Filipina Soul

November 19th, 2008

Please don’t visit me at home

I have a very bad houseguest that overstayed it’s welcome but won’t leave just yet. Mr. Cough and Mrs. Colds decided to play tricks on my family and now we’re hacking, snorting and sneezing.

Since my kids can’t take cold medicines yet, I’m trying the Filipino approach to cold remedies that I remember my mom doing when I got sick as a child. Vicks vapor rub always soothes at night, and a gurgle of salt and warm water does wonder for the sore throat. Chicken arroz caldo (rice soup recipe) is loved as much as the chicken sopas (noodle soup). Now if only I can find a hilot (masseuse; Filipino healing spa massage) I think we’ll be on our way to wellness.

So, pardon the inconsistent posting while I attend to my family and get us back in better health. Meantime, maybe you want to share your family’s secrets to better health, the comments are waiting.

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By Grace -- 0 comments

November 19th, 2008

Survivor Philippines Episode 46 (11-17-08): Steak or Salt for Dinner

Have you recovered from last week’s surprise of Marlon’s continued survival on the island of Koh Tarutao? I kept wondering why he as allowed to remain, in spite of his scheming ways. This is the week we’ll find out on Survivor Philippines .

We’re now on Episode 46, which aired on November 17, 2008.

The end of Day 26 in the Chalam camp came with Charisse pondering why Vern gave her the black pearl. Kaye said that she preferred Marlon to have received the pearl. JC also said that Charisse did not deserve it.

Around their meal that night, the topic of conversation was how Charisse would keep the pearl safe. Marlon laughingly asked Charisse if she thought he would steal it. Charisse simply said that he’s a bad person.

Charisse said that, though she was confused by Vern’s choice, she realized that she was never close to Vern, so she wasn’t hurt. Marlon was once again nervous about his survival, and wondered what his strategy was going to be.

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By Maricar -- 0 comments

November 19th, 2008

Survivor Philippines Fans Chat on Filipina Soul

Hey, Survivor Philippines fans!

We all like to talk about the latest adventures of the castaways on the island of Koh Tarutao. Whether it’s the difficulty of the reward and immunity challenges, the voting process, and even Marlon’s latest scheme, there’s always something to discuss with fellow fans.

So, I wrote this post to give us all a place here on Filipina Soul to express ourselves as fans of the show.

This is all about Survivor Philippines! I would love to know your thoughts about your favorite castaway (and yes, even host Paolo Bediones!).

If you have any questions, please email me (maricar at b5media dot com).

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By Maricar -- 0 comments

November 15th, 2008

Survivor Philippines Episode 45 (11-14-08): The Black Pearl’s Vote

Will Mommy Zita cross over to join Marlon in voting JC off the island? That was the question left to viewers at the end of the previous episode of Survivor Philippines.

We found out the answer on Episode 45, which aired on November 14, 2008.

While JC was the target of Marlon’s scheming, he didn’t forget that Rob was vulnerable too. He told Charisse that Rob would be in trouble if Marlon ever got hold of the black pearl that Kiko had given to Rob.

Memory Challenge for Immunity

JC, Rob, Kaye and Cris joined the others at the site of the immunity challenge. The challenge was a combination of a memory game and a race. Each castaway was given a color. They had to find and gather 7 blocks with the Thai symbols for the days of the week. The blocks were scattered all over a large field, under bushes and even in treetops. The castaways were given 20 seconds to memorize the order that the blocks had to be in. If they forgot the sequence of blocks, a “cheat table” was provided 200 yards away.

Finding the blocks proved to be quite a challenge, especially the blocks that were hidden in the branches of a tree. Vern was first to get all seven blocks, but she didn’t get the sequence right. Marlon finally found his 6th block in the trees. Vern went over to the cheat table. Zita got her 7th block but the sequence was wrong also. And so…. the castaway who won immunity was Charisse!

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By Maricar -- 2 comments

November 14th, 2008

"Pinoy Fear Factor" premiered November 10 on ABS-CBN

Unlike the American version of “Fear Factor” which only has three participants and three stunts per episode, the full-length reality series “Pinoy Fear Factor, South America” has more complicated competitions and eliminations.

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By Grace -- 0 comments

November 14th, 2008

Survivor Philippines Episode 44 (11-13-08): Four Away, Four Stay

Survivor Philippines has so many surprises, both for the castaways and the viewers! Imagine preparing a feast and not being able to even taste a morsel of it? That’s what happened in the previous episode.

Four castaways - JC, Kaye, Cris and Rob - get to spend the night at a resort and enjoy the feast that the other helped prepare. The others were shocked at this development. Marlon had no chance of being in the group, obviously.

At the resort (and a very nice resort it was too!), Cris was overjoyed and very thankful to JC at having been chosen. Meanwhile, JC murmured to himself, “Patay na naman ako! Patay na naman ako!” (I’m in trouble again! I’m in trouble again!). Kaye went over to give him a hug.

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By Maricar -- 1 comment

November 14th, 2008

Survivor Philippines Episode 43 (11-12-08): The Feast that Was Not to Be

In the previous episode of Survivor Philippines, Marlon and Zita got into a loud argument that was heard by the rest of the Chalam tribe. Was it just because of tension between former members of the Naak and Jarakay tribes? Or was something else brewing?

Episode 43, which aired on November 12, 2008, opened with a reward challenge. The challenge tested how well the castaways knew one another. It consisted of two parts: a survey about the castaways , and a question-and-answer portion about the results of the survey. Each castaway must try to give the most popular answer. For each correct answer, they could cut one of three ropes which held up paper replicas of their tribemates. The castaway whose replica remained undamaged by fire won the challenge. The reward was a secret scroll.

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November 13th, 2008

"Himala" is best Asian film in history - CNN

CNN viewers voted the 1982 Filipino film “Himala” (Miracle) as the Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time, announced the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia on November 11.

I’m trying to remember what this film was all about, and why it generated such a buzz. “Himala” was a 1982 film by Ishmael Bernal and starred Nora Aunor as a faith healer who gave hope to everyone in her town when people started getting healed. At the end of the movie, she admitted that there was no such miracle.

The Inquirer calls this win “a spellbinding victory for Philippine cinema” but I have my doubts. It’s not the movie, but the process of online voting that I’m skeptical about. It’s just too bias, I think. You know us, Filipinos have been winning American Idol, and the Ms. Photogenic award at the Miss Universe by the sheer number of Filipinos who vote online. Maybe “Himala” IS the best movie in all of Asia but I want it judged by film critics and not by number of votes.

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By Grace -- 2 comments

November 13th, 2008

Rihanna and Chris Brown Concert at Global City, November 16

Rihanna and Chris Brown are coming to the Philippines!

The two singers are doing a back-to-back concert at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field, Taguig Metro Manila this Sunday November 16.

Rihanna is a Grammy-award winning singer, who came to fame with her debut album “Music of the Sun”. Since then, she has had eleven 40 hit singles in the US. Magic 89.9 radio hosts Mo Twister and Mojo Jojo interviewed Rihanna about her rise to fame and her upcoming Manila concert.

Chris Brown is pop singer-songwriter and performer, with a Grammy nomination. The 19-year old musician topped charts with his single “Run It!”.

Tickets are available via TicketWorld outlets. Call 891-9999 for inquiries and reservations; hopefully there are still some available.

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By Grace -- 2 comments

November 12th, 2008

Wordless Wednesday #4: Wish you were here

Image credit: Flickr

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By Grace -- 2 comments