Have you ever had a ‘Things to Do Before I Die’ list? The kind that includes some crazy items, some dumb items, and some time-tested items that, years down the line, you can’t believe you included in the list?

I have one of those, and so does Cathy, my wife. Both of us have never been the types to deny ourselves the opportunity to do something we wanted to do, whether together or individually. I, in particular, live with a certain philosophy that I don’t want to be 70 and live with the what-if’s and ‘what-could’ve-beens.’ Regret is an ugly thing (and so am I in anything yellow).

This philosophy governed a lot of my life decisions. I was not necessarily impulsive, but when I really wanted something, more often than not, I found myself unable to concentrate or function optimally until I got it.

Now one thing I’ve always wanted was to have some kind of stud on my body. Read more

Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson has claimed her first #1 hit on a Billboard chart. Her version of And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going) tops the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in its seventh week.

According to Billboard columnist Fred Bronson, Hudson claims the 112th #1 hit for the Idol franchise, but is the first to top this particular chart. Prior to Hudson’s #1 achievement, the highest an Idol contestant could muster was #5, with Kelly Clarkson’s Walk Away in May 2006.

Also, Hudson trumps Jennifer Holliday, the original Effie White, at least on the Club Play chart. Holliday’s version - actually a version by Rosabel featuring her vocals - peaked at #6 in 2001.

Yet another feather in Hudson’s sequined cap. Congrats, Jennifer!

For this week’s Thursday Thirteen (Fridays in Manila), I write down 13 reasons why American Idol finalist Sanjaya Malakar survived to make the next round of American Idol.

13. Sanjdance dances a heckuva lot better than Sundance.

12. Sanjaya kept the lyrics to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” in his hair – and as a result, didn’t forget the lyrics, unlike Brandon, Stephanie, and Haley.

11. We’re keeping him around so he can go on tour and sing Gwen Stefani songs.

10. He speaks to the little child in all of us… or he is the little child we want to speak to.

9. Somewhere out there, the spirit of Scott Savol is chanting a litany of encouragement.

8. There is magic in that Malakar hair.

7. Howard Stern is supporting him. Heavens!

6. Bollywood is gearing up for major promotional pushes.

5. VoteForTheWorst.com is sending out novenas and rosary crusades.

4. Sanjaya Malakar appeals to teenybopper girls, who think they can take him home to Momma.

3. Corbin Bleu’s hair needs some competition.

2. Michael Jackson sees himself in Sanjaya, and is bankrolling the young singer’s vote brigade.

And the number one reason why Sanjaya Malakar is still in the running:

1. Diana Ross saw herself in Sanjaya, and is bankrolling the young singer’s vote brigade!

Note: I do not dislike Sanjaya, nor do I think he deserves all the vitriol on the Internet that he’s getting. He wasn’t the worst performer last night. I just think it’s interesting that this kid continues to keep hanging on… oh, wait, that’s Blake Lewis’ line.

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According to this link, Starbucks Philippines was originally scheduled to participate in the international coffee cafe chain’s annual Coffee Break, giving away tall lattes from 10AM to 12NN.

“All company-operated and licensed Starbucks stores in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China will be giving away free Tall (12-ounce) cups of coffee to anyone who drops by. Starbucks Coffee Masters clad in black aprons will be present during each of the coffee breaks to kick off the company’s spring brewing sale and to answer any questions you might have about the coffee or coffee brewing. Last year, many stores used the coffee break period to sample some of their pastries out to customers waiting in line, as well.”

Well,I just called Starbucks Greenbelt, and apparently, Starbucks Philippines isn’t joining.

“Applicable only to US market,” the gentleman told me.

Well, that’s just peachy. I guess today I’ll just have to bounce my rapidly shrinkin’ butt over to Seattle’s in protest. Then I’ll swing back again tomorrow. Decaf rocks my socks.

I dream, I dream. Hahahaha. But a Gold’s gym membership could help me get there, yes?

Here’s hoping. Tomorrow, I’m booking myself a year’s membership with my pal Dennis!

In one year’s time, hopefully, I would have lost at least 50 lbs. Here goes nothing! Wish me luck!

Fresh on the heels of my personal favorites for Idol’s best performances is my Top 10 least favorite American Idol (semifinals or finals) performances, inspired by this article. While everyone is entitled to her/his opinion, especially on this blog, I respectfully ask that, if you disagree, please do so in a relatively civilized way, especially since my reasons for selecting the 10 songs below are more based on performance, not a dislike for the singer. And, oh, I hadn’t seen every episode of Seasons 1 and 2, which explains the lack of performers for those two seasons. I heard Ryan Starr was atrocious. Read more

After reading MSN’s Top 10 American Idol performances of all time, Cathy and I got to talking about our Top 10 favorite American Idol performances.

She’s making her list, and I’ve made mine. See how different my choices are from MSN’s.

Oh, and feel free to post some of your favorite AI moments directly in the Comments, or leave a link to your blog where you posted it.

Read more

ONE. Comelec disqualifies gay political party. Jove Francisco, Jher, and Manuel Quezon III all weigh in on the issue.

Ganns thinks:

1) The Comelec must be blind to deny the influence of LGBT Filipinos on the nation, especially, with the sheer number of gay persons in media, government, and the rest of the sectors of society, so their grounds for disqualification are terribly inadequate. Abalos’ comments, in particular, are grossly offensive.

2) Precisely because LGBT Filipinos are influential in many sectors of society, one may ask, and a good number are, in fact, well-treated, if not revered, by society, can LGBT Filipinos be considered a marginalized group that requires party-list representation and a significant overhaul of the laws regarding certain civil liberties to which LGBT Filipinos are currently not entitled? If the logic behind granting them a party-list slot is because they are marginalized, i.e., discriminated against or at a disadvantage against the majority, shouldn’t most other sub-sectors be granted party-list opportunities?

Admittedly, gays are mistreated, but then again, all people are, in one way or the other, marginalized. Sexual orientation is just one facet of a person’s total identity, after all. For instance, there are no political parties representing me as a fat person (and believe me, we ARE marginalized, with everything from clothes to airline seats). I am just as discriminated against and laughed at as an obese Filipino as the rich gay musician next to me. Women and the differently abled and the urban poor and drug addicts have their party list representatives; why shouldn’t LBGT Filipinos and fat Filipinos?

TWO. Antonella Barba is lucky, says former Idol contestant. Frenchie Davis, a plus-sized Afro-American singer from American Idol’s second season, is hinting at racial discrimination in the case of the kid-gloved handling of season six contestant Antonella Barba, whose racy pictures online have not merited her a disqualification. Davis was disqualified after photos of her posing topless for an Internet site were discovered.

Ganns thinks: While Barba’s photographs are not risque as Davis’, the principle behind them is sound, and Barba should be disqualified. If an Idol contestant is found to have violated the policies of the Idol franchise, s/he should be disqualified. Period. Think Corey Clark, the Brittenaum (sp) twins, Frenchie Davis. When you let one slip through - like Bo Bice’s Smoking Gun expose, for instance - that could be a problem. Scott Savol and Sundance Head were up front and open about their run-ins with the law, and if the Idol franchise lets ‘em through, great. But if you pull one past Idol management, meh, boot you out. Barba’s not that great a singer anyway. Give her slot to Leslie Hunt so she can scat horrifyingly again. LOL

THREE. Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson has been given a day of her own!

Ganns thinks: Cathy and I just watched Dreamgirls and were blown away. Sure, many folks didn’t like it. But we did. Cathy cried several times, and I was riveted - a heckuva lot more than at, say, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, or Chicago, three other musicals-gone-silver-screen.

Hudson was luminous and popped off that stage. Beyonce was beautiful and sang - SANG! - her butt off just as greatly. A movie I’d watch again and again.

Wow, I just realized all three issues have something to do with fat. Man, I’m hungry.

What do you think of the inclusion of Teresita “Tessie” Aquino-Oreta and Vicente “Tito” Sotto in the administration’s senatorial ticket?Oreta and Sotto were among the infamous group of 11 senators who, during the impeachment trial of former Philippine President Joseph Estrada, voted to keep sealed the envelope that would have proven whether Estrada was in fact Jose Velarde (together with fellow ‘No’ voters senators Miriam Santiago and Johnny Enrile, and former senators Robert Jaworski, Kit Tatad, Blas Ople (+), Nikki Coseteng, Gringo Honasan, John Osmeña, and Ramon Revilla Sr).

Philippine politics being as it is, politicians almost always swing from party to party, so the situation we’re in now is interesting: a Pinoy voter now may actually vote based on a candidate’s qualifications and past history, given that the ‘party’ system is obviously useless, other than to decide who gets to spend taxpayers’ money in getting themselves elected.

What options are offered us? The administration ticket, titled ‘Team Unity’ is fielding candidates from all major political parties, including two former senators who voted to keep Jose Velarde a secret (Oreta & Sotto, from the Nationalist People’s Coalition) alongside Joker Arroyo (Kampi), Ralph Recto (Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats), Ed Angara (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino), Michael Defensor (Liberal Party), and Bukidnon Rep. Miguel Zubiri, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson and Zambales Gov. Vic Magsaysay (Lakas).

On the other hand, the fragmented opposition. ‘Yes’ voter Loren Legarda (GMA’s former running-mate) the widow of one of the ‘Yes’ voters (Sonia Roco, Raul’s wife), and the son of one of the ‘Yes’ voters (Alan Peter, son of Rene), running alongside ‘No’ voters Nikki Coseteng and John Osmeña, managed by a ‘Yes’ voter (Serge Osmeña), who, last I heard, was estranged from John. Who would’ve guessed an opposition ticket would see Senator Ping Lacson alongside Aquino scion Noynoy Aquino III, and rebellion leader Antonio Trillanes IV!

Then there are the independents, including Kiko Pangilinan, Richard Gomez and Kapatiran.

What do you think about the swapping-partner mentality of this political circus? I reserve the right to delete comments that may be, in my opinion, flammatory and/or libelous.

I rediscovered my old blog with Cathy, when I read the story of how I proposed. It wasn’t that romantic, nor was it that creative, but hey, it was still Cathy’s and mine. It’s interesting how, almost six years later, how I feel about my wife hasn’t changed at all. I still love her as much - actually, more! - and I am so grateful that I have her in my life.

I’ve never hesitated to tell her that she literally saved me from myself. It was she who brought me back to Christ, it was she who stood by me through all my troubles, and it is she whose God-given love and beauty continues to give me strength in difficult times.

I love you, baby. Thanks for saying “yes,” despite the horrific poem.