Category Archives: Tribute

Remembering Coy Caballes a.k.a. CokskiBlue #ThankYouCoy

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I logged on to my Facebook account while taking a break from work. I was shocked upon reading messages from my news feed that people are posting sympathies on a friend’s page. I haven’t been in touch with him for months now and I felt terribly sorry when I confirmed that Coy Caballes passed away.

Cherish The Day | Photo by RebelPixel

Cherish The Day | Photo by RebelPixel

I was speechless. All of a sudden, I was sobbing in tears and there’s a little feeling of regret that I didn’t keep in touch with him. In fact, the last chat conversation I had with him had something to do with me stressing him out with some business matters. Magulo. Hindi ko alam. Bakit? Bakit si Coy? Why of all people, ‘yun pang taong walang hinangad kundi tumulong at pasayahin ang mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya?

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Bonggang Tribute: Pinay Drag Queens of Rupaul’s Drag Race

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Last month, Filipinos from different parts of the world rejoiced when Janine Tugonon placed first runner-up in the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant. The truth is, a lot of beauty queen enthusiasts feel that Miss Philippines should’ve won.

Pinay Drag Queens

While most fans were busy rooting for their favorite beauty  queen, I was drafting a tribute post for the Pinay Drag Queens who made it in Rupaul’s Drag Race. No, the show is not about the risky drag racing. It is a show where drag queens are given the opportunity to showcase their talent for the world to see!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdbbHr1d2A&w=560&h=315]

I first heard about Rupaul’s Drag Race when an online friend shared the music video ‘Hot Couture’ by Manila Luzon. I instantly feel in love with the video and look for information about this drag queen. Apparently, she placed 1st runner-up in Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 3. She lost to Raja Gemini, who is also Asian (Indonesian). Love the fact that the gaysians invaded the third season!

I admitted on my YearEnder post that the latter part of 2012 was quite rough for me. Instead of traveling or doing something productive, I end up watching Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 2, 3, 4 and the All Stars edition. It is fun to know that the Pinay Drag Queens who were introduced on the show continues to make their loyal fans happy with their gigs!

While beauty queens like Venus Raj, Shamsay Supsup and Janine Tugonon get all the mainstream media attention they deserve, it seems that our internatinally-acclaimed Pinay Drag Queens don’t. Oh well. Let me make the first move and introduce some of the Filipino guys who made it to Rupaul’s Drag Race!

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Manila Luzon, I Love You!

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Guess what? I think I’m in love with a drag queen.

For the past few days, I’ve been watching some of Manila Luzon’s videos on Youtube. I think I’ve seen almost half of the videos uploaded at her personal Youtube account. I’ve also seen some of her amazing performances as shared by her fans. How I envy them because they get to see him perform live!

Manila Luzon | Karl Westerberg

 

I am talking about Karl Westerberg a.k.a. Manila Luzon from RuPaul’s Drag Race. Yes, he/she is a Filipino!

I first heard about Manila Luzon’s achievements through a gay friend. There was a time when I fell in love with the boys of Kazaky. I joined this Facebook group, where I met more Filipino fans of the Ukrainian dance group. One member shared a video of Manila Luzon’s ‘Hot Couture’. The song is so catchy that I ended up playing the video a lot of times. Some shared the video on Youtube. I don’t get why I haven’t really heard about Manila Luzon’s achievement via Philippine print media. Her talent and creativity is something to be proud of!

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Ang Katiwala ni Aloy Adlawan: Isang Paggunita sa Ama ng Wikang Pambansa

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Ang pelikulang Ang Katiwala’ (The Caretaker) ni Aloy Adlawan ang isa sa mga pelikulang kalahok sa 8th Cinemalaya Film Festival na ginanap noong nakaraang buwan sa Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Greenbelt at Trinoma. Hindi ako nakakuha ng Festival Pass ngayong taon, pero hindi ito naging hudyat para hindi ko mapanood ang ilan sa mga pelikulang kalahok.

Napanood ko ang pelikulang ‘Ang Katiwala’ sa Greenbelt 3, ala-una y medya ng hapon. Pagkatapos kong bumili ng inumin sa paborito kong milk tea store ay dumiretso ako sa sinehan. Akala ko nga huli na ako. Buti na lang opening credits pa lang ang pinapalabas noong ako’y pumasok at umupo sa inireserba kong espasyo.

An ordinary man haunted by an extraordinary legacy

An ordinary man haunted by an extraordinary legacy

Isang araw bago ako nanood ay may kontrobersya na lumabas tungkol sa reaksyon ni Bianca King sa rebyu ng isang film critic sa pelikula ng kanyang jowa. Teka, wala namang kinalaman yung isyu na yun sa aking desisyon na manood pero aaminin ko na isa akong tagahanga ni Dennis Trillo. Isa kasi siya sa kukurampot na leading men sa telebisyon na karapat-dapat na tawaging aktor. Pwede siyang maging mayaman, dukha, ama, anak, teenager, bading, superhero, loverboy, kabit, martyr, kagalang-galang o kahit ano pa man. Hindi siya yung puro pa-kyut lang, pero cute naman talaga siya.

Ang pelikulang ito ay mula sa panulat at direksyon ni Aloy Adlawan. Isa siya sa mga creative consultants ng Kapuso network na kayang gumawa ng pelikula sa mainstream at indie. Kung napanood niyo ang mga pelikulang Quija at The Road, siya ang sumulat nun. Bilib ako sa mga sinulat niyang indie films tulad ng Room Boy at Signos.

Ayon sa isang panayam, ang artikulo tungkol sa dating bahay ni Manuel Luis Quezon ang naging inspirasyon niya para sa kanyang bagong obra. Ito na rin ang magsisilbing ‘tribute’ niya sa tinaguriang ‘Ama ng Wikang Pambansa‘, na tila hindi na kilala ng makabagong henerasyon.

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Remembering Tyron Perez

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The news is out that Tyron Perez, a Starstruck avenger turned Kapamilya actor passed away. I am not sure about the details of his death as I write this post since everything I read on Twitter and Facebook are unconfirmed reports. Whatever the reason is, I am praying for him and his family.

Remember when I blogged about how I loved the first batch of Starstruck? I am an avid supporter of their batch and I think I saw almost every episode. I was in my senior year in high school then. After the Starstruck Ultimate Male and Female Survivors were revealed, the 14 then teenstars started touring around the Philippines making their fans happy.

Tyron Perez (September 14, 1984 - December 29, 2011)

I first met Tyron Perez in a mall show in Dagupan City. He was with Railey Valeroso. I cannot remember exactly on how I was able to contact Tyron (maybe thru Christian or Jade), but I’m glad I went despite the huge crowd. He sang onstage to promote his TV show for GMA-7 (Love to Love). I remember he sang the song ‘Like a Rose’ with that genuine smile on his face. Backstage, you can see the epitome of a typical probinsyano – he was quiet, smiling all the time and a gentleman.

My friend Ruby is a big fan of his so I am more than happy to tag her along (can’t find the pictures now T_T). Tyron and I managed to communicate via text in the succeeding days. Now I figured out why Christian and Jade consider him as one of their closest pals in showbiz.

Fast forward to 2008. SOP went to Dagupan for a mall show and it is timely because Jade Lopez is also a guest for that leg. By that time, Tyron Perez already starred in the critically-acclaimed Twilight Dancers. If I am not mistaken, he is the first Starstruck male alumna who bravely accepted such challenging role. When Jade told me that they will visit me at home after the show, I panicked LOL.

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In Loving Memory of AJ Matela

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BAKLA AKO, MAY REKLAMO?! I remember the first time I browsed his website baklaako.com when I was still based in Dagupan City. He is considered as one of the real influential bloggers in the Philippine Blogosphere and he somewhat inspired a lot of people (men and women) to come out of the closet. He blogs about his interests and at the same time, write heartwarming stories about his own experiences and he actively participates in activities supporting the LGBT community.

AJ Matela and blogger friends

I met him for the first time at the iBlog4. Cai, Maki and I had a crush on him and secretly wished that he was straight LOL. Later on, we would bump into each other in blog events and Plurkfiestas. He supported me too in some events I organized for the company I used to work with. He is a certified head turner as people would take a glance as he enters the room. He is also a fashionista and he carries his clothes with style.

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A Tribute to Stephen

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Bihira na akong magsulat ng blog entry in taglish pero hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. Sa tingin ko, sa ganitong paraan ko lang maipapahayag ang tunay kong nararamdaman sa biglaang pagpanaw ng isa sa mga taong naging malaking impluwensya sa buhay ko kahit pa marami ang hindi nakakaalam o nakakaintindi kung bakit ganito siya ka-importante sa akin na naisipan ko pang gumawa ng blog post tungkol sa kanya.

Stephen Munoz (1977-2011)

Tara, balik tayo sa taong 1999…

Umuusbong pa lang ang internet noon. Naalala ko pa nga na natuto akong mag-internet dahil may nakita akong website address sa isang Spice Girls memorabilia. Sabi ng kaklase ko, mag-internet daw kami para makakita kami ng maraming pictures ng Spice Girls. Ano nga ba yung internet? Ay, sa kompyuter ‘yun. Maraming nagagawa sa internet pero napakamahal. Sa iskul namin noon, pwede ka gumamit ng napakabagal na dial-up internet sa internet laboratory na makikita sa main library. Php 25 per hour. Bago ka makagamit, kailangan mong pumunta pa sa cashier para magbayad ng itinatawag na ‘internet fee’. Dahil isa akong estudyante na kakarampot lang ang baon, sobrang namamahalan ako. Umabot pa nga sa puntong hindi ako kakain ng ilang araw maipon ko lang yung bente singkong pambayad ko sa isang oras na pagi-internet.

Ang adiksyon ko sa pagi-internet ay lalong lumala (in a good way, i must say) noong isang araw, may isang OJT na naawa sa akin.

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