Il Mare

I just recently bought a Video CD Copy of the Korean film Il Mare (Siworae), starring Jeon Ji-Hyun and Lee Jung-Jae. I was actually intrigued by the movie at first, since a lot of Hallyu Fans rave about the Movie, claiming that it is one of the BEST Hallyu Movies to date.

During the down time at work yesterday, I plopped the CD in my CD-ROM and started to play the movie. In just a matter of a few minutes, I found myself getting drawn into the movie plot.

The movie starts on Christmas 1999 with Kim Eun-Joo (Jeon Ji-Hyun) writing a Christmas Card to the future occupants of the house she was vacating. In her Card, she asked if they (the future occupants) could just forward her mail to her new address in the City. In the next scene, Han Sung-Hyun (Lee Jung-Jae) moves into the house that we saw Eun-Joo vacate earlier. He opens up the mailbox and sees the Card that Eun-Joo left.

Sung-Hyun finds the letter odd as it was dated on Christmas 1999. It turns out that Sung-Hyun is living in the year 1997. Sung-Hyun and Eun-Joo exchange several letters and find themselves in a friendship that transends space and time.

As the story unfolds, you could not help but feel the multitude of emotions that flow through the screen. It made me weep, laugh, smile and sigh. It was just so powerful.

I am not wondering why Hollywood has bought the rights to the movie, at all. The Hollywood version of Il Mare will star Keanu Reeves as Alex Burnham and Sandra Bullock as Kate Forster and it is slated to be shown in 2006. Production for the Hollywood version is already underway, and I cannot wait to see how Hollywood interprets this beautifully powerful movie. I just hope they do not butcher it with too much Hollywood Hype.

To those who are just starting to get into Hallyu, I strongly suggest you watch this film. It is excellent! On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 9.4! Watch it!

FAMAS Night

Last Sunday, June 26, my brother, my parents and I went to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to witness the 53rd Filipino Academy Of Movie Arts & Sciences (FAMAS) Awards Night. It's a first for me to be Officially Invited to such big Entertainment Event. Hobnobbing with the stars, dressing up to the nines and enjoying the festivities was marvelous!

The highlight of my evening was chatting away with my good friend, one of the most talented actresses in the Philippine Entertainment Industry, Snooky Serna. Ate Cookie, as I call her, came in half-way through the Awards Ceremony and seated across the aisle from where we were seated. She was wearing a simple, yet beautiful Orange Gown. She presented awards for the Celebrity Clans.

It had been a long time since we last spoke, but it always seems like yesterday. We would always pick up where we dropped off. We've never talked about Showbiz stuff. We always talked about what was going on in our lives (except for the rumours going around about her and her family). It's always so refreshing to talk to her. She's just a sweetheart! She's so thoughtful and very accommodating, unlike most Celebrities nowadays.

We exchanged numbers and promises to see each other again once we have time. She might drop by our house soon to see my Mom for some treatments (my Mom's a Dermatologist). I just hope I can also make time when she swings by.

The FAMAS Night is a memory I would cherish, not because I saw a lot of Celebrities, but because it paved the way for me to see my Ate Cookie again. It's just so nice to see and talk to her again.

Caught In The Korean Wave

In the last few months, I have been engulfed and overwhelmed by the Korean Wave. Those who know me, know that when I am passionate about something, I tend to go all out. And now, my idle time is used for my fascination for anything, and everything Korean.

I have a really long list of favorite Korean Actors and Actresses, who are not even minutely familiar to a great majority of my friends and family. They do not even know what movies or series these Actors and Actresses starred in! They get puzzled and disoriented when I start talking about them! Names like Choi Ji-Woo, Bae Yong-Joon, Park Yong-Ha, Kwon Sang-Woo, Kim Rae-Won, Kim Tae-Hee, Lee Byung-Hun, Song Seung-Hun, Moon Geun-Young, Kim Eugene, Song Hye-Gyo, Kim Seung-Soo, Lee Hyo-Ri, Yoon Jung-Hoon, Han Ji-Hye and Lee Dong-Gun, sounds alien to them... And those are just some of the Biggest Names in the Korean Wave that is currently sweeping across Asia.

The playlist in my computer includes a lot of K-Pop Music and OSTs from my Favorite K-Dramas.

I even learned how to read and write Hanggul (the Korean Alphabet). I know some words as well, mostly from the Korean Learning Websites. The K-Dramas and Movies I watch also help me learn more Korean Words. I am currently looking for a Language School that teaches Korean, so that I could be conversant in Korean.

Hopefully, I don't outgrow my K-Wave Phase, 'coz it really helps me get over the depressing silence I experience on a daily basis.

Hallyu is here to stay!

In Debt...

A lot of things have changed in these past months, but one thing's for sure, I still don't have any money! Hahaha! Poor me! I still have not saved any of my earnings!

I don't know how I've managed to accumulate such a hefty debt! What it all boils down to, is my Gym Membership! Actually, its my Brother's Gym Membership that's costing me a lot of money!

You see, being the good, big sister that I am (Jeeze! Am I tooting my own horn or what?!?), I allowed my brother to use my card so that it will automatically debit his Gym Membership. Unfortunately, my brother does not pay me back. Okay, so he did pay me some, but he is still about PhP5000.00 behind in payments. And, poor me, I am left to pay for the interest charges, etc!

Another unfortunate incident, that is within the realm of my financial woes, is the loss of my wallet. Okay, so I've lost 2 wallets in a span of 3 months, but the thing that really bugged me, was the fact that the last wallet I lost had approximately US$500.00 in it! Bites, huh?!? What bites more is that it was stolen over the Holy Week in my LOCKED Drawer! I am slowly believing that people, nowadays, have zero conscience!

To try and forget the loss of my wallet, I went with my Parents and my Uncle and Aunt to Boracay. I had to drown my sorrows in the Pristine White Sands of Boracay! I just had to! But Boracay is another story...

Right now, I'm stressed out from work, and my brain is not functioning as well. Maybe after my Fontana Weekend, I could be de-stressed. *Sigh*

Lovin' The Smiths

I just got back to the office from watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith for the second time, and I had another fantastic time!

Like what I've written previously, I have a certain fascination for Angelina Jolie (who in their right mind wouldn't?!?). I friggin' loved her! My fascination for that goddess has escalated to epic proportions! She's just... Arrggghh! Perfect!

I couldn't help but fall head over feet for her when she danced in that scene in Bogota, with Brad. She exudes sexiness beyond comprehension.

And her chemistry with Brad Pitt... ELECTRIC! It's more than electric... It's a burning, intensifying, Firebolt! It's more intense than that explosion that wrecked the Smith Home! Those who think otherwise, would be the densest people ever!

I wouldn't blame Brad if he really fell for Angie. The attraction and compatibility is obviously there. And Angie is a girl who's just beyond compare. She's got it all: Talent, Brains, Beauty and Heart.

I may be biased, but I don't care about the Brad-Angelina thing. Angelina is just a victim of malicious and vicious press, and she deserves more than that.

Love that Smith Couple...

On a scale of 1 to 10... They're a 9.99! (Gotta watch it again!)