Animo Alive! Culminating Night

My beloved De La Salle University - Manila's University Week, themed Animo Alive! comes to an end.. And Skittlez Crew, as the oldest and most recognized freelance dance crew in the university, performs yet again. :D

February 19, 2010. De La Salle University - Manila's Football Field.


Pictures to follow in the next post! Enjoy!

Jay~

Animo Alive! Opening Night

Video is here, but these are some pictures of our performance. :)















Sometimes, DLSU-M is just so beautiful. <3
Animo La Salle!

Jay~

Valentine's Day Fire

It was a 'hot' Valentine's this year.
The Saturday before the 14th, I stayed (as usual on weekends) at Julian's condo at EGI Taft Towers, right smack in the middle of the university. We were happily watching episodes of Man vs Wild when we heard some fireworks outside. We didn't really bother looking out.. Until we started seeing plumes of smoke outside the window. Julian's place is on the 22nd floor.

The street beside EGI, Castro Street (also the street where De La Salle University - Manila's varsity athletes are housed) had a fire; the construction-on-going building of Eton (that's the name of the developers I suppose). The fire was small at first, but it quickly raged. This was around 2230 hours. I ran down and checked out VSC (where a lot of my athlete friends stayed) and thank God they were being evacuated.

Around 0100 hours, power started going out along Taft Avenue. In the condo hangout gang, only Bea was missing, so I pick her up from Burgundy Transpacific (another condominium about three minutes from EGI Taft Towers). Power started going off again, and by now, there were about twenty firetrucks surrounding Castro Street.

At about 0200, we decided that the fires were looking pretty big, so we packed some overnight clothes (thankfully, this was all I had) and went to a place nearby and wait it out. Played some cards and ate a little. Around 0330 hours, the fires were under control and we went back to EGI. Rather exciting piece of action. I doubt anyone was hurt.

Some pictures courtesy of Bea's camera.







Jay~

Animo Alive!

A few hours ago, De La Salle University - Manila started its annual University Week. This year it is themed "Animo Alive!", and to kick it off, there was a "La Salle's Got Talent" competition. My crew performed before the announcement of winners.

Enjoy!
(I am wearing a vest, with a light green bandanna off my pants)



Jay~

Skittlez Powerhouse

It's almost four years of Skittlez Crew now, and I have to say that every year, the family just keeps getting better and better, stronger and stronger, and sicker and sicker. :D

We've got a very deep crew now, and it's absolutely fun choreographing stunt sequences (which I didn't know my mind could conceptualize) when so many members are flippers and high-flyers. It's certainly a step away from the "various styles showcase" that Skittlez is known for.

This year (this coming University Week, first day of the event) we're going to introduce some new stuff. My isolations choreography, some reggae choreography by Nica, and of course, 35 seconds of stunt sequence. We WILL definitely have some video of course, but for now, enjoy the following videos of my boys and girls. :D

I'm proud and honored to lead this magnificent crew.





Jay~

NCC Finalists

Congratulations to the DLSU Animo Squad for making it as one of the nine finalists from our regional qualifiers. Go get 'em in the finals!

Qualified teams:
De La Salle University - Manila
Ateneo de Manila University
Unibersidad de Manila
Jose Rizal University
Mapua University
Central Colleges of the Philippines
Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Taguig
University of Perpetual Help - Rizal
Rizal Technological University

Congrats again, Pep! :D

Jay~

Legion

I waited for this movie for quite a while, and I was greatly disappointed with the final outcome.

First of all, a movie starring Paul Bettany and Dennis Quaid - sounds pretty okay right? It didn't work. This movie was hyped up a lot, and carried some pretty surreal visual effects, but for all that: FAIL.

Apocalyptic movies usually have this certain air of expectation surrounding them. They are supposed to be scary, or at the very least, suspenseful. Legion was neither. It was a horrid marriage of religious overtones and the most confusing plot I have ever seen. In fact, I do not think there was even a plot!

The movie features scenes such as the archangel Michael "not giving up on humanity" even though God has, and has sent His archangel Gabriel to carry out a 'cleansing'. Not much 'cleansing' was shown, other than a few thousand zombiefied humans stalking a lone diner in the middle of Nowhereville. Lame.
There is way too much talking in the movie too. Talking about fixing cars. Talking about life's little challenges. Talking about bad TV reception. Talking about this and that, and even scenes of Michael and Gabriel arguing and debating. Seriously. That's lame.
Another rather noticeable thing in the movie was that the first two protagonists to die were both African-American men; the one-handed cook, and a pistol-carrying 'thug'. Seriously.
I don't even want to go to the parts on WHY a particular baby in a waitress' womb fathered by an unknown man was SO special. It was never explained, other than a vague reference to how "the child is the last hope for humanity" or some other crap like that. Never explained, never expounded on. Okay, the baby was born. So what? The movie ends soon after. *rolls eyes*

It's just so bad I don't even want to review it anymore. All semblance of critical review just bled out of my brain remembering Legion.

At least Gabriel had some ridiculously cool armor and wings. +1 for that.

3/10

Jay~

DLSU Animo Squad Student Manager

A new, official start of yet another college experience.

Managing my beloved squad's academics. :)
It's hard work, self-made hours, and no pay, but as they say, when you love doing something, you will do it no matter what.

Here's to the Animo Squad, the few, the loud, and the proud!

Jay~

Zombieland

Watched Zombieland with some friends a few days ago, and I have to say it was a bit better than my expectations.

Seeing the trailer, it immediately brought references to the popular multiplayer cooperative game Left4Dead and Left4Dead 2. The weaponry, the gore, and the manner of zombie deaths was quite similar, as well as the idea of "safe houses", if you pay attention to the movie.

Many popular films nowadays rely heavily on the CGI magic to work its way to a crowd's heart, but I liked Zombieland for paying real attentive detail to ironic humor and unexpected gags (as well as LOTS of make-up) in providing the comedy. The narrative style of the main character, Columbus Ohio, was also really funny in that he speaks in the matter-of-fact way of many born losers. He was perfect for the role. The constant reminder to the audience of his "rules" also brought some laughs, as they were flashed on the screen accompanied by a complementary scene, most often involving a gruesome zombie death.

I thought that the fact that there was less than ten names in the main characters list was cool; a few actors actually brought the movie to life, albeit with a little help from dozens of made-up stuntmen for the zombies. Less on the flash, more on the acting (though the acting was a tad dead sometimes).

Acceptable for a bored night out with friends, nothing brilliant, but should provide enough laughs to talk about later over some coffee. :)

7/10

Jay~

Welcome 2010!

A new year, the tenth year of the century.

Welcome, and may you bring better things for this world that has seen such turmoil, conflict, strife, crises, and many other unwanted events.

As for me, it's another year to start anew, to start afresh with some more things I want to accomplish.. before finally graduating from university, and entering the working life.

Here's to another 365 days!

Jay~

Avatar

Went to see James Cameron's Avatar the other day, and I must say, it was one of the better movies released this year.

***SLIGHT SPOILER WARNING***

The film, like many box-office releases of late, is heavy on CGI and special effects. Unlike some Michael Bay films though, the whole storyline and plot was not overwhelmed by the insane effects.

The film itself was rife with undertones, most noticeably its political and environmental ones. I love the idea of two differing people ultimately having the same end-goal, and finding that love is indeed color-blind. The rather anti-war and anti-violence themes in the film was barely concealed as well, with many of the human leaders reminding me of early Bush Administration tactics. As for the environmental undertones, it was a little exaggerated at some parts (think Pocahontas) but it was sensitively done in my opinion. I like the overall 'green' mentality of the aliens ("blue monkeys", in the words of the human military leader). It's a fresh perspective at a time when most films concentrate on the 'flash-bang-gore' experience for the viewers.

This has to be Sam Worthington's best film yet, much better than his performance in Terminator. A lot of the cast were unknown to me, but I think they did an awesome job, especially the one who played the alien princess.

All in all, great story, greater undertones, impressive performance, and very nice battle scenes. My only regret was that I did not go to the loo before watching it; it turned out to be over two and a half hours long. :P

8/10

Jay~

Friendster Civilization

This is hilarious. :D


Jay~