Now a fan of the new Dallas.. even after losing JR

Howdy, y'all! Just came home from watching the live viewing of Manny Pacquiao's latest fight and got shocked when learning of his knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in the 6th round.

On Black Friday, November 23, I was completely shocked watching the trailer spot on WarnerTV Asia heralding the premiere of the brand-new and TNT aired 1st season of Dallas, slated on Thursday, November 29. Watching the spot plus the "Destination Dallas" promo ad made me excited for it. Indeed, the whole of Asia (especially the ASEAN nations) was waiting for the comeback of the series, formerly aired in the US from 1978 to 1991 and became an international hit especially after the 3rd season finale (the "Who Shot J.R." episode that turned it into a legend) in 1980.

But on the afternoon of the next day, the 24th, my Twitter was suddenly full of tweets mourning the death of one of its stars.

Larry Hagman, the one who played J.R. Ewing in both the old CBS and the new TNT Dallas, passed away that day (Friday in the US) in the namesake city that for a long time became home to him.

Just days before the big Asian comeback, the Dallas fans, both old and new like me, were mourning his demise at the age of 81 due to cancer, just 31 years after the death of his on-screen father, the late Jim Davis, who played JR's dad Jock, after completing what would be his last season on the show, and 7 years after the death of Barbara Bel Geddes, who played Miss Ellie Southworth, mother to Pam Barnes played by Victoria Principal. His son, Preston, was beside him when it happened at a local hospital while his wife Maj was at home.

The son of theater actress Mary Martin and a practicing attorney in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the state of Texas (born there in 1931), he was a film veteran and shot into TV fame costaring in ABC's I Dream of Jeannie in the late 60s playing a United States Air Force astronaut officer, MAJ Anthony Nelson. (BTW the program's lead star guested in Dallas' final 1991 episode with him.) He was himself a veteran of military service in the USAF, having served there in the 1950s while in the United Kingdom and even meeting his future wife of Swedish decent in the process!

Many stars were shocked by it and took to Twitter expressing the sadness felt by his death.

Including, most importantly, his very own family from both classic and modern Dallas, most especially on-screen wife Linda Gray (Sue Ewing), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), Brenda Strong (Ann Ewing), Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes), Jordana Brewster (Elena Ramos), Julie Gonzalo (Rebecca Sutter), Jesse Metcalfe (Christopher Ewing) and his onscreen son Josh Henderson, who plays John Ross Ewing. Even Facebook was flooded with statuses mourning his demise, and so did new Dallas fans like me.

As the premiere came, I expectedly watched it, while mourning JR's death as a new fan of the series. It was indeed a hit all over Asia.... and fans old and new watched it while at the same time remembering his legacy to everyone, especially as the loved and hated JR they all loved even till the end.

It was only last Friday that I realized it was too much to miss a man like him while reading magazine stories of his demise at two local malls in Makati City, Philippines.

All too much to bear, especially for a new fan.

But now.. I'm gonna watch it every Thursday on WarnerTV Asia, always thinking that if he was still alive, I would have made a point to visit the cast of the new Dallas in Southfork Ranch in the Dallas suburb of Parker.. and visiting it as well as hoping to see them all in person. Most especially Larry and Josh.

John Ross has big boots to fill indeed with the death of his father.

Two weeks on... now I've overcome the sadness of his passing. And I hope that as a new era dawns on the comebacking Dallas on TNT... JR's spirit will forever live on.

Pat, Linda, Brenda, Josh, Jesse, Jordana and Julie, Ken, Leonor Valera, Steve Kanaly, Charlene Tilton, Omri Katz, Ted Shackleford (from Knots Landing) and the rest of the veterans of the old series and the cast of the new one plus the crew past and present, may it be known to all of you as you read this blogpost that the peoples of Asia, especially in the Philippines and Singapore, have finally overcome the grief and sadness of losing the legend that is and forever will be... Larry Hagman, and will always put him in high esteem as the JR Ewing they will always love in Dallas... for all time, most especially as the 35th anniversary of the series draws ever more near.

Eternal memory to the great man that is Larry Hagman and may God rest his soul.

LONG LIVE THE UPCOMING 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF DALLAS IN 2013!!!

May the whole world make sure that history will never forget the name of Larry Martin Hagman!

Cue the legendary theme!

Reminder: As the new season of Dallas on TNT (website is  www.dallastnt.com) draws more near as it debuts on January of 2013, South East Asian viewers can watch the 1st season, Thursdays at 9 PM SIN/PH and 10 PM in Malaysia and Thailand on WarnerTV Asia. (www.warnertvasia.com/)

I'm writing this not just in memory of Larry Hagman but also to celebrate Jesse Metcalfe's birthday today!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESSE, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST FOR YOU AS THE NEW DALLAS HONORS LARRY'S LEGACY FOREVER!

I'm David Shawn's Own: Now a Gater

I'm David Shawn's Own: Now a Gater: October 28, 1994. Cinemas in the United States were jam-packed with crowds eager to see the birth of yet another science fiction franchise...

Now a Gater

October 28, 1994.

Cinemas in the United States were jam-packed with crowds eager to see the birth of yet another science fiction franchise.

And I was just 9 months old when the Stargate franchise offically began as a MGM movie starring no less than Kurt Russell and James Spader, and 3 years later was followed by the Stargate SG-1 TV series with Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge starring together with the late Don S. Davis and Teryl Rothery with the brief participation of Corin Nemec in the 6th season and with Ben Browder and Claudia Black joining them in the 7th and 8th seasons onward with actor and ex-United States Coast Guard veteran Beau Bridges. It had a great 10 year run nationally and even became an international hit. Other starts who joined in include Gary Jones, Colin Cunningham, Lexia Doug and Cliff Simon. It was indeed a great follow-up to the movie that started it all, first aired on Showtime and later on the Sci-Fi Channel (later SyFy) and resulted in an animated spinoff, Stargate Infinity, which ran only for a season.

This was followed by two more series. First was 2004's Staragte Atlantis with Joe Flanigan, David Hewlett (himself a SG-1 veteran guest), Paul McGillon, Rachel Luttrell, Rainbow Sun Francks, and Torri Higginson (who left in the 3rd season). Another SG-1 veteran guest, Robert Picardo, was also a frequent guest star but on season 5, he became a regular replacing no less than Tapping herself who appeared in the 4th season. Jason Momoa replaced Francks in the second season becoming a hit among fans of all ages. Paul left in the 3rd season and his role as the chief medical officer fell to then guest star Jewel Staite, later a regular on season 5 but would come back in the 4th.  Mitch Pileggi joined them in the 4th season as the CO of the space cruiser Daedalus, COL Steven Caldwell. And from the very start, Czech-Canadian actor David Nykl joined in playing a Czech scientist and Kavan Smith as the base XO, albelt in secondary positions. This had a great 5 year run only to give way to Stargate Universe, which ran for almost 2 years with Robert Carlyle at the helm with David Blue, Brian J. Smith, Jamil Walker Smith, Lou Diamond Philipps, Ming-Na, Elyse Levesque, Alaina Huffman and Louis Ferreira leading the cast, assisted by Patrick Gilmore, Peter Kelamis, Lisa Park, Mike Dopud and Michael Karl Richards to name a few. It's cancellation in 2010 and final episodes aired the next year shocked the fanbase so much that an ongoing online campaign has been waged by its supporters for its renewal on Facebook.

It was summer time and my 3rd Year HS studies that briefly brought me to that franchise. And this year, as part of my rediscovering of past programs watched, I became a full time fan of the franchise.

Just a year and 2 months after SGU's final episode on Victory Day 2011.

Now I realize what this series means to me. Being a grandson of a military veteran made me think that going through that Stargate in Colorado Springs would lead me to lands unknown and new adventures to go on.

Well, I think that as the series begins the long road towards its 20th year, the time has now come to bring it back. Once and for all. As a fan I can't wait for its return. Will you be content with no SG or wait for the comeback that you've been hoping for?

Gater and I know it

My support as a fan of science fiction brought me to one of the best franchises: STARGATE.

Born 10 months before the Gate opened itself in theaters worldwide.....

Now I am a fan of both the movie and all 3 Stargate TV series and the actors who are a part. More details to follow soon.

On the sudden demise of Tony Scott

Having received this afternoon the news of the sudden death of Top Gun director Tony Scott, my heart goes to his family, those who worked with him, and his fans and supporters on these dark times.

May he rest in eternal peace.

Lest We Forget

JM Ramos

It's all part of being a true sci-fi fan

Following stars on Twitter, liking them on Facebook and even waiting for Sci-fi films on cinema and television and Sci-fi television series. It's all part of becoming an active fan of science fiction. Ever since last April I became a Star Trek fan, I'm now following every sci-fi TV series and movies. (BTW due to this I gave up participating in the Star Trek Simulation Forum last July 27.)  I'm truly now a sci-fi geek and nerd... just like Wil Wheaton and Nathan Fillon, whose program , Castle, that I'm now watching now on cable.

Active science fiction is one of the reasons for my support of space exploration, for it is what inspires so many of us to explore the wide frontier of the universe.... ever since the first space satellite flight 55 years past.

May the legacy of those who led the way will be remembered forever.

3 big TOP GUN birthdays

Last July 3, the eve of the 4th of July, the world celebrated the 50th birthday of everyone's favorite naval fighter pilot.
 
Last July 9, the best woman fighter instructor celebrated her birthday.

Today, July 19, marks the 50th birthday of everyone's best wingman.

Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis and Anthony Edwards will be always be remembered for bringing everyone past and present to the action of naval aviation in the US and for future naval pilots and flight officers like me, will always be my inspiration.

Call the ball!!!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, MAVERICK.....!!!!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, CHARLIE......!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOOSE......!!!!!

 

Independence Day

Today, June 12, marks 114 years since the Philippines attained full independence. We shall always never forget what this day truly is, and thus, let us strive forward living the spirit of the heroes that gave us this country.

Happy Independence Day!

To the one who made me the Trekkie that I am now...

Today, 2nd June, the 70th anniversary of the great battle of Midway, I ponder now on the second very "life-changing" movie that I've watched: The 2009 movie revival of Star Trek that I've recently watched on HBO. And today marks the 34th birthday of one of its lead stars.

To Zachary Quinto, one of whom I'm forever grateful for making me the Star Trek fan that I am now today since April of 2012... have a happy birthday, Spock.

 May you... Live Long and Prosper!!!!! \\//

MEMORIAL DAY

Today, the last Monday of May (May 28, the 114th Philippine Flag Day) is US Memorial Day.

From me, a Philippine Navy veteran's grandson, holiday greetings to all active military servicemen of the US military and all US military veterans and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart for their service to the country.

Truly, what a great day it is to honor those who gave all for the freedom and independence of the United States of America, forever and always.

TWO DAYS TO GO... TO TOP GUN DAY

It's two days left before the greatest holiday of naval aviation and its fans...

TOP GUN DAY 2012... THIS MOTHER'S DAY!!!

This Sunday is not only a day to honor our mothers, it's also a day to remember the 1986 film that changed film history and the world and its legacy.

Time to call the ball on this one! You're my eyes always, Goose.

http://www.topgunday.com/

VICTORY DAY

Long time no post but...

HAPPY VICTORY DAY, EVERYONE!!!

To mark this occasion is this song titled as such and sung by legendary Soviet and Russian singer Lev Leshenko.

The day has come and gone but the memories live on

Yesterday was the 100th year anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Yet, now I knew about that day and the fact that of all the more than 2,000 who boarded the ship, no one lived long enough to celebrate this tragic day in world maritime history.

It truly changed world history forever... a tragedy waiting to happen at once.

Truly a century has passed, but the memories will forever stay on in all of us.

Rest in peace to all who took part in the greatest maritime tragedy of the 20th century.

Yuri Gagarin 51 years on after his first flight

April 12 marks the 51st anniversary of man's first journey into space... the legendary first manned space flight.

That day in 1961, Maj. (then First Lieutenant) Yuri Gagarin, Soviet Air Force, aboard the space capsule Vostok 1, was launched into space from a Vostok 8K rocket from a launch pad in modern day Baikonur, Kazakhstan, thus starting the Space Age that we are today. This day is the very day that man at long last reach where he has never dared to be before: on the wide expanse of outer space.

On this day this year, the world honors the memory of the first man to step into the universe. It's a day that we will always remember. Yuri might be gone, but the memory of his first steps into space will be always remembered.

Like Yuri Gagarin who led the way for us to be in the outer reaches of the universe, let us shout...

POYEKHALI!!! LET'S RIDE!!!!

ADVANCE HAPPY COSMONAUTICS DAY!!!

Here's a website celebrating this great day in history: http://www.yurisnight.net/

13 days till the 17th of April

For sports fans, especially in aquatics, the 17th of April will forever be an important day for them for it marks the birthday of the late heroic athlete of aquatics.... Fran Crippen.

This day since last year was very sad owing to his demise almost two years past.

How can you mark this great day working the dream that he left unfinished?

Remember him always, and support his foundation. Here's its site: www.francrippen.com/

WORK THE DREAM, EVERYONE!!!

America's National March

The National March of the USA written in 1891 by John Philip Sousa, Stars and Stripes Forever is one of the great military marches of the world, and is also a popular piece played in band concerts worldwide.

Written by him on his return home from 5 years in the UK, its a proud march of every American and all who love that great country and its flag. Sousa, as the former bandmaster of "The President's Own" US Marine Corps Band, truly made his nation and the world proud through his marches, and this march is truly one of his legendary compositions.

My Wordpress Blog

I hope all of you can follow me in my WordPress Blog.

David Shawn's Own

My Heart Will Go On

IN HONOR OF THIS YEAR'S CENTENARY OF THE TRAGIC SINKING OF RMS TITANIC...

The theme song of the 1997 movie of the same name, made famous by Celine Dion.

My most favorite symphony

Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony is my most favorite classical symphony.  It expresses our deepest emotions and feelings for one's country.

There's a time.. for some Old Time Rock and Roll

On a rainy Saturday like this I'm staring to feel being blown away by a Tom Cruise movie like what I'm watching now on TCM: 1983's Risky Business.

One of the songs featured was in that famous scene when Tom dances on his shirts and underwear on! It's Bob Segar's Old Time Rock and Roll. So many would remember be doing what Tom did, how about you?
Use the comment section to post your memories of the movie.

This was one of the best Tom Cruise movies ever, and that song was also a hit too.

 And does one remember that scene when Tom dances to this? It has been parodied many times!

Bob's right, Today's music sucks. Old time rock and roll's the best!!! I love the music of the past indeed.

Chasing the angels

Another favorite motivational tune for a future military pilot like me would be this song from Iron Eagle 2.

Sung by Loverboy's Mike Reno.

Go Air Force! Fly Fight Win

Favorite military marches 1

This is the first of many posts about my favorite military marches. First off is the US National March, The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa, one of the best marches composed by him and one of the world's finest marches.

Rediscovering Stand By Me

Now, off to my first film review. I'm also a movie fan by the way.

A few times in the past I watched a little 1986 movie in HBO. A 1986 movie adaptation of Steven King's The Body (part of  his book Different Seasons, which also has The Shawshank Redemption, also adapted into a movie) it's the story of 4 teenage boys in the 1950s' on their greatest journey of their lives on Labor Day weekend. It was directed by Rob Reiner. It also had a great soundtrack and theme song of the same name by Ben E. King.

Now, I've begun  to rediscover this classic coming of age movie.

You know it? It's Stand By Me.

The 4 friends I once knew before...

It's Labor Day weekend 1959 in the quiet Oregon town of Castle Rock, and news of a dead boy in the woods in this part of the Pacific Northwest (it was in the quiet city of Brownsville, Linn County in that state were the movie was shot) drives 4 boys and friends into the best trip of their lives.

The movie begins as a old Gordie Lachance (Richrad Dreyfuss) suddenly reads a newspaper article on the death of his long time friend, Chris Chambers, by then a successful lawyer by profession. Shocked by the news, he then begins writing a memoir on the great walk he had, as a 12 going on 13 year old teen, in 1959 with 3 other best friends.

The next scenes are a visual retelling of that walk. Gordie (Will Wheaton), Chris (the late River Phoenix), Teddy Dechamp (Corey Feldman) and fat Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell), surprised about the news about a dead boy's corpse in the forest, go on a two day journey to retrieve it, send it to the authorities, and  come back as heroes. The only problem: the town gang, the Cobras. Among its members who want the rewards go in their favor were Ace, the gang leader (Kiefer Sutherland) and Eyeballs Chambers (played here by Bradley Gregg).

Why the strong friendship? Gordie's brother (played by John Cusack) died months earlier leaving him along with bad parents. Chris had a gangster brother and a bad father. But Teddy and Vern (who also had a hood brother) were best friends and were to be trusted, as Gordie and Chris were too.

To make the summary short: All the way they experience the best and worst of times, but in the end, they were truly friends and heroes. Truly enough, that Labor Day weekend was when their fading childhood spirits in them were active, now they are facing the challenges of teenage life. But boys will be boys, and friends will be friends, by the way. For a long time.

In the end, as Dreyfuss ends his narrative of the story with a remembrance of those years and a question to all if they had any friends as his, we all know that friends do separate but reunite and forever stay.

In real life, this was reflected in what the main actors had done after this. Too bad that River Phoenix had passed away 19 years ago, but he and Will Wheaton were best buddies and was a promising actor all along. Will has become a writer and a blogger (his blog is here:  wilwheaton.typepad.com/) and has made a name for himself in the movies and in television. Jerry also has a great movie career (SBM was his first) and Corey has a modest one and did complete in this year's Dancing on Ice in the UK.

We all know that Kiefer had a great movie career on the rise after this.

26 years on, the legacy of this movie lives on. I too had the best friends when I was 12-14 in my school in Makati, but those were truly the best years before I moved on to high school, just like Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern.

I truly had such friends. Jesus, did anyone had?

To cap it off here's a MTV of the title track of the  same name, with Ben E King and with River and Will on it!

Hope you follow me on Twitter at @JMRamos0109, y'all, and like this post! Also, if you like Stand by Me, comment on this.
HOOYAH
- JM

P. S. I never had any friends later on, like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?

May 8 and 9

May 8 is Victory in Europe Day for EU nations (and the birthday of US Naval Aviation) and May 9 is Victory Day for some -ex-USSR nations including Russia.

I can't wait to see the May 9 parade live on television. It's the year's biggest holiday and I can't just wait for that day! I also can't wait to play the classic Soviet hit Den Pobedy by no less than legendary Soviet singer Lev Leshchenko.

It's truly two days of honoring the Allied Victory in Europe in May of 1945.

These are truly Victory Days! HUZZAH!!!

Top Gun 2

As a diehard fan of Tom Cruise I keep waiting on his next movies.  One of these: TOP GUN 2.

I can't wait to see Tom Cruise flying yet again up there with the best of the best! HOOYAH!!!

Fly Navy!!

Anytime, Maverick...!!!!

TOP GUN 2 Will Be Written By Peter Craig

 

Mighty Wings

This song from one of the 80's great rock bands Cheap Trick is another motivating tune to all future naval pilots and co-pilots everywhere who can't wait to be up there with the best of the best!

All things have come to an end.. for now

I've just ended three years of study in Golden Values School.

All these years of study have bore fruit in everything and now as I prepare for college here or abroad I know that God is on my side as I go every step of the way. It's time now for me to move on.

I'll truly miss GVS. Thanks to all of them (my fellow schoolmates, teachers and staff) who helped me in all those years. I'll truly remember them always.

It's now time for me to set my sights on the blue skies of the world where I truly belong: up there, with the best of the best.

US NAVAL AVIATION, HERE I COME!

I FEEL THE NEED, THE NEED, FOR SPEED!!!

Big things begin small

It's all gonna start small now.  My future US Navy career depends on my behavior, skills and abilities, and also on my determination to be truly up there with the best of the best. Tom Cruise and Top Gun convinced me to take up that challenge, and today, the hard work of earning the golden wings starts. Wish me all the best!

Highway to the danger zone

This Kenny Loggins song has been my motivation all the way to my future career in US naval aviation. I'm ready to be going into the DANGER ZONE...

Recognition and last school day

It's gonna be my last school day tomorrow.... I'll truly miss those 3 years spent in Golden Values School in Pasig. Its also recognition day too. I'll truly also miss my friends at nearby Holy Family Parish School in Pasig for being my next door neighbors. I'm telling them tomorrow of my future plans and wish them the best.

It's gonna be a big day tomorrow. Good night, everyone.

Preparing for the Top Gun anniversary in May

IN preparation for the upcoming 26th anniversary of US release of Top Gun I'm sending you this video of one of the best soundtracks of this film... TOP GUN ANTHEM.

Despite poverty I'm ready to perform my US military career

Why I've made the choice to join the US Navy as a future naval flight officer? It's all because of my dream to be truly up there, with the best of the best. Despite being from a middle class family in the Philippines. And it's also because of the absence of fighter jets in our navy (they are in the air force).

Tom Cruise's 1986 film Top Gun and the visit of the USN aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson last May 16, 2011 (the 25th anniversary of the film's US release) catapulted me into the world of US naval aviation. Despite being a dangerous job its rewards are being honored for serving that country, better pay and decorations.

It's those which prepare me for that destiny. And soon, it shall truly begin.

Making the Corps of Cadets of the VFMAC

All,
Last December I've made a historic decision to join the ranks of the Corps of Cadets of Valley Forge Military Academy and College. And now, since my application papers have been passed, It's time for me to finish the rest in order for me to join the ranks of the Corps this August. As I leave my school in the Philippines tomorrow for the final time I shall now begin for taking that next step towards my final destiny as a US Navy Naval Flight Officer and later as a Naval Aviator. No matter what, I'm going there this year to prove myself to become something truly worth defending for freedom and liberty.

Wish me all the best in this journey to earn the title of a cadet of the VFMAC! And I hope you like this fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Forge-Military-Academy-College/35211484604

 And the  VFMAC webpage:  http://www.vfmac.edu/ 


HOOYAH!
- JM

Graduation

I graduated yesterday (St. Patrick's Day, March 17, Saturday) and left as the recipient of the Best Thesis medal and the most applauded student. Now, the hard work has to start: the job of becoming a future US Naval Flight Officer. Like what the late Fran Crippen once said: Dream it. Do it. Work the dream.

Thesis done

Only one of two theses was now done, and that was about military academies. Thanks to the advice of my mom I did my job and finished it at midnight. Hope I can present this this week.

23rd February

Today marks Fatherland Defenders Day in the Russian Federation and the national days of Guyana and Brunei. Greetings on this great holiday!

Tom Cruise follows me on Twitter

Now I know well that Tom Cruise follows me on Twitter. I hope you TC fans follow him now!

https://twitter.com/#!/TomCruise

15 days till the 3rd of March

It's 87 days before the 16th of May, 84 days before the 13th of May, and 15 days already till the 3rd of March, the very 43rd anniversary of the world famous United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, now part of the more wider Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in NAS Fallon, Nevada, once stationed in now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, and more commonly and famously called by everyone, military or civilian, all over the world as... TOP GUN.

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

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

Truly forever up there with the best of the best....

Valentines.... and Benji Dunn

Well now I knew that yesterday, Valentines Day, was also the birthday of my newest diehard actor, Simon Pegg, from MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE 3 and MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE GHOST PROTOCOL!

Anytime, Benji Dunn.....!!!! (Cue MI Theme)

Getting ready for Valley Forge

Well it was Taps and Tom Cruise's role that led me to formally convince joining the Corps of Cadets of Valley Forge Military Academy and College this year. Now, I've received tonight via email the basic form for new applicants to the institution. I can't wait to fill this up! Hope I can get ready for VFMAC and the dream that awaits me there.

Two theses

Well I have two theses to do now for my school in Pasig, M. M., PH. The first is about US Naval Aviation and the second is about military academies. I also have a few more projects left before graduation.. and soon a trip to the US to continue my education. I hope for the best!

RIP Whitney Houston

When I opened my Facebook today I was shocked by one bad news:

Whitney Houston has died at the age of 48 today.

What a great loss to the international music industry and its great fans. I join everyone in mourning her sudden demise today.

(TAPS)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/11/whitney-houston-dead-sing_n_1270889.html

Why it's I'm David Shawn Own

Why the blog title is that?

Last August and September 2011, I was watching Taps in my house in Makati. Shot in 1980-81 at Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Penn. USA, it motivated me to be prepared for a rough life as a military academy cadet and last December, when the movie celebrated its 30th year anniversary, and was doing one of my two theses for my school about military academies worldwide, I made the decision to start applying for VFMAC in time for becoming a plebe there this August 2012.

Taps was the 1981 movie which told the story of a military academy in trouble and its cadets facing its end and the rebellion which changed their lives, adapted from the late Devery Freeman's 1979 novel Father Sky, and directed by Harold Becker with music from Maurice Jarre. The late George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton topbilled the movie as BGEN Harlan Bache, USA (Ret.), president of Bunker Hill Military Academy and Cadet Major Brian Moreland, whom the former promoted from being a Cadet Captain and Company Commander for C Company to become the AY 1981-82 Cadet Major of the Academy... its very last as it had to be closed after years of faithful service to the nation through a decision of its academy board. The company had among its officers and cadets some of Brian's best friends, Evan Handler (Cadet 1LT Edward West), Billy Van Zandt (CDT Bug) and new plebe cadets Brendan Ward (CDT PVT Charlie Auden) and John P. Narvin, Jr. (CDT PVT Derek Mellot). Brian had a father in the late Wayne Tippert (Kevin Moreland) who was then a United States Army Master Sergeant.

Sean Penn was Cadet CPT Alex Dwyer leading D Troop in his first movie, Giancarlo Esposito A Company's commanding officer Cadet CPT JC Pierce and Tom Cruise, in his second movie and first major role was...

undoubtly B COMPANY C. O. CADET CAPTAIN DAVID SHAWN!

The Red Beret wearing and gun carrying cadet officer, that is.

Because of Taps B Company is absolutely my favorite of all the units of the VFMAC Corps of Cadets, and Tom's character role was the main reason why I've decided to join and finish my secondary studies there by August 2012. Its also because of  preparing for full time military service in the United States Navy via the NROTC while in college in San Diego while studying aerospace engineering or the Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FLA. after college, all going to my final goal of becoming a USN Naval Flight Officer and becoming truly a part of the best of the best, especially after graduating from the world famous Naval Flight Weapons School also known as TOP GUN, part of the wider Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center in Naval Air Station Fallon in Fallon, Nevada and formerly from 1969 to 1996 in San Diego, California at then Naval Air Station (now Marine Corps Air Station)Miramar, nicknamed Fightertown USA. (BTW there's a Top Gun post coming soon here!)

Donald Kimmel was Tom's best friend cadet in the movie. Well Tim, Tom and Sean were great friends even through there was fierce rivalry among them in Taps, as you see in this next picture with Evan on the hallway of VFMAC's Wheeler Hall, where most of the shots were filmed (there were also scenes in the Alumni Chapel, the Main Area of VFMAC and the storied parade field):

To cut the story short the rebellion started during the academy ball when Gen. Bache accidentally killed a town teenage boy disrupting the cadets, thus he was later arrested and later was on hospital arrest. It would be a long time before all would go wrong, the cadets more affected, and all hell breaks lose in the end as what Brian, David and Alex would be... and it would dramatically change the face of the United States' military academies.

Brian and David would later die in the end, and as this video and pic shows, David died uttering one of my favorite lines in Taps.... "It's beautiful, man! BEAUTIFUL!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppMQ2Jvekfg

So that's why my blog is named I'm David Shawn's Own: it's all because like him, I'm ready to die faithfully serving the United States of America as part of its armed forces, truly ever worth defending. BTW I'm watching Taps right now on Jack TV and it's gonna have its own post coming soon. So stay posted here.

Like him, my last words in battle would be this: "It's beautiful, man! BEAUTIFUL!"

Eternal glory to the cadets of Bunker Hill Military Academy, who risked all so we can live in a world that is forever truly worth defending!

LONG LIVE BUNKER HILL MILITARY ACADEMY! HUZZAH!

Welcome!

It's me, JM Ramos from Makati, Metro Manila Philippines. 18, future US Navy NFO, and a potential military academy cadet in the United States of America. Senior in Golden Values School. Diehard fan of Tom Cruise and all his movies since May 2011, and like him, a victim of bullying.

Favorite movies: Top Gun, Taps, Born on the Fourth of July, A Few Good Men, The Last Samurai, The Firm, The Outsiders, all the Mission: Impossible movies from Tom Cruise himself (latest being Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol).

Welcome to my blog!

Stay tuned for more from me. My next post will explain the reason why "I'm David Shawn's Own" is the title of this blog.