Review: The Lost Symbol

I made a reservation for this book with the expectation indeed that I wont get Literature with a capital L. As an extra mileage of the book, yes it can prompt me to Google and research more on some of the purported "Facts" used in the fiction

But in the end this really is something you finish very fast, more of a junk-food of a book. You won't expect going back to any sentence to savor any well-turned phrase. Instead one should expect the clichés, and overused adjectives.

Dan Brown repeated so many times "staring right in the face," "so obvious," "it was so simple" too much in each revelation, it's a bit annoying. There's also "starled," "stared in horror," "held his breath," peppered in generously. To any reader, as an appeasement, I recommend you just credit everything to writing style. Just plow long. Dan Brown anyway is now a confirmed master of cliffhanger chapters. He makes it a point that you keep on reading--this is a credit.

My primary problem in the book is in its building up to a very shallow prize (relative to the Da Vinci Code). The last pages are almost a disappointment because of this. The ending made me ask... "that's it?" To my mind, it's unbelievable for an organization to go to great lengths to hide in symbol something so not worth it. This makes the book weaker than the Da Vinci Code. I wonder whether the author tried to avoid too much controversy in writing this one or this is really the conspiracy thing lined up for discussion. I think even the first National Treasure movie (also regarding masons) one-upped the book in this regard.

Also as mentioned elsewhere, it's almost the same package, half of the book: the single assassin who had to be naked again, an intelligent lady partner with a personal stake, running from authorities, the running, and escaping so close, etcetera. Im sure Ron Howard is now scratching his head, thinking about putting into film another book of the same exact flow.

Finally, was it worth my money and time nonetheless. I believe, yes. Still good entertainment. And Circumpunct is a funny word, I don't know why it sounds funny to me. Circumpunct! Say it out loud! Makes me smile everytime.

The Flood

Everyone has a story to tell, of loss, sadness, thankfulness, hatred, disilussionment...

Officemates living in Pasig whose houses are up to this day submerged in mud. Friends still sleeping on cold concrete.

im writing our own story here just for posterity.

It can actually be summarized in two words: we're lucky. As everyone else who were unscathed, we all devote it to luck. Like it's expected of our government to be this way, for our drainage to be of this state, for our officials to have moved this way. To have stopped helicopter rescues by mid-day in favor of ferrying politicians who want to 'visit' the carnage. All the relief effort, bayanihan thing is all good, but it will reach a point when everyone gets tired of that ABS CBN vtr, fund raising, and all the shit that seems to be becoming a cycle. It shouldnt be happening in the first place if our waterways have been taken cared of.

And that Gibo stupid fuck had the audacity to spend his department's budget for his disaster preparedness tv commercial, when they cant even do the first step of bringing food to the stranded. There were no resources... what preparedness are you blathering about?

We almost transferred to a place in De Castro in Pasig. We wanted a place with a garage so I can avail of the car plan in my company. I was trying to negotiate with the landlord.

I cant imagine what would have happened if we did agree on the rent. Just one bridge separated us from an unthinkable calamity:

(photo from msnbc and boston.com)

The horror... the horror

I dont know what brought me to look for this clip of slaughter. Perhaps it's the floods. The horror of that calamity. The horror of the rescue operation. Where are your TV Commercials now Gibo? Shouldnt you have used your mktg budget for rubber boats? Demmit!





My goodness. The clip still makes me tremble.

Eztupid Song

Bwakangina. Ito na siguro ang pinakaestupidong kantang Pinoy na narinig ko:

Minahal kita hindi lang dahil sa maganda ka
Minahal kita hindi rin dahil sa maporma ka
Minahal kita lalong hindi dahil mayaman ka
Minahal kita sa taglay mong pambihira

Sinong hunghang ang hindi magmamahal sa isang babaeng nagtataglay nang mga ito? O sinong hipokritong mag-dedeny na ito ang mga dahilan ng labing labing feeling?

Sa singer at composer nito: anong taglay na pambihira pa ang natitira, e sinabi mo na lahat? Kabaitan? Ulul! Kulang na lang na ikanta mo pa na “Minahal kita hindi rin, dahil ang galling-galing mo sa seks darling.”

Ito.. mas intelehenta pa ang lyrics na ito:

Minahal kita pero mas gusto kong mag-PS3
Minahal kita pero ankati ng itlog ko
Minahal kita pero gusto ko nang piniritong bangus
Minahal kita pero mahal ko rin lahat ng tao sa mundong ibabaw.
Minahal kita pero sana makarekober na ang ekonomiya nang Pilipinas

(isinatitik ng tatlong minuto ni turmukoy)

Dagdag na Entry (Pero natalo... pilit kasi e)

Portnoy’s Complaint
Kahit Saang Butas, The Alexander Portnoy Story

The Lottery
“Wag Kang Jajackpot, Wag!”

Love in the time of Cholera
Pag-ibig sa Panahon ng Malalang Pagnanaknak at Pagtatae

Sa tundo man ay may langit din
Becomes
Langit Sa Tondo (Viva Sto Nino!)

Im sure Carlo would love to adapt and massacre Butch Dalisay’s Soledad’s Sister
OFW Victim! Soledad Cabahug Story
“mula sa Nobela ng isang Elitista”

Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
“Comics Kings”
Directed by Comics King, National Artist!
(Magaling akong magdrowing. Tignan nyo ito, o!)

The Professor of Desire or Sabbath’s Theater by Philip Roth
Indecent Professor 2, Sinalakay Si Inday

Carlo Caparas, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, Challenge

Jessica Zafra has a 'LitWit' contest.

We like books, we like movies, we like books made into movies. If there’s a guy who knows a thing or three about all of the above it’s the Philippines’ National Artist for Film and the Visual Arts, Carlo J. Caparas. Caparas went from writer of komiks serials to auteur of such films as The Vizconde Massacre, The Lipa Massacre, The Tirad Pass Massacre, The Lotto Massacre, and the Massacre Ng Mga Elitista, currently in production.

What if the National Artist were to adapt other people’s works of literature into film? The possibilities are stunning. In the hands of Carlo J. Caparas, Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere (In English, Touch Me Not) would become Huwag Mo Akong Hipuin, Huwag!

Given the Carlo J treatment El Filibusterismo would turn into The Wedding Massacre: Sasabog Na Ang Bomba! (I Now Pronounce You Man And Wife.)

In contrast to the pallid Hollywood adaptation of Da Vinci Code, his version would be Ang Katawan At Dugo ni Mona Lisa (Hesusmaryosep!). The classic fairy tale The Little Red Riding Hood would turn into The Little Red Riding Hood Rape-Slay (Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?), and Snow White, The Pitong Unano Massacre (Huwag Mong Kakagatin Ang Mansanas!).

Send in your proposed titles (as many as you wish) for Carlo J. Caparas film adaptations of any book by Sunday, 20 September.

Here's my entry:

1) “House of Sand and Fog”
“Ang Bahay sa San Francisco:
T’was gifted to me, Thank God!”

Based on a true story

Starring: Mikey Arroyo

Sample Dialogue (search “Winnie + Mikey Arroyo” at Youtube)

Mikey: “Well put it this way,”
Igan: “O sige.”
“ Alam nyo kase, syempre unang-una kinasal tayo non, medyo nagkaron tayo ng marameng regalo. Ta’os pagkampanya, syempre kahit papano maraing tumutulong sa aten
“so nakaipon ka roon?”
“e hindi naman nakaipon, medyooo nakagaan nang konte. Tapos I have some good investments. Anyway, my lawyer will just aah.”
“okey abangan ko pag-uwi ng lawyer mo ha. Pagbalek”
…
Mikey: “Now youre being sarcastic…”
Mareng Winnie: “Hahaha. Of course.”

2) The World is What it is by Patrick French
“Ganyan talaga ang buhay, weather-weather lang”
Carlo Caparas grabbing the award. Ramon Santos being dropped from the rolls. Carlo Caparas will of course direct himself.

3) “What we talk about when we talk about love” by Raymond Carver
“Ano nga ba ang Pag-ibig?
God, speak to us!”
(ang haba nga naman ng transleysyon)

4) The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
Satanas, Lumayu ka!
The Bumbay Angel Tragedy

5) The Global Filipino (authorized biography of Jose DeVenecia)
Ilaban mo, Pilipinas kong mahal, sa mundong ibabaw, the Jose de Venecia Story.

The opening credits will go like this…
Inihahandog ng ating Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, na magaling magdrowing (tignan nyo ito o!), na may ipinangalan-sa-kanyang street sa Pasig, na mula sa masang na-ka-Rayban, na nagpupuyat isulat ang kanyang mga iskrip, nang maraming natutulungan, ang Hari ng Comics, Visual Arts… dyandyararaaan Carlo J Caparas!

Then, Amay Bisaya, Manoling Morato, and Pangarap kong Jackpot stars screaming: “Yahu! Manigas kayo!”

"Playing on a perceived obligation"

"...But sometimes you find yourself in a situation where the guilt factor is really high, or someone plays on a relationship or a perceived obligation, and it's hard to escape without seeming rude." from this post.

The fantastic essay is about something else, but this phrase reminded me of people who are masters of this move. Even he or she is just a friend of a cousin's friend of the friend of a relative, and you've shaken hands and talked with for 3 seconds, on a baptism you were obliged to attend, when that master approaches you for a favor, it seems your a fucking ingrate if you say you have no time, or even say you are not the right person to approach.

Like that person youve met in one drinking spree, then the following day gets to your office, sits at your table, and ask you to get her a job in the company.

These people look you in the eye, and do not leave until you say yes.

Best solution against these sorts? Avoid. Dont even shake hands or say hi. If it so happen that you must meet, or you suddenly meet somewhere, then hust nod. Say the fewest words possible, then leave. Be proactive in avoiding contact.

Heeess baack!

(screencap mula sa keynote)

Sobrang payat nya na pero may dala-dala siyang mga bagong iPod. may video na raw ang iPod Nano.

Dramatik ang enrada nya sa Keynote.

May eksena pa na nagkakamot sya nang tinahing pinagtransplantan nang bagong atay. (mula raw sa isang beinte anyos na nabangga at namatay).

Bargain! Bargain! Books! Books!

Vintage Classics Limited Edition at National Bookstore. Bargain!





I first saw these Vintage line as packages of two books "Vintage Sin, Vintage Satire, etc," costing above 500 PhP. These twin editions might not have clicked on the local market so National repacked the two books into singles. I was surprised to see that the price fell down to 99 PhP each. With the current booksale, they're just 79.25 each! Even cheaper than Happy Meal! Good for gifting!

Ive read Sabbath's Theater and I still consider it inside the top 10 novels that Ive read. Out of respect, I bought two already. (Again, for gifting!)

I intend to buy Possession (Byatt) and Trainspotting (Welsh)--to add to my pile of after-you-go-i-can-catch-up-on-my-reading things. And two Atonement--Ive also read this one, so again, they will be for gifting.

Ang pinamatatandaan ko sa pelikulang Bruno ay...

ang napakaikling oras nito. Petengeneng sebreng ekle. Biruin mo, isang oras at sampung minuto lang pumatak ang pelikula? Halatang kinatay-katay nang MTRCB. Oi, kung kakatay kayo nang ganito, dapat isubsidize nyo ang tiket. Gawing sinkwenta pesos na lang ang sine, langya.

Tumatalon-talon ang mga eksena sa pelikula, may mga napuputol pa na salaysay. May eksenang magpapakidnap sana si Bruno sa Lebanon para siya'y sumikat, tapos... aba, bigla na lamang napunta sa Africa ang pelikula. Sanamagan talaga.

Walang mabuting Censorship! Yun lang.