The World of Second Chances

The Killer Bride-Juan Felipe

August 28, 2019

That’s Entertainment
Note: Don’t take me seriously. I am just a fan. Lol!

Long before the love story story of Vito dela Cuesta and Camila dela Torre happened, the warring families of equal wealth and connection were disgusted with each other’s presence. Belinda dela Torre’s rape and murder by one of dela Cuesta’s sons put an end to a possible reconciliation between the two powerful clans. The story after her death is never discussed and no known retaliation from the dela Torreses seems to occur.

If we see a young Belinda, perhaps in her twenties, then we could assume that Jacobo was in his late twenties when her tragedy happened. Therefore, the timeline from her tragedy up to Vito and Camila’s love story is a 50-year animosity between the two families.

Vito and Camila’s love story is likened to that of Romeo and Juliet; except that the latter’s life and death is more complicated. There are questions that keep the viewers asking like:
1. What was Renato dela Torre’s life when he joined the rebel group?
2. Who set fire on the rebel groups in San Lucas de Oro?
3. Who framed up Camila dela Torre?
4. Who was the man with a pair of horseshoe tattoo?
5. Who killed Camila dela Torre?
6. What happened to baby Vida dela Cuesta?
Renato dela Cuesta was the firstborn of Don Jacobo and Dona Guada. Being his father’s favorite, he was expected to inherit his father’s businesses and continue the legacy of the dela Torre clan. (Take note that between the two families, the dela Torres seem to be the more forgiving one as compared with the dela Cuestas. Proof of this is the absence of retaliation when Belinda was raped and killed by a dela Cuesta.) Renato, for some undivulged reasons yet, decided to join the rebels at the San Lucas De Oro, met a girl there and started a family. Don Jacobo, out of his great frustration, disowned Renato and let him live his life at the mountains. His absence and elimination from the line up of heirs put an advantage to his power-hungry brother, Luciano dela Torre. But Renato’s life was cut short when somebody burned the village where the rebels lived.

Assuming that Renato joined the rebels at age 25 and died at age 30, then Camila would have been 5 years old when her grandparents took her in. Luciano is probably 5 years younger and that made him 25 years old in 1999, then followed by Juan Felipe at age 20. The age gap between Tatiana and Camila is only 3 years as compared to the supposed 12 years age gap between Juan Felipe and Tatiana so it’s possible that Tatiana’s disgust over her niece is like a sibling rivalry than political or economical.

Questions 3-6 will focus on the possible mastermind.

At this point, I do not believe that Luciano dela Torre had something to do with Renato’s death, Camila’s frame up and Camila’s death. I intend to put a finger to goody two shoes uncle Juan Felipe.

Juan Felipe, the 3rd son, seems to have that middle child syndrome. An achiever at an early age, he seems to be what every parent should be proud of in a child. But he could also be the least favorite child that is why he keeps on trying to be the best. We know Luciano is not as sharp as Renato or Juan Felipe and his only saving grace is his guts. Juan Felipe is a classic example of silent water runs deep. His actions are calculated; his stares are even colder than that of Luciano. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who instructed to raid the rebels and burn the village for the purpose of eliminating Renato. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who brought young Camila to the dela Torre mansion to divert suspicion about his involvement.

With Renato down, his eyes are now fixated on eliminating Luciano but somehow, he realized that Luciano’s agressiveness could work for him. What he failed to anticipate was the growing Camila had her father’s intellect and it would only be a matter of time before she becomes the successor of their family business.

His disapproval of the Vito-Camila love affair was not out of concern but out of creating a picture of a hard-headed granddaughter that Don Jacobo loved above all his remaining children. My suspicion is that, it was Juan Felipe who collaborated with Javier dela Cuesta in trying to liquidate Camila. Someone would ask, why would a guy as sweet as Javier lay a finger on the woman who is about to get married to his only brother Vito? I think that a typical dela Cuesta has this temper when it involves the person they love. Remember the church compound scene when Vito punched the man in the stomach because he said something bad about Camila? Yes, Javier was there to kill Camila but Juan Felipe was wise enough to ask one of his men to frame up Camila.

Why the horseshoe tattoo? I think it has something to do with a gang and it’s not only one man in Las Espadas who have it. When Alice tried to unbutton Juan Felipe’s shirt for a photoshoot, the latter was pissed off to Alice’s dismay. Is he hiding something beneath those shirt?

What I love about this show is having two underrated actors “manipulate” the viewers. Viewers hate them and it’s a sign that they are effective. Cris Villanueva used to live in Kristina Paner’s shadow because of their loveteam. In his late 20’s, his on-again off-again relationship with Criselda Volks was more talked about than his talent. But now, in his 40’s, Cris managed to find his niche and never have I admired him as an actor than now. He was good in “Halik” and he keeps getting better in “Killer Bride.”

I don’t have much memory of James Blanco except that soap commercial ages ago. In reality, these two dela Torre brothers have a 10 year-age gap.
Ang Nagbabagong Panahon

July 30, 2019

Life & Love
List of issues that we have accepted through time:
1. Building a hedge on our relationship- noong araw, kapag bantay-sarado ka sa boyfriend or asawa mo, ang tawag sa iyo “walang-tiwala.” Pero ngayon, pino-promote na to ngayon para daw maiwasan ang tukso.
2. Okay lang magalit/mainis/sumpungin- noong bata ako, kapag nagalit ako, andyan na yung amba ng palo o pagsasabihan ka na “masama ang magalit” o ipaparamdam sa iyo na napakasama mong tao dahil throwing tantrums ka. Na sa palagay ko kaya ang ibang tao ay passive-aggresive ay dahil sa pagpapalaki din ng magulang. Ngayon, sa mommy group na kasama ako at kapag may nagra-rant, “valid ang feelings mo, okay lang magalit” ang mababasa ko na ibig sabihin ay somebody is acknowledging your bad day.
3. Growing up in the 80’s, bawal akong mag-rant. Bawal mag-complain. Sumunod muna bago magsalita. Bawal magsabi ng unhappiness dahil nakakawala daw ng grasya. Ngayon, nawiwindang ako dahil yung ibang tao, kada kibot, post ng rant. Kada di magustuhan, social media.
4. Related to sa number 3- noong araw, you treat your issues privately. Naghiwalay kayong mag-asawa? Kokonti ang nakakaalam. Nagkagalit kayong magkapatid? It’s between the two of you lang. Pero ngayon, pati inis mo sa kapitbahay mo ay pwede mo ng i-social media at supportive pa ang nasa friends’ list mo. Hehe.
5. Okay lang noon na nasa bahay ang babae habang ang lalaki ay nagtatrabaho para sa pamilya. Pansin ko, baka kaya defensive ang ibang stay-at-home-mom and they are trying to justify their choice ay dahil sa mga mapanghusgang tao na nagtatanong bakit sila hindi nagtratrabaho. Ano namang paki natin sa kanila, di ba? Unless pinapakain natin sila.
6. Baligtarin natin, noong araw, nakakahiya kapag ang babae ang kumikita habang ang lalaki ay nasa bahay at nag-aalaga ng mga bata. Nasa agreement yan ng mag-asawa basta hindi natatapakan ang ego ng lalaki. Madaming successful marriages ngayon na ang lalaki ang nasa bahay habang si misis ang naghahanap-buhay.
7. Nakakahiyang maging mahirap noong araw. Kaya nga ang mga artista ang ginagamit na pakulo ay “convent-bred, schooled in an all-girls exclusive school, anak ni ganito at ganoon.” Pero bandang late 90’s hanggang ngayon na nauso ang mga contest kung saan naghahanap ng sympathy vote ang mga contestant, nagbago ang tingin natin sa mahihirap. Na ang mahihirap ay okay lang maging mahirap basta nagsisikap.
8. Sexy lang ang may karapatang mag-swimsuit noon. Kaya nga iilan lang ang big sizes na swimsuit noon. Ngayon, swimsuits come in all shapes and sizes.
9. Pag kumain ka ng tanim mo o ng itlog mula sa alaga mong manok, napaka-jologs mo ng tao. Pero ngayon, organic naman ang pino-promote dahil mas healthy.
10. Kokonti ang private vehicles noong araw. Kapag may kotse ka, big time ka na. Ngayon, salamat sa influx of second hand vehicles. Salamat sa affordable car loans. Salamat sa affordable cars like compact cars na mas mura kesa sa ibang modelo. Kaya ngayon, kahit middle-class ay meron ng sasakyan (wala nga lang mapagparkingan).
Anxiety

July 23, 2019

Health & Beauty

Waking up to another day

Requires a lot of effort to juggle everything

From end to end

The day has not yet started

Yet fatigue is setting in

Because the most tiring part of me

Is my brain

Some people are wired to keep their focus

And let another person worry for their troubles

I personally see whatever I have to see

Because what I have are the most precious

I used to be adventurous

The type who would bungee-jump

When mother was alive and father was not so old

I would dare risk my life

Mama left me such enormous responsibility

To glue the family together

I started having anxiety

For a task so heavy

But no task is heavier

Than to be constantly worried about your loved ones

Are they eating? Are they making good?

Are they surviving? Do they have food?

I work from five to 10 and barely sleep

My mind is fixated on what we need

Anxiety attack, they will laugh at it

Being over-concerned is something that I must quit
The Privacy of an Icon

June 24, 2019

That’s Entertainment

Mr. Eddie Garcia passed away last Thursday, June 21, leaving a permanent void in showbiz. I grew up watching his villain roles in Sampaguita Pictures when RPN9 made a re-run of their classic films. My grandmother was just a few years younger than him.

Through the years, very little was known about his private life except some bits of details like losing his son to a motorcycle accident and having a girlfriend named “Lilibeth.” It was either the showbiz reporters had so much respect for this icon to be asking about the juicy details of his private life or the public did not care because he was not of our generation. It could be both.

It was only in my adult life when I truly appreciated this genius of an actor. His versatility could never be equalled; he played a soldier, a gay, a villain, a lover, a father and a whole lot more. Through his seven decades in showbiz, he had seen the rise and fall and maybe the rise again of our Philippine cinema. And he was also there when Pinoy action films was at its peak, after all, he was Boyong Manalac in the movies!

My favorite movies of him are the ones with Gloria Diaz. They had such a strong on-screen chemistry and they both looked good together! Off-screen, I only learned that long-time girlfriend Lilibeth was none other than Mr. Mikee Romero’s mother! Netizens were wondering about the surviving biological children and were at lost if there was really a Lisa Ortega because in the picture that Mr. Romero posted on Facebook, there was a surviving son named Erwin Garcia.

Eddie Garcia’s career and some pieces of his personal life like his famous quote about being a “one man woman” could be written on a book as not every person is as interesting and as inspiring as him. But the consideration is, if Mr. Garcia was mum about his personal details when he was alive, he wouldn’t be happy to share about it now that he couldn’t object.
Iris by Khalil Ramos

March 2, 2019

That’s Entertainment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwEUdRtwC9o
Indie Kings

February 26, 2019

That’s Entertainment

Kristoffer King and Coco Martin.

Both were indie stars.

Both were good actors.

Both were director’s favourite.

Good luck knocked on Coco’s door and his life was never the same again.

Endorsements, movies, a long-running television show and a beautiful rumored girlfriend, too.

Properties, mansions and a hand at directing.

He is every small artists’ benchmark.

On the other hand, Kristoffer struggled.

With 6 mouths to feed and a deteriorating health, he tried his best to live.

But movie offers were not as good as when he was young and salable.

While Coco reaped the fruit of his fame, Kristoffer walked under his shadow for some cash.

His character in a television show died on the day that the real him passed away.

Yes, it is art imitating life but for me it’s life imitating art.

Show business has two faces: sad and happy, scarce and plenty.
My Trip To The ER

February 18, 2019

Health & Beauty

Today is exactly one week after my trip to the emergency room due to palpitations and high blood pressure. Last Monday was just a normal day. I fixed the children for school, my husband drove me to work, I worked at my usual (fast) pace, I left the office and hurriedly went home, I ate dinner with my children, I cleaned the house, watered the plants and when I was washing the dishes, I felt strong palpitations that I initially ignored.

When the palpitations wouldn’t stop, I asked my son to tell our next-door neighboor to accompany me to the hospital. On the way, I felt like I was about to collapse. I was scared but I was more worried about my children and my youngest brother who’s on his final year in school.

At the ER, they took my blood pressure and it was 170/100. They gave me antihistamine and another drug to lower my blood pressure. Laboratory test showed that my ECG was normal, I had a mild UTI and anemia.

I have been monitoring my blood pressure since Monday of last week. Here are the things that I realize:

We do not own our life. Enjoy every moment. Forgive. Show how much you care about a person before it’s too late. Material things are just temporary. We need to take care of our health before sickness invades our body. Getting worried all the time contributes to a lot of sickness. Do not be hard on yourself. Enjoy the love that you receive from friends. Give love especially to the ones who need it the most.