Eternal Muse

I've been such a busy-bee and a lazy bone for quite a while that I have been kinda late with the French Vogue cover and feature on Charlotte Casiraghi - my favorite royalty and fashionista. The photos were taken by Mario Testino, which spans 23 pages of the September 2011 edition of French Vogue. The photos remarkably shows her resemblance with her mother, Princess Caroline - in her younger years. As the granddaughter of the late Princess Grace of Monaco (Grace Kelly), Charlotte evidently shows that she has inherited the latter's beauty, sophistication, glamour and poise. 

Charlotte has a Gallic air on her. A natural instinct on style. But aside from that, she has a thriving career that she's been making on her own. Casiraghi is an equastrian showjumper, a published writer, a magazine editor for Above Magazine and Ever Manifesto (which aims to promote environmental awareness and sustainability in the fashion industry), and she also helps raise funds for the Princess Grace Foundation. I am a fan girl!

For more scanned pictures from the magazine visit this website http://fashioncopious.typepad.com/fashioncopious/2011/08/secretement-charlotte-charlotte-casiraghi-by-mario-testino-for-vogue-paris-september-2011-editorial.html

Culinary Journal: Spaghetti alla carbonara

I have just successfully cooked my first Spaghetti alla carbonara. I thought it was going to be difficult, but hey, the recipe is surprisingly trouble-free and simple – anyone can cook Spaghetti alla carbonara – even if you are not a professional cook by trade. In fact, I find the Italian recipe to be more satisfying than the modified Filipino version. I have this recipe book on Spaghetti that I've just bought on New Year’s Day from Shopwise and it is – rad!  I did the recipe on a whim, so it was far from perfect. And since I've said it’s only done on a spur-of-the-moment I have improvised (replaced some of the ingredients). To be specific, it required a heavy double cream, which then, I substituted, with an all-purpose cream. I have to make do with canola oil and cheddar cheese, which I used instead of an extra virgin Olive oil and Parmesan cheese because I have none in stock. Voila! My ingredients are complete. I have used the newly bought cooking pan for this, which adds up to the excitement. Overall, the experience is a success. Though I do not share the same taste buds as everyone, ( since I’m known to liking food that are Italian – I try to stick on the original base, which means my Pastas are usually not sweet and I put herbs on them) but, in my humble opinion, my Spaghetti alla carbonara is a winner. One down thirty-eight to go!

<5th January 2012>

Chin’s 17 Goals.

I consider myself an eternal seventeen year old, but the pity of me is I’ve never gotten to do a list of seventeen to-do things when I was in my actual seventeen. Since I have just put up my official blog (after abandoning the one I have from Multiply and Tumblr) I’ve decided to write my list now. Like they say, “it is better late than never.”

1. Improve my cooking skills. I love cooking and eating. Food brings people together. Now having said that, I like whipping up a nice meal to my friends and family, but I hope to become really good at that. I just bought a recipe book on Spaghetti and I swear to cook them this year. I want to become a master on cooking Pastas (although am not an Italian and I do not live there). If that happens, I would elevate myself to cooking French cuisines, pizzas, learning how to cook kare-kare, Bicol express and adobo.

2. Hone my skills on photography and videography. Photography is one of my personal passions I hope to really enhance. My goal is to further my abilities with the use of my point and shoot camera, take more photos, then, master all the nitty gritty techie soft wares on editing and color grading.

3. Attend Film Festivals and watch local independent films. 


4. Travel to places reachable by buses and trains. Given my financial disadvantages (and crises) which impedes my wanderlust, I have decided for now – that domestic travels by land will do.

5. Write more! Whether it is a blog entry or a story or a poem – I just like writing for my own personal satisfaction.

6. Read more! I’ve been too lazy this past year that the number of books I have bought unread have piled up now on my closet. Time to feed and polish my brain from the rust.

7. Lose weight. I have lost some pounds early last year but started gaining back the weight due to some personal dilemmas. Just for the sake of fitting in to my old clothes I would shed some, but I have no intention of going skinny – because I love to eat!

8. Spend wisely and save my money. That’s definitely one thing I have to do. I’m the worst spender if you know what I mean.

9. Sort out my junk. 


10. Participate and lend an extra hand to causes that I believed in. Because there are far more important issues in this world than me.

11. Record more YouTube videos with my best gal-pal Abbie. We’ve just started video recording some cover songs together late last year, which is so much fun. I just hope we could do this more often. You’ll never know – some people might be interested in our talents and join us put up a full band.

12. Put up a business. 


13. Sign myself up as an organ donor. Because I wasn’t that much of a help as a living person – that I want someone to use them well when I die.

14. Audition (whether in singing or acting) when there is a chance. I’ve avoided doing this my whole life for fear of rejection and embarrassment. But why now? Because everyone dies and I was a fool to let time and opportunities pass me by. Those times of what could have been and what might have been is over. That’s why I need to do this.

15. Spend time with friends. All of us are busy one way or another, but it is a pity to lose communication and to not be able to hang out with them even if it takes only for a day.

16. To learn French and Spanish and to better my English skills. I’m a Francophile so I’ve been studying French for some time, but I’m not fluent. I guess I know very little. I’m thinking of hitting my language books again to learn French, especially Spanish – before every High School students in the Philippines does. I also hope to build up my English vocabulary and to be able to use the language both written and oral because being good at that would carry me far.

17. Visit Churches. I could not swear to attend the Sunday mass because I’m such a procrastinator. I want to visit, step-foot and take pictures of the old Roman Catholic churches here in the Philippines (and hopefully someday in abroad, too). Those old medieval churches are the best place to see artworks, from one corner to another and you can see paintings and sculptures – everything! I’m a culture/historical buff and a museum hoarder so this one is a must-do on my list.

Leasons Learned (2011)

“Envy is the mother of all sins, and that is the root to my unhappiness. My constant desire to want what I cannot have – may it be things, skills and other people’s luck. And it is a bad, bad place to be in. Moving forward, I just have to take the things that I have and make the most out of it. My third grade classmate might be good in several things and have all the advantages in life that I do not have – but she can never carry a tune to save her life. Well I can, and as Gandalf would say: “that’s an encouraging thought.”

So farewell to the old ways. Time to move over. 

Bonne année. Happy 2012!

Top 5 Favorite Movies of 2011

There weren’t as many foreign language and independent films I’ve seen this year. The reasons are too many I can assure you, but too mundane to explain because it has always boils down to one thing: my lack of financial resources to fund my movie-watching sprees. Then again, the technological cosmos and its geniuses made it feasible for me to watch films that were released from festivals such as the Festival de Cannes and the TIFF, before they could come out on the Philippine shores – after the Academy awards. There are movies I have yet to see, such as Shame by Steve McQueen and The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius, that were also included in the roster of the 2011 films and are critically acclaimed, but I haven’t been able to do so. They would have been here on this list, but I'm simply unable to watch them. In respect of the movies   I've missed I've decided to narrow down my list to five instead of 10. 

I’ll be looking forward to a more fruitful 2012, now that I have made some contacts with fellow cinephiles through Facebook, which I’m sure would help me develop and redefine my taste in good cinema. More discoveries to come! But for now, to delay you no further here are my top 5 favorite movies of 2011. 

1. Melancholia  (Lars von Trier)

My number one movie for 2011!!! To say 'Melancholia' is a beautiful film is surely an understatement. It is gorgeous and a sight to behold. This personal mythological endeavor from Von Trier, however apocalyptic, dismal and nihilistic, is also quite universal in emotion. Set in in a mood and tone of German Romanticism, Melancholia is Von Trier's empathetic gift to the depressives. 

2. Beginners (Mike Mills)

"Beginners" is Mike Mills's touching semi-autobiographical ouvre told in interconnected flashbacks. Ewan McGregor is Oliver (Mills's surrogate). The movie explores his relationship with his father, played gracefully by Christopher Plummer, a 75 year old museum curator, who, after his wife's death, came out as gay and has decided "to do something about it," and was later diagnosed with stage four cancer. Second, his relationship with Anna (Melanie Laurent), a French actress, whom he met in a costume party, following his father's death. 

If there is one thing true about the films that came out this 2011, just like what Peter Howell of The Star have said, "they didn't necessarily hit you right between the eyes." For me, my experience with 'Beginners' is no different to the time that I've seen 'The Tree of Life', it required me a second viewing to fully take the beauty all-in. 'Beginners' is a film that mixes both comedy and drama, which is something uniquely true about life. It may not be overly complicated, but it has the basic ingredients irresistible for everyone. It is a movie meant for you and me - as "everything is made for love". 

In spite of age -- it did not stop Hal from living his life to the fullest. It did not also hinder him from becoming the person he had always wanted to be. He lived in positivity, delight and color. Oliver did otherwise. In his aim not to become like his parents - he avoided serious relationships and "always have some very good reasons" for remaining single.  

As Karina Longworth perfectly pointed out, "Hal’s late-in-life liberation and Oliver’s late-thirtysomething romantic awakening, the film is haunted by that notion—that it can take an entire lifetime to figure out how to be fully alive." 

I always believe, especially now, that genuine happiness can only come from true honesty. Being true to yourself, knowing what you want and grabbing it tight with both hands, enables you to love others. Just by being honest to himself, Hal, becomes his own person and had forged a much closer relationship with his son.  When Hal was being ascertained that his illness was beyond cure, with a sad eyes and indiscernible look, those were the moments in which I've found myself crying my eyes out because this movie has injected something that it ever able me to be. 

3. The Tree of Life (Terrence Mallick)

This film has its perfections and imperfections. An ambiguous project about the beginning and end of life. Though this film had induced me some moments of sleep, it's sheer and perennial beauty and idea of creation and of life in the universe is irresistible. Probably the most stunning portrait and depiction of heaven I've ever seen on the celluloid. To fully appreciate the moments of grace repeated viewings is highly recommended. 

Honorable Mentions: 

4. Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen)

Midnight in Paris has all the Woody Allen ingredients to it, an interesting plot, a witty screenplay, impressive direction, a brilliant cast, memorable mood music, and last but not the least, an amazing location, which has become a staple of him for the last ten years. His last five films, including this one, are all filmed on location in Europe. A feast and a delight for the eyes, his movies is the Lonely Planet of the celluloid, a travel packet for those unable to travel the world. But unlike his European comedies Scoop and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Midnight in Paris is not to be missed and is nothing short of great. 

A love letter for the golden years of the Parisian 20s Woody Allen throws us into some philosophical truths about nostalgia, time travel and why some of us view a generation or a decade that once was through rose-tinted glasses, and why some chose to believe that life is better or lived better back then.  

5. Drive (Nicolas Winding-Refn)

Reminiscent of the 80s action drama films Drive is not a feel good movie that you can watch with your children on a movie night, rather, it has an eerie quality that strikes a chord to David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive”, but minus the surrealism. What lingers on however are the acting chops of the cast, Ryan Gosling, in particular. The Driver (Gosling) is the unsung hero of the movie – both deadly behind the wheels and capable of executing violence by the mere use of his hands.

Although it doesn’t have the apocalyptic foreplays of The Tree of Life and Melancholia – Drive’s luscious cinematography – both in daylight and nighttime also has a story that grows in you by repeat and has an array of performances that reinforces its concrete footing. It is the psyche of the inner killer in all of us – that more or less – tells its viewers to be on the lookout for those quiet and suffer-in-silence types as they are the more dangerous one’s, most of all – when their buttons are pushed to the limit.