#Mariel de Leon

[josh0555]

This is the Summer Station ID of ABS-CBN in 2007. The Summer Station ID was themed “Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas”.

The Summer Station ID theme song was performed by Filipina OPM singer and songwriter Regine Velasquez featuring Filipino singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, television host, actor and comedian Ogie Alcasid who is Regine Velasquez's husband when they got married in December 24, 2005. Also starting in June 1, 2007, The theme “Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas” can be heard on DZMM Radyo 630 and various radio stations nationwide.

The Summer Station ID features The Summer Station ID features Ritz Azul, Alice Dixson, Arcee Muñoz, Eula Caballero, Tuesday Vargas, AiAi de las Alas, Cherry Pie Picache, Carmina Villaroel, Eugene Domingo, Nora Aunor, Lucho Ayala, Gil Cuerva, Rainier Castillo, Arjo Atayde, Kit Thompson, JC de Vera, Sef Cadayona, Dion Ignacio, Gerald Anderson, Joseph Bitangcol, Cherie Mercado, Kara David, The Tulfo Brothers, Bernadette Sembrano, Mariz Umali, Kim Atienza, Jiggy Manicad, Ted Failon, Arnold Clavio, Marc Logan, “Kabayan” Noli de Castro, Vicky Morales, DingDong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Andi Eigenmann, Dominic Roco, Felix Roco, Bong Revilla, Jayson Gainza, Zanjoe Marudo, RJ Padilla, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Mariel Rodriguez, Toni Gonzaga, Camille Prats, Bayani Agbayani, Luis Manzano, Matteo Guidicelli, Patrick Garcia, AJ Perez, Ryan Agoncillo, Raymond Bagatsing, Maine Mendoza, Catherine Bernardo, Edu Manzano, Jericho Rosales, Gardo Versoza, Vhong Navarro, Billy Crawford, Teddy Corpuz, Arra San Agustin, Rufa Mae Quinto, Jennylyn Mercado, Roxanne Guinoo, Valerie Concepcion, RR Enriquez, Princess Ryan, Dianne Medina, Coleen Garcia, Bianca Umali, Carla Abellana, Aga Muhlach, John Lloyd Cruz, Onemig Bondoc, EJ Falcon, RK Bagatsing, John Prats, Joem Bascon, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Daniel Padilla, Alwyn Uytingco, Rocco Nacino, Enchong Dee, Hero Angeles, Enzo Pineda, Dennis Trillo, CJ Muere, Carl Cervantes, Terence Baylon, Rico Barrero, Tom Rodriguez, Paolo Serrano, Coco Martin, Edgar Allan Guzman, Marco Gumabao, Heart Evangelista, Dimples Romana, Bea Alonzo, Kristine Hermosa, Meg Imperial, Robin Padilla, including Regine Velasquez and her husband Ogie Alcasid. The Summer Station ID features the Sexbomb Girls, supergroup Bravo All-Stars, special guests Mark Anthony Fernandez, German Moreno, Carmelito “Shalala” Reyes, Romy “Dagul” Pastrana, Chuckie Dreyfus, Zoren Legaspi, Aga Muhlach, Ina Raymundo, Gretchen Barretto, Ahron Villena, and child actors Angelica Panganiban, Alex Gonzaga, Cristine Reyes, Nash Aguas, Valeen Montenegro and the Goin Bulilit original cast members from TV5. The Summer Station ID also features British boy band One Direction in their pre-debut and Australian born American actor, producer and comedian Will Smith who portrayed Jack Frost in the 2002 movie Frozen as a special guest. Red, Green, Blue and Black Balloons will also be scattered around the world to literally bring forth the summer fun.

The Summer Station ID was filmed in Hollywood, Quezon City, London, Italy, France, Australia, Kenya, Baguio, Boracay and New York in June 2006 whenever the ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 crew members are having a hot summer day into a big summer party.

The Summer Station ID clips will be re-used in the I Gotta Feeling music video from the future movie Ready Player One which will be releasing in March 21, 2013 from Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios. But somehow, This is the only Summer Station ID to feature actors from ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5.

[mingoabalsamo]

HUMOR HORMONAL Mariel Ponce de Leon Contrataciones: 011-5-594-7472

[normanblogs]

Finally, a sign of life from Bb. Pilipinas

Finally, a sign of life from Bb. Pilipinas

Here is the teaser you have all been waiting for. Bb. Pilipinas 2020 is all set to achieve its highly-anticipated climax this 2021. Soon! #IAmFilipina #IAmBinibini P.S. Notice the focus on Ahtisa Manalo, Patch Magtanong, Mariel de Leon and Kylie Verzosa in the clip.

[justanothersideblogofmine]

So, Ethel Booba made a big deal out of those not supporting our Miss Universe representative. She called hem crabbies.

I’m one of those who don’t support Rachel Peters. Honestly, I don’t even give a damn about beauty pageants. They are pointless, useless and a waste of time. What do they even do after winning? I don’t see much effect. It’s a freakin lie that it isn’t just about physical beauty or else there wouldn’t be height requirement and you would see plus size people. What about Pia W? Has her winning the crown contributed anything to our country aside from her gaining a boyfriend and so much popularity? The last time I heard, our tourism isn’t doing well compared to the past years. In short, beauty pageants are more for personal gain. Besides, most beauty queens are fence-sitters, that doesn’t have anything to do with loving your country. That is loving yourself. If you are to represent our country then the country should come first before any crown. IMO, the only beauty queen who got this correctly is Mariel De Leon.

I’m all for Pinoy Pride, but I also support personal opinion. Are we not entitled to our own opinion? I will not support Filipino products for being made in the Philippines, it has to have the qualities I am looking for. This is not surprising, tbh. Pinoys vote politicians based on being from the same town, ignoring other qualities. That is pretty stupid.

I’m sorry that I decline to be that stupid, and if Ms. Booba wants to call me a crabby then so be it. I guess she doesn’t know the meaning of crab mentality. Besides, you cannot say that you can’t involve politics in the pageants. If I don’t agree with her opinion on important matters then I’m sure I don’t agree with how she represents the country. It’s not just about being represented, it’s about how the country is being represented.

Funny because you don’t see these Ka-DDS playing the pinoy pride and patriotism cards when talking about the West Philippine Sea.

I’m not praying for her to lose but I do not support her in anyway either.

[lmjupdates]

laurenjauregui Thank You HypeBae for having me as your cover girl 🥰 Photographer: Baz (@baz) Creative Director: Celina Rodriguez (@thecelinarodriguez) Videographer: Jordan Sakai (@jksakai) Video Editor: Kayla Gibson/Hypebae Producer: Pauline De Leon/Hypebae, Marielle Sales (@marielle__ara) Assistant Producer: Alison Jang Stylist: Raz Martinez (@itsmerazzie) Assistant Stylist: Chloe Siegel Fashion Market Assistants: Celine Azena (@celineazena), Aja Gilles (@ajagillies) Makeup Artist: Leo Chapparo (@leo.chaparro) Hair Stylist: Castillo (@castillo_13) Nail Artist: Karen Jimenez (@theset.bykj) Tailor: Leni Brechner Interviewer: Pauline De Leon/Hypebae Location: Blackheart Studio (@studioblackheart), Soho House (@sohohousecalifornia) Designer: Yenna Chang/HYPEBEAST

[unknown-songs]

BLACK LIVES MATTER

A list with black artists who have a song in the Unknown Songs That Should Be Known-playlist (Can be a black artist in a band or just solo-artist) (no specific genre)

Bull’s Eye - Blacknuss, Prince Prime - Funk Aftershow - Joe Fox - Alternative Hip-hop Strangers in the Night - Ben L’Oncle Soul - Soul Explore - Mack Wilds - R&B Something To Do - IGBO - Funk

Down With The Trumpets - Rizzle Kicks - Pop Dans ta ville - Dub Inc. - Reggae Dance or Die - Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Funk FACELESS - The PLAYlist, Glenn Lewis - R&B Tell Me Father - Jeangu Macrooy - Soul

Southern Boy - John The Conquerer - Blues Hard Rock Savannah Grass - Kes - Dancehall Dr. Funk - The Main Squeeze - Funk Seems I’m Never Tired of Loving You - Lizz Wright - Jazz Out of My Hands - TheColorGrey, Oddisee - Hip-Hop/Pop

Raised Up in Arkansas - Michael Burks - Blues Black Times - Sean Kuti, Egypt 80, Carlos Santana - Afrobeat Cornerstone - Benjamin Clementine - Indie Shine On - R.I.O., Madcon - Electronic Pop Bass On The Line - Bernie Worrell - Funk

When We Love - Jhené Aiko - R&B Need Your Love - Curtis Harding - Soul Too Dry to Cry - Willis Earl Beal - Folk Your House - Steel Pulse - Reggae Power - Moon Boots, Black Gatsby - Deep House

Vinyl Is My Bible - Brother Strut - Funk Diamond - Izzy Biu - R&B Elusive - blackwave., David Ngyah - Hip-hop Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down - Heritage Blues Orchestra - Blues Sastanàqqàm - Tinariwen - Psychedelic Rock

Disco To Go - Brides of Funkenstein - Funk/Soul Circles - Durand Jones & The Indications - Retro Pop Cheesin’ - Cautious Clay, Remi Wolf, sophie meiers - R&B Changes - Charles Bradley - Soul The Sweetest Sin - RAEVE - House

Gyae Su - Pat Thomas, Kwashibu Area Band - Funk What Am I to Do - Ezra Collective, Loyle Carner - Hip-hop Get Your Groove On - Cedric Burnside - Blues Old Enough To Know Better - Steffen Morrisson - Soul Wassiye - Habib Koité - Khassonke musique

Dance Floor - Zapp - Funk Wake Up - Brass Against, Sophia Urista - Brass Hard-Rock BIG LOVE - Black Eyed Peas - Pop The Greatest - Raleigh Ritchie - R&B DYSFUNCTIONAL - KAYTRANADA, VanJess - Soul

See You Leave - RJD2, STS, Khari Mateen - Hip-hop Sing A Simple Song - Maceo Parker - Jazz/Funk Have Mercy - Eryn Allen Kane - Soul Homenage - Brownout - Latin Funk Can’t Sleep - Gary Clark Jr. - Blues Rock

Toast - Koffee - Dancehall Freedom - Ester Dean - R&B Iskaba - Wande Coal, DJ Tunez - Afropop High Road - Anthony Riley - Alternative Christian Sunny Days - Sabrina Starke - Soul

The Talking Fish - Ibibio Sound Machine - Funk Paralyzed - KWAYE - Indie Purple Heart Blvd - Sebastian Kole - Pop WORSHIP - The Knocks, MNEK - Deep House BMO - Ari Lennox - R&B

Promises - Myles Sanko - Soul .img - Brother Theodore - Funk Singing the Blues - Ruthie Foster, Meshell Ndegeocello - Blues Nobody Like You - Amartey, SBMG, The Livingtons - Hip-hop Starship - Afriquoi, Shabaka Hutchings, Moussa Dembele - Deep House

Lay My Troubles Down - Aaron Taylor - Funk  Bloodstream - Tokio Myers - Classic Sticky - Ravyn Lenae - R&B Why I Try - Jalen N’Gonda - Soul Motivation - Benjamin Booker - Folk

quand c’est - Stromae - Pop Let Me Down (Shy FX Remix) - Jorja Smith, Stormzy, SHY FX - Reggae Funny - Gerald Levert - R&B Salt in my Wounds - Shemekia Copeland - Blues Our Love - Samm Henshaw - Soul

Make You Feel That Way - Blackalicious - Jazz Hip-hop Knock Me Out - Vintage Trouble - Funk Take the Time - Ronald Bruner, Jr., Thundercat - Alternative Thru The Night - Phonte, Eric Roberson - R&B Keep Marchin’ - Raphael Saadiq - Soul

Shake Me In Your Arms - Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ - Blues Meet Me In The Middle - Jodie Abascus - Pop Raise Hell - Sir the Baptist, ChurchPpl - Gospel Pop Mogoya - Oumou Sangaré - Wassoulou Where’s Yesterday - Slakah The Beatchild - Hip-hop

Lose My Cool - Amber Mark - R&B New Funk - Big Sam’s Funky Nation - Funk I Got Love - Nate Dogg - Hip-hop Nothing’s Real But Love - Rebecca Ferguson - Soul Crazy Race - The RH Factor - Jazz

Spies Are Watching Me - Voilaaa, Sir Jean - Funk The Leaders - Boka de Banjul - Afrobeat Fast Lane - Rationale - House Conundrum - Hak Baker - Folk Don’t Make It Harder On Me - Chloe x Halle - R&B

Plastic Hamburgers - Fantastic Negrito - Hardrock Beyond - Leon Bridges - Pop God Knows - Dornik - Soul Soleil de volt - Baloji - Afrofunk Do You Remember - Darryl Williams, Michael Lington - Jazz Get Back - McClenney - Alternative Three Words - Aaron Marcellus - Soul

Spotify playlist 

In memory of:

Aaron Bailey Adam Addie Mae Collins Ahmaud Arbery Aiyana Stanley Jones Akai Gurley Alberta Odell Jones Alexia Christian Alfonso Ferguson Alteria Woods Alton Sterling Amadou Diallo Amos Miller Anarcha Westcott Anton de Kom Anthony Hill Antonio Martin Antronie Scott Antwon Rose Jr. Arthur St. Clair Atatiana Jefferson Aubrey Pollard Aura Rosser Bennie Simons Berry Washington Bert Dennis Bettie Jones Betsey Billy Ray Davis Bobby Russ Botham Jean Brandon Jones Breffu Brendon Glenn Breonna Taylor Bud Johnson Bussa

Calin Roquemore Calvin McDowell Calvin Mike and his family Carl Cooper Carlos Carson Carlotta Lucumi Carol Denise McNair Carol Jenkins Carole Robertson Charles Curry Charles Ferguson Charles Lewis Charles Wright Charly Leundeu Keunang Chime Riley Christian Taylor Christopher Sheels Claude Neal Clementa Pickney Clifford Glover Clifton Walker Clinton Briggs Clinton R. Allen Cordella Stevenson Corey Carter Corey Jones Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd Cynthia Wesley

Daniel L. Simmons Danny Bryant Darius Randell Robinson Darius Tarver Darrien Hunt Darrius Stewart David Felix David Joseph David McAtee David Walker and his family Deandre Brunston Deborah Danner Delano Herman Middleton Demarcus Semer Demetrius DuBose Depayne Middleton-Doctor Dion Johnson Dominique Clayton Dontre Hamilton Dred Scott

Edmund Scott Ejaz Choudry Elbert Williams Eleanor Bumpurs Elias Clayton Elijah McClain Eliza Woods Elizabeth Lawrence Elliot Brooks Ellis Hudson Elmer Jackson Elmore Bolling Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. Emmett Till Eric Garner Eric Harris Eric Reason Ernest Lacy Ernest Thomas Ervin Jones Eugene Rice Eugene Williams Ethel Lee Lance Ezell Ford

Felix Kumi Frank Livingston Frank Morris Frank Smart Frazier B. Baker Fred Hampton Fred Rochelle Fred Temple Freddie Carlos Gray Jr.

George Floyd George Grant George Junius Stinney Jr. George Meadows George Waddell George Washington Lee Gregory Gunn

Harriette Vyda Simms Moore Harry Tyson Moore Hazel “Hayes” Turner Henry Ezekial Smith Henry Lowery Henry Ruffin Henry Scott Hosea W. Allen

India Kager Isaac McGhie Isadore Banks Italia Marie Kelly

Jack Turner Jamar Clark Jamel Floyd James Byrd Jr. James Craig Anderson James Earl Chaney James Powell James Ramseur James Tolliver James T. Scott Janet Wilson Jason Harrison Javier Ambler J.C. Farmer Jemel Roberson Jerame Reid Jesse Thornton Jessie Jefferson Jim Eastman Joe Nathan Roberts John Cecil Jones John Crawford III John J. Gilbert John Ruffin John Taylor Johnny Robinson Jonathan Ferrell Jonathan Sanders Jordan Edwards Joseph Mann Julia Baker Julius Jones July Perry Junior Prosper

Kalief Browder Karvas Gamble Jr. Keith Childress, Jr. Kelly Gist Kelso Benjamin Cochrane Kendrick Johnson Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. Kenny Long Kevin Hicks Kevin Matthews Kiwane Albert Carrington

Lacy Mitchell Lamar Smith Laquan McDonald Laura Nelson Laura Wood L.B. Reed L.D. Nelson Lemuel Penn Lemuel Walters Leonard Deadwyler Leroy Foley Levi Harrington Lila Bella Carter Lloyd Clay Louis Allen Lucy

M.A. Santa Cruz Maceo Snipes Malcom X Malice Green Malissa Williams Manuel Ellis Marcus Deon Smith Marcus Foster Marielle Franco Mark Clark Maria Martin Lee Anderson Martin Luther King Jr. Matthew Avery Mary Dennis Mary Turner Matthew Ajibade May Noyes Mckenzie Adams Medgar Wiley Evers Michael Brown Michael Donald Michael Griffith Michael Lee Marshall Michael Lorenzo Dean Michael Noel Michael Sabbie Michael Stewart Michelle Cusseaux Miles Hall Moses Green Mya Hall Myra Thompson

Nathaniel Harris Pickett Jr. Natasha McKenna Nicey Brown Nicholas Heyward Jr.

O’Day Short family Orion Anderson Oscar Grant III Otis Newsom

Pamela Turner Paterson Brown Jr. Patrick Dorismond Philando Castile Phillip Pannell Phillip White Phinizee Summerour

Quaco

Ramarley Graham Randy Nelson Raymond Couser Raymond Gunn Regis Korchinski-Paquet Rekia Boyd Renisha McBride Riah Milton Robert Hicks Robert Mallard Robert Truett Rodney King Roe Nathan Roberts Roger Malcolm and his wife Roger Owensby Jr. Ronell Foster Roy Cyril Brooks Rumain Brisbon Ryan Matthew Smith

Sam Carter Sam McFadden Samuel DuBose Samuel Ephesians Hammond Jr. Samuel Hammond Jr. Samuel Leamon Younge Jr. Sandra Bland Sean Bell Shali Tilson Sharonda Coleman-Singleton Shukri Abdi Simon Schuman Slab Pitts Stella Young Stephon Clark Susie Jackson

T.A. Allen Tamir Rice Tamla Horsford Tanisha Anderson Timothy Caughman Timothy Hood Timothy Russell Timothy Stansbury Jr. Timothy Thomas Terrence Crutcher Terrill Thomas Tom Jones Tom Moss Tony McDade Tony Terrell Robinson Jr. Trayvon Martin Troy Hodge Troy Robinson Tula Tyler Gerth Tyre King Tywanza Sanders

Victor Duffy Jr. Victor White III

Walter Lamar Scott Wayne Arnold Jones Wesley Thomas Wilbert Cohen Wilbur Bundley Will Brown Will Head Will Stanley Will Stewart Will Thompson Willie James Howard Willie Johnson Willie McCoy Willie Palmer Willie Turks William Brooks William Butler William Daniels William Fambro William Green William L. Chapman II William Miller William Pittman Wyatt Outlaw

Yusef Kirriem Hawkins

The victims of LaLaurie (1830s) The black victims of the Opelousas massacre (1868) The black victims of the Thibodaux massacre (1887) The black victims of the Wilmington insurrection (1898) The black victims of the Johnson-Jeffries riots (1910) The black victims of the Red summer (1919) The black victims of the Elaine massacre (1919) The black victims of the Ocoee massacre (1920) The victims of the MOVE bombing (1985)

All the people who died during the Atlantic slave trade, be it due to abuse or disease.

All the unnamed victims of mass-incarceration, who were put into jail without the committing of a crime and died while in jail or died after due to mental illness. 

All the unnamed victims of racial violence and discrimination. 

...

My apologies for all the people missing on this list. Feel free to add more names and stories. 

Listen, learn and read about discrimination, racism and black history: (feel free to add more)  Documentaries: 13th (Netflix) The Innocence Files (Netflix) Who Killed Malcolm X? (Netflix) Time: The Kalief Browder Story (Netflix) I Am Not Your Negro

YouTube videos: We Cannot Stay Silent about George Floyd Waarom ook Nederlanders de straat op gaan tegen racisme (Dutch) Wit is ook een kleur (Dutch) (documentaire)

Books: Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri Freedom Is A Constant Struggle by Angela Davis How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery White Fragility by Robin Deangelo Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge Woman, Race and Class by Angela Davis

Websites: https://lynchinginamerica.eji.org/report/ https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/ https://archive.org/details/thirtyyearsoflyn00nati/page/n11/mode/2up https://lab.nos.nl/projects/slavernij/index-english.html https://blacklivesmatter.com/ https://www.zinnedproject.org/

[aion-rsa]

Scarface: Where Tony Montana Went Wrong

https://ift.tt/3oFBFiL

“All I have in this world is my balls and my word, and I don’t break them for no one,” Tony Montana declares in the 1983 gangster classic, Scarface. Yet Al Pacino’s antihero breaks both in his quest for money, power, and women. And just as he is on the brink of winning the trifecta, he is blown away like so much dust up a nose.

Did he lose because the Cuban mobster didn’t heed the advice of his first crime boss? Or is it because he just couldn’t stand to see his sister and his best friend wearing his-and-her pajamas? In truth, Montana’s fall can probably be traced back to when he learned to speak English by “watching guys like Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney.”

Directed by Brian De Palma, and written by Oliver Stone, Scarface is a remake of Howard Hawks’ vastly influential 1932 mob movie, so Montana’s explosive descent was preordained. Tony Montana continued Pacino’s run of criminal icons, which included Sonny in Dog Day Afternoon and the ultimate crime family head, Michael Corleone in The Godfather films. The actor supplanted Paul Muni’s Tony Carmonte as the recognizably scarred face of the title role. Pacino would go on to play Carlito in Carlito’s Way and Lefty in Donnie Brasco, but while each hoodlum brings a new facet to his rogues gallery, none of his gangsters ever achieve their ultimate desires. They almost all reach dizzying heights, and everyone of them sees the dream slip through their fingers. Still, Montana experiences perhaps the greatest fall of all.

The original 1932 film took place during Prohibition when crime was a viable means of survival. De Palma’s adaptation happens in the Reagan era, a time when lucky opportunists could get their lips around the spigots of cash before it got a chance to trickle down. Tony’s economic theory is much more succinct: “You know what capitalism is? Getting fucked.”

Scarface is a rags-to-riches-to-self-destructive fireball story, and nothing succeeds like excess. Montana’s first crime boss in America, Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia), has weathered the climate change from President Carter to the Gipper, and warns Tony to never “underestimate the other guy’s greed.”

In the original Howard Hughes production, Tony was an immigrant from Italy. In the Cold War era film, Montana is a refugee from Cuba. Their shared first mistake is to believe in the American Dream.

The World Is Yours

These words are flashed in both films and hit each of the two criminal aspirants as hard as the “give me your tired, poor, and hungry” promises carved under the Statue of Liberty. Scarface opens shortly after the Mariel boatlift, the 1980 exodus which followed Cuba’s economic crash. Montana seeks asylum, telling immigration officers he is a political prisoner who doesn’t agree with his country’s politics and owns nothing under communism. He says even American prison is better than his life on the Caribbean island. The officers note his criminal past, the telltale tattoo on his arm, and the scar on his face, which despite their insults was obviously not caused by oral sex.

In exchange for a Green Card, Montana and his friend Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) assassinate Gen. Emilio Rebenga, who tortured the brother of the crime boss Lopez. Tony settles in sunny Miami. And when he gets out of the kitchen and into the heat of crime, he hits the ground running. “The World Is Yours,” after all. All you have to do is take it, and Montana has both hands out.

Frank warns his protégé, “The guys who last in this business are the guys who fly straight – lowkey, quiet; and the guys who want it all – chicas, champagne, flash – they don’t last.” But Montana is a meteor, bound to burn up in the atmosphere. He gets caught on the orbit of Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar), agreeing to supply cocaine from Bolivia independent of the other drug lords. Within a few years, Montana is doing so well, the feds target him for tax evasion.

Tony’s Betrayal of Frank Lopez

Montana’s betrayal of Frank Lopez is crucial to his downfall. Frank is the father figure who initially took a chance on Tony. He let him rise through the ranks, even as he tried to bite off more than he could chew. Frank’s biggest mistake is not making sure his underlings follow his sage advice. He also ignores one of his own commandments. Lopez underestimates Montana’s greed. He trusts Tony to accompany his trusted second-gun Omar Suarez (F. Murray Abraham) to Bolivia to meet with Sosa, and continues to let Tony operate after the druglord hangs Suarez from a helicopter.

The deal Montana makes behind Frank’s back is a major step toward the fall. The vow Tony takes never to betray Sosa ultimately leads to the last splash. Montana breaks his word to both of these men, and they bust his balls as a result. When Tony returns to Miami, Frank is suspicious over Omar’s death and his returning soldier’s independence. As Montana begins to build his own cocaine empire, Frank orders a professional hit.

For gangsters, the only good cop is a bad cop, and it is advisable to grease the wheels which move crime. Mel Bernstein (Harris Yulin) demands his take early in the film at the Babylon Club, which has the perfect cocktail napkins for bribery notes. Bernstein was willing to overlook the murders of Rebenga, “Hector the Toad,” and “that bloodbath at the Sun Ray Hotel.” Tony should have taken him at his word when the cop said he could clean up Tony’s Lopez mess.

Before Tony eliminates Frank, he is hungry. The money and drugs are not a distraction. After he begins to accumulate power, he lets his public profile rise and indulges in conspicuous consumption. Montana keeps a chained-up tiger in front of his compound just to let everyone know how powerful he is. There are real life precedents for this. Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar imported hippos for his private zoo. Brooklyn mobster “Crazy” Joe Gallo kept a pet lion named Cleo in the basement of his headquarters. The scenario was also probably inspired by Miami’s most notorious drug lord, Mario Tabraue, whose predilection for wild cats was featured in the Netflix documentary Tiger King. But the most conspicuous acquisition Montana leveraged cut Frank the deepest.

It’s always a mistake to go after the boss’ girl. James Cagney’s Tommy Powers knew this in The Public Enemy (1931). James Woods’ Maximillian “Max” Bercovicz skirts this in Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in America (1984). Montana sets out to steal Frank’s trophy wife, Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer), from the moment he lays eyes on her, though he waits for the height of his reign to claim her. He does it as much to emasculate his former boss as he does it out of desire. It’s a betrayal equal to having Manny whack Frank while he pleads for his life.

The new couple is married by 1983, but with a marriage always on the rock.

Don’t Get High on Your Own Supply

Montana’s downfall is aided, abetted, but most of all mirrored in his descent into addiction. He probably took his first sniff from Elvira’s stash, but even as Montana bemoans, “I got a junkie for a wife,” he doesn’t get wind of his own problem. “Another Quaalude, and she’ll be mine again,” he reasons as the trophy wife climbs off the pedestal and up on a shelf.

Montana is in deep drug denial when Elvira leaves him after he openly complains she can’t have children because she is polluted with the yaya he’s been peddling. He should at least entertain the notion when she openly wonders if he would even be alive to raise their child.

In American Gangster, Denzel Washington’s Frank Lucas knows enough not to dip his nose into the supply. And while Pacino’s slide into the junkie aspects of his character is physically more subtle than Ray Liotta’s bug-eyed Henry Hill in Goodfellas, the results are just as devastating. When Montana was crushing the competition and bagging the Sandman, he had discipline. His mind gets muddled as his drug use spirals out of control. He makes rash decisions, dips into schizoid delusions, and succumbs to white powder paranoia. He can’t see his way through the haze to find alternatives. He walks right into the undercover cop’s money laundering bust.

The drugs dull his instincts. If Tony wasn’t high at the security command center, he would have seen Sosa’s soldiers encroaching his compound over the cameras. He had 10 bodyguards on the property, he could have positioned them defensively. The only thing his ultimate hit man is hiding behind is a pair of killer shades. He never should have been able to sneak behind Montana’s back. Tony also wouldn’t have gotten rid of his most trusted weapon.

Over and Underestimating Little Friends

Tony Montana’s right-hand man would have been the best, first defense against the Sosa attack. What Tony does to Manny Ribera is his worst action. The two are virtually brothers. Their bond goes beyond being partners in crime, it tightened in the “Freedomtown” concentration camp, and solidified in the Miami chainsaw massacre. It is because Manny is Tony’s most trusted soldier that he will never be good enough for Tony’s sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). Tony’s saving grace is he believes he is doing all this to ensure a better life for his sister. Gina is supposed to represent the innocence he sacrificed, but she is also an unattainable sin.Tony’s mother doesn’t try to separate her children merely because her daughter might be swallowed in the criminal life; she is curbing what she sees as Tony’s unnatural urges. 

Read more

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By Tony Sokol

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By Tony Sokol

Even if Tony doesn’t see Manny as a rival for his sister’s affections, he still sees him through the eyes of a fellow criminal, and a womanizing one at that. Tony is just like his mother, who rejects him. Tony brands his friend, and ultimately seals his fate with it.

The problem is Ribera wasn’t made to be a gangster. He is a loyal and efficient consigliere and soldier for Tony’s crew, but he would have been happier slapping his name on knockoff designer jeans. Besides the bubbling incestuous tension exacerbated by the coke haze, Tony doesn’t want to see his best friend happier than him, and denies Gina a real chance at the happiness he wants for her.

It’s the one thing Tony can’t buy for her. Gina and Manny fully expect Tony to be thrilled by their marriage. They were going to surprise him with the news. Tony’s incestuous protectiveness speeds his downfall. He murders Manny as a punishment. Gina is shot by Sosa’s men. Montana loses the two most important people in his life, and his inability to control his lusts destroy them all.

“Say Goodnight to the Bad Guy”

The biggest contributory factor in Tony’s downfall is his humanity. In The Godfather, Sonny Corleone advises his brother Michael not to take things too personally in business. When Lopez gives Montana the mission of delivering a bundle of cocaine to Columbian dealers, the rising mobster takes things very personally. The deal goes bad when Montana’s friend Angel Fernandez is murdered with a chainsaw in a scene so aurally graphic (watch it again, there’s no violence shown, only heard), it almost got the film an X rating.

It was allowed in the film in the name of education, Stone pointed to a DEA report which detailed the exact scenario. Tony teaches the Colombians a lesson in humanity. Not content with leaving with the cash and the coke, he kills every single gang member who had anything to do with Angel’s death.

Tony also lets his conscience be his guide when he’s working the GPI on a hit. Faced with serious jail time for his tax evasion arrest, he makes a deal with Sosa, who is also under fire. Montana agrees to fly to New York and assassinate a journalist before he can give a speech on Sosa’s organization. A bomb has been planted in the journalist’s car, and Tony is in charge of tailing until the perfect detonation point. But when Tony arrives on the scene to assassinate the journalist, he notices the man’s wife and children are with him. Montana not only breaks his word, the promise to protect his powerful partner, but he murders Sosa’s right hand man, Alberto, rather than kill the children playing in the back seat.

“I Always Tell The Truth. Even When I Lie.”

Tony Montana may have been the ballsiest and most charismatic of his machismo mob, but he wasn’t the brightest. He acknowledges his intellectual shortcomings, “I come from the gutter,” he admits. “I know that. I got no education, but that’s okay. I know the street.” But he doesn’t read signs. He can’t tell a freeway from a dead end. Frank Lopez may be a blowhard, but his words of wisdom could have been carved in the cement. 

All the concrete Tony brags about has gone to his head, making his skull thicker than Pacino’s accent. Montana is brash and unbending, narcissistically adherent to only his own advice, and his own worst counsel. His anger blinds him, the battery is running low on his foresight, and he’s so flashy his enemies can see him coming from miles away. And he can’t see them when they’re standing close enough to breathe on the back of his neck. 

Final Massacre

Of course the most obvious reason Tony ends up the way does is because he fights off an army by himself. He’s got quite an arsenal, and the coke probably makes it seem like a good idea at the time, but the decision to stay and fight is vastly miscalculated. Even if Tony had survived the last assassination attempt, Sosa’s men would always be hunting for him. It would have been a short hunt. Tony Montana would have died of a heart attack from all that coke he snorted.

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[alexlacquemanne]

Juillet MMXXI

Films

Le Colosse de Rhodes (Il colosso di Rodi) (1961) de Sergio Leone avec Rory Calhoun, Lea Massari, Georges Marchal et Conrado San Martín

Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) (2001) de Chris Columbus avec Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane et Richard Harris

Black Widow (2021) de Cate Shortland avec Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz et O. T. Fagbenle

Flic ou Voyou (1979) de Georges Lautner avec Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marie Laforêt, Michel Galabru, Georges Géret et Jean-François Balmer

Harry Potter et la Chambre des secrets (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) (2002) de Chris Columbus avec Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris et Kenneth Branagh

Mort sur le Nil (Death on the Nile) (1978) de John Guillermin avec Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, Lois Chiles, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Simon MacCorkindale, David Niven et Maggie Smith

Astérix : Le Domaine des dieux (2014) de Louis Clichy et Alexandre Astier avec Roger Carel, Guillaume Briat, Laurent Lafitte, Alexandre Astier et Alain Chabat

Reservoir Dogs (1992) de Quentin Tarantino avec Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi, Chris Penn et Lawrence Tierney

Hold-up (1985) de Alexandre Arcady avec Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Kim Cattrall, Guy Marchand, Jacques Villeret et Jean-Claude de Goros

Mystère à Saint-Tropez (2021) de Nicolas Benamou avec Christian Clavier, Benoît Poelvoorde, Gérard Depardieu, Thierry Lhermitte, Virginie Hocq, Rossy de Palma, Vincent Desagnat et Jérôme Commandeur

Harry Potter et le Prisonnier d'Azkaban (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) (2004) de Alfonso Cuarón avec Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Gary Oldman et David Thewlis

Kaamelott : Premier Volet (2021) d'Alexandre Astier avec Alexandre Astier, Franck Pitiot, Thomas Cousseau, Jean-Christophe Hembert et Anne Girouard

Ouvert la nuit (2016) d'Édouard Baer avec Édouard Baer, Audrey Tautou, Grégory Gadebois, Sabrina Ouazani, Atmen Kélif et Michel Galabru

Sur la piste de la grande caravane (The Hallelujah Trail) (1965) de John Sturges avec Burt Lancaster, Lee Remick, Donald Pleasence, Brian Keith, Jim Hutton et Pamela Tiffin

Les Grands Ducs (1996) de Patrice Leconte avec Jean-Pierre Marielle, Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort, Catherine Jacob et Michel Blanc

Spectacle

The Doors : Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival (1970)

Simply Red: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2007)

Deux hommes tout nus (2015) de Sébastien Thiéry avec François Berléand, Elise Diamant, Isabelle Gélinas et Sébastien Thiéry

Séries

The Rookie Saison 3

Conséquences - Injustice - La Fiera - Sabotage - Alerte à la bombe - Infiltrées - La Star déchue

Wandavision

Filmé devant public - Ne zappez pas - On passe à la couleur - Interruption du programme - Dans cet épisode très spécial... - Spécial Halloween - Briser le quatrième mur - Précédemment dans... - Le grand final

Nestor Burma Saison 4, 5

Les Paletots sans manches - Nestor Burma en direct - Sortie des artistes

Cat's Eyes Saison 2

Les Cat's Eyes à Paris - Mutation difficile - Ange gardien - Surprise dans le noir - Chambre forte - 107 - Douceur de vivre

Kaamelott Livre II, VI

Le Larcin - La Délégation Maure - L'Ivresse - La Cassette - Le Tourment II - Le Message Codé - Le Poème - Les Classes de Bohort - Feue la vache de Roparzh - Dies irae

Le Coffre à Catch

#32 : Le Père Noël est un Catcheur - #33 : Comment (mal) builder le Royal Rumble - #34 : Bobby Lashley contre….UNDERTAKER ??? - #1 : ECW ONE NIGHT STAND 2006 - #7 : Quand L'UNDERTAKER CRÉE la SURPRISE - #8 : 370KG DE MONSTRES DANS LE RING ! - #35 : ECW Originals vs. New Breed - #9 : BATISTA se fait POURRIR par les fans WWE ! - #10 : KURT ANGLE en mode MASTERCLASS

Loki

Un destin exceptionnel - Le Variant - Lamentis - Le Nexus - Voyage vers le mystère - Pour toujours. À jamais.

Sydney Fox, l'aventurière Saison 1

La Bouche diabolique - Labyrinthe

The Crown Saison 1

Wolferton Splash - Hyde Park Corner - Windsor - Catastrophe naturelle - Poudre aux yeux - Bombe à retardement - Le savoir, c'est le pouvoir - Joie et Fierté - Assassins - Gloriana

Papa a un plan Saison 2

Le Renard argentée - (Re)marié à tout prix - Grève contre grève - Un grand bol d'herbe - La Contremaîtresse - Les Nouveaux Voisins - La Guerre des héros - Maman, j'ai raté l'école - Le Désarmé - L'Homme le plus attentionné au monde - Devine qui vient pour le petit déjeuner, le déjeuner et le dîner - Gagnant gagnant - Crash imminent - Vidéos… et des bas - La Bataille des varices - Tel est pris - Roi d'un jour - La Méthode Burns - On déteste le fric - On a une fille - Entreprise familiale

James May's Cars of the People Saison 1

Gravir l'échelle sociale

Brooklyn Nine Nine Saison 6

Lune de miel - Hitchcock & Scully - Retour au lycée - En quatre mouvements - Un voleur peut en cacher un autre - La Scène de crime - La Taupe modèle - Parole contre parole - Le Chouchou - Gintars - Le Psy - L'Anniversaire de mariage - La Bimbo - Contre la montre - Retour du Roi - Cinco De Mayo - Taré - Suicide Squad

La Cloche

#59: Daniel Bryan Annonce Son Retour!

The Grand Tour Saison 2, 3, 4

Coup de vieux - Mozambique - Spécial Colombie : Partie 1 - Spécial Colombie : Partie 2 - La Loi du plus gros - The Grand Tour présente... Seamen

Top Gear Saison 17

Surfin' USA - Tout doit disparaitre - La Course des Tsars - La fièvre du Vintage

Dark Side Of The Ring Saison 3, 2

Collision en Corée - David Schultz & The Slap Heard Round the World - Brian Pillman Première Partie - Brian Pillman Deuxième Partie - Cocaïne et santiags : l'histoire de Herb Abrams

Livres

Rocketeer de Dave Stevens

La Nuit des Camisards de Lionnel Astier

Marvel - Le côté obscur #1 : Black Widow - Ce qu'ils disent d'elle de Richard K. Morgan et Sean Phillips

La ballade des Dalton de René Goscinny et Morris

Kaamelott : À la table du roi Arthur d'Éric Le Nabour

Drôles de morts de John Garforth

[reimaxx]

Hi! I am Reigne Maxine S. De Leon, born in the 4th of January 2004. I am now 17 years old and in the 11th grade. I have one sibling and her name is Andi Marielle, she is 13 years old. Serving for God in the Youth for Christ community is one of my best achievement. I love singing and dancing, I also love to binge watch some kdrama series.  I can say that I am a responsible and a hard-working student. Many said that I am a  funny and an interesting girl with a good sense of humor and lastly  I enjoy meeting new people and finding ways to help them have an uplifting experience.

[josh0555]

This is the 2010 Christmas Station ID of ABS-CBN. The Station ID was themed “Da Best ang Pasko ng Pilipino”

The Christmas Station ID Theme was sung by Filipino singer and songwriter Regine Velasquez and the Christmas Carollers from ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5.

The Christmas Station ID also contains Regine Velasquez who was dressed up as Mrs. Claus, her husband Ogie Alcasid as the Elf from the 2002 Disney-Pixar movie Elf featuring AiAi de las Alas, Lorna Tolentino, Jennylyn Mercado, The Tulfo Brothers, Rico Barrero, Tom Rodriguez, Paolo Serrano, Mariel Rodriguez, Toni Gonzaga, Camille Prats, Bayani Agbayani, Raymond Bagatsing, Enchong Dee, Sanya Lopez, Rocco Nacino, Lucho Ayala, Gil Cuerva, Rainier Castillo, Bernadette Sembrano, Cherie Mercado, Mariz Umali, Vicky Morales, Kara David, Jiggy Manicad, Ted Failon, Arnold Clavio, Noli de Castro, Jun Veneracion, Marc Logan, Bianca Umali, Carla Abellana, Daniel Padilla, Alwyn Uytingco, Dominic Roco, Felix Roco, Angelica Panganiban, Alex Gonzaga, Cristine Reyes, Roxanne Guinoo, Valerie Concepcion, Arra San Agustin, Rufa Mae Quinto, Marian Rivera, DingDong Dantes, Robin Padilla, Martin Nievera, Heart Evangelista, Dimples Romana, Bea Alonzo, Gabby Concepcion with his daughter KC Concepcion, Eddie Gutierrez and Ruffa Gutierrez, Chad Kinis, Albie Casiño, Janice de Belen, Arcee Muñoz, Alice Dixson, Tuesday Vargas, Ritz Azul, Eula Caballero, Paolo Bediones, Sharon Cuneta, Mike Enriquez, Henry Omaga-Diaz, Jessica Soho, Mel Tiangco, Karen Davila, Amelyn Veloso, Cheryl Cosim, Alvin Elchico, Anthony Taberna, Alex Vincent Medina, Erich Gonzales, Beauty Gonzales, Christian Bables, Ogie Diaz, Piolo Pascual, Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon, Albert Martinez, Gerald Anderson, Luis Manzano, Matteo Guidicelli, Patrick Garcia, AJ Perez, Terence Baylon, Carl Cervantes, Martin Escudero, Derek Ramsay, Paolo Ballesteros, Pooh, Pokwang, Edu Manzano, Jericho Rosales, Christopher de Leon, Richard Gutierrez, Raymond Gutierrez, JC de Vera, Jayson Gainza, Zanjoe Marudo, John Prats, Ces Oreña-Drilon, Carmina Villaroel, Eugene Domingo, Nora Aunor, Leandro Muñoz, Kristine Hermosa, Meg Imperial, Gelli de Belen, Empoy Marquez, Shawn Yao, Keempee de Leon, Eula Valdez, RK Bagatsing, Claudine Barretto, Ian Veneracion, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Kim Atienza, Judy Ann Santos, Cherry Pie Picache, Neil Ryan Sese, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Jess Lapid Jr., Mico Halili, Hayden Kho, JP de Guzman, Vhong Navarro, Mel Martinez, Long Mejia, Jolo Revilla, Bong Revilla, Jhong Hilario, John Estrada, Oyo Boy Sotto, Gian Sotto, Ryan Agoncillo, Maine Mendoza, Catherine Bernardo, RJ Padilla, Aga Muhlach, Bembol Roco, Geoff Eigenmann, Gabby Eigenmann, Bernard Palanca, Mico Palanca, featuring twin brothers Rodjun and Rayver Cruz, twin sisters Anne Curtis and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, the Artista Academy students who are the original cast members of Goin’ Bulilit except for Nash Aguas and Valeen Montenegro, the Trenderas crew members, half-Pinoy group Juan Direction, girl group BTS that debuted in 2010 as a 9-member girl group with Girls’ Generation members as special guests, the Spice Girls, DJ Lance the Purple Dinosaur from Sesame Street, president Noynoy Aquino as Santa Claus and Queen Elizabeth II who is Princess Elsa’s mother. The Christmas Station ID also contains child actor CX Navarro who is a member of Goin’ Bulilit from TV5 replacing Angelica Panganiban who is now adolescent. At the very end, The book closes with sparkles coming out and the text “The End” at the end cover appears similar to the 2010 Station ID of GMA with the 2005 ABS-CBN logo and the text at the bottom that says “Maligayang Pasko, Kapamilya!”

This is the second Christmas Station ID to feature the crew from ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 after “Sabay Tayo sa Pasko, Kapamilya!”

But eventually, The scenes were originally combined from the 2005 Christmas Station IDs from ABS-CBN and GMA which are “Sabay Tayo sa Pasko, Kapamilya!” from ABS-CBN and “Kapuso, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” from GMA.

[spiceytuna]

Batch ‘81: The Struggle between Power and Morality

content warning: contain photos/topics that may be sensitive to others

Mike de Leon, one of the most acclaimed Filipino filmmakers of our time, is known for many of his works that pose criticism (either metaphorically or literally) towards the Philippine society. Some of these films include: Kisapmata (1981), Sister Stella L. (1984), and Batch ‘81 is no stranger to this concept. 

Batch ‘81 (1982) follows the story of seven college students, one professor, and their experience in one of their university’s fraternities, Alpha Kappa Omega (AKO). The film runs us through the entire initiation or hazing process, and is told through the perspective of the protagonist, Sid Lucero (played by Mark Gil). Throughout the rites, the eight neophytes suffer physical and mental damages– some parts even being lethal, to prove their worthiness to the ‘masters’ of the fraternity. 

Other audiences who have seen Batch ‘81 have expressed that it acts as a metaphor or symbol for the nation under the Marcos era or the Marcos dictatorship through the amount of violence (campus violence in this context) and power plays seen all throughout. However, the majority of the film also digs deep into the human psyche, decision making, and what factors affect or influence these very decisions. Through observation and interpretation, Batch ‘81 is a film that depicts an individual’s struggle in balancing power, morality, self-awareness, and loyalty when put under very compromising circumstances. 

The evidence of the argument stated above are spread throughout as the film progresses; however, the following scenes that will be discussed serve as major justifications for the claim.

In a birthday party within the fraternity, through what seems to be an initiation rite disguised as a drinking game, the neophytes are asked to recite a part of the creed, drink a sip of the beer, spit it back in the glass, and pass it onto the next person to do the same. When the cycle ends, the first person, Roxas Jr., drinks it all. He eventually feels sick and rushes to the bathroom to throw up. While the scene is happening, the fraternity group resumes with their celebration, but the camera shifts its focus to Lucero, who watches Roxas Jr. As the camera zooms in, this becomes the first scene in the entire film where Lucero expresses the slightest bit of fear and vulnerability. 

This scene now establishes a sense of imbalance within Lucero and his mind, as it seems like he expresses empathy for Roxas Jr., and even looks like he wants to help him, but his pride says otherwise. Deep inside he knows that this is just another way of the fraternity to test their strength, so he does nothing. 

During a dinner date between Lucero and Mariel, his girlfriend, Mariel brings up her concern for Lucero, saying that the fraternity will bring nothing but chaos. Lucero says that it’s too shameful to drop out at that point and tries to reassure her by saying that he knows what he’s doing. Mariel does not buy it and tells him that he’s losing himself in the process and that he won’t be aware of it until it’s too late. Here it can be argued that Lucero has already gotten too invested in the fraternity that it has inflated his pride and ego.  Another past scene that showed this aspect was when Mariel refused to watch the fraternity’s dance practices and expressed her dislike towards them, to which Lucero counters with, “Prejudice ka lang.” 

When Vince, one of the masters, hears about Roxas Jr.’s consideration to leave the fraternity after the night of the birthday party, he straps him into an electric chair and is shocked when the wrong answers to questions are given. This escalates to a point where Roxas Jr. can no longer answer, and his fellow neophytes fight to get him out of the chair (Lucero excluded). It is then revealed that everything was just a set-up in order for them to realize that trust– especially towards their masters, is all they need within the fraternity. 

“Puro frat nalang lumalabas sa bunganga mo, pero anong ginawa mo nung nagkakagulo na? Wala, tumanganga ka kalang! (The only thing that’s coming out of your mouth now is about the frat, but what did you do when the fight broke out? Nothing, you just stared!)” Enriquez spits this out after Lucero hypocritically expresses his support after the scene. Enriquez adds, “Neophyte ka palang, isip master ka na. (You’re just a neophyte, but you think like a master already.)” Here it is observed that even Lucero’s own best friend now notices that he has started to absorb himself fully into the fraternity’s system. 

In addition, when the neophytes celebrate the return of Roxas Jr. in AKO, they fail to acknowledge the fact that he was abused or hit by his dad when he tried to leave. This once again shows that they’re blinded by the “positive” or the benefits they’ll receive at the end of the initiation, concealing all the immoral things occurring. In simpler terms, the neophytes have seemingly adapted to the “the end justifies the means” kind of mindset. 

At the climax of the film, a fight between Alpha Kappa Omega, and another fraternity, Sigma Omicron Sigma, takes place after Enriquez’s unjustified death and results in even more deaths which include: Roxas Jr., Gonzales (AKO) and Abet (SOS).

The entire “rambulan” between the two exposes the violent nature of fraternities and the need to prove that one is stronger than the other– so much that it can even result in homicide. Tracing this back to the argument, it just proves once more that there is a clear conflict when it comes to power, loyalty, and value for human principles and virtues. 

Batch ‘81 comes full circle when five of them, Lucero included, pass the initiation rites and become the future masters. At the end of the film, we see them subjecting the next neophytes to the same initiation process– the same pain and torture they experienced. They become the oppressors next, and this shows how power can take over our morality and ignore what’s right and wrong.

“Brads na kami. Masters na kami. (We are now brothers. We are now Masters.)” Lucero’s ending statement does not draw a clear line between his desire to become part of the fraternity vis-à-vis his desire to continue living for his comrades who had lost and failed in the process. 

In conclusion, the entirety of Alpha Kappa Omega is the culmination of all things stated in the argument. How the men’s initial determination to ‘belong’ or to be recognized, has shaped them into something predictable– but still violent nonetheless. Through the scenes that have been analyzed, expounded upon, and because of this kind of mindset, the inflation of ego, humans may blindy succumb themselves to submission and loyalty which then results in them losing their sense of self and abusing the power they are in control of.

[meduseld]

The Aguilar Sisters aren’t giving up their land, not even for the Seeds.

The Aguilar family emigrated from Yara during whatever in universe equivalent there is for the Mariel boatlift in 1980, but chose not to stay in Florida, partially to leave their past behind and partially because there was increased government scrutiny on the father, Alonso, as he had worked for the Yaran government (he was an agricultural engineer educated in the USSR, and only ever did crops stuff but it was enough) which meant he was moved to a more dedicated processing center in Wisconsin. Their mother, Angustias, who didn’t speak anything but Spanish at the time and had never left Yara’s capital until this, carted her then two daughters, Mercedes (6 years old) and baby Remedios (3 months old), all the way there and then to Montana, where Alonso had a friend of a friend of a friend of a cousin that helped them with a little plot of land in exchange for his know-how and some Russian lessons. 

And they worked it, and grew it, buying from neighbors, and raised their girls, making sure they never forgot where they came from even though Milagros, born 12 years after Remedios, was delivered in Bozeman. Alonso and his wife are long in the grave, but the sisters keep the land in their memory, running it together. They don’t care how badly the Seeds might want it, might envy their success. The Aguilars have survived three governments that hardly cared if they lived or died, and all the trouble being Latina Women can bring in America. They’ll be damned if they lie down and lose their legacy. Zapata might have been a Mexican but their father admired all revolutionaries and they’re ready:  "Mejor morir de pie que vivir arrodilladas".

[Full disclosure, this happened because I love these three actresses and they do in fact look super similar, Google will show you]

The Aguilar Sisters

[Played by Zharick Leon, born in 1974]

Mercedes, the eldest sister. Always serious and stern, you could say she was never much of a child. She was more of a mother to Milagros than Angustias was, at least in terms of discipline and making sure she did her homework and brushed her teeth, because Angustias’ age and the health issues that plagued her since they left Yara. She was the only other family member present at Milagros’ birth, some kind of omen, as her mother’s health meant she had to be in Bozeman to deliver safely and no one else could be spared the farmwork. 

There’s a lot of trauma she hasn’t acknowledged around having to leave Yara behind, as only she actually remembers it, and having to be the reliable one. Secretly she hates that she can’t let go or have fun, but she’s the woman who bears the burden of leadership. 

Unmarried, she avoids relationships pretending she’s above them, but she’s scared she’s somehow too much, totally unlovable. Smart and sharp, she was a player in local politics and when things turned rough, people looked to her as a leader of the community. Fiercely protective of her sisters, she has a hard time showing affection, mostly scolding them as a way of expressing concern. 

She has no real love for Montana, but she does not allow room for failure, the farm must thrive. Her father’s favorite, she grieved him most and was allowed to listen to his harder stories from home. It annoys her that her sisters have a fantasy version of Yara in their heads but she also can’t bring herself to crush it. 

Speaks the best Spanish, and some Russian thanks to her father. Headstrong and brave and fierce, she is a woman to look up to, even if not like, exactly. 

[Played by Inma Cuesta, born in 1980]

Remedios was always the peacemaker, the one in the middle looking for compromise, her elder sister’s only confidant, the child that never gave anyone any trouble. Closest to her mother, she cared for her in her final days as Angustias followed Alonso, the love of her life, to the grave less than seven months after he went. Softer spoken than her sisters, and prone to taking a more roundabout route to her goals. Seen as the reasonable one, but just as smart and strong as the other two. Beautiful singing voice, half the boys in her gradeschool were in love with her. The mom friend, the one that reads poetry and recites Lorca (her father loved that), she can’t speak Spanish quite as well as Mercedes but she’s the better reader and writer. 

Didn’t know Yara, but she’s proud to be born there. She has a less romantic view of Yara than her little sister, but loves Montana the most out of all of them. She grew up in refugee camps and motels and spare bedrooms with the four of them crowded in until the farm did well and they had their own little house, now revamped into a big house, in the middle of the land under that big, big, sky. She never wants to leave Montana, and hasn’t, for the most part. She got a few certifications in Bozeman and Billings, but she’s happiest out in the wild country of Hope County. 

The only sister that’s married. To another Yaran emigreé, Brasa, who fits her perfectly. He must love her madly, to live in a house with her and her sisters. 

Excellent at reading people (family peacemaker and even mediator/go between with their Americans neighbors/her sister and school authorities/ her mother and medical authorities/ and sometimes her father and real authorities made her a master at it), she was the first to suspect and distrust the Seeds. Mercedes listens to her above anyone else, and John’s repeated overtures towards them were rebuffed. 

The best shot out of her sisters, because she’s always seens guns as tools for famring and living in somewhere so rural, she’s scared she may have to find a worse outlet for her aim. But for her sisters, her husband and her land, she’ll do anything. 

[Played by Adria Arjona, born in 1992]

Milagros is the baby of the bunch, flakiest and most romantic, she was spared a lot, in terms of burdens and responsibilities and duties by her parents, who saw her as too young and too unexpected to handle it. She was the wildest, most troublesome child, and she wasn’t actually much of one, but compared to her sisters she was a handful. 

The most American, her Spanish is the worst, which is a constant point of contention between her and her sisters. (She doesn’t want to admit she has actual trouble with it, and Mercedes doesn’t want to admit she’s clinging more to it out of pride and tradition, that she doesn’t have to be so hard on Milagros. Honestly, that’s the thing. She’s almost her mother, but not quite, and demands a bit too much, and doesn’t show enough love, while Milagros wants so badly to live up and resentful that she even wants it, and scared she will never live up to either of her strong and smart and capable sisters. She’s never had any real hardship, not like them. Maybe she really is that soft...). The only one to openly fight with Mercedes, and the only one allowed to try to get her to dance. 

Milagros has no strong feelings about Montana or the farm, her sisters would run it after all,  what she wanted was to travel and have fun, she wants to see Yara, which feels as real to her as Narnia. She made it as far as California, for a bit, and then her dad died. She raced back when they told her it was urgent but he was already gone when her plane landed. She was still reeling when her mom was suddenly gone. And there was so much guilt, for going, for feeling she didn’t love them enough, didn’t get as close to them as she should, that she didn’t mourn them enough. 

So she stayed, trying to really learn the farm work that she was so shielded from as a kid. Mercedes won’t let her forget, what Milagros’ only now learning at her age, she and Remedios were doing at the crack of dawn since they were ten. She always looks to Remedios for comfort, her kind hearted sister, who pities her and comforts her but refuses to coddle her. Always on her side but not quite enough. Milagros wants to prove herself to her sisters but also to step out of their shadows, to finally measure up. 

And now, it seems the Seeds will set her a challenge to rise to. If only she wasn’t scared she can’t. Not that she, a stubborn Aguilar, would ever admit that.

[normanblogs]

Mariel de Leon for Skims of Kim Kardashian West

Mariel de Leon for Skims of Kim Kardashian West

Mariel in black Skims (left)

#Look: Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 Maria Angelica De Leon (Mariel de Leon for you) in photos during her first runway show in New York when she was picked among a thousand aspirants to be one of the models for SKIMS Nordstrom by Kim Kardashian West.

Proud of you, dear! 😘

#marieldeleon #skims #kimkardashian

[absoluteposts]

EL TUCUYO | 5 reasons why #Mariel de Leon failed to reach top 15 of #MissInternational2017 in #Japan?

[paddylast]

Thank You, Mariel de Leon! #MissInternational2017 Miss Philippines Mariel de Leon may have failed to advance into the Top 15, but I'm still hella proud of my homegirl!!! She was a class act during the whole Miss International competition! ONE WORD: RESPECT

[thepageantry-blog1]

HOT or NOT: Top 3 Evening Gowns at Binibining Pilipinas 2017

HOT or NOT: Top 3 Evening Gowns at Binibining Pilipinas 2017

We have already met the gorgeous winners, it’s time to discuss the three evening gowns that have made their mark during Binibining Pilipinas 2017. (more…)