Bangkok Love Story

I’ve heard about it but nothing prepared me for the most tragic gay film I’ve ever seen. Bangkok Love Story. Mek (Rattanaballang Tohssawat) seized (the film’s in Thai language so forgive me if parts of my humble summary raises your brows)  a police officer, Iht (Chaiwat Thongsaeng). The latter has knowledge of the assassination of the “General”. Mek, being  an assassin himself, was asked by the perpetrators to chase Iht and ultimately kill him afterwards. But he disobeyed his bosses when he discovered that not only was Iht innocent he was a good (looking) guy. Mek was shot in his shoulder as he tried to save Iht from his gang. 

Iht took care of badly-hit Mek in a secluded rooftop bunk in downtown Bangkok. The story went on to tell of the harrowing home-life of Mek. His abusive stepfather infected both his brother and mother with AIDS. Mek apparently has no other means of supporting his family financially aside from being a hired killer.

In that little bunk both Mek and Iht found an undeniable bond. Mek tried to shun the feeling he has for Iht in account of what has happened to his family. But as you will learn from this movie - You can deny love but you can’t deny longing. I’m not one for dishing out spoilers. All I can say that this movie is simply beautiful. It will linger on you like Jollibee hamburgers. You may find a buncha cliches here and there but just give the movie a chance to grow on you. 

One weak point of the movie is it tried to discuss alot of issues. Prostitution, poverty, abuse, AIDS, suicide amongst other socio-political issues in very melodramatic lines. The script needed some revisions. Good thing the movie wasn’t all words. The gloomy cinematography and ingenious camera shots saved the film. 

It’s available in youtube. Go watch it. It’s gonna hurt you in the heart a little. You might even say that the movie is just hard on itself. The director and writer admits that it’s a tragedy but get beyond that, or better yet embrace it, only then will the essence of the movie unravel before of you. I cried the hardest in the last scene. Ayan naiiyak na naman ako. WAAAAAAAAAA!

A host of things I picked up from Poj Arnon’s film.

1. AIDS is not always a self-inflicted sickness. I’m happy that the director highlighted this because even to this moment were we boast of the internet, many are still ignorant not only as to how people contract it but also how a PWA (persons with AIDS) must be dealt with humanely. It’s time that the world erase the stigma it has for AIDS and focus more on how spread the knowledge about it.
2. Life is a tragedy. Unless we realize this we will not grow. Personally I thought that the Bangkok Love is not purely fictional certain poignant bits from the film are happening as I’m writing this post to somebody somewhere.
3. I’m happy that this movie highlighted the emotion of the protagonists for each other. Many gay themed films hide in the guise of art and the “indie genre”. Sadly most of them paint a bad image of the gay community with how they develop their story. I believe that a cinephile can see eroticism and passion even if they don’t see a throbbing dick. It’s time that the world see us in a respected light. (With that being said, there’s no frontal nudity in this movie.)
4. If you love someone don’t wait out too long to make it known. 

Winning The Battle

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers who have extended their support and prayers to me. I’ve been battling with hyperthyroidism since February and I’m so happy to tell you that my endocrinologist (Dr. E. Tan of St. Luke’s Medical Center) ordered me to stop my meds for two weeks and subsequently lower the dosage from 20mg (3 times a day) to 5mg/once a day. I’m becoming the hippopotamus that I was again. Challenges like not seeing my jaw line or not being able to button my denims (sometimes I can’t even zip it halfway) pales in comparison to the prospect of getting  a clean bill of health.  So there you go guys, a huge thanks to y’all. 

I hope that my battle with hyperthyroidism could give inspiration to all the other millions who are going through it. There’s always a cure for something. Just be disciplined and don’t lose hope. There were times that I blamed myself. All I wanted was to look thinly fabulous then. So I reckon now that crash diets don’t work (out fine in the end).

I’m now 145 lbs from being a 100-pound skeleton.

Lot’s of love from me to y’all and here’s to healthy living!

BEFORE 

Me with Mama Rene Salud (Filipino Fashion Icon) @ 100 lbs.

NOW 

Si Van. Si Van. Asan Na Si VAN!!!

For a weeks now I’ve been receiving comments for my Crush Of The Month Post where I featured ex-PDA scholar Van Louelle Pojas (who now goes by the screen name, Van Roxas). Most of the comments show interest on his whereabouts. He didn’t top the reality-based talent show, he made it to the finals but placed 5th only. Nothing to be ashamed of but he seems not be getting as much exposure as Bugoy or Laarni. We hope to hear from him soon. If you guys have any gig or TV appearance schedule of Van, please shoot me a message so I can post it here. From his Friendster Fan Club account I got these photos, ENJOY y’all. 

7 Things I Hate About BDO

1. I lost my BDO Debit Card for the umpteenth time.
2. The stupid people from BDO Credit Card sent me a pre approved card. Catch is, they mispelled my billing adress and I learned of this a day after the cut off.
3. I  went to BDO SMPC to have my Debit Card replaced. I didn’t bring any valid ID, so there’s no way around it.
4. I withdrew 600 pesos to pay for the minimum of my balance (300++ pesos for my BDO-inflicted late payment).
5. I went to buy some junk to eat for the 3 remaining days leading to my paycheck. Brown-bag lunches for me as my funds are running slim. I used my snazzy BDO Credit Card to pay for it but guess what my transaction was declined. HORRIBLE and HUMILIATING.
6. I called BDO, they said that since a new billing cycle has started without me paying for the previous balance, they froze my card. I asked when will they re-activate the card. After 24 hours. FUCK THAT CRAP!
7. I ate 5 donuts from DD. Smoked 3 cigs and sent my sorry ass home. Now tell me BDO where will I get the money to feed me for 3 days?

LESSON: Don’t do business with Banco De Oro.

PS. I’m going to BDO tomorrow after my shift to get the card replacement and treat myself bigtime. Not ofcourse without me giving the people in that bank my asian middle finger for working my ass today. 

Goddess Of Beauty : KALORKEY!!!

Miss World and Earth coronation nights are fast approaching. Like what I’ve stressed time and again, he selection of the fairest lady in the land and the arduous process that goes along with it has been deeply grained into the psyche of Filipinos. We can be proud of the Miss Earth pageant, a Filipino invention which has now overtaken Miss International from the top 3 spot of the Beauty Pageant Heirarchy.

But did you know that… Shit magtatagalog ako!

Anak ng nalaos na Japayuki! Nakakaloka talaga ‘tong isang bagong tatag na Beauty Pageant - GODDESS OF BEAUTY. Calling the attention of Anne Curtis! Naghahanap daw sila ng DIOSA!!! OK na sana eh. May date and location na ng Coronation Night (in fairness next year pa ang pageant.)  Ang sabi ng official website ng Goddess Of Beauty:

2nd of October 2009 to be held in the world’s most prestigious and luxury destination, Mauritius.

Sa bansa pala ni Viveyka Babaji ito! Baka sabihin niyo OA lang ako.  Basahin natin ang General Rules and Regulations:

1. Candidate’s body and specially face should look EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE & PERFECT! We don’t want SUPER BEAUTIES, we want GODDESSES!!! (BAKLANG BAKLA ANG NAGSULAT NITO. And again, ANNE Curtis, they’re soo looking for you.)
2. No bikini is required. (Hubadera ang mga hitad! MOKOT! Anyways baka may sponsors naman sila ng bikini. Baka sila na magpoprovide.)
3. Candidate should be between 16-24 years old and should LOOK between these ranges.(rare exception can be made for candidates above 24 and below 16 if candidate is really striking) (Ano ba talaga Becky!? So kung ako 24 na pero mukha na kong 40 deadma na ko? Pero kung yung friend kong 40 years old na kamukha ni Kim Chiu, KERRIBELS???)
4. Woman who are married and have children are allowed to participate. (Bearing a child is a symbol of feminity we don’t find any problem in this, she should just not fall pregnant during her reign as this would be an inconvenience during her travel and tasks.) (BRAVO!!! Oh tama na andami pang sinasabi eh! Winner na nga yung Regulation # 4 eh.)
5. Candidate should be minimum 160cm and maximum 180cm (Rare exceptions can be made if candidate is really very beautiful) (Dito na talaga ako nagyosi ng Champion. So, ang ibig sabihin kapag si Mahal  at Mura nagkataong kasing ganda ni Dawn Zulueta gegetlakin niyo sila? Tanong lang naman yan.)
6. Candidates are strictly forbidden to smoke and drink during the pageant. (Oo naman chaka kaya nun sa stage kung nakafull-gown ka tapos hithit ever ka tapos laklak pa ng Absolut. WIT!!)

Contrary to other major pageants which has recently put in force a rule that pertains it’s only the winner who can participate in their International Pageant, here it’s reverse. We don’t necessarily want the ‘technical winner’ of a national pageant but we want the one who is REALLY the most beautiful, FACIALLY. Concerning body, height is not that important for us except she must NOT look fat.

(Lagot kayo kay Tyra!!! Teka tatawagan ko ha… Hey TyTy, yee Kamlon here. Somebody’s coming up with this shitty pageant and all they want from a candidate is everything else but a pair of jiggly badonkadonks. In short, they don’t dig real-sized women. So if I were lash them out in your show tomorrow girl . They can’t just talk down on your cause. And did I tell you that they’re gonna give a golden apple in place of a crown to the winner. Who do they think we are po people, They can’t just shove food at us like that. Cmon fight TyTy!) 

Read the rest of the crazy stuff them people from Goddess of Beauty call as “regulations” here! See you in Mauritius next year October. This promises to be a RIOT!