As I write this, almost all my requirements for legal immigration to the
United States have been met, I need my immigrant visa and TOEFL lessons
to finish.
To all those living in the Republic of the
Philippines, my home for the past 22 years, it is almost time for me to
say goodbye. For good.
For when all my paperwork is done at the
right time, I am ready enough to immigrate hopefully to the United
States of America - this being a plan I'd have had for 5 years now. I am
leaving behind a country that has brought me into the world, nursed me
and raised me into the man I am now. I am leaving behind my family,
friends and relatives. I am leaving behind 22 years of my life and the
best and worst moments I had. I'll faithfully remember these years with
deep respect.
Should I'll be leaving soon for the United States
of America to finish my high school and start college again and to work
hard for my family back in the Philippines, given that it's my personal
choice, this is one decision that will remain with me to the rest of my
days. And I will never regret it.
To my countrymen, thank you all
for making me one of your own. My time here is almost done. I am moving
away soon and will depart this country, my land of birth, for a better
life in the United States of America. My thanks for making me the man I
am now.
This will be surely a sad goodbye, Philippines. I will
never ever see this nation again soon, for I am surely safe in far away
lands, but will always think about these 22 years of my life here in
this country with deep respect and gratitude.
John
(formerly posted on DeviantArt)
Monday, June 20, 2016
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
In opposition to the recent Change.com petition to urge Marvel to force Fox to hand over to them the Fantastic Four movie rights
he recent Change.com petition to urge the Marvel leadership and
Disney to take possession of the movie rights to the Fantastic Four from
20th Century Fox and thus make it a full member of the MCU is another
act of opposition by the majority of fans out there against the 2015
remake movie, yet another action that has worsened the divisions within
the Marvel and Fantastic Four fandoms since the new FF movie was
announced. And thus, as a fan and supporter of this new take on the
First Family of Marvel I therefore ask all of you fellow fans of this
reboot movie all over the world to join me in condemning this online
petition.
To all who have signed this be ashamed of the fans and sympathizers of the new Fantastic Four movie and its cast - Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell - and its crew too. They waited 7 years for this to happen only to be met with severe criticism and bad reviews. Please leave us fans and supporters of the new film in peace and stop any form of opposition to the new FF movie, and thus we ask you to please watch this instead in cinemas!
I therefore will not sign this petition and no matter what will happen and no matter what the cost I stand with the new faces of the Fantastic Four. I hope all the fans and sympathizers of the new movie will, like myself, surely stand up against the opposition to the new movie and together with these 4 young actors whose faith and trust to movie fans are being tested at this tough time!
We will never lose our faith in them for they are the hope of our tomorrow!
LONG LIVE THE NEW FANTASTIC FOUR!
John Emmanuel Ramos
Makati City, Ph
1256h, August 12, 2014
To all who have signed this be ashamed of the fans and sympathizers of the new Fantastic Four movie and its cast - Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell - and its crew too. They waited 7 years for this to happen only to be met with severe criticism and bad reviews. Please leave us fans and supporters of the new film in peace and stop any form of opposition to the new FF movie, and thus we ask you to please watch this instead in cinemas!
I therefore will not sign this petition and no matter what will happen and no matter what the cost I stand with the new faces of the Fantastic Four. I hope all the fans and sympathizers of the new movie will, like myself, surely stand up against the opposition to the new movie and together with these 4 young actors whose faith and trust to movie fans are being tested at this tough time!
We will never lose our faith in them for they are the hope of our tomorrow!
LONG LIVE THE NEW FANTASTIC FOUR!
John Emmanuel Ramos
Makati City, Ph
1256h, August 12, 2014
Monday, August 10, 2015
To all those who have sent hate and have attacked with fierce language and bad reviews the new Fantastic Four movie, its cast (Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell) and its fans and supporters
(My first Blogger post in several months? hope I;m doing my best one day to bring some of my Tumblr posts here.)
(This post was inspired by this online article: http://www.filmoria.co.uk/2015/08/sunday-scene-keep-fantastic-four-away-mcu/)
I write this post before all of you in a symbolic condemnation of what you all have done to us fans of the new Fantastic Four movie.
You all know too well (but a few of you cannot accept) that the F4/FF movie series, based on the comic works produced by Marvel since 1961, has been the responsibility of 20th Century Fox since it took over the production rights from its former holders, and thus is not a Marvel production. But you all have acted in defiance of this new movie and have demanded that the Walt Disney group, in which Marvel is a part of, take over the franchise movies at once and start over again, given its poor showings in its US debut plus the recent comments from its director, Josh Trank, given what the 20th Century Fox leadership and management did to his vision for the franchise.
Some of you have started to distrust the new movie at the moment the new cast was announced - making this the first ever superhero movie with an African-American as a lead hero and cast member. And because of this, even in the days before and after the US premiere, several of you have opposed it because of Michael B. Jordan being the new Human Torch.
Some of you have boycotted it due to its poor reception.
Many of you have voiced your dissent, anger and opposition after watching this movie in cinemas.
Many of you have turned your backs on this and have called the 2005-07 movie series, staring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis as the only F4/FF movies they would love to watch and them as the only true faces of Marvel’s First Family, because of their likeness being similar to the original comic series. A few of you have also stated the superiority of the 1994 “placeholder” and unreleased movie over this reboot.
And many of you have put on the bad reviews given to this movie as the reason for you to agitate that Fox be stripped away from making any FF/F4 movies and that Marvel and Disney handle them while bringing them back in full faithfullness to the original comics, despite the fact that the reboot is based upon the issues of the Ultimate Fantastic Four comic series (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fantastic_Four for more info) as well as from the original series and the various others that came after them as proved by the many references to them in the 2015 reboot movie (see http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/fantastic-four/248247/fantastic-four-movie-marvel-universe-easter-eggs-and-comic-references-guide & http://whatculture.com/film/fantastic-four-17-easter-eggs-in-jokes-and-references-you-need-to-see.php).
But to many of us who have watched this movie like me (and the few of us who have watched the original movies before), we will always support the future of the F4/FF in film, no matter what would happen, either if Marvel takes over or Fox stands its ground pending international results from overseas showings. We will be always be standing our ground with the new cast - Miles Teller (Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic), Kate Mara (Susan “Sue” Storm, The Invisible Woman). Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm, The Human Torch) and Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm, The Thing) - as the new face of the First Family of Marvel - the Fantastic Four. No matter what, this movie and its cast will be the current face of the FF/F4 for years and decades to come. We will put our trust and hearts to them and the Fantastic Four franchise in comics, television and film.
So to all of you and the critics who have attacked the new movie, its cast and crew and us its fans and supporters in the United States and all over the world:
May I tell you right now from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all those who have waited 7 years for this and have stood behind the cast and crew and this movie as a whole against all you have been doing against it and us:
Stop whatever attacks, criticisms and opposition to the reboot of the Fantastic Four! Will you not realize that the change we have all been waiting has finally come in the form of the new FF/F4 movie we all waited for?
Will you stop doing anything negative that would result in the poor showing of this film?
Leave us then, the fans and supporters of the new Fantastic Four movie, its cast and crew, in peace, and we urge you to watch it at once and repent of all you have done wrong!
I urge you to stop the things you all have brought damage upon this new movie. You all that attacked the movie and its fans negatively must be ashamed of what you have done and the opinions and words you have brought upon us fans who saw this new movie of the Fantastic Four!
The new FF cast deserves even better than this and we will make sure it is ready enough for a sequel in several years, even outlasting Rise of the Silver Surfer. We will convince others to watch this movie and see it in a positive light and make sure to support the future of this franchise.
Please accept this new movie and the new faces of the Fantastic Four. And then you will surely known that the change that we all have persevered and anticipated for 7 long years has finally come to our world.
And may I summarize what I have written earlier, the new Fantastic Four has come and no one, not even you who have opposed it, can stop them in their tracks!
No matter what may happen, this movie and the cast will be the Fantastic Four we had have come to know and watched for generations to come!
John Emmanuel C. Ramos
Makati City, Philippines
2310h, August 9, 2015
(This post was inspired by this online article: http://www.filmoria.co.uk/2015/08/sunday-scene-keep-fantastic-four-away-mcu/)
I write this post before all of you in a symbolic condemnation of what you all have done to us fans of the new Fantastic Four movie.
You all know too well (but a few of you cannot accept) that the F4/FF movie series, based on the comic works produced by Marvel since 1961, has been the responsibility of 20th Century Fox since it took over the production rights from its former holders, and thus is not a Marvel production. But you all have acted in defiance of this new movie and have demanded that the Walt Disney group, in which Marvel is a part of, take over the franchise movies at once and start over again, given its poor showings in its US debut plus the recent comments from its director, Josh Trank, given what the 20th Century Fox leadership and management did to his vision for the franchise.
Some of you have started to distrust the new movie at the moment the new cast was announced - making this the first ever superhero movie with an African-American as a lead hero and cast member. And because of this, even in the days before and after the US premiere, several of you have opposed it because of Michael B. Jordan being the new Human Torch.
Some of you have boycotted it due to its poor reception.
Many of you have voiced your dissent, anger and opposition after watching this movie in cinemas.
Many of you have turned your backs on this and have called the 2005-07 movie series, staring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis as the only F4/FF movies they would love to watch and them as the only true faces of Marvel’s First Family, because of their likeness being similar to the original comic series. A few of you have also stated the superiority of the 1994 “placeholder” and unreleased movie over this reboot.
And many of you have put on the bad reviews given to this movie as the reason for you to agitate that Fox be stripped away from making any FF/F4 movies and that Marvel and Disney handle them while bringing them back in full faithfullness to the original comics, despite the fact that the reboot is based upon the issues of the Ultimate Fantastic Four comic series (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fantastic_Four for more info) as well as from the original series and the various others that came after them as proved by the many references to them in the 2015 reboot movie (see http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/fantastic-four/248247/fantastic-four-movie-marvel-universe-easter-eggs-and-comic-references-guide & http://whatculture.com/film/fantastic-four-17-easter-eggs-in-jokes-and-references-you-need-to-see.php).
But to many of us who have watched this movie like me (and the few of us who have watched the original movies before), we will always support the future of the F4/FF in film, no matter what would happen, either if Marvel takes over or Fox stands its ground pending international results from overseas showings. We will be always be standing our ground with the new cast - Miles Teller (Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic), Kate Mara (Susan “Sue” Storm, The Invisible Woman). Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm, The Human Torch) and Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm, The Thing) - as the new face of the First Family of Marvel - the Fantastic Four. No matter what, this movie and its cast will be the current face of the FF/F4 for years and decades to come. We will put our trust and hearts to them and the Fantastic Four franchise in comics, television and film.
So to all of you and the critics who have attacked the new movie, its cast and crew and us its fans and supporters in the United States and all over the world:
May I tell you right now from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all those who have waited 7 years for this and have stood behind the cast and crew and this movie as a whole against all you have been doing against it and us:
Stop whatever attacks, criticisms and opposition to the reboot of the Fantastic Four! Will you not realize that the change we have all been waiting has finally come in the form of the new FF/F4 movie we all waited for?
Will you stop doing anything negative that would result in the poor showing of this film?
Leave us then, the fans and supporters of the new Fantastic Four movie, its cast and crew, in peace, and we urge you to watch it at once and repent of all you have done wrong!
I urge you to stop the things you all have brought damage upon this new movie. You all that attacked the movie and its fans negatively must be ashamed of what you have done and the opinions and words you have brought upon us fans who saw this new movie of the Fantastic Four!
The new FF cast deserves even better than this and we will make sure it is ready enough for a sequel in several years, even outlasting Rise of the Silver Surfer. We will convince others to watch this movie and see it in a positive light and make sure to support the future of this franchise.
Please accept this new movie and the new faces of the Fantastic Four. And then you will surely known that the change that we all have persevered and anticipated for 7 long years has finally come to our world.
And may I summarize what I have written earlier, the new Fantastic Four has come and no one, not even you who have opposed it, can stop them in their tracks!
No matter what may happen, this movie and the cast will be the Fantastic Four we had have come to know and watched for generations to come!
John Emmanuel C. Ramos
Makati City, Philippines
2310h, August 9, 2015
Sunday, January 11, 2015
IN MEMORY OF THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATHS OF SKIP MUCK AND ALEX PENKALA
Today, it has been 70 years since two NCOs coming from Easy Company of
the 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division, SSGT Warren
“Skip” Muck and PFC Alex Penkala, both from 2nd Platoon made their
ultimate sacrifice for their country the United States of America, as
they fell victim to German artilery fires in their foxhole position near
Foy, Belgium, right in front of their buddies 1SGT Carwood Lipton and
T4G George Luz! This experience was yet another big blow to TSGT Donald
Malarkey, who already lost battle buddies in the days beforehand.
Indeed, at the end of the day, Easy Coy. was never the same, and the road was set for the company’s future savior, in the person of 1LT Ronald Spiers.
ETERNAL GLORY TO THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR!!
JM Ramos
2000H, January 10, 2015
Makati, PH
Indeed, at the end of the day, Easy Coy. was never the same, and the road was set for the company’s future savior, in the person of 1LT Ronald Spiers.
ETERNAL GLORY TO THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR!!
JM Ramos
2000H, January 10, 2015
Makati, PH
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Long time no post
To all those who are viewing my blog it's been almost a year since I last posted.
But soon.. I hope to give you my 2nd review...
Of the world's new no.1 movie ever.
#TheMazeRunner
But soon.. I hope to give you my 2nd review...
Of the world's new no.1 movie ever.
#TheMazeRunner
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Commemorative message in honor of the golden jubilee of the assassination and death of John F. Kennedy
Commemorative message in honor of the golden jubilee of the assassination and death of John F. Kennedy
To all the people of the United States of America and the world:Today, half a century has passed since America lost one of its most beloved presidents, John F. Kennedy. His sudden death caused by an assassin’s bullet in Dallas, Texas on this day in 1963 shocked not just the whole of the United States of America, but the whole world as well. His death changed a whole generation and an entire nation, and news of it turned our happiness into mourning.
Just 3 years into his term, and with all eyes ready for the 1964 presidential polls, where he was expected to be reelected, his trip to Dallas, Texas on that day 50 years ago was the one trip everyone did not expect to be the last of his presidency. He was shot while riding with his wife Jackie on the presidential limousine when it was driving in the city. He was rushed to hospital, only to die moments later, leaving a horrified and teary nation of more than millions of people mourning his death together with the whole world.
A veteran of the United States Navy and of the Second World War, and the first Roman Catholic President of the American nation, his short presidency was a momentous one for the United States and the free world.
Today, 50 years on after the tragic events that forever changed the world we live in, we honor the man, his short but meaningful life, and the legacy he left behind to all of us. We all still sad whenever we look back on this dark chapter in the history of the United States of America, but whenever we live his legacy, we know that he is watching over us in heaven, pleased that his memory lives on in everyone of us.
ETERNAL GLORY AND MEMORY TO THE FALLEN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY!!
(Taps) (Salute)
0013H, November 22/23, 2013
John Emmanuel C. Ramos
Makati City, PH
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Coming soon.....
My long awaited Gangster Squad preview and my view on the newest show that has become a part of me.
CHICAGO FIRE.
By the way... a happy 238th birthday to the United States Navy! Here's to more years of defending America and the free world!
Go Navy!!!
CHICAGO FIRE.
By the way... a happy 238th birthday to the United States Navy! Here's to more years of defending America and the free world!
Go Navy!!!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
PACIFIC RIM
Long time no blog post here... just being busy on Tumblr.
Today's movie review is my second one.
It's all about, in my opinion one of the best movies of 2013.
As a Filipino I'm fearful that the events in this film may happen in real life, but am happy whenever a mention of Manila was made. It's a throwback tribute to the monster movies genre.... and robot themed movies and TV series that made a mark on past generations of viewers and fans alike.
And I'm happy to tell you that I've watched this a record 15 times.
It's Guillermo del Toro's PACIFIC RIM.
"To fight the monsters, we created monsters of our own". - Raleigh Becket
This "end times"- style and futuristic movie starts with a brief intro to the long conflict between the human race and the monsters coming from deep underneath the Pacific Ocean... the "Kaiju" as they call them (The name also refers to the Japanese "monster movie" genre that del Toro felt inspired during his younger days to pay homage on film) and the solution to the threat... the Jaegers of the Pan Pacific Defense Corps.... driven by two pilots with a secret mindmelding tactic: the Drift, which helps their coordination and motivates them to fight the monsters. These robots are the pride of the PPDC, and they are the focus of its campaign to end the terror once and for all.... for future generations, regardless of race, language, religion or nationality. The fate of the planet (and the nations of the Pacific, most especially) rests on their shoulders as well as on the people that are on these machines and their crews. (Ellen McLain voices their AI, by the way.)
(FYI: Jaeger is German for hunter or rifleman)
Among them: Raleigh Becket (played by Charlie Hunnam) who with his older brother Yancy (Diego Klattenhoff) pilots one of these.... Gipsy Danger. Both were veteran monster hunters with several victories over the giant enemies. Traumatized by Yancy's demise while on duty offshore in Alaska (I confess to having been shocked and having to fall to the floor whenever I watch this scene in the movie), he quits the service but after half a decade is convinced by his commander, no less than Marshal Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) to wear his pilot suit once again.
This time through, he lands in Hong Kong only to meet a victim of the attacks: Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), also a instructor for future pilots of the resurging program. He then meets two veteran experts: Newton "Newt" Geiszler (Charlie Day) who's a Kaiju researcher and mathematician Hermann Gottlieb (Burn Gorman), who are both later introduced to Hannibal Chau (Ron Pearlman), a local businessman with a passion for selling Kaiju remains in the black market. Newt and Hermann, despite their differences, are great assets for Stacker to fulfill his new mission. Upon entering the Shatterdome Raleigh then meets not just Gipsy but 3 more veteran Jaegers: China's Crimson Typhoon and its pilots the Wei Tang brothers (played by Charles Luu, Lance Luu and Mark Luu), Russia's veteran Jaeger, Cherno Alpha, and its pilots Aleksis and Sasha Kaidanovsky (Robert Maillet and Heather Doerksen) and Australia's Striker Eureka, with father-son tandem Hercules and Chuck Hansen (Max Martini and Robert Kazinsky) as its pilots, the fastest of them all plus Tendo Choi (Clifton Collins, Jr.) who serves as a technician in his Jaeger. Turns out his recall was part of Stacker's efforts for one final mission to fight the monsters who are now threatening the whole planet... and Mako becoming his new co-pilot (despite her turbulent past) would be an asset in his duty. The question is whenever it's gonna end a failure.... or a great sucess.
This movie, even through badly beaten in the US, is a great international hit indeed. Here in the Philippines it was no.1 for its first two weeks!
With music by Ramin Djawadi (also known for his Game of Thrones soundtrack) and a great film crew, one cannot miss watching what is surely one of the best movies of the year, and what I call a Hollywood tribute to a genre that shocked thousands since the 1950s not just in Japan but also internationally.
You better watch this "awesome" film now... one of the best for 2013.
And as for me... I'll try a double viewing today.....
10/10 for me!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
JUNE 23
On this day in 1919 Estonian and Latvian soldiers fought against the Germans in the Battle of Võnnu, and came out victorious.
79 years ago in 1934 the Estonian government set this day to honor those who fought for the nation’s independence.
And 65 years ago in 1948 this day was set apart to honor the founders of today’s Olympic Games and to commemorate where it all began.
HAPPY OLYMPIC DAY AND ESTONIAN VICTORY DAY!!
(Salute)
(Cue Olympic Hymn and Porilaisten March)
Friday, May 17, 2013
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS
Today I've watched Star Trek Into Darkness..... for the 2nd time...
No words can describe how it its....
It's one of the best movies of 2013 for me, most especially as a Star Trek fan.
Hope you all watch it!!!
No words can describe how it its....
It's one of the best movies of 2013 for me, most especially as a Star Trek fan.
Hope you all watch it!!!
Monday, May 13, 2013
TOP GUN DAY '13
It may be election day in the Philippines, but as I vote today, I wish to dedicate it to all serving personnel of the Philippine Navy, in which my grandfather served as a petty officer in the 1950s, and to all naval veterans like him.
It's all because May 13, being the second Monday of May, is... TOP GUN DAY!!!
The day in which the world celebrates the legacy of the 1986 film Top Gun, and of United States Naval Aviation as a whole.
CALL THE BALL!!!!
And for me? "Its classified."
http://www.topgunday.com/
It's all because May 13, being the second Monday of May, is... TOP GUN DAY!!!
The day in which the world celebrates the legacy of the 1986 film Top Gun, and of United States Naval Aviation as a whole.
CALL THE BALL!!!!
And for me? "Its classified."
http://www.topgunday.com/
Thursday, May 9, 2013
May 9
May
9, 1945 marks the original Victory in Europe Day celebrated by all the
free world after the German surrender in Berlin (the moment was in
midnight in the Soviet Union). Even through the celebrations are now in
May 8, May 9 is celebrated in Serbia and in the countries of the former
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. It is truly a day of commemoration
and celebration of the great victory of the
peoples and armed services of the Allied nations that won the victory
against fascism at the cost of so many lives lost in the course of
almost 5 and a half years of conflict in the European continent.
May 9 is also Europe Day in honor of the 1950 Schuman Declaration that paved the way for the formation of today's European Union.
And May 9 marks the anniversary of the formation of United States Naval Aviation in 1911. It was on that day when in 1911 when Captain Washington Chambers approved the Curtis firm's offer of training planes to be used in the San Diego training center that Glenn Curtis opened that spring to train the first US naval aviators.
Remember all who fought for the freedom and independence of the European continent and of the whole world!!
May we never forget the veterans and fallen of the Allies of the Second World War in the European Theater of Operations, including the men of Easy Company, 505th PIR, 101st Airborne Div. (the "Band of Brothers"), whose acts will forever be a part of history!
May we always remember the heroes, martyrs and veterans of naval aviation in the United States of America, 102 years on, leading us into a future that is worth defending, up there with the best of the best!!!!
And may we also remember in our own way the active servicemen of the Allied countries that won the war, especially the US armed services (including the personnel of US Naval Aviation that mark its birthday today) that continue to pursue and perform their duty for the defense of the free world!!!!
HAPPY VICTORY DAY, EUROPE DAY AND US NAVAL AVIATION BIRTHDAY!!!
CURRAHEE!!! FLY NAVY!!! HOOOOOYAH!!!!!
(Cue Requiem for a Soldier, Mikhail Glinka's Slavsya from A Life for the Tsar, Victory Day by Lev Leshenko and Top Gun Anthem)
May 9 is also Europe Day in honor of the 1950 Schuman Declaration that paved the way for the formation of today's European Union.
And May 9 marks the anniversary of the formation of United States Naval Aviation in 1911. It was on that day when in 1911 when Captain Washington Chambers approved the Curtis firm's offer of training planes to be used in the San Diego training center that Glenn Curtis opened that spring to train the first US naval aviators.
Remember all who fought for the freedom and independence of the European continent and of the whole world!!
May we never forget the veterans and fallen of the Allies of the Second World War in the European Theater of Operations, including the men of Easy Company, 505th PIR, 101st Airborne Div. (the "Band of Brothers"), whose acts will forever be a part of history!
May we always remember the heroes, martyrs and veterans of naval aviation in the United States of America, 102 years on, leading us into a future that is worth defending, up there with the best of the best!!!!
And may we also remember in our own way the active servicemen of the Allied countries that won the war, especially the US armed services (including the personnel of US Naval Aviation that mark its birthday today) that continue to pursue and perform their duty for the defense of the free world!!!!
HAPPY VICTORY DAY, EUROPE DAY AND US NAVAL AVIATION BIRTHDAY!!!
CURRAHEE!!! FLY NAVY!!! HOOOOOYAH!!!!!
(Cue Requiem for a Soldier, Mikhail Glinka's Slavsya from A Life for the Tsar, Victory Day by Lev Leshenko and Top Gun Anthem)
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
May 8, V-E Day
Today, 68 years past, Germany formally surrendered to the Allies. And
tomorrow, it’s gonna be celebrations all over the former Soviet Union
and in Serbia, while today all Europe, the United States and Canada are
united in commemoration, all in the eternal memory of all the fallen and
veterans of the Second World War in the European Theater of Operations.
We shall never forget all who died to give us a world that is truly worth defending and those who lived through the 5 and a half years of war in Europe whose memories are truly worth fighting for.
And as a fan of HBO War, I’m proud to say that….
EASY COMPANY, 2/506/101ABN.. WILL BE FOREVER LINKED TO THE ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE AND WILL BE FOREVER REMEMBERED BY ALL GENERATIONS…
as the… “BAND OF BROTHERS”!!!!!
ETERNAL GLORY TO ALL WHO PERISHED IN BATTLE AND IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF THE FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OF EUROPEAN WARFARE, ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT AND OF THE WHOLE WORLD!
GLORY TO ALL SURVIVING AND DECEASED VETERANS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN EUROPE!!
HAPPY VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY!! CURRAHEE!!!! HUZZAH!!!
(Cue Requiem for a Soldier and Mikhail Glinka’s Slavsya from A Life for the Tsar)
We shall never forget all who died to give us a world that is truly worth defending and those who lived through the 5 and a half years of war in Europe whose memories are truly worth fighting for.
And as a fan of HBO War, I’m proud to say that….
EASY COMPANY, 2/506/101ABN.. WILL BE FOREVER LINKED TO THE ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE AND WILL BE FOREVER REMEMBERED BY ALL GENERATIONS…
as the… “BAND OF BROTHERS”!!!!!
ETERNAL GLORY TO ALL WHO PERISHED IN BATTLE AND IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF THE FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OF EUROPEAN WARFARE, ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT AND OF THE WHOLE WORLD!
GLORY TO ALL SURVIVING AND DECEASED VETERANS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN EUROPE!!
HAPPY VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY!! CURRAHEE!!!! HUZZAH!!!
(Cue Requiem for a Soldier and Mikhail Glinka’s Slavsya from A Life for the Tsar)
Saturday, March 30, 2013
New post after almost a month....
Long time no post but having watched Band of Brothers before I'll be posting 10 leadership tips from the man himself, the late Major Richard "Dick" Winters (may he R.I.P.)....
2. Lead from the front. Say, “Follow me!” and then lead the way.
3. Stay in top physical shape--physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.
4. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.
5. Delegate responsibility to your subordinates and let them do their job. You can’t do a good job if you don’t have a chance to use your imagination and creativity.
6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don’t wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind.
7. Remain humble. Don’t worry about who receives the credit. Never let power or authority go to your head.
8. Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best.
9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. They key to a successful leader is to earn respect--not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.
10. Hang Tough!--Never, ever, give up.
Major Dick Winters, USA
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division, United States Army
“The Band of Brothers"
From his 2006 book Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters, co-published with Col. Cole C. Kingseed, USA (R)
LEADERSHIP AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET :
10 POINTS FOR SUCESS
1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.2. Lead from the front. Say, “Follow me!” and then lead the way.
3. Stay in top physical shape--physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.
4. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.
5. Delegate responsibility to your subordinates and let them do their job. You can’t do a good job if you don’t have a chance to use your imagination and creativity.
6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don’t wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind.
7. Remain humble. Don’t worry about who receives the credit. Never let power or authority go to your head.
8. Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best.
9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. They key to a successful leader is to earn respect--not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.
10. Hang Tough!--Never, ever, give up.
Major Dick Winters, USA
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division, United States Army
“The Band of Brothers"
From his 2006 book Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters, co-published with Col. Cole C. Kingseed, USA (R)
Monday, February 11, 2013
Soon on this blog....
A new post on my new favorite movie of 2013...... Gangster Squad.
Watched it both time this month.... and read the book.... details to follow later.
Watched it both time this month.... and read the book.... details to follow later.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
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!
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.
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!
Monday, December 3, 2012
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?
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?
Saturday, October 20, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, August 20, 2012
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
May he rest in eternal peace.
Lest We Forget
JM Ramos
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