The week is coming to it’s end and our group of fellow classmates prepare to depart from our abode on the LSU campus. The month has been an incredible opportunity, learning a new language, meeting friends, and experiencing culture. I think that everyone who came will leave with something more – not less. Whether or not we see each other again, we will continue to hold on to the memories of our time together.

Startalk has provided an experience that combines enjoyment and education to a degree that I (sadly) am hard pressed to find. I would like to, once again, thank them for this opportunity. Though there were various complications along the way, Dr. Hotard and the R.A.s worked diligently to get things straitened out and keep the program running smoothly. They have done an incredible job. I look forward to next year and further Arabic training.

المعرفة قوة (knowledge is power)

May God bless you!
-Jacob

As the last week of Startalk begins, I think back in my mind over the language learned, friendships forged and memories made. Though the routine is rigorous, the end result easily justifies the hard work and expended effort.
Every day we spend approximately eight hours in class and one to two hours studying at night. Listening to Arabic for this long tends to solidify the knowledge acquired. In a mere three weeks our group has learned over 750 words/phrases, opening the door to Middle Eastern travel, shopping in Baghdad, and general conversations with others versed in the Arabic language.
Aside from the verbal aspect of Arabic, we have also been taught the visual side of the language. We can now read and write in Arabic! An array of sentences constructed from our knowledge base of words have already found themselves appearing on chalkboards, the back of our hands, page margins, and Church bulletins as we continue to practice our skill.
During the remaining six hours, not claimed by study or sleep, we are either eating at the 459 or hanging out in the Aquarium. The food, though often repetitive, is very good and most definitely filling! We will NOT go hungry. After classes and before studying each night we may find ourselves caught up in an intense game of capture the flag, Ultimate [Frisbee], or killer!
Before I conclude I must mention something good about the R.A.s as they did give me $50. I’m joking – in all seriousness, the R.A.s really are incredible! Aside from their leadership roles they provide entertaining conversations, games and hugs. They truly are a much appreciated part of this program.
It has been an incredible experience for me in more ways than one; I would recommend it to anyone. As a reminder to anyone reading this though, a lot of effort is put forth to provide us with this opportunity and keep everything running smoothly. I would like to thank Dr. Hotard, Startalk, all of the R.A.s, LSU, and anyone else involved in this experience.

شكرا لك

P.S. – Kim told me to say something about Louisiana: crawfish, Tony Chachere’s, gumbo, jambalaya, Tobasco, pelicans, southern hospitality, alligators, and wonderfulness =)

From what I’ve heard, a lot of people think that Asians sit at home in the summer bored, playing their video games, reading books, practicing piano, and eating rice. That’s not entirely true. In fact, I have plenty of things to do this summer. This summer, Gary and I have quite a few plans planned out of what we want to do. We have all sorts of crazy goals that are great ideas. But the question is, will they actually happen?

First off, Gary and I wanted to write this book. Yes, a real book published and everything. We probably wouldn’t sell it or anything…just a book with our names on it would bring us satisfaction. It would be about relationships between people. All kinds, like the ones we see every day; friendship, couples, maybe even our ideas on marriage. A lot of times, my friends come to me with their problems and I’m able to help them out. I listen, give them advice, and so on. But since I am used to it, sometime when I’m bored I imagine scenarios of situations between people and how things would work out, what the best way to solve it would be, and so on. I spoke to Gary about it, and we had similar opinions and ideas, so now we want to put it in writing. Hopefully, our success on this project will be done by the end of this summer.

A close friend of mine, named 甄家明 (not giving English name for now) along with Gary and I created a group called GaijinMein (which we plan on renaming later). Us three and another friend are want to make videos this summer like Wong Fu Productions do (see the post about who Asians can look up to). We plan on making at least one or two shorts, a few music videos and maybe a short movie. Who knows? This isn’t exactly a goal, more an out of school commitment we want to stick to.

But the second biggest goal for me is to learn Chinese this summer at a program called Startalk. Its a special program in Chicago (no idea if it’s anywhere else in the U.S.) that goes for a month in the summer learning Mandarin. It’s a great expereince; daily Chinese practice in writing, reading, and speaking, field trips, activities, real life scenarios, and the best part is that this all comes for 25 dollars. Now, this may sound like one of those rip of programs, where it’s so cheap, it’s crap.  But it’s not. For me, it’s 25 dollars, but for anyone whos got higher income than I do pays $225. And, upon finishing the program, you get one year of AP credit in college for Chinese, with a $500 stipend, all just to learn Chinese. THAT’S a good deal.

But my number one goal? I’ll post about it if I accomplish it AND I actually feel like talking about it…haha.

So no, in fact, some Asians actually have stuff to do in the summer. People just don’t know it. ;]

-Jeikei

Minsan ko na naikwento sa blog na to ang paranormal experience namin habang ineedit ang film na “Dalaw” na pinagbibidahan ng kontrobersiyal actress na si Katrina Halili at Tonton Gutierrez kasama ang kanyang kabiyak na si Glydel Mercado. Kahapon, May 22 sa presscon ng “Dalaw” ay pinakita namin sa harap ng press people ang nasabing eksena na mula pa mismo sa mga raw files ng pelikula at hindi pa edited. Iba-iba ang kanilang naging tugon ng mapanuod ang raw files ng pelikula, ngunit halatang gulat at di makapaniwala.

Ipapakita namin ang kontrobersiyal na clip mula sa pelikula sa tulong ng Startalk. 

Original Video – More videos at TinyPic

New Startalk Da Who Videos(Jan. 31, ‘08 & Feb. 1, ‘09) on . . . http://pepato-pepato.blogspot.com/

I was often watch GMA-7 showbiz talk shows such as Startalk every Saturday and Showbiz Central every Sunday. Then there’s a disturbing text labelled “Exclusive” (such as “Startalk Exclusive” and “Showbiz Central Exclusive”) on the upper left video display, meaning the show only features their proprietary segment of interviews to GMA-7 artists and other various artists, preventing to interview the network’s own artists to other showbiz talk show on the other TV networks. The result: the TV ratings of their showbiz talk shows gets higher because of their concept of “exclusive”, giving more attention to the TV viewing public.

This was a big disappointment to other showbiz talk show such as The Buzz on ABS-CBN, as well as other local TV networks in the Philippines and even  the show Juicy! on TV5 (formerly ABC 5) in an attempt to interview the GMA-7 artists. Accordingly, GMA-7 showbiz talk shows were often being “madamot” (selfish), therefore that would be an unfair competition for giving way to report on the other, as mentioned above. The issue of proprietary “exclusive” made by GMA-7 showbiz talk shows was emerged in 2003 to the present following the downfall of Mega Manila TV ratings of ABS-CBN and its showbiz talk show, in which they would rather interview ABS-CBN artists first.

An example of which–from 2008 to 2009–is the interview of Francis Magalona, who was taken in medication from cancer; Paolo Contis who has an “affair” with EB Babe Lian; Marian Rivera on several intrigues and success of her show on GMA-7; Ely Buendia who was first featured on Showbiz Central after his reunion concert was finished only more than 1 hour because he was hospitalized; and so on.

Without further giving permission to interview GMA-7 talents, most various local TV networks would be difficult enough to feature their local TV news, in which its local showbiz segment was currently suspended. But as of now, most local tabloid newspaper were currently posted on local showbiz column that featues both ABS-CBN and GMA-7 talents as well as movie artists and musical artists.

Three years after they first announced that they are lovers, Dr. Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho has broken up.

Nothing is confirmed yet, but the culprit according to showbiz insiders is the philandering Hayden Kho. There are two women being named as the third party and that is Katrina Halili and Rufa Mae Quinto. Among the 2 women its Katrina who is more plausible, well, that is at least base on the opinion of the showbiz insiders. They say it all started when Hayden met Katrina on the show Celebrity Duets.

Katrina has appeared on StarTalk to deny rumors. She said she had cleared things up with Dr. Vicki Belo. She also clarified that she’s still a Belo model and endorser.

We’re only a few days away from Christmas and I can just imagine what kind of Christmas will Dr. Vicki Belo have this year.

The story first came out in Ricky Lo’s column, and like him, I also wish that Dr. Vicki will come out of this situation intact. She shouldn’t allow this situation to break her.

Want to view Startalk’s Da Who videos(Nov. 8, 15 and 22) click on this . . . http://pepato-pepato.blogspot.com/

If you want to read Startalk’s Da Who last weekend click on this . . . http://pepato-pepato.blogspot.com/

Last Oct. 11 I recorded some parts of Startalk’s Da Who on my mobile phone so I had an easier time writing the details especially the first blind item.  If you want to read the blind items click on this . . . http://pepato-pepato.blogspot.com/

Dumating ang TV host-comedian na si Joey de Leon sa kauna-unahang Supreme to the Extreme Award na ipinamahagi ng Philippine STAR kagabi, October 17, sa Embassy Super Club sa The Fort, Taguig City.

Si Joey ang tumanggap ng highest award na Supremo Award.

“Nakakatuwa. Isinama ko pa nga ang dalawa kong anak dahil proud ako rito. Proud ako! Excited ako rito at seryoso ako sa award na ito,” saad ni Joey.

Dumating din sa naturang awards night ang host ng Wowowee na si Willie Revillame, na kapatutsadahan ni Joey sa kanya namang noontime show na Eat Bulaga.

Bago pa man sila magkaharap ni Willie sa stage nang tanggapin naman ng Wowowee host ang kanyang Televisionary Award, nahingan na namin  si Joey ng pahayag tungkol sa napipintong paghaharap nila ni Willie.

“Oo nga, hinahanap ko nga, e, nandoon yata sa likod. Okey lang, kaibigan ko naman yun,” nakangiting sabi ni Joey.

Aniya, “Si Willie? Wala, kaibigan ko yun matagal na. Yung sa TV, biruan-biruan lang namin yun. Hello, pare, kumusta ka? Pautang! Hindi pala, pengeng pera!” natatawang sabi ni Joey.

Pagkatapos ng awards night, tinanong namin ulit si Joey kung ano ang masasabi niya sa pagbabati nila ni Willie.

“Wala yun, magkaibigan kami niyan,” ulit niya. “Bukas [October 18], babatiin ko siya sa Eat Bulaga at babatiin din niya ako [sa Wowowee]. Parehong pinapanood ‘yan. Ratings lang ‘yan. Two can survive. Not Channel 2 ha? Two can survive,” pakuwela ni Joey.

What about his message to Willie?

“Na-miss ko rin siya, matagal kong nakasama ‘yan.”

Alam din ng karamihan na dahil sa namagitan sa kanila ni Willie sa mga patutsadahan nila sa telebisyon, madalas din siyang mapitik sa panulat ni Cristy Fermin. Ano ang masasabi ni Joey sa suspension ni Cristy sa ABS-CBN, lalo pa nga’t pareho rin silang host ng talk shows; si Cristy sa The Buzz at si Joey naman sa Startalk?

“Hindi ko alam ang buong istorya nila. Ako nga, e, madalas masuspinde, so okay lang ‘yan. Wala, okey lang na masuspinde. Ako ang pinakahari ng suspension, e. Okey lang yun, balewala yun. Minsan kasama sa trabaho yun,” pahayag ng beteranong TV host.

“Alam n’yo, sa diyaryo ko lang kayo nababasa,” sabi niya sa mga young writers. “Hindi n’yo lang alam, before I joined Philippine STAR, e, fan n’yo na ako! At ang Supremo po ay mataas ‘yan! Ang katumbas niyan, e, patron, ‘ika nga.”

Sa huli, sinabi pa niyang, “Willie, I love you!”sabay nagpalakpakan at sigawan ang mga tao sa loob ng Embassy Bar.

Last Saturday though I was kind of doing something I still was able to jot down some of the details of Startalk’s Da Who.  If you want to read the celebrity blind items and the answers click on this . . . http://pepato-pepato.blogspot.com/

I watch Startalk when I have nothing to do on a saturday afternoon and I always look forward on their blind items or a.k.a. Da Who. If you want to read some of the celebrity blind items just click on this . . . http://pepato-pepato.blogspot.com/ . If you want to share something or have any violent reactions just leave me a note/post.

Topak #15: Naaalala ko noong nasa kolehiyo pa ako. Hindi kumpleto ang araw ko kapag hindi ko nahihiram ang “Libre” ng mga kaklase kong sumasakay sa MRT. Lagi akong sabik na basahin ang Entertainment section. Medyo masuwerte na ako kapag may bumili ng tabloid. Mas astig ang mga showbiz chismis doon. Minsan totoo, minsan hindi, at minsan eh halatang gimik lang ng mga artista para mapag-usapan.

Mainit na ang “network war” noon. Matagal na akong Kapuso. Madalas pa akong makipag-away sa mga Kapamilya noon. At kapag may issue ng lipatan, eh talagang affected ako, as in parang hindi ako mapalagay. Ewan ko ba. At kapag may bagong programa ang ABS-CBN, eh medyo kinakabahan din ako dahil baka matalo nito ang tatapatan nito sa GMA. Yun din yung mga panahon na nagsisimula ng umariba sa ratings ang GMA 7.

Ayun, kaya hanggang ngayon ay masasabi kong chismoso pa rin ako sa showbiz. Lagi nga ako bumibisita sa Philippine Entertainment Portal eh para makasagap ng latest news sa showbiz. Lagi ko ring hinahanap ang entertainment section sa mga broadsheets or tabloids. Inaabangan ko din ang Chika Minute at Star Patrol kapag nakakapanood ako ng balita. Nanonood din ako ng Startalk, Entertainment Live, Showbiz Central, The Buzz, at Ricky Lo Exclusives. Haha, ang chismoso ko noh?

Maaari kaya akong mag-host ng isang entertainment show balang araw? Haha. Di ko pinapangarap yun. Hehe.

Anyway, medyo matagal-tagal ko ng gustong i-post ito. Well, siyempre, tungkol sa mga latest chismis sa Philippine Showbiz. Walang pikunan ha. Opinyon/topak ko lamang.

Naging maingay ang muntik ng paglipad ng Songbird mula Kapuso papuntang Kapamilya. Akala ko ay magpapaalam na siya. Pero dahil feeling raw niya ay dineny siya ng Kapamilya, eh nagdesisyon ito na manatili sa Kapuso. Hindi ko hinangaan ang desisyon niyang iyon. Paano kung di siya dineny ng Kapamilya? Edi lilipad na nga siyang tuluyan? Feeling ko eh parang no choice na lang siya kaya nanatili siya sa Kapuso.

Pero kung natuloy ang kanyang paglipad, ano ang mangyayari sa kanya? Well, parang medyo may future naman siya doon, in fairness. Eh ano na ang nangyari kay Angel Locsin? Sayang. Kung siya sana ang gumanap na MariMar, eh mas sikat siya ngayon… wala ang spotlight kay Marian Rivera. By the way, disappointed ako sa ending ng MariMar.

Swerte talaga itong si Marian Rivera. Dahil sa MariMar, eh dumami ang commercials. At may album pa siya. Well, sa totoo lang ay hindi ako nagagalingan sa kanyang pagsayaw. Pero at least, she tried, kaysa kay Angel na di man lang nagtry. Ayaw daw niyang sumayaw at umawit. Pero ayan tuloy, pinapakanta (lip synch) siya sa ASAP. At tila mas gusto yata ng ABS si Valerie.

Bumalik na sa GMA si Angelika Dela Cruz. No comment. Wala lang. (Sana hindi na lang bumalik)

Si Angelica Jones naman ay umeksena uli sa “Shall We Dance”. No comment din. Pati na sa kanyang Mommy Beth.

Si Cristine Reyes ay hindi malaman kung lilipat na din ba sa Kapamilya. Okay lang yan, samahan na niya ang Ate Ara niya doon. Hahaha. Wala lang.

Mamaya ay magsisimula na ang Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita. Nandun sina Yasmien Kurdi, Marvin Agustin, at Angelika Dela Cruz (saan ka pa? Wahahaha!). Mabuti na lang at nandun si Ms. Dina Bonnevie, at least baka panoorin ko pa ang soap na yun.

Pero medyo nagsasaw na ako sa mga series, mabuti na lang at gumaganda na ang programs sa QTV. Madalas doon na lang ako nanonood kapag gabi, lalo na tuwing may American Idol. Addict ako sa show na yan ngayon. Sana lang eh galingan na ni Ramiele Malubay para naman magtagal pa siya sa contest.

Oh well, masyado na yata akong bad. Haha. Wala na ako masyadong maisip na chismis sa ngayon. Mag-iipon uli ako tapos magpopost uli ako sa mga susunod na Topak. Hehehe. Walang pikunan!