Friday night saw my good friend Ruth and I head out to SM Megamall to watch standup comic Rex Naverrete’s Seriously Joking show.

When I found out that this guy was in town and doing a stand up comedy show for the benefit of the Almost Aborted Babies foundation (kidding!), I didn’t hesitate to buy a ticket. It’s great that Ruth also liked Rex so we decided to get front row seats to the show. Front row, man. For someone who digs Mad TV and Saturday Night Live, I just had to.

So there we were, sitting with this guy Mike Unzon, a budding Filipino-American comic who opened for Rex. Mike was okay, I liked his jokes about how nobody really leaves a message on an answering machine in this country. It is so true, nobody does! We have an answering machine at home and the “messages” our callers leave us are mostly just the sound of annoying busy tones or them hanging up the madapaka phone, muttering to themselves “Ano daw?”

Rex is the only Filipino comic that I know of, really. I first learned about him through this freaking hilarious skit called Maritess vs. The Superfriends that made its rounds in office chain emails. This Maritess character is a Filipina maid who works for the Superfriends, and she hails from — well what do you know, my hometown Zamboanga. Heehee. This cartoon skit has gained a world-wide audience, even among non-Filipinos. Watch it!

———————–

Continue at JesseMonggo.com

isa sa mga paborito kong pinoy na salita ang bukang liwayway – sunrise. ano ba ang literal meaning ng salitang ito? “break of dawn”, siguro. bukang liwayway, bukang liwayway, bukang liwayway. banggitin mo ng banggitin at matutuwa ka dahil punong puno ito ng pangako ang kahulugan. pero pag naririnig ko ang salitang ito, naalala ko si elias na namatay na di man lang nasinagan ang bukang liwayway. medyo corny nga for a dying man to say, but what the heck. here are his last words…

“I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land! You, who have it to see, welcome it–and forget not those who have fallen during the night!”

actually, mas maganda itong pakinggan sa tagalog. teka nga at ma-translate…

“mamamatay akong di man lang nakitang nasinagan ng aking bayan ang bukang liwayway! kayong mga nakakita ng liwanag: salubungin ninyo ito ng masaganang palakpakan — at huwag ninyong kalimutang tulungan ang mga tangang nadapa nung kinagabihan dahil wala silang dalang mga flashlight!”

minsan din, ang maaalala ko sa salitang “bukang liwayway” ay ang pinoy magazine na “liwayway“. sikat ito nung araw at parating binibili ng mga auntie ko. dito mababasa ang mga kwento ng isa sa mga paborito kong cartoon characters – si kenkoy. 1922 pala nung magsimula itong ma publish. nakakalungkot nga na marami nang nagsara na mga publication companies. tinalikuran na kasi natin ang mga komiks at magazine na gawang pinoy nung sumikat ang tv at internet. sayang.

We’ve all heard the bruhaha regarding Jim Paredes migrating to Australia, with people saying he has abandoned the Philippines (although Jim Paredes says he’s only taking a break from it).

Who’s this artist?

Read more…

Without much fanfare, Apple “quietly” updates the processor of the MacBook Pro. Now the MacBook Pro is sporting the Core 2 Duo (Merom) processor.

Read more…

[read the whole entry]I’m glad I managed to add 3 photos in my Sac·cha·rides gallery this week. I know I don’t have the right camera and skills yet, but it gives me so much joy taking photos using my point and shoot cam. More pictures in my Sac-cha-rides gallery.

I have spent enough time surfing the internet for vector graphics today as well. One day, I will create another gallery in my PBase showcasing my vector graphics. Meanwhile take a look at these, some drool-worthy DA.

Blackeri – I love her work especially her seven deadly sin series. Among all her works, I love vanity the most. It’s gorgeous and enchantingly beautiful.It perfectly captured the subject of vanity

Max Edwin Wahyudi (The making of Song Hye Kyo) – shows once more that enough time and skills can make a total deceiving DA. Take a look at this, Song Hye KYo or more popularly known to us as the beautiful Jenny of “Endless Love 1: Autumn in My Heart”.

Demonika – One of the best hair painting I have ever seen. The only thing that didn’t lok real is the nose, the skin complexion is a bit pale, otherwise i would have thought it’s a real photograph. [read the whole entry]

In any culture, when people feel that everything seems to be hopeless, when nothing seems to be going right, there’s only one thing to do. Laugh at it all!

Even in conservative Iraq, with curfews and censorship. People turn into humour to laugh their problems away. Here’s a report from the NY Times about a show in Iraq satirizing everything that’s happening. From the American occupation to the Ministry of Water and Sewage planning to change its name to the Ministry of Sewage because it has given up on the water part.

Read more…