COVERAGE ::: The Lonely Mountain (Conclusion)

We were now on a narrow road that lead to Legazpi City. It was dark all around as Reming had knocked down everything in it's path. I saw a sign that told me we were now in Camalig, one of the severely affected towns. The amount of damage swayed conversation through various degrees of disbelief. Large mounds of earth had been shoveled to the sides, abandoned houses with their roofs blown and windows torn, downed electricity posts and trees, and empty streets.

Now, the windows were down because our driver wanted some fresh air and it had gotten rather chilly with the A/C on. As we surveyed the ghost town that was Camalig, we passed an area that smelled so bad and so we had to roll the windows back up as quick as we could. Then I noticed some men with surgical masks and gloves on. I told the guys that it must be where they were still digging up those carried off by floodwaters. Several white wooden crosses were also found on the side of the road not far from them.

COVERAGE ::: The Lonely Mountain

When I got word that they were bringing along a writer for the "Malacañang to Bicol Mercy Mission", I knew I was the one going. Seriously. I'm 99% predisposed for assignments to far-off places so I wasted no time and signed on for it. The remainder of that Monday afternoon (and evening) was spent packing and unpacking.

The following morning, at the rendezvous, I found out our destination was Legazpi City, 577 kilometers south of Manila and, based on Kuya Cesar's last trip there, a 14-hour drive. Obviously, I've never been to Bicolandia and seeing Mayon Volcano with my own eyes would be akin to demystifying something abstract. I mean it's something you're told about year in and year out since starting school but you don't really grasp it. At least, that's how it was for me.

Anyway, we rolled out at around 11 am on Tuesday morning after a brief send off/photo op with the President and the news media. You all know they go: photographers are wolves and cameramen are bears, somewhere in the middle of the mess is your tiny head of state trying to give a speech. But hey, it's her circus.

By 11:30 am, we were plying SLEX, speeding ahead and darting in and out of lanes so Mr. Photographer can take photos of the caravan en route to Bicol. This can be a little bit nauseating because just as I got adjusted to the speed, the car would slow down to park on the side of the road.

We made a stop at Atimonan, Quezon to take one last group photo with the baby blue waters of the Philippine Sea as our background. It reminded me of the highway to Ilocos. Really nice. Unfortunately, we weren't even halfway to our destination so we continued on as the sun was hurrying to set.

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Break Out that Wham! Classic

The title just means I'm hearing "Last Christmas" more often than what is mentally healthy. I'm not kidding. People in this country love that song. Anytime it's a "lost love" kind of thing, it sticks in society's psyche...just like ol' Yorgos' sissy dance. Ah, weeell.

This office is like Amazon.com's fulfillment house right now. You walk in and it's wall-to-wall Christmas giveaways, things my fellow employees could only wish would trickle to them. There's a stack of DVD players, a TV set, iPods, a couple of desktop computers, Christmas baskets of imported stuff, and a refrigerator. Now, imagine yourself trying to come up with an article at your desk somewhere in the midst of all that. Pretty insane but that's the price of "keeping good relations" with the freeloaders. Ye know who y'are, y'extortionists.

I finally heard Window in the Skies and I think their Sgt. Pepper collab with Macca did rub off after all. I'm not too fond of this song. Maybe that's the reason why I haven't picked up the new product. Or maybe I'm just making it easy for anyone thinking of getting me something for Christmas.

Speaking of joint projects, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about they're nominations for next year's Grammys. I wasn't expecting that they'd be up for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for One with Mary J and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for The Saints Are Coming with Greenday. Very nice! High five! I mean, usually, after an album gets released, U2 will make two Grammy appearances and disappear for a couple of years. Well, except for Bono who would come to a show to present and flaunt a new 'do. But he would rarely be a nominee, right? I don't think they'll attend anyway.

I hope that everyone going to see them tomorrow will have a great time. Man, you people suck.

Post-grind Movie Night

Yesterday morning at work, my co-writer offered me invites to a movie premiere (of which our company was one of the sponsors) that evening and I accepted. That's nothing to fuss about, I know, but I normally would've declined them since I'm not keen on going anywhere else but home after a long 10-hour work day...unless, of course, I were off the next morning. (I really gotta ease up on these long sentences!)

So a little after 7 pm, Bacolod Chicken (another co-worker) and I hopped on a cab for Greenbelt 3 to see the Russell Crowe-Ridley Scott movie "A Good Year".

Traffic was surprisingly moderate on that full-moonlit night (heh!) and we got to G3 after about half an hour. It was also a great plus that there weren't many people strolling or hanging around. Maybe it was still early? Anyhow, I've come to expect Russell Crowe movies to be either epic or cerebral dramas. This was neither and, boy, was I glad.
Most of the story takes place in Provence, you know, with rolling meadows, vineyards, rustic estate, and yellow-orangey hues all around. Think "Under the Tuscan Sun" from 2003 except Tuscany's in Italy. You get the idea.
Nobody can deny that Russell Crowe is a serious actor, the guy knows what he's doing. But we rarely see him making a fool himself in character. Here in this movie, he falls, he's messy, he says funny lines.

He's not the only actor to delight in this movie. They've got Albert Finney and Freddie Highmore. Yes, the Brits are well accounted for. And then there's the actor who plays Duflot, the French steward of the vineyard. You'll love him in a William H. Macy type of way. He looks like Vincent D'Onofrio though.

Okay, that's all I've to say for now. Hope everyone's enjoying all thing's Christmassy but never forget that its first six letters are what counts.