SLLEPING

I wish sleeping was a normal habit for me. I don't think most people know how debilitating it can be to be so tired that your face starts twitching, yet you still lay in bed all night staring at the clock just thinking how miserable of a day it will be tomorrow due to lack of sleep. Eventually, the act of sleep starts turning into a nightmarish event. As soon as the sun sets, the fear of sleep sets in and all you can think about are those approaching hours of hellish anguish you have to endure in the prison of your  own bed.

PRISONERS

 

 How far would you go to protect your child? Most parents would do anything to protect their child. I will do anything to protect my child even if it means sacrificing my own life!


Prisoners is a 2013 American thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve and is executive produced by Mark Wahlberg. The film premiered at the 2013 Telluride Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America on September 20, 2013.

The title is an apt one - not only are people imprisoned literally but everyone is held captive and controlled beyond their will by something, whether it be their grief, anger, faith, mental capacity, past or even their job, with the latter being the case of Gyllenhaal's detective.

The Cast:

• Hugh Jackman as Keller Dover
• Jake Gyllenhaal as Detective Loki
• Viola Davis as Nancy Birch
• Maria Bello as Grace Dover
• Terrence Howard as Franklin Birch
• Melissa Leo as Holly Jones
• Paul Dano as Alex Jones
• Dylan Minnette as Ralph Dover
• Zoe Borde as Eliza Birch
• Erin Gerasimovich as Anna Dover
• Kyla Drew Simmons as Joy Birch
• Wayne Duvall as Captain Richard O'Malley
• Len Cariou as Father Patrick Dunn
• David Dastmalchian as Bob Taylor
• Jeff Pope as Elliot Milland

 The Plot:

 Hugh Jackman,( Les Miserables and The Wolverine), who plays Keller Dover, a deeply religious man who runs a struggling carpentry business, is facing every parent's worst nightmare. They attended a Thanksgiving dinner with his family at the house of their neighbors, the Birches. After dinner, his six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy. As minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV camper that had earlier been parked on their street. After a police hunt, the RV was  found outside a gas station next to a wooded area. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) confronts Alex Jones (Paul Dano), the RV's driver, Jones tries to speed away but crashes into the trees.

Alex is revealed during Detective Loki's interrogation to have the approximate I.Q. of a ten-year-old and is released due to lack of evidence. As the police pursue multiple leads and pressure mounts, knowing his child's life is at stake the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. Personal surveillance by Keller convinces him that Alex knows where the girls are. He abducts and imprisons him in an abandoned apartment building that he owns. With the reluctant help of Joy's father, Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard), Keller repeatedly beats and interrogates Alex for days without any further information. Overcome with guilt, Franklin tells his wife Nancy (Viola Davis) what they have done and brings her to see Alex. The Birches eventually decide to let Keller continue the torture, neither helping nor interfering. After Alex mentions escaping from a maze, Keller visits Alex's aunt, Holly Jones (Melissa Leo), to gauge her reaction when he mentions mazes.

Loki confronts a suspect named Bob Taylor (David Dastmalchian) at his home and finds that the walls are covered in drawings of intricate mazes. In a back room, locked crates filled with maze books, snakes, and bloody children's clothing are discovered. In custody, Taylor manages to grab a gun and commit suicide. Taylor is revealed to have faked his involvement in the killings; the blood on the children's clothes is pig's blood and the clothing had been stolen after the abduction.

Some days later, Joy is found drugged and is hospitalized, but Anna is still missing. In her drugged state, Joy rambles that she had heard Keller while imprisoned. Keller soon rushes off as Loki chases him. Loki loses him, but heads toward the apartment complex and discovers the imprisoned Alex. Keller goes to Holly's, realizing that the Jones house is where Joy had heard him. Holly confronts Keller and holds him at gunpoint, subsequently drugs him and reveals that she was responsible for the abduction of the girls. She and her husband had abducted several others before, including Bob Taylor, in order to make the parents lose their faith, as part of "waging a war on God" for letting their son die of cancer at a young age. Alex was the first child they abducted. She shoots Keller in the leg and imprisons him in an outside pit hidden under a car, where he finds a whistle that belonged to his daughter. As Keller knows that he is losing blood and about to die, he prayed for God to watch over Anna.

Loki goes to Holly's house to tell her about Alex being found. He discovers Anna, about to be killed by Holly. Loki orders Holly, at gunpoint, to show her hands; Holly turns and fires at Loki with a revolver, Loki shoots and kills Holly. He rushes Anna to the hospital where she recovers. At the hospital, Grace thanks Loki, but also asks Loki whether Keller has to go to jail if he's found, to which Loki says "Probably." Anna, still drugged and unable to speak, appears with a red whistle around her neck, much like the one she had owned. Grace tells Loki that she bought a new whistle, though Anna claims to have found her old one with Joy before they were abducted. When Loki is alone at the Jones residence, he hears the faint sound of a whistle and starts to investigate.

My Review:

I hate to watch lengthy movies especially if the pacing is too slow and it gets boring. But watching this film for almost two hours, 1:53 to be exact did not bother me at all. Prisoners is haunting and will stick with you. Its horrifying when you come to think of it that our love ones could be taken away from us and our being powerless to do anything about it.

The brutality and torture displayed by the “hero” of this film makes for several uncomfortable moments. When Keller can’t get him to admit his guilt in the face of horrifying torture, we begin to feel our emotions swinging in a different direction.


If he is, in fact, innocent, then what Keller is doing is an unholy atrocity. But what if he’s guilty? Is Keller’s one-man torture-squad tactics justified then? And what if many people (along with the law) would declare that no, those tactics are still not justified? What should Keller do, given that every bone in his body is telling him that this is the only way he’ll ever see his daughter again? What if every bone in his body is right? Keller's desire to save his little girl himself is the one motivation that keeps him from letting common sense temper his rage.




Hugh Jackman's staggering performance, acts with an unbridled rage, and he invests every snarl and rasp of that anger with meaning. Keller knows that in missing- child cases, each day the victim doesn't turn up radically increases the chances that she never will, and so his fury, even at its craziest, comes off as a desperate display of committed action. Haunted by what might be happening to his daughter, he has — at least in his own mind — transcended the law, yet that leaves him with nothing to believe in but himself, and Jackman takes us on every step of that brave, terrible journey.

But what exactly is the movie saying about all this? It could be that torture is always morally culpable, that it never elicits anything of value – or it could be that it is dirty work that gets results. There is a kind of ambiguity about righteous violence in this film and how exactly we are supposed to feel about it. The film finally effects an evasive blend of condemnation and sentimental exoneration. 

This is an extremely powerful and unforgettable film. A kind of a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. A real powerhouse of a drama that delivers go for the throat tension and hard-boiled suspense. Prisoners is a masterpiece plain and simple. 

It is a solid film from scene one. Superb cast with good screenplay. Bello creates a mother so distraught that her daughter might be dead that she goes into a deep depression staying in bed day and night, which cleverly leaves her out of the way for Keller to proceed with this plan.

Hugh Jackman’s performance in this film should earn him a nomination at next year’s Oscars. If he doesn't get a nomination, then I think there's something wrong with the Oscar's.

PSALM 23

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

PINAY BEAUTIES ON A RUN

With the recent triumph of Megan Young in the 2013 Miss World beauty pageant held in Indonesia, the Filipinas are seemingly on a run in international beauty contests. Megan's crown was the first ever Miss World crown for the Philippines.

      

These some kind of a run started in the 2010 Miss Universe beauty pageant wherein Venus Raj finish fourth runner-up. Venus could have taken home the crown in that year if not for her major-major blunder in the question and answer portion. She was a heavy favorite to win the crown.

 

 

In the following year 2011, Shamcey Supsup finished a notched higher as 3rd runner-up in the 2011 Miss Universe tilt. The Filipinos was really hoping for Shamcey to finally take home the crown. Shamcey was simply gorgeous to the highest level ! She seems perfect. But still short of winning the elusive Miss Universe crown.

 

Janine Togonon came close to winning the 2012 Miss Universe beauty pageant. She finished 1st runner-up. She almost made it! Oh boy! But the breaks did not go our way. Even as Miss USA Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss Universe 2012 and the most beautiful woman in the world, her victory came as a big surprise as a majority of viewers were expecting Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon to win the crown. Yet we're proud because our contestants consistently placed among the top 5 in three consecutive years.

The last time the Philippines has won the contest was in 1973 when Margie Moran won. The first who won it for the country was Gloria Diaz in 1969. Since 1973 there was a long drought except in 1999 when Miriam Quiambao came close to winning being the first runner-up.

 

Early this year, Mutya Johanna Datul won the fifth edition of the  2013 Miss Supranational beauty pageant which was held in Belarus on September 6, 2013. Johanna was the first Asian winner of this contest.

I hope these run continues until we win again a Miss Universe title. The signs are promising. It could finally be this year. If we win it this year it's kinda grand slam year. Miss Supranational 2013, Miss World 2013 and Miss Universe 2013! Our bet for the 2013 Miss Universe pageant is Ara Arida. The photo below shows the four of them Janine, Shamcey, Venus and Ara. Look at the standings of the previous three. 4th by Venus, 3rd by Shamcey, and 1st by Janine. Will Ara finally nail it and win the third Miss Universe title for the Philippines?

                                                Photo credit Arnold Mercado

By the way, congratulations to Aces & Queens headed by Jonas Gaffud. These guys are the ones behind the training of our beauty contestants. For the 2013 Miss Universe pageant which will be held on November 9 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia, I'm sure Aces and Queens will move heaven and earth to make sure that Ara is more than ready to face the universe once the competition begins.

I don't believe in number thirteen to be unlucky. I think 2013 is a lucky year for Filipina beauties. Wanna bet?

                                                                       Ara Arida


                                                                  

MANNY PACQUIAO: Still our hero in VICTORY and in DEFEAT

Sunday, December 9, 2012 was a day of mourning for Philippine Sports and the entire nation. The whole nation reacted with shock and sadness as Manny Pacquiao was knockout cold by his long time nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez at the end of the 6th round of their fourth fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, USA.

Manny's defeat dampened the spirits of the Filipinos from all walks of life, from the man on the street, street vendors, drivers, farmers, police and military personnel, and up to the highest corners of government. It was a big blow to a country much worst than those delivered by Pablo-a killer typhoon that left 1,200+ dead or missing and devastated thousands of homes in Mindanao just early last week.

The 39-year-old Marquez sent down Pacquiao, 33, face first to the canvas with a right hand with one second left of the round to win their welterweight fight.

President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda said despite the defeat, the country would not turn its back on the superstar fighter who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions.

“Nothing will change. The people of the Philippines will continue to support Manny. We join them in praying for the return of his strength and determination,” Lacierda said in a statement.

The whole nation is indeed behind Manny Pacquiao in Victory and in Defeat! We all know that Manny can't win them all. It was just a matter of time because nobody stays at the top forever.

Guys! We all shared with Manny in his time of triumph and victories. Let's reunite once again and share with him in his time of sorrows and defeat. He is our Sports Hero and will always be that way and nothing can ever changed that.

Let's Count our Blessings, Not Everyone is Fortunate as we are

Life is not fair. Yes of course! It's never been fair and it will never be. Each and everyone of us are blessed differently. Some people are blessed with incredibly superior and powerful advantages while others are born with crippling disadvantages. Let's  count our blessings! Some people are not as fortunate as we are. We may have food for three meals today but there are people out there with nothing to eat for just one meal.

 We may have our homes for shelter with warm beds, pillows and blankets. But there are people and families out there who live on the streets under the heat of the sun and the biting cold of the night.

We may have clothes, shoes and sandals to protect our bodies while others have hardly enough to cover themselves.

If you have hot food on your table and some in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof on your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than the 75% of the people in this planet.

If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survived this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of war, the agony of imprisonment and torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation, you are luckier than the 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you can read this blog you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world  who cannot read it at all.

Life may not be perfect, every dream may not be fulfilled, every material need may not be achieved and everyday may not be as peaceful and stress free as we hope, but we are fortunate than most people in this world.

So as we struggle for the day to day challenges and responsibilities of our lives, as we work and sometimes hope for a little more of everything in life, we should not forget to count our blessings and most of all to be ever grateful to GOD for what we have received and continue to  receive.

Being grateful to GOD may also be well expressed by sharing our blessings too to those in need.

Life is not fair! But so what? There's nothing that can be done to eliminate the unfairness, yet there's plenty that can be done to thrive and prosper in spite of it, and even because of it.

FOOD CRAVINGS THAT WRECK YOUR DIET

BREAD
Craving a big, fluffy hunk of warm bread does not mean your body is deprived of grains. Food cravings have little to do with nutrients and plenty to do with the brain chemistry of pleasure and reward. Cravings may center on texture( creamy, crunchy) or taste( sweet, salty) but they all have something in common- overindulging can sabotage your diet.

ICE CREAM
People who get cravings tend to have higher BMIs- no surprise since fattening foods are often the object of desire. The combination of coll, creamy and sweet makes ice cream an irresistible treat- but a costly one in terms of calories. A typical serving of vanilla has 230 calories

POTATO CHIPS
It's the combination of salty and crunchy that give potato chips their allure. Depending on the flavor, a 1-ounce snack bag has at least 150 calories. Munch your way through a large 8-ounce bag and you're looking at 1,230 calories!

CHOCOLATE
Almost half of women crave chocolate on a regular basis. There have been many theories to explain why, ranging from magnesium deficiency to mood swings. But one thing is certain: Consuming a chocolate bar is a quick way to add a couple hundred extra calories to your day.

POPCORN
Sometimes a setting can trigger a craving, like the desire for popcorn at the movies. Memory pllays a big role in cravings- you've enjoyed popcorn at the movies before, so you expect to enjoy it again. Popcorn itself can be a healthy snack. But movie theaters tend to pop it in coconut oil with buttery sauce. The result: 400 to 1,200 calories per tub!

STREET & PARK FOOD
Watching a game or just strolling in the park is not the same without a hotdog or nachos or peanuts. Just seeing or smelling the concession stands can make it tough to resist. But consider these numbers:

8 ounces of cheesy nachos-900 calories
8-ounce bag of raw peanuts-800 calories
Hotdog on a stick-400 calories

DOUGHNUTS
If you're on a diet, doughnuts are like the forbidden fruit. That fact alone may be enough to trigger a craving.

Doughnuts are an American favorite- from jelly filled to bear claws and those that are pink frosted or sprinkled. They're a sweet treat that people love but feel bad about eating. Unfortunately, the nutritional information of doughnuts is enough to make anyone think twice before taking a second serving- and sometimes even a first.

Doughnuts are high in calories which may contribute to weight gain. A 2-ounce doughnut has 220 calories. Most doughnuts however are at least 3 ounces or larger. Dunkin Donuts' website states that one of it's chocolate-frosted cake donuts has 340 calories, while one of it's jelly-filled donuts has 260. One doughnut, although usually not enough to make a person feel full on its own, has as many calories as one regular-sized, hearty breakfast.

RED MEAT
Do you feel like a meal is not a meal unless it involves a big chunk of meat? The good news is you don't have to give up meat to achieve a healthy weight- just be choosy about your cuts. A typical flank steak has about 700 calories.

PIZZA
Pizza is America's favorite food. It does have some health benefits: A typical slice has 12 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fiber. But pizza also has about 280 calories a slice - more if you add meat toppings.

PASTA
Pasta ranks among the top five favorite foods in many countries. The trouble is most people eat white pasta, which is made with refined flour. White pasta has only a fifth the fiber of whole grain pasta, which means it may take more to fill you up. Pasta sauces can be diet-killers too. A large bowl of fettuccine Alfredo has 800 to 1,200 calories.

FRENCH FRIES
This salty side dish is hard to turn down when ordering at a drive-thru. But a large order of fries can have as many calories as a burger-about 500 at a typical fast food restaurant.

NUTS
Whether in a bar or party or strolling in the park, it's easy to keep dipping your hand into the nut bowl, but all those handfuls add up. A cupful of roasted nuts packs more than 800 calories.

COFFEE
Coffee craving may go beyond your typical food craving, thanks to the addictive powers of caffeine. You may feel you can't full wake up without your morning dose. Fortunately, coffee has very few calories- until you load it up with cream and sugar syrups. Large flavored lattes and mochas can have more than 400 calories.

COOKIES
Taking cookies for snacks is a very bad habit because cookies is high in sugar and much more in calories.