The Rave Lists

My Seven Favorite Fictional Lovers: 

7) Clare and Henry (The Time Traveler's Wife)
One of the most poignant love stories I've read in a long time. Henry has a biological dysfunction that causes him to time travel, and in his travels he meets Clare whom he eventually marries. But as the years pass by, Henry's travelling becomes more and more dangerous while Clare is left waiting for him to come home.

6) Bigby Wolf and Snow White (Fables)
I like it when they bicker first then fall in love after. In this modern tale about living fairy tales, Snow White doesn't want to fall in love again after her ex-husband Prince Charming cheats on her with her sister Rose Red. Along comes the Big Bad Wolf whose solitary existence doesn't really prepare him for meeting the one girl whose scent he can't escape from.

5) Westley and Buttercup (The Princess Bride)
wuv...true wuv...there's nothing like it. [sorry, if you haven't watched the movie, you won't get it]

4) Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls (Veronica Mars)
A recent addition to my favorites list. LoVe, as shippers call them, first kissed and fell into not-so-much-love-as-probably-lust to the tune of my song-of-the-moment (see music) and I felt as giddy as they did. I fell in love with LoVe and have not looked back since. Now if only I can get my hands (not to mention eyes and ears) on seasons 2 and 3.  

3) Buffy Summers and Spike AKA William Pratt (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
I know, I know. Angel may be her true love and in the not-so-distant past, I used to ship for Buffy and Angel too. But somehow watching the series over again, I find that I prefer Spike better. I don't know. There's something about bad-boys-turned-love's-bitches (see Logan Echolls) that strike at my heart.

2) Lorelai Gilmore and Luke Danes (Gilmore Girls)
I can't imagine two people more meant for each other than these two. Now if only those stupid writers would let them live happily ever after.

1) Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Duh.

Where is Romeo and Juliet you say? Sorry, never liked them, thought they were stupid to kill themselves. If only they had waited, like, a few seconds.

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My Top 7 Favorite Contemporary Romances

"Contemporary" here means written in contemporary times, but not necessarily set in contemporary times. My all-time favorite romance is, of course, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (as Loretta Chase said in reply when asked what was her favorite romance, "What else?") But classics aside, these are what I picked:

7 One Wild Night, Barbara Dawson Smith. [Regency]
I like tortured souls and no two people are more tortured than the two protagonists of this book. Barbara Dawson Smith likes to give her villains a second chance and so she writes of the scarred Lady Charlotte Quinton who is desperately trying to live a life of respectability after almost destroying the lives of the people she loves. But when someone viciously attacks her family, Charlotte's path crosses with that of Brand Villiers, Earl of Faversham, a dissolute rake who was once an old friend and an old love...
Also Read: Romancing the Rogue (the prequel to this), Once Upon a Scandal

6 Come Be My Love, Diana Brown. [Regency]
The reason I love this book so much is because of the first chapter. I can't quote it here (because the book is lost among the mountains of books at home in Davao) but suffice to say, I fell in love with this book as soon as I read the first line. At a very young age, Alexandra fell in love with her neighbor, Darius Wentworth, who treats her only as a younger sister and eventually marries someone else. But things change when Darius's wife dies in childbirth. But is Alexandra willing to accept a marriage without love, even if it is to a man she has always and will always love?
Also Read: The Sandalwood Fan, other Signet Regency Romances by Mary Balogh or Sandra Heath

5 I Do, Elizabeth Chandler. [Teen]
I was really sad when the Love Stories Line suddenly stopped publishing teen romances (especially because I was a collector.) But of all the Love Stories ever publised, this is my favorite. It follows the usual mortal-enemies-fall-in-love-tale that all of us love so well (ever since P&P.) Jane is not looking forward to being the maid of honor in her cousin Stacy's wedding. To make matters worse, Adam, the biggest jerk at Tilson High, is going to be the best man! The last thing Jane wants to do is walk down the aisle with him. But the more Jane gets to know Adam, the more she realizes that he's actually a very cool guy. And now she finds herself wishing that the wedding would last forever...
Also Read: At First Sight and Hot Summer Nights (same author), Crushing on You, Kiss and Tell and Hard to Resist (Wendy Loggia), Some Girls Do (Dahlia Kosinski), Who Do You Love? (Janet Quin-Harkin), Never Tell Ben (Diane Namm), The Rumor About Julia (Stephanie Sinclair), Falling for Ryan (Julie Taylor)

4 The Mistress of Rosecliffe, Rexanne Becnel. [Medieval]
A bit serious from first page to last but compelling nonetheless. Rogue Welsh Knight Rhys Ap Owain has dreamt of revenge against the Fitz Hughs all his life. And what better way to do it than to seduce his enemy's eldest daughter, Isolde. He isn't ready, however, when Isolde stirs passion in his heart...passion and perhaps, love.
Also Read: the rest of the Rosecliffe Trilogy (The Bride of... and The Knight of... ), Dangerous to Love

3 Smoke in the Wind, Robyn Donald. [Contemporary]
Every time I read this book, my heart breaks. And trust me, I've read it a LOT. Ryan Fraine and Venetia Gamble have an affair that burns hotter than the sun. But passion isn't enough for Ryan and he decides to marry Elizabeth, Venetia's cousin because he thinks she'll make a better wife and mother. Five years later, Elizabeth is dead and Ryan discovers that Venetia has a son. His son.
Also Read: Harlequin Presents...books by Leigh Michaels (especially Deadline for Love and Touch Not My Heart), and books by Helen Bianchin, Lynne Graham, Michelle Reid, Jacqueline Baird, Julia James, etc...

2 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Julia Quinn. [Regency]
Actually, I LOVE the whole Bridgerton Series but if I had to pick just one, this would be it. Unlike many of the other Regency romances, it features a plump heroine and a not-so-brooding hero. Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for... well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret... and fears she doesn't know him at all.
Also Read: How to Marry a Marquis, The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me...actually every Julia Quinn book is worth the read.

1 The Last Hellion, Loretta Chase. [Regency]
I can't remember laughing so hard with any other book ever. Too bad I can't find my copy in the mountains of books we've collected over the years (either it's lost in the wilderness, or I lent it out and it wasn't returned.) But anyway, the story is this: When Vere Mallory, the seventh Duke of Ainswood and the last of the infamous "Mallory Hellions," ends up in the mud after being properly slugged by an outspoken, crusading journalist of Amazonian proportions, he decides to teach her a lesson and ends up learning a few things himself. Like Julia Quinn's books, it's funny but with enough depth and heartbreak that makes it just...perfect.
Also Read: Lord of Scoundrels (the prequel, featuring The Marquess of Dain, Vere's best friend)

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My Top Ten Favorite Contemporary Albums

This list does not include albums I do not own or have not listened to in length (because then, Damien Rice's O and Ghost of the Robot's Mad Brilliant will be included) and it also does not include TV/Film soundtrack albums.

10 Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson

Although her first album, Thankful, is great (my favorite Kelly song, Miss Independent comes from it,) her second is way, way better. Every song tempts you to jump around and sing along like you're also an American Idol.
Most Favorite Track: Addicted
Least Favorite Track: Breakaway

9 Solace, Mandalay

I was just browsing with Icang in Tower Records in SM North Edsa and this album was playing in the background. After about two songs, I realized that I had to buy the album, so I did and then I listened to it and every song sounds so lonely and yet also so very, very beautiful.
Most Favorite Track: Flowers Bloom
Least Favorite Track: I Don't Want the Night to End

8 No Name Face, Lifehouse

Lifehouse is one of my favorite rock bands, too bad this is the only album of theirs I own. They know how to write songs that hit you in all the right places.
Most Favorite Track: Everything
Least Favorite Track: Simon

7 Lost in Space, Aimee Mann

No one writes of loneliness as well as Aimee Mann (oh, okay, maybe Rod McKuen) and she really, really knows how to rock. I only wish I could one day write as well as she does.
Most Favorite Song: It's Not
Least Favorite Song: The Moth

6 Fan Dance, Sam Phillips

You probably think you don't know her but she's the official songwriter for the TV show Gilmore Girls and when I heard the song Reflecting Light, I knew she was the kind of singer/songwriter that I liked. Her songs are simple and yet bittersweet and most of the time, very true.
Most Favorite Track: Taking Pictures
Least Favorite Track: Is That Your Zebra?

5 Riot on an Empty Street, Kings of Convenience

I bought this after I listened to it in Tower Records. Everything about it is just so cool and every time I listen to it I just lie down, stare at the ceiling and relax.
Most Favorite Song: Cayman Islands
Least Favorite Song: Live Long

4 Waking Hour, Vienna Teng

Again, this is one of the albums that I just happened to listen to while I was hanging out in Tower Records. As soon as I heard the piano I knew I would love everything and I did. Like the title, this album somehow awakened me and makes me want to be a better composer.
Most Favorite Song: Momentum
Least Favorite Song: Say Uncle

3 Talk on Corners, The Corrs

The best Corrs album ever. Though Forgiven Not Forgotten and In Blue are also nice. I didn't really like Borrowed Heaven or Home that much, and I feel like they've somehow lost their touch. This is The Corrs at their very best.
Most Favorite Track: What Can I Do?
Least Favorite Track: So Young

2 Sa Wakas, Sugarfree

Until listening to Sugarfree, I never really had a favorite Filipino rock band. All of them somehow left me lukewarm (at that point, I had never really listened to the Eraserheads...shock! gasp! I know.) Anyway, listening to Sugarfree was a revelation. I think Ebe Dancel is the best songwriter in the industry today.
Most Favorite Track: Mariposa
Least Favorite Track: Fade Away

1 The Madding Crowd, Nine Days

Like everyone, I discovered Nine Days through Dawson's Creek where Story of a Girl was used in the soundtrack. Then I bought their album and every song was just so great that they became my favorite rock band. Too bad, I only have the cassette of their album and all my efforts to look for the CD have failed.
Most Favorite Track: Bob Dylan
Least Favorite Track: Crazy

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My Top Seven Favorites This Week

7 Jem
Her songs are head-bobbingly catchy and her voice is just so cool. Listen to "Just a Ride" and "Save Me," both featured in Grey's Anatomy.

6 Hugh Laurie
He is just so funny! Not to mention talented. He looks so good playing the piano (and he is a good pianist.) Listen to his song "Mystery" and just die laughing.

5 The Science of Sleep
I cannot tell you how much I love this film by Michel Gondry with its gorgeous animation, funny dialogue and its bittersweet moments. I want to watch it again. And again. And again.

4 Joss Whedon
In the absence of a pirated collection of "Angel", I keep on rewatching my favorite "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episodes so I just have to make a mini-rave list right here, right now:

g. "Tabula Rasa" - Willow casts a spell that goes awry and erases everyone's memory. Buffy names herself Joan the Vampire Slayer while their British accents lead Giles and Spike to think that they're father and son.
f. "Hush" - Buffy without the trademark dialogue as fairy tale monsters come to Sunnydale and steal everyone's voices.
e. "Something Blue" - Another Willow- casts-a-spell-that-goes-awry story that leads to Buffy and Spike getting engaged.
d. "Chosen" - The series finale. It was a perfect ending but I still wish that Buffy and Spike ended happily-ever-after. Oh well.
c. "Beneath" - Featuring what should have been an award-winning performance by James Marsters as Spike as he hovers between sanity and madness. My heart breaks for him every time he whispers "Why does a man do what he mustn't but for her? To be hers?"
b. "Fool for Love" - or, how William the Bloody Poet transformed into Spike.
a. "Once More With Feeling" - The famous musical episode where a demon causes everyone in Sunnydale, including the scooby gang, to burst into wonderful song. Makes me want to make my own musical.

3 James Marsters
Everything about this guy is sexy. Make that SEXY. I even think his ears are attractive and I honestly have never been turned on by ears before. And his voice just makes you want to...be bad. yeah.

2 Sugarfree
Yes! They're back. For me, they are the best Filipino rock band and I can't wait to get their new album.

1 Ghost of the Robot
For me, music is all about songwriting. And this now defunct band had kick-ass songwriting, mostly composed by guitarist/pianist and occasional vocalist Charles DeMars. Of course having James Marsters as their lead singer was also a plus. My favorites so far are "Dangerous," "It's Nothing," and "Sounds Like a Personal Problem."

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The Seven Most Romantic Fictional Love Triangles of All Time

1. King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot from Arthurian Legends

Everything ends badly in this story but you got to admit that it's a good one. I especially like the retelling in First Knight where Guinevere loves both men in different ways.

2. Eric, Christine and Raoul from The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Phantom (Eric) loved chorus girl Christine Daae so much that her trained her, got her a place in the opera and killed for her. So maybe it's a bit scary, but I would prefer the angst ridden Phantom to the wimpy Raoul. Especially, if like in the musical, he has the voice of Michael Crawford. Forget Christine, Eric! I'm right here.

favorite lines: (musical) I gave you my music\made your song take wing\and now how you've repaid me\denied me and betrayed me\he was bound to love you\when he heard you sing\Christine... - the phantom as his heart breaks when he finds out that Christine loves Raoul.

3. Yentl, Avigdor and Hadass from Yentl

One of my favorite movies ever. Barbra Streisand plays Yentl, a young Jewish girl who dreams of studying. But studying is forbidden among women and so she disguises herself as a boy and is befriended by Avigdor (Mandy Patinkin) who is betrothed to Hadass, a perfect example of Jewish femininity. Complications arise when Yentl is persuaded to marry Hadass instead. What makes this movie really work is the wonderful, wonderful score by Michel Legrand.

favorite lines:  See the way they gaze at her like slaves they follow everywhere she goes\do my eyes forget themselves and do I dare to look at him\and smile in such a way that what I'm feeling shows\Sometimes I get the feeling everybody knows\and even though it's crazy\still I can't help wondering if\I'd ever live to see the day\when by some miracle of miracles he'll turn around and look at me that way... - Yentl as she watches Avigdor make love to Hadass with his eyes.

4. Eponine, Marius and Cosette from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

This love triangle is more pronounced in the musical version. Radical student Marius falls in love with Cosette the first time he sees her. What does he do? He asks the help of Eponine, he's friend who loves him so much she doesn't refuse. What happens to her? She dies while Cosette and Marius live happily ever after.

favorite lines: He was never mine to lose\Why regret what could not be\These are words he'll never say\Not to me... - Eponine as she watches the lovers reunite.

5. Cyrano, Roxanne and Christian from Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand

Cyrano, a man with a big brain and a big nose has always loved Roxanne. But unfortunately, Roxanne loves Christian who has the good looks but no brain. So Cyrano helps Christian woo Roxanne and arranges their marriage.

favorite lines: The farewell letter in Act five. I can't quote it here right now because it's too long.

6. Esperanza, Alfredo and Julia from Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez

This is my favorite Filipino short story and the first one ever published in English. Alfredo Salazar dreams of falling in love but despairs it ever happening until he meets Julia Salas. But by then, he's engaged to Esperanza and he cannot break his word.

7. Linus, Sabrina and David from Sabrina

In this romantic comedy about love, life and Paris, Sabrina, the chauffeur's daughter has to choose between the unreliable playboy she has loved all her life and his stuffy older brother. Seems like a very difficult choice especially when one brother is William Holden\Greg Kinnear while the other is Humphrey Bogart\Harrison Ford. Sabrina is played by Audrey Hepburn\Julia Ormond.

runner-up: Dawson, Joey and Pacey from Dawson's Creek

Will they or won't they seemed to be the question asked about this television series. Apparently, they won't. And Joey picks Pacey over her best friend Dawson.

runner-up:Judy, Scottie and Madeline from Vertigo

In this twisted Alfred Hitchcock film about obsession, Scottie (James Stewart) is trying to get over the death of his lover Madeline (Kim Novak) and meets Judy who looks exactly like Madeline and starts to court her not knowing, at first, that Judy was Madeline. In the end, He loses both of them

runner up: Colonel Brandon, Marianne and Mr. Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

When a man looks too good to be true. Run. Run away quickly. Chances are, he'll break your heart like Mr. Willoughby did to romantic Marianne who learned her lesson and married a much older Colonel Brandon who loved her.

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The Top 7 Fabulous Fictional Fellows

7. Legolas "Greenleaf" Thranduilion (Orlando Bloom, The Lord of the Rings) - gorgeous, brave, immortal and a prince. What more could you ask? Of course, you have to get past the fact that he's prettier than you first.

6. Lancelot du Lac (Richard Gere, First Knight; Michael Vartan, Mists of Avalon) - the original knight in shining armour. I could just swoon!

5. Cyrano de Bergerac (Gerard Depardieu, Cyrano de Bergerac) - he may be ugly but the romantic hero of Edmond Rostand's play will take your breath away with his wit.

4. Han Solo (Harrison Ford, Star Wars Episodes 4-6) - Ford at his sexiest. Especially when he says "I know." Who wouldn't want to be kissed by this scoundrel?

3. Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry, Friends) - this emotionally immature wisecracker is nothing less than cute.

2. Eric (Michael Crawford, The Phantom of the Opera) - he has the most beautiful voice in the world. Who cares about the wimpy Raoul and irritating Christine. Take me! Take me!

1. Mr. Fitzwillam Darcy (Colin Firth, Pride and Prejudice) - the ultimate strong, silent type. Aside from that, he's tall, dark, handsome and British. Oh, and he's rich too.

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7 Reasons why I love being a Filipino

In celebration of the Buwan ng Wika [Month of Language] my seven list will be composed of all things Pinoy…

7. The University of the Philippines – this is the one place in all the places I’ve seen that I fall in love with over and over again, especially in the summer when the fire trees are in bloom or in the rainy season when everything seems to be covered in mist and the leaves are a softer shade of green.

6. Tapsilog, Sisig and Tocino – Okay, so maybe I’ll die young of a heart attack but I can’t imagine life without these, especially when they’re served with steaming hot rice and a cold glass of Coke.

5. Jeepneys – So most of the time, riding them is irritating, especially with the traffic, noise, pollution and fear of getting robbed. But it’s great fun, compared to boring bus rides.

4. Cheap Movies – We may complain a lot about the recent prizes of watching a film, but we still have the cheapest movie tickets in the entire world. For about Php 70 in Manila (Php 40 in Davao, the last time I was there), we can enjoy watching movies compared to about $8 in the states which is equivalent to about Php 440!!!

3. The Banawe Rice Terraces – Few countries can boast of having one of the eight world wonders and we have it. Aside from that, we also had an advanced pre-colonial culture because we already had a system of writing (the alibata) which proves that we are a smart, smart race.

2. OPM – Now is the only time I’ve grown to love Filipino music. Most of our songs are considerably sappy, but I love it just the same…especially the work of the Eraserheads, Parokya ni Edgar, Sugar Free, Yano, Barbie’s Cradle, Radioactive Sago Project, Sugar Hiccup and Rivermaya. I pity the people who have never had a chance to listen and understand our music. Kay ganda ng ating musika!

1. My Brown Skin – As Filipinos, we have beautiful skin color that’s very attractive. Don’t defy your color. Love it.

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7 reasons to watch TROY

Just came from Eastwood where I watched Hollywood’s newest droolfest Troy, inspired by Homer’s Iliad. Now, I don’t really need to convince people to watch it. But I thought I’d list down a few things why watching Troy is worth it.

7. Surprise! Surprise! Orlando Bloom as another prince/archer…Most of you know that I love the boy but he’ll never have another role for the rest of his life. (His next movie, Kingdom of Heaven is about a blacksmith who wants to be a knight, or something.) His role here is like Legolas without the wig. Watch out for some funny facial expressions (“What am I supposed to be doing again? Oh, yes, acting!” Or, after killing Achilles: “Oops, sorry…didn’t know you loved him pala”) Don’t worry, Orli my love, all you really have to do is look pretty.

6. Cool battle scenes…Grabe, astig! Makes me want to be a warrior like them.

5. The best actor goes to…Hector’s baby. I don’t know but there’s something about that baby that is sooo cute. Plus, director Wolfgang Petersen got him to deliver the right expressions at the right moments (especially the one where Hector kisses him goodbye.) How did they do that?

4. The score…James Horner did a good job. I especially love the song in the credits sung by Josh Groban. I good movie isn’t complete without a good score.

3. The Briseis/Achilles love story…It’s one of the things they changed in the story that I agree with: the virgin priestess falls in love with her mysterious and dangerous captor, but it makes things more poignant this way and makes Achilles more than a sulky mama’s boy. And it makes us want to cry we he dies in her arms.

2. And speaking of death…I think that Hector’s death scene is one of the most moving deaths in cinematic history. Hector, of course, was the true hero of the Trojan War and not Achilles (like the movie is trying to say.) I almost cried, especially when King Priam begs for his son’s body.

1. Oops! I think we forgot to give Brad his clothes…I don’t really blame them, Mr. Pitt looks like Apollo come to life, all male, light and golden. But honestly, did he really have to be naked (or almost naked) in every scene he’s in???

Of course, the Iliad is not really the Iliad without the Olympian gods fighting, bickering and seducing each other but I guess a movie about that would be too much to ask.