Bronze For Brawns.. Gold For Brotherhood

USJR 3oth University Days and Intramurals, Sept 16^th to 20^th 2014 

– It was another time for students to square off for inter-college supremacy, and another moment to spend time mingling with new friends (and even with your crush). I would emphasize on the first as it was another fruitful year for the CAS Basketball team. 1 bronze medal. 4 wins. 15 players with the desire to win. Hundreds of undying supporters. Unlimited moments of firepower and laughter. What else to cherish when you have the people scream “C-A-S?”

And here are the most unforgettable lessons I that would willingly want to share with you:

1.) The passion to play will forever stay

Everyone’s hungry to get the win even when cramps happen. I remember Sean, Janus and most especially Concha (both legs) who suffered the worst cramps during the team’s first win in double overtime against the School of Law, 83-75.

Passion means enthusiasm; and enthusiasm gives you to play not for yourself, but for the team’s sake. One concrete example? Just see Brad and Janus’ dominance in the game.

2.) What’s in the court, stays in the court.

                Got yelled at by your coach or team-mate? Oh, did your pride hit you? Nah, put those emotional setbacks aside. There shouldn’t be anything personal during the game. It’s the time to play for gold, not the time to get old. This week, you’re an athlete; next week, you’re back to reality – back to student life!

I even heard an altercation during a game between CICCT and School of Law, but I’m hopeful that that shall pass.

3.) Brotherhood is as precious as gold

                I think I shall never see a brotherhood that’s lovely as my team (apologies to Joyce Kilmer). Yup, as what I’ve said in my video blog: It ain’t all about winning; it’s all about the brother we’ve developed. Nothing is as priceless as when you see the entire team go out and compete during the game, but act like lunatics after serious post-game huddles.

4.) Hardwork is also found beyond the basketball court

                You heard it right. The entire CAS Basketball Team gives credit to the practice players who have spent their time to join us in practices despite that they didn’t have incentives except for post-practice bonding.

Me organizing the team – reminding fellow players of their monetary and basketball obligations, setting up practice schedules, etc. – is probably the most tiresome job, but it’s a fulfilling moment when they get to thank you for your off-the-court work ethics.

5.)  Win or lose, teammates

                I don’t mind not getting the gold medal. What mattered to me the most was that I’m honored to be a piece of a group that recognizes your potentials and improves your flaws; a person’s victory is everyone’s triumph; a teammate’s downfall is another lesson to learn. Enough said.

The University Days & Intramurals isn’t just limited to leisure, but also of words of wisdom. From the very first tryout until the last game, there are always dozens of moments worth sharing. There were times we got disappointed, but none of it matters. As long as we enjoyed this week-full event, as long as we laughed our hearts out, as long as we brought something that’s worth remembering for, nothing is as precious as friendships being valued. Enough said.

I am proud to acknowledge the following people who have greatly shown their enthusiasm to support the team all throughout:

-15 brave young men with matching jersey #’s:

(1) John Karl “Boy Tingsi” Dimasuhid

(2) Elbert Napao

(5) Elconjim Concha

(7) Necolle Duero

(9) Gerald “Brad” Pontanar – Team Captain

(13) Marchini Kong

(14) Jongjong Gingoyon

(15) James Savellon

(17)  Carlo “Danielle Padilla” Samson

(19) Sean “Burger King” Espiritu

(26) Ed “Shofo” Naron

(27) Jazz “T**” Ortega

(28) Jaymier Rosada

(29) Kicker Pitao

(69) Janus “Jimmy Alapag” Ceniza

-Practice players: Joshua “Gwapo” Escalante, Phil Montefalcon, Giorgio Abellana, Alvin Rabadon

-Coaches: Mr Leo Aberion, Dr Galvin Galeon, Mr Jojit Foronda

-The avid supporters of the entire College of Arts and Sciences academic and sports competitors.

-The Purveyor (Gotta love your own) Resilient work, guys! Rabboni and his sports team, Apple, Princielo, Michaela, Mitzi, Milva, Janjafn, Keith, Dane, Yayoi, Beverly (PM me if I've forgotten someone)

Congratulation also to other CAS athletes and contestants for bringing home the bacon!

Much love,

James Nicole Franz R. Savellon, #15, shooting guard for CAS Basketball signing off..

P.S. I posted this a kind of late – my apologies, guys.

Babel (2006)

BABEL

From the word itself, it means a scene of noise or confusion. How do you even connect four different stories in four different countries into one movie? I’ve known at first glance that this isn't just a movie with predictable plots and fairy tale endings; Babel’s all about connecting the dots. The construction of the multi-narratives was a stepping stone to make the viewers think like they’re philosophers or deep thinkers – it breaks the status quo on movies. This type of narrative enables you to heighten your curiosity level from first scene until the last. 

Time is a very precious element in the movie; Babel is centered on the unpredictability of events in 5 days when talking about plot duration; and what happened to the characters in the past several years or maybe a lifetime, story duration-wise. The interrupted sequence paved way to an almost confusing story. But as the film goes by, the turning point starts when it was shown that Yusijiro Wataya gave his gun to his Moroccan guide, Abdullah, during a hunting trip. Then it leads to  crucial events including Ahmed's shooting on Susan Jones (the American tourist), who's the mother of Debbie and Mike - the children being take cared of by Amelia. 

Causal motivation is another vital factor to the characters’ varied personas. In the case of Cheiko, the Japanese deaf-mute girl who’s sexually frustrated and peer pressured, her attitude was probably moulded due to her mother’s suicide. For Yussef, the younger Morrocan boy and brother of Ahmed, he had this incestuous desire towards his sister. He had that feeling maybe because he wasn't taught about morality. To sum up: causal motivation creates an inner voice, “Why is the character’s behavior like this?” or, “How did they come up with this personality?"

Overall, Guillermo Arriaga clearly defined the words "fate" and "destiny" very well

Movie Review: Schindler's List (1993)

SCHINDLER'S LIST



RATING: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10


Drama. Biopic film. Liam Neeson. Speilberg. You name it - Schindler's List.

The 1993  film centers on Oskar Schindler who is a Nazi party member and industrialist turned hero of Jews as he took the initiative and dedication to sav more than a thousand of his Jewish employees from the Holocaust. It is set in the final stages of the World War II - the time in which the Germans are losing to the Allied Powers. 

The black-and-white cinematography in Schindler's List added more taste to the film's compelling theme - good versus evil; Oskar Schindler as the savior and Amon Goeth as the dark and wicked. 

I give credit to Steven Spielberg for not using Steadicams and zoom lenses. Plus cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski, decided to put it in B & W to make it like a documentary. That gives Schindler's List a more appealing film to reach a point that I empathized with the actors who perfectly acted out the deviousness of the Germans against the poor Jews. 

What struck me the most about the film is the clear symbolism since it 



The girl in a red coat - Speilberg emphasized the red coat to symbolize the Americans who knew the Holocaust was happening, yet did not do anything to stop it. 


The candle in the opening scenes represents the burnt bodies in Auschwitz concentration camp. They also signify "glitter (Wikipedia)
 

The black-and-white cinemtography represents the Holocaust itself - their lives were without life. ""That's why a film about the Holocaust has to be in black and white." Schindler said.

CONCLUSION:

Actors' portrayal. Check. Cinematography. Check. Story and Plot synchronization. Check. Without a doubt, a film like this deserves more credit; Schindler's List is all about the TIMELESSNESS of the real happenings during Hitler's reign. I would recommend to the people from all sorts to watch a film, and they should realize how one film can portray the lives of the poor Holocausts.

Runtime:	195 min
Rating:	Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence.
Production:	Universal Pictures
Genres:	Biography, Drama, History, War
Country:	USA
Languages:	English, German, Polish, Hebrew

Source: IMDB.com

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS

From left to right: Margot, Henry Sherman, Etheline, Royal, Chas Ari and Uzi, Richie, Raleigh St. Clair and (bottom) Eli Cash featuring Buckley.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★ 9/10

In The Royal Tenenbaums, the Tenenbaum Family was presented in a way that it was closely related to reality. The Characters were portrayed in a way that the viewers can relate to them and can question why they were portrayed such. The film is focused on family matters itself.

The Tenenbaum family was based on true to life persons.

The Tenenbaums were composed of:

(1) the wife: Etheline Tenenbaum - the typical career mother

(2) the husband: Royal Tenenbaum - the insensitive father

(3) their children: Margot, Chas, and Richie Tenenbaum - the adopted, the intelligent and the ex-athlete, respectively

Etheline Tenenbaum (Angelica Huston) was the typical career mother. She made sure that she's nurtured her three children - physically and morally - without Royal's presence after they separated. She is emotionally connected to Henry Sherman (Danny Glover) as they became lovers. She's also an archaeologist.  Wes Anderson loosely based Etheline on his mother, Ann Buroughs who was divorced to his father and became an archaelogist. Plus, Etheline's glasses were the real glass of Wes' mother.

Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) was an epitome of "insensitive" and "terrible." At the start of the story, he was a caring father who gave love to his children. Yet except for Margot who despises her as his adopted daughter. He even stole money from Chas - his genius son. Anderson wrote the Royal's persona with Gene Hackman in mind.

Margot Tenenbaum (Gwyneth Paltrow) is the adopted daughter of Etheline and Royal. She was when she was 2 years old from a farming family in Indiana. She is a playwright and produced a successful play when she was in ninth grade. Margot is seen as dull and emotionless; she's the "manhid" lady who's always being left out by Royal during gatherings as he introduces her (emphasized) as her "adopted daughter."

Chas Tenenbaum (Ben Stiller) is the finance genius in the Tenenbaums. He started working when he was an early teen. He had this grudge on his father, Royal. Then, he sued his father for stealing money in his safe. He's a widower who lost her wife on a plane crush. That's why he's obsessed with his sons' safety. He and his son wears their signature attire: sweaters and jogging pants in red.

Richie Tenenbaum (Luke Wilson) is the once-tennis prodigy who ended his career with an emotional breakdown in front of national television.The character is loosely based on former champion Bjorn Borg, who shocked the people after retiring at age 26. He's the kind-hearted person who always show his love for his adopted sister, Margot through his paintings. Their love has been kept a secret. 

To sum up, The Royal Tenenbaums is another masterpiece that clearly defies mainstream movie plots in exchange of dark humor and realistic experiences of every individual.