Sam Worthington in "Two Twisted"

It's very difficult to look for Sam's previous works back in Australia where he spent half of his acting career. Thanks to the generous fans who has been posting every video they can grab and sharing it to fans like me who does not have any access.

Here you will see a young Sam Worthington in a different light. You will see a glimpse of his soft side which we do not see in his previous Hollywood films. So I'm really praying for "Last Night" to be released somehow. In this movie, he plays opposite Keira Knightly who plays the role of his wife and Cuban beauty Eva Mendez as his secretary. Lucky guy huh?

Now, "Two Twisted" is a TV show back in Australia. It's a good 28 minutes long so it might take some time to download, but it's nice to watch if your just tring to you know...chillax! Enjoy the clip :)

Two Twisted - Delivery Man from Maya Oneel on Vimeo.

Crushing on Allan Caidic!

For those of you who doesn't watch the Philippine Basketball Association or PBA, he is popularly known as "The Triggerman", Allan Caidic (which planet are you from?!). When my Grandmother died in October of 1996, my sister and I found our selves left all alone in a, well the house is pretty big for a family of three. Most of the time when I come home, I would turn-up the volume of the stereo really loud or even the TV because the silence is just deafening and yes...we are afraid of ghost! A childhood friend of mine always brags a bout the PBA, how astig Jojo Lastimosa is, and how ALASKA is the only Team outside of the NBA that uses the "Triangle Offense" (again for those who's not in the know, The Triangle Offense was and still is being used but primarily by Chicago Bulls, remember Michael Jordan?) I remembered that night when I was all alone in the house and it's already late in the evening when I decided to turn to Channel 13. There I saw JOLAS being interviewed by no less than Chino Trinidad (he use to have a show with his partner in crime Anthony "Mr. Pasalubong" Suntay called HOTSHOTS and we've never missed and episode!). It was half time then, but when the 2nd quarter of the game resumed, I started to turn-up the volume and tried to watch. I remembered asking myself when a player took a shot at the basket, "bakit two points kagad ang score?!" which only proves how ignorant I was of the game. And the rest as they say is history. The following two to three years, 1997-1999 would be the best years of my life to date! Watching live games, specially during championships are the best of all! I'm quite proud to say that when it comes to haggling with scalpers for court-side tickets, we are the best!

We didn't saw much of Caidic in 1997 as we were only able to watch the last Conference for the year, which is the Governor's Cup. Aside from the All Filipino Cup, The Governor's Cup is something we (Alaska fans) look forward to because of it's resident import Sean Chambers. This is also the year that Caidic had a career if not, life-threatening injury. He and his San Miguel Beermen team mate Nelson Asaytono collided in mid air while fighting for the rebound. Caidic fell awkwardly on the floor and hit the back of his head. I remember scenes of this incident being constantly replayed on every news channel. I remember Caidic squirming in pain and then he started to vomit before he lost consciousness.Then the moment that Jaworsky was infamously known for...he was caught on camera saying these words "ano ba? ang tagal naman niyan! tigok na ba?! (with matching cut-throat gesture). 

That's the "Living Legend" for you! Anyhow, we didn't saw him play until 1997 but we usually watch games where Alaska is competing againts Brgy. Ginebra, their archenemy. In all fairness to this team, boring ang buhay kung wala sila dahil mga panggulo lang talaga sila! He he he. Fast forward to the not so near future, Caidic became the Assistant Coach of Brgy. Ginebra in 2000, the year when Johnny Abarrientos and Sean Chambers would play for the last time as team mates. In Chambers' last game which was held at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, my sister did everything we could to catch that game. We didn't care how expensive the ticket was as long as we can get in, even though the 3rd quarter's almost finished. And boy am I glad that we did went to that game, because it would be the last time (and so we though, because he did came back the following year) that our beloved import would be playing for Alaska (out of love and loyalty, he refuses to wear another team's jersey). As we entered the  arena, the guys at the entrance made us sign a survey for the All-Star game...then we saw Allan Caidic approaching our table looking at us. Catching his eye, I tried to look away, dyahe kasi! Oh come on ladies! We women always know when a guy is checking us out!!! When he was much closer to the table where we were standing, my sister and immediately left pretending that we did not noticed him and gave each other knowing looks after wards. "Uuuy, si Coach pa-cute!" Alaska eventually lost to whoever that team was, and then we tried look for their bus out side.

So many fans were swarming around the bus waiting, we all wanted to bid our beloved import farewell. When Sean came out, he was obviously surprised by the fans gesture. We were calling his name, saying "Thank you for everything" & "Come back next year!". He was even a bit teary-eyed. I stretched out my hand hoping to touch his arm, but instead he grabbed my hand and shook it for a while. Man, I was soo close to tears at that moment! Well, I cried on our way home and many days after that.

Many, many years later, I noticed that one of my Mum's doctors kinda looked like Allan Caidic (yun naman pala! pinahaba pa yung kuwento noh?). Since there is no picture of this doctor anywhere in the net si Allan na lang ang pinag-tripan ko. Which is not all bad, after reading so many articles about him, I realized that he's not only an exceptional player but also a good human being. Too bad he does not play any more, because I will do anything just to see him display his notorious 3 point shots once more.

 

Cleaning Up

It has been a while since I have watched a real good movie. Yes, I have seen Eclipse: The Twilight Saga, not that I did not swoon over Edward Cullen because I really did! But watching the movie a 3rd time would be just too much and I didn’t want the mystery or the feeling of anticipation to go away. As my sister said it "ayaw kong mag-sawa kay Edward!"

So on an unusually bleak and occasionally rainy Sunday; we deiced to pop-into the DVD player a movie that I have bought a month ago but did not had the time to watch, Julie & Julia. So much has been said about this movie, critics are raving about it specially Meryl Steep's superb portrayal of American icon Julia Child. Sandra Bullock has beaten her at the Oscars for Best Actress early this year, but still, Streep holds the most number of nominations for an Acting Category at the Academy Awards. She's has been nominated for more that 13x already, beat that!

My sister is currently enrolled in a Culinary (Vocational) Course at The Trinity University of Asia, courtesy of my Aunt no less. My sister has a passion for eating and cooking, me I just like to eat! I find it quite odd because I was taught to cook and do all kinds of house chores at an early age, but stopped altogether when I entered into college. College was a stressful time, and taking up a five year degree course could take a huge toll on both your physical endurance not to mention on your sanity as well. To make a long story short, I had a perfect excuse to be lazy and all I did during week days was cook rice, boil water and do the laundry. This come to think of it, wasn’t that all bad. Now, my sister does not let me cook anything, and if I was assigned a task in the kitchen she would reprimand me afterwards ("bakit sunog?; bakit hindi luto yung kanin?; bakit maalat!?). And so I pretty much leave her on her own when she's in the kitchen, I only come in to look, taste or if she needs someone to chop the onions for her ( believe you me, I still get lectured for chopping the onions the wrong way!).

You're probably thinking what I meant about cleaning up. Well, in a couple of weeks guess who's losing her job? You guessed it right, it's me. Not that I got fired or something, but as flexible as the schedule is or as easy the work load may seem to be at the company that I'm working for now, I'd rather look for a job that's a little more complicated but still get better benefits. Since I will be returning this 2nd hand laptop that I'm using, I have to move all of my stored documents (mp3's, pictures, etc.) to a flash drive. I guess I'll be missing this laptop since I have written all my blog entries using it. I feel ashamed for not posing or updating my blog as much as I use to. I'll try to make the most of the two weeks that I have, that means surf as much as I want and download all the mp3's and videos that I have been wanting to. If only I have a faster broadband connection! Cheers!

A stressful yet eventful week

Haven't posted anything for more than two weeks I think, I apologize to my audience (if I have any). I was so busy these past weeks that I just couldn't commit myself into updating my post as regularly as I used to. Where have I been you might ask...let me give you a short account of what happenned these past two weeks.

23 June 2010
My Mum was scheduled to be admitted at The Medical City the day before but asked her attending Cardiologist Dr. Rodrigo Santos, to go home that night so she can make "hatid" to my Aunt ( her older sister) to the Airport the following day. Doctor conceded.

24 June 2010
Accompanied our Aunt to the airport as planned. Stupid taxi driver did not dropped us at the Departure Area and went straight to the parking lot. Had to carry a very heavy luggage up stairs and everyone's looking at us probably thinking that we're from some other planet! My God, the embarassment!

25 June 2010
The scheduled Angiography is to be taken on this day instead, and I was tasked to accompany my Mum and report back to my Aunt later with the results. Since we came in after lunch, they had to re-schedule it the following morning as early as possible so that if my Mum's heart is clear of any problems, we can go home in the evening. Delays, delays.

26 June 2010
As the nurses were strolling my Mum towards the CATHLAB, I couldn't help but admire the hospital's facilities, how "high-end" the modalities that they were using. It must cost millions! The last time I was able to operate something as sophistacated was when I was still doing clinical rotations at the East Avenue Medical Center in Q.C.

So, Dr.Michelangelo Sabas (who looks like Allan Caidic by the way!) will be the one to perform the test. Once they are done preparing for the procedure, Dr. Santos called me into the lab to watch it. It's like being in a studio, there's a glass window in front of us, gadgets for monitoring Heart Rates,BP, etc. And the coolest thing is this monitor where I can literally see my mother's heart beating, it's like a moving X-ray.

When I went in, I noticed that Dr. Sabas and the rest of the staff was looking at me and they all looked amused for some reason. I smiled back not knowing what else to do when I started to turn my head around to see the monitor. To my shock and confusion, I saw 2 safety pins, a chain, and what seems to be a flat round object on top my Mum's beating heart! My reaction must have been apparent through my face so that when I turned and looked through the observation window, the dorctors, nurses, everyone was laughing out loud! I realised that it was my Mum's "anting-anting" that I saw and she must have refused to remove it even when doctors specifically told her to do so. Pasaway! So, everyone's anticapating for my reaction pala.

They finally injected the dye so they can see if there's any blocked arteries, the moment the dye went into the hearts circulation, Dr. Santos who was sitting next to me exclaimed "Ayun oh, dalawa! Bypass na ito." I felt a cold chill run through my spine, I couldn't think clearly and it seemed that time has stopped. I had to shake my self out of it as it is my responsibility to raise any questions or concern, that was my Aunts purpose why she asked me to accompany my mother instead of my younger sister. I had to be tough. I told them that an open open heart surgery might not be a good option considering my mother's age and most importanly, she has undergone six major operations already. We're afraid that she might not be able to take another one. Doctor said she's healthy enough but will wait for the final result so we can think of other options. And that option is an Angioplasty.

28 June 2010
My Mum told me that while she was lying on the operating table, Dr. Sabas approached her and said "Hi Ma'am, this is your big day!" If anything, I am very grateful that my mother was well looked after at that hospital, the nurses are compassionate and very approachable (haven't encountered a nurse that is masungit), and of course she's got the best Doctors/Surgeons. It was worth all the money I would say.

As they started with the procedure, I was back in the laboratory room, observing everything that they were doing. I saw how they inserted the catheter via the Femoral Artery  which is in the inguinal area (singit), then right through where the lesion is which is the Left Anterior Descending Artery if I remembered it right if . Sorry for the medical terms guys, let's just say that it's one of the major (bigger) arteries of the heart. Dr. Sabas was very effecient and quick, it only took him more that 20 minutes to finish the job. ASTIG! As I was watching, I felt a sudden rush through my vein like I wanted to jump off the walls. I really don't know what it was, but I wanted to do something...something with my life. Then I asked my self, what if this is what I'm really suppose to be doing, what if this is where I'm suppose to be? And I have been trying to avoid it for more than 10 years. I remebered what a former colleague from IHG told me a few montha ago, that at the end of the day we will still go back to what we are used to be doing, what we were taught to do.... as Physical Therapist.

Present Day
Finally able to go back to work, but not not lovin' it. We were back at The Medical City yesterday for my Mum's first check-up after being discharged and also to pay the doctors. They were kind enough to let us go home and pay them lated (that's nearly a quarter of a million mind you!) otherwise we will be held hostage by the hospital. We will always be grateful to the entire medical team.
I will miss that place...I want to work in that hospital someday. It's going to be a long shot but I will do all that I can and not turn back on it. Back in college I knew I was better than most of my class mates, I even once got the highest grade for the midterms in our entire batch. Then of course I choked and went back to being a lazy student. Those are my signs & symptoms. When I cannot handle the pressure I become lazy and complaicent and just let others shine. I will change this time. Now I know why I had to keep on transfering Call Center companies, why I had learn one difficult account to another, lose and gain friends, and that is to gain confidence, to believe in myself. Back in college, I can sit in an entire class not uttering a single word to anyone. I had friends but I really coudn't tell if I was their friend, so pretty much I was still a loner.
Well, as they say God works in mysterious ways and never question his purpose because it is all for your own good.

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for my Mum! =)