Japanese pop culture is owning Korea
Ang Pinoy magaling manggaya! [Filipinos are great imitators.] But even with that statement, we don’t feel threatened. I mean, after four centuries of colonization, some influence from other cultures have definitely rubbed off. And we don’t just imitate. We own! Take the jeepney for example. That’s a US Army jeep that we made into our own funky transport system. Same goes with our telenovelas, teleseryes and...
Do-it-yourself Voodoo
If anyone knows where to buy this, let me know and I’ll do one ritual for you, free of charge. Ushinokokumairi – or the Japanese version of the voodoo practice – is just one kit away, and costs roughly Php 5,500 (11,000 yen). Actually, we’re really harmless. Photo courtesy of: Juergen Specht According to Juergen Specht’s site, the basic Ushinokokumairi home kit includes the straw doll (wara ningyo), a...
International Anime Fair
Pinoy anime freaks will freak out when they find out that there will be an international anime fair from the 22nd til the 25th of March (from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.). Unfortunately, the biggest otaku convention ever will be held in Tokyo, specifically the Tokyo Big Sight. If you registered as business visitor via internet (Tokyoanime.jp), you get in free. For mere mortals, tickets cost 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for kids. Hmm…...
Ozine Fest ’07: April 1
Tsk, the evolution nga naman of the anime community here in the Philippines! Was it 7 years ago (shoot, almost a decade na pala!) when the word “anime” was just an obscure term. Pinag-aawayan pa yung pronunciation. Sabi ng mga neo-otaku (hindi yung banda) ‘ani-may.’ Yung mga die-hard elitista naman, ‘animeh.’ It was also rather difficult (logistically and financially) to acquire goods and the only...
Something queer
Sorry about the title. I mean no offense to homosexuals out there. Anyway, the UP Film Institute presents a one-time-only screening of “Pantasya,” a five-episode digital feature that deals with gay fantasies involving “men in uniform” from international award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, on March 20 (Tuesday) at 7 p.m. Oh my… shounen ai to the max! Pantasya in action takes place round the clock with each...
(table) Napkin novels
This one is neither Pinoy nor Japanese, but it is still sugoi! (at least to me). I tend to write on disposable table napkins, especially if I dine alone and inspiration suddenly strikes. I actually wrote a memorable erotica verse on a generic white paper napkin while drunk in a smoke-filled bar along Anonas. I threw it away (the napkin, not the poem) after transferring “kay Marc” on my poetry notebook. I actually regret...