and would be thrilled when he would smile at him. This went on for quite some time and E fell even more in love.

We advised him not to fall in and to stay away. But the more he stayed away, the more Bossman grew anxious and it affected the workplace. So E resumed contact once again. Then one weekend E was once again invited to Bossman’s house where he was introduced to drugs (I have no clue as to what type it is) and copious amounts of alcohol. After that weekend, E grew more despondent and began to retract from me and his other friends. Bossman became an obsession.

The last time I spoke to him, he was high or drunk and with Bossman.
I’m at my wits’ end.
I feel like I have failed a friend.
I hate the feeling of being a failure.

I don’t know what to do next.

A Statement

As many of you know, the blast that occurred in Makati yesterday killed nine innocent people and injured dozens of others. Many are now shocked, scared, and angered. But I am certain that this too shall pass. The resiliency of the Filipino people will shine through as always.

It is my fervent hope that this tragedy be treated with dignity and respect. This is no time for politics. It is a tragedy and should be left at just that.

I hope that we can all draw lessons from such a tragedy--to cherish life and live it as if each day were your last.

May the the innocent souls of the victims rest in peace and those who are injured to heal.

Note: This post has been edited.

The Virgin Queen

I always found Queen Elizabeth the First to be one of the most fascinating people in history. She gave up happiness, love, and marriage in order to serve her people. So when a special friend invited me to watch Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I didn't give it a second thought. The trailer looked interesting anyway.



But sadly, Cate Blanchett's superb acting can only do so much. The movie was B-O-R-I-N-G. So boring that the people below us started to nod off. It was also chock full of historical inaccuracies. Walter Raleigh in love with Elizabeth...
WTF?!?!

If you really want the most accurate depiction of the life of Elizabeth I, try Helen Mirren's Elizabeth I. It's fantastic.



Now as long as we are on the subject of Elizabeth and Helen Mirren, her performance in The Queen, for which she won an Oscar was just stellar. It really humanized the the current Queen and I began to sympathize with her. She really didn't plan Princess Diana's death. That idea is absurd. Anyway, go watch The Queen, its a fantastic movie!



When I become Queen, I'll wear Chanel suits and Oscar de la Renta. :P

Extraordinary Rendition

Extraordinary Rendition is when one country renders a suspect/prisiner to another country jurisdiction sans all the necessary paperwork involved.
This has been used by the CIA to extract information from terror suspects.
Since torture is illegal in the US, the government sends suspects to countries like Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Poland, etc. to do the dirty work.

Read more about it here.

The topic is now a movie starring Reese Witherspoon and Merryl Streep.


It's pretty disturbing, but just think of how many lives have been saved because of this. Sometimes decisions like these are necessary. I'd hate to be the one who makes those decisions though.

At Reyna's Request...

I have been tagged by Reyna Elena. Here's 8 random things about me:

1. I hate cockroaches with a passion. Especially the flying ones found in the Philippines. This stems from a horrid experience when I was living at my Aunt's house in Marikina. Those cockroaches are vicious!

2. Scent is very important to me. I don't like bad smells and stay away from smelly people. Smelling nice and staying clean is something the EVERYONE can do. I just find it appalling how people can walk out of their homes smelling like garbage. Oh! and to those guys who wear AXE...please please please lay off the stuff. It's better if you shower then put on some mild smelling deodorant.

3. I was born in San Juan, Metro Manila. I spent a lot of time there and was even baptized at the main church there. I think it's Saint John the Baptist Church. I also lived in Pasay, Quezon City, and Marikina.

4. I spent summers in my Lola's farm in Bicol. It was great fun! We would run through the rice paddies and have the old dog, Rambo, chase us everywhere we went. It was simple and very bucolic. The views are fantastic! The farm is surrounded by green hills and you can see Mt. Isarog in the distance. Back then, we still had to use hand pumps for the water. Now, Lola's farm house boasts a shower, a flushing toilet, and a plasma TV, not to mention air conditioning. The effects of globalization???

5. I love movies. I love all kinds of movies. I watch more movies than TV shows. I don't really watch much TV. I watch movies.

6. When I was young my Aunt Millie taught me a response whenever someone asked what my Mother did for a living:

Question:Ano trabaho ng nanay mo?
(What does your mom do for a living?)

Me:Dancer po sa Mabini.
(She's a dancer at the red light district.)

My mom still laughs about this to this day.

7. I love the sound of champagne being poured into a crystal flute.

8. Two life changing trips for me:

Paris: Where I fell in love with life

San Francisco: Where I fully embraced who I am and who I wanted to be.

Now, I tag...

1.Empress Maruja
2.Thadie
3.Josh
4.Jon
5.Chase
6.Bryan the Miseducated
7.Q the Conqueror
8.Misterhubs

We're Here

We're Here
We're Queer
Get Used to It!

Today marks National Coming Out Day here in the US.

I say more power to those who wish to come out of the closet and lead lives of honesty. Maybe someday I'll have the courage to do the same.

Enough with the drama.

Watch this!

A Free Burma

Photo Courtesy of Reuters

Over the past few days, the world has finally seen that all isn’t well in Myanmar. As the monks march for freedom, the rest of us watch in shock and disbelief that such atrocities still exist. It’s 2007. We are in the new millennium, yet many still suffer. So many still have their rights to free speech, freedom of expression, and just the plain old right to say “the government sucks” deprived from them.

The Burma case is egregious and alarming. The junta has held a tight grip for years with the complicity of its ASEAN neighbors. The US cannot be blamed for this one. Sanctions have been placed for years and credit must be given to the Bush Administration who spoke out against the crackdown. But the US alone cannot put an end to this. ASEAN must step in and impose sanctions and support the protesters. Its time for ASEAN to step in and take care of its own business. This is happening in its own backyard. Are we willing to allow the mass murder of thousands of innocents? If no one rises up to fight for what is right, then we will all have blood on our hands, especially ASEAN.

I ask any of you who believe in the universal and unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to write an entry about the crimes committed by the junta.

Spread the word.

I support a Free Burma.

Visit IHT.com for the article
Thanks to Bisean for introducing his link to Burma, a fellow blogger named Dawn.

Visit ko htike's blog to see what is happening in Yangon.

Busy Busy

I haven’t needed a vacation like I do right now. I just need to get away.

Far away.

The only relaxation I get these days is my weekly facials. Over the past few days, I had to deal with 3 tests, 2 reports, drama at work, and a new business venture.

A co-worker had approached about an idea of his which I am currently researching. He and others will put up the capital and I will get a percentage for my work. Since they are elderly people, they don’t know how to use computers, much less write a business plan and run around the city following up on contracts. It’s been really hectic. I get about 5 hours of sleep a night. Then again, it is a lot of money to just pass on.

As they say,

“Sacrifice today means affluence tomorrow.”

Photo courtesy of Intercontinental Hotels Group

An Aristocrat's Idol

I haven't blogged because of a busy busy schedule. School seems to be taking up most of my time with all the tests and papers I have to prepare. Early this week...last weekend actually, I watched 60 Minutes interview Alan Greenspan. I have always been a fan of AG since I was a Freshman in high school reading the Wall Street Journal. The economic boom orchestrated during the Clinton Administration was perhaps the best this country has ever seen. America has just fully embraced globalization, free trade, and was reaping the rewards of technological advancements. It was the birth of a new economy.

This and more is espoused in Alan Greenspan's new book, The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World. The book's essentially a memoir about his life, his philosophy, and his predictions. Marvel at the genius of market capitalism and how it has brought the world closer. Ever wonder why South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and China have such booming markets?Read *part* of the reasons in the book. I've only gotten through the intro and Chapter 1, but trust me. It is an interesting read and is not written in Fedspeak.

Reyna Elena has also posted clips of the 60 Minutes Interview.

Here are some excerpts:

"All people appear motivated by an inbred striving for self-esteem that is in large part fostered by the approval of others. that striving determines much of what households spend their money on..."

"In the face of the increasing integration of the global economy, the world's citizens face a profound choice: to embrace the worldwide benefits of open markets and open societies that pull people out of poverty and up the ladder of skills to better, more meaningful lives, while bearing in mind fundamental issues of justice; or to reject that opportunity and embrace nativism, tribalism, populism, indeed all of the "isms" into which communities retreat when their identities are under siege and they cannot perceive better options."

My friends, we face a bold new world.

I think there's something you should know...

I remember shaking my little fanny to this song back in the day.

How fabulous is that?

"I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man"

Now that is a coming out song!

My Thoughts On Erap

To those of you who judge Estrada as just some petty politician who is out only for himself, I say "Don't judge a book by its cover." I have been lucky enough to have met the former President and can only judge him to be a well-meaning, sincere, and charming man. There's been a lot of ugly things written about him, and I hope that people look real hard at themselves and the other politicians who are guilty of the same sins.

Consider the fact that his former best friend, the admitted "jueteng lord", is now hailed as a national hero. Now that is perverse! His old enemies have now become allies, while allies have turned to enemies.Politics does indeed make for strange bedfellows.

I can't even imagine how his family feels right now.

After all the politicking is over, I will still remember the jovial man whom I met years ago when I was still a boy living in San Juan. That memory of Erap will be the one I hearken to whenever someone calls him a monster. I can only wish him the best.

Happy Birthday!

What do

Richard the LionHeart

Patsy Cline

Pink

and

the Virgin Mary

Have in common?


They share the same birthday with me!

Thank you Everyone for reading my driblets and incoherent thoughts.

Today I was very touched when a friend at work gave me a card.

It was a singing card with the song "Breaking Free" from High School Musical. I've never seen the movie. But she knows I like the song no matter how much I said I hated it. She knows I'm corny like dat! Thanks so much Janny!



and a very special thanks to Josh.

My *Wish* List...the shoe Edition

I just love love love these shoes. These are definitely on my wish list.
Maybe *someone* will buy me a pair for my birthday.

1. Gucci Sneakers


2. Prada Calfskin Logo Driver


3. Prada Seamed Leather Slip On


4. Prada Velvet Slip On


5. Louis Vuitton Monte Carlo Initials Loafer


6. Louis Vuitton Foudre Loafer


7. Louis Vuitton Classic Utah Leather Loafer


8. Dolce and Gabbana Signature Top Sneaker


9. Ferragamo Riservia Slip On



Don't Make me Choose ONE! I love them all!

Photos are courtesy of Neiman Marcus and eluxury.com

I now leave you with a song from Lola Madonna. Ciao!