May God keep you and bless you abundantly in 2007!

I can’t find information on this online, so just to help promote good efforts to do something about the situation of stand-up comedy in this country, which relies heavily on drag queens, toilet humor, and gender-offensive jokes, I encourage all Filipino stand-up comedians to try out for the Ultimate Stand-up Comedy Challenge!

Complete information after the jump. Read more

Back in 1981, an obscure singer named Joey Scarbury had a #2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with a song titled Believe It or Not, which was the theme to a mildly successful television show titled Greatest American Hero.

Here, for your viewing pleasure - or horror, depending on how you look at it - is the original video! I hope y’all can keep a straight face while looking at the girls with their 80s makeup and bored expressions, the godawful fashions, and the grainy video. *sigh* It brings me back to the day! Enjoy!

[youtube="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b2NBemvt7c"]

For this week’s Thursday Thirteen (Fridays in Manila), I write down 13 resolutions for the New Year.

1 Take life less seriously. My God is an awesome God, so why should I go about with rainclouds on my head?

2 Quit the soda. Empty calories and caffeine that no longer jolts. What’s the point? Hello, water!

3 Monthly date nights. Cathy and I need our time and space. Sorry, Nathan, here’s your pillow. Good night, kid.

4 Give up the mindless snacking. My body is the temple of God. It is not His Mall of Asia. Not His Megamall. Not even His Nepa-Q-Mart. Darn it, I want to be faithful and FITful!

5 Think more, talk less. Listen more, gripe less. I can do greater things for this world if my world view expands and I focus less on me.

6 Write songs again. It’s gotten harder because I’m starting to lose the wonder. Lord, I wanna fall in love with You all over again.

7 Audition for something… anything! In 2006, I promised to audition for at least three different productions, and arrived nowhere. This year, I’m going to do it at least once. January’s got that Standup Comedy Challenge… maybe I’ll start there.

8 Go out with friends. I had a bunch of friends back in the day, most of whom I am now out of touch with. It’d be nice to see them again.

9 Participate in music ministry even more wholeheartedly. Music is a gift from God - why am I not using it enough to glorify Him? Wait no longer!

10 One word: exercise.

11 Be less sarcastic. It just doesn’t work with Filipinos.

12 Envy less. Sure, people have more than I do. I’ve got a great life!

13 Love more. In a cold, cynical world, random acts of goodness are like little bursts of warmth that I believe will have a great effect on the people on this planet.

Here’s my encouraging quote for you today: God isn’t looking for someone who is used to being wanted. He’s looking for someone who wants to be used. It’s not that God has preferences; it’s just so much easier to work with and bless someone who’s already with the program. Are you willing to get with the program and trust in Him to provide everything else you’ll ever need?

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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As 2006 draws to a close, I am so grateful to Jesus and all you guys out there for your prayers, your love, and your support.

Here’s to a spectacular new year for us all in 2007, full of promise, hope, and joy.

To those of you who weren’t aware, I have a weekly charts page that I call The Top 20 Singles and Tracks. I’ve been doing this since 1990, when the very first #1 single on my Top 20 chart was Release Me by Wilson Phillips.
Anyway, now that 2006 is about to come to an end, I’d tabulated the year-end charts, similar to what Billboard Magazine does. Points are awarded per weekly position and number of weeks on the chart.

A total of 106 songs entered the Top 20 Singles and Tracks this year. This year, the Single of the Year award goes to Happy, the debut single from Gotee debut recording artist Ayiesha Woods. The Artist of the Year - a surprise to me, believe it or not - is Avalon.

Complete year-end positions after the jump, along with Top 10 commentary.

Read more

Yesterday, Cathy and I took time off from all the Christmas revelry to watch Carlo Vergara’s Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh at the SM North EDSA Cinema 6. It was the first Filipino MMFF film I’d seen since Mano Po years ago. (Image lifted off the official movie website - a shame that this particular pic isn’t available for wallpaper.)

I’ve supported Carver’s exceptionally funny graphic novel since I bought a copy of the comic book years back, and was apprehensive about the film, knowing how Filipino movies tend to let me down. I’ve even given away copies of the comic book to friends for Christmas. Not to support the gay subculture or anything, but I just think Zaturnnah is a funny, moving piece of literature. One of my favorite reading materials of all time - never fails to make me laugh. The film, therefore, had a lot to live to. My review after the jump. Read more