Alta Gracia, Babae ni Hudas..

Naisipan kong magHarry Potter marathon kagabi bilang pampalipas oras, dahil napilitan akong umabsent sa trabaho sanhi ng malakas na ulan. Nakakatuwa, ng marinig kong muli ang klasik na musical score ni Pareng Harry, naalala ko bigla ang pausong laro namin ng mga kabarkada ko noong High School. Ang ALTA GRACIA!!

Sigurado ako, walang ibang nakakaalam ng larong ito dahil imbento lang ito ng mga abnormal kong kaibigan, sa pamumuno nina Eby, Epok, Lionel at malamang si Simang, pero sa mga nakasubok na, dalawa lang marahil ang sasabihin nila tungkol dito, ASTIG! at NAKAKAPAGOD!

So ano ang ALTA GRACIA?

Based ito sa klasik na larong taguan na minodify ng konti ng mga friends ko para "umakma" sa environment ng kuwarto ni Eby sa Casa Canonizado. Halos pareho lang ang mechanics nito pero minus the backyard at liwanag galing sa buwan. Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, ipinangalan nila ito sa 2002 Mexicanovela ng Channel 2 na ang title ay Alta Gracia at palabas tuwing alas tres ng hapon, Lunes - Biyernes. Dito lumalabas ang pamosong BABAE NI HUDAS (walang iba kundi si Alta Gracia na nakabelong puti) at pinapatay ang mga kagalit niya. (Kung paano nila napapanood ito gayong may klase kami ng mga ganitong oras, hindi ko alam)

REQUIREMENTS:

♥Kuwartong Madilim - Di tulad sa normal na taguan na mas ok ang malawak na bakuran at mejo maliwanag na paligid, da best ang larong ito sa maliit na kuwartong may konting gamit na mapagtataguan.

♥ Kumot na Puti

♥Klasik na Harry Potter music score - pampaastig! pandagdag sa horror theme ng laro.. (hindi ko alam ang title nito pero default polytone ito ng mga lumang model ng Nokia like 3510, 3350 at 3610)

♥Players - Isang taya na tatawaging BABAE NI HUDAS, at kahit ilang kasali. The more the merrier. Mas madaming kasali, mas mahirap magtago! hahaha!

** flashlight - optional

MECHANICS

1) Siguraduhing madilim ang kuwarto. Yung walang magkakakitaan. Bawal ang bukas na bintana, bukas na ilaw, at kahit na anong ilaw na galing sa mga siwang ng bintana o pintuan. Mas madilim, mas ok - as in TOTAL DARKNESS ha!

2) Lights-on muna. Mag-assign ng taya, at tatawagin siyang "Babae ni Hudas". Maghihintay siya sa labas ng kuwarto habang naghahanap ng taguan ang ibang kasali. Kanya-kanyang diskarte kung saan mo itatago ang sarili mo basta sa loob lang kuwarto, walang lalabas, bawal sa bubong na karugtong ng bintana mo. Paborito ko noon ang itaas ng aparador ni Eby, kung pano ko siya naaakyat at nasikmura ang napakaraming alikabok, ewan ko. Kung matibay ang sikmura at katawan mo, puede mo ring itaas ang kutson ng kama at dun ka humiga, tapos itaklob mo sayo ang kutson. (Hindi nga lang magandang ideya ito, dahil kapag nagkatakbuhan na, asahan mo dadaanan nila ang ibabaw ng kama, mapipisa ka. Prone sa pilay ang taguang ito!)

3) Kapag nakatago na ang lahat, lights off na. Papasok ang "Babae ni Hudas" habang pinatutugtog ang music score ng Harry Potter, suot ang puting kumot (as belo, parang-white lady ba), at isa-isang hananapin ang mga nakatagong players. Kapag nakapa niya ang nakatagong player, kailangan niyang hulaan kung sino ito, at kapag tama ang sagot, yun ang papalit sa kanya bilang Babae ni Hudas. In short, siya ang bagong taya!

* Kung trip mo, puede ring gumamit ng flashlight para illuminated ang drama ng Babae ni Hudas, pero walang thrill ito dahil, malalaman ng players kung nasaan ang taya, madaling umiwas! Kanya-kanyang strategy din yan. Kung madugas ka, tingnan mo muna kung saan nakatago ang lahat, at pag lights off na, sumigaw ka ng "SI _________ NASA ___________!! Panigurado, mumurahin ka ng itinuro mo o tatawa ang karamihan, kaya kung sino man ang malapit sa taya at maririnig niya, sila ang unang makakapa! Ingat nga lang, dahil kung mali ang timing mo, at ikaw pala ang malapit kay Lady Judas, malas mo, ikaw ang taya! Saktong pangganti din ito, dahil kung mejo inis ka sa taya, puede mo siyang batukan kapag lights-off na, hindi niya malalaman! hehehe..

** Da best ang larong ito para sa mga magbabarkadang walang magawang matino, walang pera, at naghahanap ng sakit ng katawan habang pampalipas oras. Walang gastos na involved, at higit sa lahat, magandang excerscise ito dahil siguradong tunaw ang mga taba mo sa dami ng pawis na tatagaktak sa katawan mo bago pa man matapos ang laro. Yun nga lang, hindi ito recommended para sa mga taong may hika dahil Suffocation ang pinakamatinding side effect ng game na ito. Liban diyan, matinding kaaway ito ng mga kapatid na ayaw maistorbo sa kabilang kuarto, at mga nanay o katulong dahil sila ang kawawang magliligpit ng mga kalat na maiiwan pagkatapos at maglalaba ng mga damit namantsahan dahil sa kung saang sulok ka nagsuot! Panigurado din mistulang dinaanan ng bagyo kuarto mo pagkatapos, dahil lahat ng gamit ay nakasabog at masuerte ka kung walang masisirang cabinet, mesa, bintana o kama pag nagkasawaan na!

Madami pa kaming pausong magbabakardaka noong high school, pero isa ito sa mga paborito ko. Masasabi ko ring madami-dami rin ang nuknukan ang inggit sa'min dahil dito. Kokonti lang kasi ang masuerteng naka-experience ng larong ito dahil hindi lahat ay puedeng maging imbitado sa gathering na ito. Lahat ay welcome sa Casa Canonizado, pero pili lang ang mga taong isinasali sa trip namin. Kumbaga, sa gathering of the elites lang ginagawa ito at kung hindi ka parte ng nomohan namin, sorry ka, mainggit ka! Mga super close friends lang ang pinapa-experience namin nito, kaya suerte mo kapag nakasali ka, dahil ibig sabihin, trip namin ang pagiging psycho mo, at tropa na tayo!

Pero ganun pa man, masaya to, promise! Minsan nga naisip ko, ano kaya kung i-pacopyright namin ang title nito? Anong masasabi mo Tropang Eby? hehe..


♣ ilan sa mga piling players ng Alta Gracia ♣

My Favorite Father-and-Child Movies of All Time

It's Daddy's day so just for the fun of it, I’ve listed down my 6 favorite father & child movies of all time. They might be a bit cheesy for some, but hey, I’m a Daddy’s girl. Don’t shoot me if I say that I cried buckets when I saw most of these films.. It’s not my fault that I turn into an awful ham whenever it gets to the the dad-&-kid-heart-to-heart scenes.. What can i do if my tear ducts just refuse to cooperate then?..

Anyway, here goes my list.. and Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there!

1) Mrs. Doubtfire
One of my Robin Williams' favorites and definitely among his best movies ever. It is supposed to be a comedy film but i couldn't help but feel sorry for RW's character as you'll really feel his eagerness to be with his children. It shows how far a father would go just to be with his kids even if it means wearing a wig, stockings, an ugly granny dress, and then run around as his kids nanny all day long.
It's just so sad that the movie didn't have a happy ending. But then again, maybe i'm just too mushy..


2) Armageddon
I love this movie for one major reason, Gracie (Liv Tyler), delivered the exact lines that I would love to tell my own father anytime.. "I am like you".
And I know a lot of people would probably laugh their big head off when i say this, but I cried buckets on that scene. I still do!


3) Pursuit of Happyness
I love this movie 'coz Chris Gardner strongly reminds me of my father and the times that our family had also been on that situation. I'm not going to explain any further but the movie made me appreciate more evertyhing that my parents had done to provide for our family and make sure that me & my sisters grow up in a happy environment.


4) Uptown Girls
Technically, the entire movie doesn't really have a father-&-kid plot, and I know this is just another silly feel good movie for some, but seriously, i cried when the kids came out with the guitars and Neil sang "Molly Smiles". In fact, I was so moved that I got LSS for a week, I even sang it on my dreams!


5) I am Sam
I was with my sisters when i first saw this movie, and boy, we did cry all the way through.. Sean Penn is definitely not Sean Penn for nothing. I'm no longer gonna elaborate on how superb he is as Sam but I'd say the movie got its message clear across: Love may not be all we need, but it's definitely one of the major prerequisites in our life.
I just wish that all kids in the world are like Lucy and are just as devoted to their own dads.


6) To Kill a Mockingbird
I don't know if a lot of people know about this film, but I love it 'coz it's one of those films that shows an ideal father, Atticus, who tries to teach his children the meaning of equality and respect while raising them in a society that's full of prejudice. I'd say that those who've seen this will surely appreciate the way this movie respects children's intelligence and the way it touches its audience despite the absence of cute characters. (Try reading the book, it's just as good.. ☺)

Snowball..

Snowball.

It's when things are going great in your life, then one tiny, insignificant shit happens along the way and everything start to go down the drain for you. What's irritatting is that no matter what you do, the situation doesn't get any better, the shit only gets bigger. It only gets worse and worse until you can't take it anymore.

This is how i feel my life is right now. For a time, i've felt so damn lucky. I have a great job, the promotion that i want is just there w/in my reach, i'm about to move in to my own place.. everything is just going on as I planned it.Then suddenly, for some unfathomable reasons, the "good" started turning "bad", & i don't have any idea why. Now, I think i'm getting burned-out with my job, I'm confused and depressed most of the time and i just don't know! Whoever said that my 2008 Fung Shui is going to be a smooth one, deserves to be hanged a thousand times!

Oh jeezz..

I really don't know what's happening. Am i being punished or what? Is this still one of those "cosmic" projections of life? The freakin' "Wheel on Life"? I'd been on top of my world for quite some time so now that deserves to be reversed? Karma perhaps?

Oh pleazzzze.. Give me a damn break!

My older sister got married yesterday. After being on their on- off boyfriend-girlfriend relatonship, the "knot" had been officially tied at 2:30 PM yesterday - complete with the super-kulit-tantrum-throwing flower girls, hyper ringbearers, and assortment of family and friends who had been there to witness that particular moment. It's like a finality, after fourteen long years! All throughout my adolescence, after 3 boyfriends, there they were, solid as a rock.

And of course, being the second eldest child there had been the inevitable question of "Kelan naman susunod si Kat?!" As if my clock is already ticking, now that my sister is already a Mrs and im gonna explode if i don't hurry up. Hah!

I absolutely do not have any plan of tying the knot anytime soon. I'm loving my life as it is! I will someday, but not now.

So heads up daddy dear! Your little girl's staying as she is right now. As free as a butterfly. Haha!!


FYI:
I got the bridal bouquet. Ugh!

MY TO-DO LIST FOR 2008

I have this what I call "My things-i-haven't-done-yet-ever-&-MUST-do-no-matter-what List". It's a compilation of thing's that i haven't done yet ever and which i am planning to do & experience within the year. Here's what i've decided i must do for 2008 at ANY cost:

1) Go to Camiguin (OK. this has always been on top of my list every year, but for some reasons, I haven't had the gumption to do it. I don't know why. i got to visit lots of new places last year but it never became part of my itinerary and this has been MY ULTIMATE DREAM PLACE EVER!!. Oh well, i guess i need more kick in the butt to make this one come true.)

2) Swimming lessons. (This is also something i've been wanting to do but just haven't had the guts to do so. What can i say? I'm scared? The beach is my first love but for some reasons i can't seem to find the courage to learn how to swim.)

3) Have my own place (This one is about to come true. Yipee!! I can't wait.. one month nalang.. =D )

4) Have my room air-conditioned (this goes hand in hand w/ # 3. unless that happens this will not)

5) Go to Batanes

6) Buy the Sony Ericsson W910i - my dream phone (don't get me wrong. i love my phone even if it's old, battered at puede ng ipampukpok sa holdaper! it's just i saw this & bam! it was love at first touch. )





7) Visit the Manila Oceanarium

8) Go to Hong Kong (Disneyland yipee!!)

9) Visit Thailand's Ayutthaya Market (floating market)

10) Parasailing

11) SCUBA Diving (After i do the swimming lessons. But who knows? if i develop the guts i might try this one first!)

12) Kumain ng Mangosteen (one of my childish dreams hehe..)

13) Buy the Olympus Stylus 790SW Waterproof digicam (Allright!! i'd settle for any brand as long it's a waterproof digicam. hmp!)



14) Buy a Laptop

15) Go to a Casino

16) Experience the Loboc River Cruise

17) Install my very own home theater system at my future place (i'm a movie buff so this one is a must once i get settled in at my own place. All i need are few speakers, a booster, my 21" TV, a DVD player, a couch & voila! I have my very own home theater. I just need to keep a stock of junk foods & i'm off to go!! Yipee!!

P.S. Got the couch at a bargain price. SM had a sale & so i grabbed the opportunity & bought a set. It's cozy & purple.. bwehehehe..


So far these are only things that i could come up with on top of my head. If i think of anything else i'll jot it down. For the meantime, i'll keep my fingers crossed. Hopefully i get to complete ALL of these. =)