BLUECLOUD'S PICKS: MISS SUPRANATIONAL 2016

2016 Miss Supranational pageant is slowly approaching and some of the contestants have already arrived in Poland. As of date, 100 beauty queens from all across the globe will compete for the coveted crown and this early a lot of watchers are looking on for early favorites and some bets on who will be crowned this year.

I am giving out my fearless forecast on the initial list of contestants and from what I currently see from pictures of contestants in the websites and all across the web. I have my Top 10 bets who I think will do well in the pageant proper provided they do well in the pre-pageants as well.

1. Ecuador - Maria Isabel Pineyro

2. Philippines - Joanna Eden

3. Bolivia - Yesenia Barrientos

4. Czech Republic - Michaela Havova

5. Vietnam - Kha Trang

6. Venezuela - Valeria Vespoli

7. Malta - Dajana Laketic

8. Malaysia - Julylen Liew Gizelle

9. Australia - Silka Kurzak

10. Thailand - Chatchadaporn Kimakorn

MOVIE REVIEW: THE THIRD PARTY

2016 is a year of great local films and Star Cinema's "The Third Party" is of no exception. This romantic comedy packs itself with some surprises as well as it gives out a heartfelt message about love and the complexities of relationships in general. Love is definitely the centerpiece of this film and with that it did not fail to make audiences feel the wonderful emotion.

Featuring an ensemble cast of Angel Locsin, Sam Milby and Zanjoe Marudo, this film revolves on the dire complexities of love and having someone as a third wheel but this time with a twist as it involves an unlikely love affair between former lovers Andi played by Locsin and Max played by Sam Milby and Max's new partner Christian (Marudo). The couple adopts Andi for the purpose of adopting her baby when she finally gives birth.


The Third Party has some great funny moments but when it suddenly makes its shift to the more dramatic scenes it somehow loses its brilliance. Though the actor's performances were all great, some of the more serious points of the story somehow lacked the greatness of the comedic parts. Laxamana who is more known on indie projects rather than mainstream/commercial flicks somehow gets lost in the translation. Relatable at most times this film makes great use of the human emotions and the complexities of the new world with the addition of the gay concept conflict.


The Third Party was good nonetheless. 8 out of 10 popcorns!

POKEMON GO: THE GAMING PHENOMENON

Pokémon Go is the hottest online gaming app as of today came from a well beloved traditional game (Pokémon) from Nintendo DS family. This wonder made headlines across not just the Philippines but stormed its way to popularity all around the world. What made it a big hit? It brings together old and new players of the globe as traditional gamers who lived their younger years playing the DS game came in hordes trying out this new game from the loved game. Them and the host of new gamers who were just as curious on how this works all tried the new gaming experience. Available both in the Google and Apple Store platforms, Pokémon Go instantly became a global hit - a phenomenon.

This location-based augmented reality game created by Niantic takes each player into an adventure going out to several places in efforts of catching different Pokemons and battling out several gyms in the process. The game is a collaboration between Niantic, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The first wave featured 151 Gen1 Pokémon Monsters which includes the 3 Legendary Birds (Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos) which are the 3 teams Insignias (Valor, Mystic, and Instinct). It also includes two legendaries (Mew and Mewtwo) and 4 regional monsters (Farfetch'd, Kanghaskan, Mr. Mime and Tauros).

Though the game's popularity has waned in the past months, Pokémon Go remains a well loved game with the advent of the next big updates including the events where the legendaries will be introduced and the new Gen 2 monsters will also be unveiled. And I hope Ditto becomes catchable soon.

We can expect more to come from this game. I wonder how some of the games concepts will be introduced in the next patches like the stones, breeding and trading. But for now we'll have to wait for these changes.

MOVIE REVIEW: BAKIT LAHAT NG GWAPO MAY BOYFRIEND?!

At first look, Jun Lana's film seems like a queer movie that celebrates gayness in its simplest of forms. But despite the regular sprinkles of fun and gayness, the movie is as straight as it can be with the main plot actually focusing on the character of Kylie played by Anne Curtis. The journey of Anne's character towards the awkward realization that her ex-boyfriend is marrying someone else and a guy as what most don't expect takes a roller coaster turn of events as it may have been that all of her exes turn out to be gays. Gay magnet I might have to say.

But the story came into a different twist when Kylie gets entangled with the conflict of another one of his exes Benj (Paolo Ballesteros) who has an undying love with a gut Diego (Dennis Trillo). In their quest to find out if Diego is queer or not we are put into an endless barrage of fun moments that says loud and proud. The gay ingredient worked well with the movie specially with the comic antics of Anne, Paolo and even the good comedic timing of Dennis.

The plot may be a regular love plot only that it has its gay conflicts intertwined with the plot. The seeming silliness and the bravado of each cast in providing unique laughter was really a fun ride. Love is the main theme of the film and it focuses on all about that wonderful affection - platonic, love for friends - gay or straight. A very charming and charismatic movie indeed, this film entertains at all the right places with all the great acting by the ensemble.

8 out of 10 popcorns!!!

NOVEMBER 18, 2016: MARCOS BURIAL AT LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI

Late Philippine President and former dictator Ferdinand Marcos was surprisingly buried on a hurry on November 18, 2016 at Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery) which sparked several controversy across the nation with both pro and anti-Marcos doing their respective rallies. While people may seem divided on the issue of the heroes burial of Marcos, the whole world just watched as the events happened unexpectedly on a solemn ceremony celebrated by close family members of the Marcoses.

Former first lady Imelda Marcos, wearing black terno, clutched a rosary, as soldiers carrying his wooden casket marched slowly to his grave, a video released by the family showed. The ceremonies were closed to the public and very few were actually aware of what will happen. Marcos' children were all wearing white in the observance of the burial.

President Rodrigo Duterte, an known ally of the Marcoses, allowed the burial at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani. Marcos' remains were transferred by helicopter from Ilocos Norte province, where it had been kept since it was brought back to the country in 1993. He died while on exile in Hawaii in 1989, three years after he was ousted by a military-backed popular revolt.


The immediate burial drew several comments from the entire nation and the netizens as some of the anti-Marcos groups felt the family violated the court of law as the decision to have Marcos buried was still not final and executor.

COMING SOON: TRAVEL BEST BROTHERS

2017 will mark my return in the world of travel and this time I'll go for more places and discover more new cultures. Ever since I was a child I have an innermost desire to travel and I have had some great moments travelling within the country and also outside of the Philippines. I did some trips that I was with groups and also had some trips when I was just by myself. They were both nice in one way or another but definitely travelling in groups post the pros of having a cheaper means of going to places. More people mean more individuals to share the expenses while still enjoying the leisure of trying other activities along the way.


If you guys are interested in any way to travel and go around places specially within the Philippines, please stay tune for more announcements and schedules and for sure we will go around and enjoy. One thing is for sure, 2017 will be very busy indeed.