Can you keep a secret?

Telling secrets is like a multiple choice exam. To whom will you confess, what secret will you say? It is never easy because not all people can be your shock-absorber. One may react unexpectedly once you got the wrong choice of things to share. Instead of helping you with that tiny piece, they may lead you to absolute judgment.

Wooden Heart

Wooden heart

I was wondering how to edit this picture when I remembered a song with an appropriate lyrics. So here it is: Wooden Heart

Written by: Berthold Kaempfert, Kay Twomey, Fred Wise and Ben Weisman

Can’t you see I love you?
Please don’t break my heart in two
That’s not hard to do cause I don’t have a wooden heart

And if you say good-bye
Then I know that I would cry
Maybe I would die cause I don’t have a wooden heart

There’s no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
Treat me nice treat me good
Treat me like you really should
Cause I’m not made of wood and I don’t have a wooden heart

Treat me nice treat me good treat me like you really should
Cause I’m not made of wood and I don’t have a wooden heart

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/tom+petty/wooden+heart_20138634.html ]

Jerome “Jerry” Siegel (October 17, 1914 – January 28, 1996)

Who will not be familiar with the man who wore a big “S” on his chest and whose only weakness was a Kryptonite? Everybody who was born in the era of comics and cartoons will surely recognize this man. Avid fans might have memorized all the characters, knew all the lines, but do they know who were the people behind this epic superhero?

Before Superman was made into cartoons and adapted into movies, it started as a comic book. On the 20th century, it undoubtedly became one of the most recognizable superhero characters. And one of the two men who brought this character into life was Jerome “Jerry” Siegel.

Born on October 17, 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio, Jerome Siegel was a son of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania. He was the youngest of the six children of Sarah Fine and Mitchell Siegel.

Siegel loved watching movies, reading comic strips, and later on developed a liking on science fiction pulp magazines. His father saw the artist’s side of Siegel that he had encouraged him to make a career out of it. Unfortunately, when he was in junior high school his father died of heart attack.

In 1929 after that seatback, he produced SF fanzine and Cosmic Stories using a manual typewriter. He advertised these creations in the section of Science Wonder Stories.

While in high school, he worked in a student newspaper called The Torch. Despite his shyness and being unpopular, his creation Tarzan parody, “Goober the Mighty” made him achieved a bit of fame.

It was in Glenville where he met Joe Shuster. They became friends and later on the two of them collaborated as comic-artists. They made their debut with the musketeer swashbuckler “Henri Duval” and the supernatural-crimefighter strip Doctor Occult in issue #6 (Oct. 1935).

Later on, they created one of the most unforgettable comic characters. It all started with a bald telepathic villain named “The Superman” who wanted to dominate the entire world. The character made its first appearance in the short story “The Reign of the Super-Man” from Science Fiction #3, a science fiction fanzine that Siegel published in 1933.

Unfortunately, the debut of the most acclaimed superhero was not successful. It was in 1934 when Siegel finally had made a good character out of the villain.

The concept of the new hero was inspired by Gladiator, Samson and Hercules legends. Unfortunately, when the comic book was rejected, Shuster destroyed the artwork. Fortunately, Siegel had rescued the cover art.

The duo then began a six-year quest to find a publisher. Their attempt to publish it was a failure. Shuster burned all pages of the story and only the cover page was rescued by Siegel.
In 1938, Vin Sullivan, editor of DC Comics chose it as the cover feature for National’s Action Comics #1. Siegel & Shuster initiated the syndicated Superman comic strip and created the ghostly avenger “The Spectre” the following year.

  Nearing the end of their 10-year contract to produce Superman stories in 1946, they sued National over rights to the characters.

It was after the World War II when DC produced Superboy, a hero with similar features and story to the one that Siegel and Shuster proposed. They once again sued DC over the Superman rights. They won in the hearing and was compensated with a big amount of money. However, compared to the millions that the company earned for producing such character, the duo artists were not given justice.

In his later works, Siegel used the pseudonym “Joe Carter”. He was invited by DC Comics’ editor Julius Schwartz invited Siegel to write an “imaginary” final story for Superman in 1986. He declined the offer.

  Being one of the most creative writers in his time, he was inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1993.

Siegel died on January 28, 1996 in Los Angeles. He maybe one of the many authors who succeeded in creating their masterpieces, but only few can actually recall their names.
This is one of the sad realities in an artist’s life. Everybody knows the superhero. Everyone knows the line “It’s a bird…it’s a plane…It’s Superman”. On the contrary, try to ask them one by one if who created the legendary character; you’ll be surprised of their answers. Some will surely give you a blank stare or a nod but the exact name or names that you want to hear, they simply forgot.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Siegel

http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=343

http://www.comic-art.com/biographies/siegel01.html

My lazy confessions

Originally from my Deviantart account

It has been a month since I finished college. Since I am still not ready to work, I’m trying to make each day productive.

I spent hours in the internet updating my DA account and other social networks.
: I read Manga (at least 5 per week)
: I watch anime (at least 2 series a week)
: I download movies and other stuffs
: I read a novel
: I doodle
: I take pictures
: I travel whenever there’s an opportunity (even just few kilometers will do since I don’t have my
own money..hahaha)
: I listen to new bands and try to know them a bit
: I talk to my parents about my life
: I had a chat with myself just to check if I’m still on earth or off to la la land
: I write stories and blog once a week ( to let my thoughts out or else I’ll go crazy)

I eat Manga!

1. The stories are very light…not complicated and very interesting
2. The characters are unbelievably handsome and beautiful (not to mention smart, talented and tall)
3. The lines are funny…but with hidden meanings

I’ve been an avid anime fan since I was 5 or younger. I always love day-dreaming about my favorite characters. I cry whenever I missed an episode or for some instances there have been no electricity or I got a lot of things to do. Until now, I am still drawn to various stuffs Japan introduced to my country. I started reading Manga, Mahnwa and comics. I can’t stop from wondering what’s next after I finish one story. I’ve been addicted. I’ve been hooked…and I’m proud of it. Over a month, I managed to read almost 10 Manga and watch over 3 anime series. I often spend my time in my room talking to myself and laughing…with my laptop and downloaded stuffs, my addiction is on the next level.

Why read/watch? They say it is a waste of time but I say it actually gives me quality moments with myself. I get to know my personality better and get to improve some of my stupid behaviors.

When everybody wants to be a ROCKSTAR

Never did I dream of wearing short skirts and tube tops. It has never been by option to be one of the cheerleaders during my high school and wear that fake smile all around campus. I wanted to be no one except this one image of myself in mind.I don’t know what it has got into me but I am one of the crazy kids who actually think that we’re born in the wrong timezone.

Yes…I am a kid who wants to travel through time and go back to where people do not think of other things aside from fun!REAL FUN! Like…

• Going from one place to another just to watch concerts…and when you get to a gig, you can’t help but to get wet with sweat and alcohol.
• Not going to school because in order to appreciate music, one does not need a degree. So why bother going to school if  you’ll end up on stage performing?
• Wearing “rug-like” clothes and tattered pants since the more  ragged you look, cooler you are.
• Wearing sneakers that has never been washed since the day you bought it because by doing so, its value will depreciate.
• Having long never been combed hair with a turban or bandana worn to look more credible for a rocker.

I know  I may sound a little bit odd but this is the ideal life I’m trying to live in reality. And when I say I’m trying…I’m trying really hard. It comes out naturally with my personality and hardheadedness. Just like what I always say, it is not about one’s style that makes him a rockstar or someone he/she really dreams…it is about having the right attitude to be called one.

What I do when I’m bored

Thanks to my Looklet account!

Things that I hate to do but I have to

Routines that I hate doing

House

• I hate to take a bath almost everyday but I have to or else I’ll stink.
• I hate to brush my teeth because it consumes my energy but I have to or else I’ll lose them in no time.
• I hate to comb my hair because it hurts and my hands are lazy but I have to or else I’ll look a rape victim.
• I hate to iron my clothes but I have to or else my father will scold me.
• I hate to fix my bed because within few hours I’ll be sleeping again…but I have to or else my mother will throw me outside the house.

School:

• I hate to  memorize my schedule but I have to or else I’ll enter the wrong class…or worst…I won’t be attending any.
• I hate to answer my teachers questions but I have to or else they’ll think I’m stupid.
• I hate to mingle with my schoolmates who are not my type but I have to or else I won’t have anyone to ask help during exams or reports.
• I hate attending forums about economy and politics because it won’t make any difference but I have to because attendance will be checked.
• I hate to fall in line in buying food because I have to wait  for how many minutes but I have to or else I’ll be scolded by others.

‘I’ Stand Alone

Throughout the history, music has been a part of man’s culture. It started as an early form of art which represented various beliefs and customs of people around the world. It has been a language tool used by many and for some; it was solely for aesthetic purpose.

The coming of technology had been influential to music’s evolution. From being traditional, it had reached another pedestal where the society can relate more. It was no longer purely instrumental (tribal) and classical since more genres had been explored and were accepted by the public.

The experimentation of sounds and instruments had paved way for the commercialization of music and becoming a part of people’s lifestyle.

The music industry had drawn the attention of many aspiring artists and music entrepreneurs to be part of the business. As it prospered, it was merely dominated by Warner, Universal, Sony BMG and EMI or the “Big Four”. (Stahl, 2006< http://www.bandradio.com>). They gained the power to control the type of music to produce and to publicize by their artists.

Their monopoly had fuel the idealism of some artists to deviate from the mainstream thus giving birth to the Independent Artists or the “Indies”.

The Indies are artists not only in music but also in art forms like film, fashion, and literature. (McCabe<http://www.cnn.com>) but the Indie scene was made known in the music field. Their do-it-yourself sensibility had made them not to affiliate with any of the large conglomerates. Their focus was not in making profit but in giving their audience the type of music that was different from the social trend which they believe to be “real music, real talent and real art”. (Peterson<http://www.relevantmagazine.com>).

Being self-funded, producing became a problem in the earlier times. The introduction of the Internet became its instant remedy. It had helped them in almost all of their transactions but at the same time “had tainted the real definition of what really Indie was”. (Andrews<http://www.cnn.com>).

The meaning of being an Indie became ambiguous in the fast changing society and with the proliferation of technology. Despite these, the Indie culture did survive. The evidences are could be seen in the young artists of today who are taking grip of the free Indie ride.

So yesterday: Sex and Pornography

“There is an irony implicit in our lives. What is deemed immoral by the law is mostly lived and practiced freely by normal people; hence immorality has become a way of life as dictated or demanded by our need to survive.” (Mendoza, 2009)

Brillante Mendoza is one of those artists who are striving to create films that depict stories showing the reality of the society, regardless of the age, gender and status. One of his creations, “Serbis” has been included in the 2008 Cannes International Film Festival in France. The film had won several awards during the 32nd Gawad Urian of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino here in the country.

The story is about the Pineda family who runs an old movie house that shows pornographic films. Business is everywhere inside the theater and the noticeable businessmen are the “serbis boys” or the male prostitutes who are being frequent by gay patrons.

Despite the popularity and recognition of the said independent film, it has not been totally accepted in the country. In the news article of Boy Villasanta on ABS-CBN News Online (2008) the film was first rated by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board as X or not for public viewing which through the appeal of the director and production crew became R-18 or for adults only. The regulating body pointed out three scenes which led them to their first decision; the pumping scene of lead star Coco Martin (Allan, billboard painter) with Mercedes Cabral (Merly the pregnant girlfriend of Allan), and two scenes portraying oral sex one which was performed by Kristofer King (Ronald, also a painter and operator of the movie projector). According to the director, theses scenes are important given the context of the story. He was just being realistic about the life of the poor people with no other option but to make sex as a profession.

Is being realistic equated to being pornographic? Why is independent film stereotyped by the Philippine mass media to be sexual in nature although it is about the society? How come that there are independent films that can touch different issues concerning the general public without being sexual?

Media always think that sex sells. This is the reason why themes with sexual content or sexual in nature are present in almost every medium. Sex and pornography are being feed to the public without them even knowing it.

There is a thin line between art and pornography, and the distinction is subjective to every person. However, given the definition of the MTRCB under Presidential Decree, Section 7 of 1986 that states, “Material and/or Scenes not Suited for Public Exhibition, applying to contemporary Filipino cultural values and standard, be objectionable for being immoral, indecent or contrary to the law and customs”.“Serbis” , therefore qualifies for being pornographic.

The part where Allan and Merley are doing the bed scene should appear that they are really having sex. If they wanted the seen to be realistic, it does not necessarily mean that they should capture the whole scene as it is or focused on private parts of the actor and actress. There are many ways of deceiving the viewers and making them believe that indeed the characters are doing sexual act that are acceptable and which could not corrupt one’s mind even if the he belongs to intended audience who are above 18 years of age.

The part where a gay is performing oral sex to Ronald can also be considered as pornographic. The focus shot of the gay doing the act was unnecessary. They could establish the scene without being too vulgar. This also applies on the parts where gays and male prostitutes are doing sexual acts inside the movie house.

Even if the MTRCB had rated the movie as R-18 therefore allowing it to be shown on the intended group of audience, still, there is no assurance of viewer regulation. It is because anyone could actually get a copy from stores that sell pirated CDs and DVDs regardless of age. Monitoring and controlling the mass production of the film is hard to do especially nowadays where media believes that sex sells.

The Philippines being a Christian country abide strictly on the teachings of the church. Morality is equated to one’s dignity as a person and as a member of the society. Although the country’s face is slowly evolving from being traditional and conservative to being bold and liberal, the Philippine mass media should not forget their role as catalysts on the rapid changes that every Filipino undergoes because of them being an influential tool.

Film makers should be sensitive in choosing what to show, how to show and where to show their piece of art. If their aim is to promote realism, they are free to do so, as long as they carry with them the social responsibility of being a media practitioner.

One can be realistic without being indecent and immoral. One can deviate without being offensive to one’s culture and belief. One can be a showstopper without being controversial.