Congrats Oui for getting the IRO Scholarship in Leuven!

I got the text message from Oui at about 9pm yesterday. I was jumping up and down in excitement! Every day ko siya halos kinukulit and finally, lumabas na ang results. I never doubted she'd make it. She fits perfectly into the program.

Oui got into the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven with an IRO scholarship (Interfacultaire Raad voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking- Enjoy learning Dutch aka. Barok German, Oui.) That makes another ADMUChem colleague in Europe this year. Since you arrive in September, Oui, let's set something up for Christmas. Sare will probably be back in Paris by then. (Although Kookie may be in Manila). Continue crocheting those scarves!

Go ADMU-Europe!

Surprise package from Germany

The DKFZ sent via FedEx a packet containing some documents I needed to apply for a student visa. Before I opened the packet, I wondered why it was so bulky and soft. I was surprised to see this welcome gift the DKFZ sent along with the documents.



It was a DKFZ lab gown! (ie. We expect you to start work here ASAP) It was really kind of them to send it over. I was also surprised they got the size right. Here I am trying it out in the NCIC lab.

Speaking of clothes, I was shopping the other day and finalized what I was wearing for graduation. I knew I wanted something to match my favorite black and purple paisley tie and I found this deep violet shirt with darker violet stripes!

Got to get something else for the Baccalaureate Mass, but wasn't able to take a pic. It's light forest green with a cute striped tie that Carole thought went perfectly with the color.

Cinemalaya's Jay on DVD and the LS Awards for the Arts

After our Biochem group meeting last Wednesday, I rushed to Escaler Hall to catch whatever was left of the LS Awards for the Arts. I try to attend this event every year since it's always well-planned and the performances are something to look forward to. May production-value talaga kung galing sa School of Humanities (which I consider a second home, due to my Minor degree in German Studies and my love for theater.)

Would you believe this is Escaler Hall?!


Grand production: With gap music, presentors, and telepromters, gusto yatang kalabanin ang Oscars every year.

When I entered Escaler, which was unrecognizable with the set and the lighting, Francis Xavier Pasion was already giving his response after being given an award for his achievement in direction, particularly for the award-winning film "Jay".

Francis Xavier Pasion giving his acceptance speech

Francis, a true-blue Atenean, thanked the school and all his mentors (from ADMU and ABS-CBN) for shaping him into the film-maker he is today. At one point, he addressed his father, who never got the chance to attend any of his Ateneo graduations, and told him, "Natutuwa akong narito kayo ngayon para makita kung gaano ako kamahal ng Ateneo."

He then shared a quote from his assistant director, telling us to remember only two things in any artistic endeavor: service and humility. "Lahat ng sining na ginagawa natin ay hiram lamang." Spoken like a true Atenean, Francis. Congratulations on all your achievements!

I didn't have time to finish the entire event since I had a 6pm class so I stepped out of Escaler immediately. On my way back to the Chemistry Building, I passed by a table and guess what they were selling? DVD's of "Jay" prepared by the director himself, with nice packaging to boot! They sold it at P200 each and gave away free posters as well. I ended up getting three copies (for myself, Zos, and Martin) and had them signed by Francis and Baron via the LFC (Loyola Film Circle) peeps. Getting that limited edition of the DVD (director's cut without subtitles) really made my day. I can't wait for his next film.


Congratulations to the other student awardees as well! Hope to see more of your work in the future.

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Not familiar with "Jay"? Check out these posts:
-McVie's review
-Cinemalaya review and Film plug by Gibbs Cadiz
-Cinemalaya article from the Inquirer by Lito Zulueta

An aside:
Jay was actually shown in Saarbruecken, Germany the week before I arrived. there There was a mini CineFilipino festival, which Kookie totally missed.

THIS IS REALLY IS IT.

Spring 2009.


To everyone who prayed and believed, thank you! And thank You again!

I just finished my clearance yesterday, which means I'm marching for sure this March. Just this morning, I got the great news from Germany. Sunod-sunod ang grasya!

By the middle of the year, you guys are going to have someone to visit in Heidelberg already. (Just please let me know in advance, hehe.)

To the folks already there in Europe ((kasama ka na rito, Oui)), let's plan a summer meet-up! How does Paris sound? Or Prague? :-)

I'm a So You Think You Can Dance Addict.

I'm slowly getting tired of American Idol. I haven't even caught a single episode of the current season and I'm totally unfamiliar with any of the contestants. If not for Yumi's posts, I wouldn't have even known that they now have the "Top 13" instead of the "Top 12."

I currently have a new obsession: So You Think You Can Dance. (SYTYCD) To those unfamiliar with the show, this is the more talented twin of American Idol (same producers), but this time focusing on dance.

The screening process is more rigourous than the AI auditions and the top 20 go through all the major styles of dance. It doesn't matter if you're a contemporary dancer or a B-boy-- they're going to make you do the samba, jazz, hip-hop and just about everything else. And they're going to make you look good doing it. It's amazing how versatile these contestants are. I know that's something I can never do.

I'm just in awe at how these dancers perform their craft. I sometimes watch in amazement and exclaim, "kaya pala yun ng katawan ng tao!" Sometimes, the singing styles in AI get old, but the routines in SYTYCD are always fresh. With new choreographers and styles always coming in, you can expect something exciting every time you watch.

I just finished watching the fourth season. I've only seen the 1st, 3rd, and 4th in their entirety. (There were actually two Filipinos in Season 1.) Will look for a copy of season 2 soon. Here are some of the best routines in season 4. (Favorites are listed first. Obviously, fave ko si Katee. Sayang hindi no.1. At least top girl.)

Highlights of other seasons to follow.

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Mercy a.k.a. "The Door Dance" (Contemporary)
Choreographed by Mia Michaels
Danced by Katee and Twich
(I believe Mia Michaels should get another Emmy for this. Sayang, though, and ang nag-iisang video online ay video pa ng TV. Haha.)


No Air (Hip Hop)
Choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo
Danced by Katee and Joshua (Season 4 Champ)


Imagine (Pas de Deux)
Choreographed by Dwight Roden and Desmond Richardson
Danced by Katee and Will


Dhoom Taana (Bollywood)
Choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan
Danced by Katee and Twich


Dreaming With A Broken Heart (Contemporary)
Choreographed by Mia Michaels
Danced by Kherington and Twich


The Garden (Jazz)
Choreographed by Sonya Tayeh
Danced by Courtney and Mark


Time Of My Life (Viennese Waltz)
Choreographed by Jason Gilkison
Danced by Courtney and Mark


Forever (Hip Hop)
Choreographed by Dave Scott
Danced by Comfort and Twich


Bleeding Love (Hip Hop)
Choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo
Danced by Chelsie and Mark


Everlasting Love (Disco)
Choreographed by Doriana Sanchez
Danced by Chelsie and Joshua


A Los Amigos (Argentine Tango)
Choreographed by Dmiry Chaplin
Danced by Chelsie and Joshua

RENT: Filmed Live on Broadway DVD now on sale!

With all the work I had to put in my thesis and my German application, I completely overlooked this news.

They were planning on selling it all along! RENT lives!

You can buy the DVD (18.99) or Blu-Ray off Amazon.com or the Playbill Store.com.

The cast featured in this recorded final performance of the Tony award-winning musical includes:

Tracie Thoms (who was the movie's Joanne) as Joanne (Yay!)
Will Chase as Roger
Renèe Elise Goldsberry as Mimi
Eden Espinosa as Maureen (Yay!)
Michael McElroy as Collins
Adam Kantor as Mark
Justin Johnston as Angel
Rodney Hicks as Benny
with Shaun Earl, Andrea Goss, Marcus Paul James, Telly Leung, Tracy McDowell, Jay Wilkison, (original ensemble member) Gwen Stewart and Destan Owens.

The DVD also has some special features any RENThead will love.

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Full article from Playbill.com:

"Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway" Appears on DVD and Blu-Ray Feb. 3

By Kenneth Jones
03 Feb 2009

Rent star Eden Espinosa
photo by Casey Stouffer

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases "Rent Filmed Live on Broadway" on Blu-ray and DVD Feb. 3.

Screenings of this high-def filming of the final Broadway cast of Jonathan Larson's Rent, the Tony Award-winning musical that ended its acclaimed 12-year-run at the Nederlander Theatre Sept. 7, 2008, played at cinemas around the country for four days in late September 2008.

The film — under the umbrella of Sony Pictures Releasing's new alternative programming divison, THE HOT TICKET — doesn't exactly represent the final Broadway performance. It's drawn from Aug. 20 and Sept. 7 performances, which were filmed live at the Nederlander Theatre. A composite of those shows — including the Sept. 7 finale add-on that featured some of the show's original stars — was "cinecast" in movie theatres nationwide.

Hundreds of theatres across the country offered the screenings.

Extras for this release (on both DVD and Blu-ray) include special features titled "The Wall" (a rare look at the backstage wall); "The Final Curtain Call" (past and present cast members sing "Seasons of Love" one last time on Broadway); "The Final Lottery" (hundreds of fans turn out hoping to snag tickets to the two front rows of the final show); "Rent: The Final Days on Broadway" (a retrospective documentary with cast and crew); and "National Marfan Foundation PSA." Marfan Syndrome led to the early and tragic death of Rent's young composer-lyricist-librettist, Jonathan Larson.

The Blu-ray release also includes the exclusive features "Home" (a look at the Nederlander Theatre and how it was transformed into Rent's home); "Casting" (Bernard Telsey talks about casting the show over 12 years); a PSA for the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation; and "BD-Live functionality" (allowing users to get connected and go beyond the disc via an internet-connected Blu-ray player).

The film, which utilizes high-definition video and digital audio technology, was directed by Michael Warren. Cinematographer Declan Quinn and Grammy-winning music producer Giles Martin were also brought on board to heighten the visual and audio elements of the film.

About the filming of Rent, Renée Elise Goldsberry — the final actress to play the role of Mimi — previously told Playbill.com, "[There is a] difference between a staged performance and a cinematic performance… and [we had to trust] that the people that we didn't know that were producing and directing [the cinecast] would capture it in a way that did it justice and the characters justice and us justice. You worry about things like, 'Will they catch this particular moment? Will my face be huge on a screen while I'm sweating? The one moment that it's recording this, will it be as true as it normally is?' So you think about all of those things, but I felt, on that particular day … it was kind of like getting married. There's all this anxiety before and stress and preparation, and everyone's freaking out on some level. And then the day arrives and, all of a sudden, it's the perfect day. Everything falls into place even if you didn't think it was what it was going to be. It just felt like a blessed day. . . . I know that a camera telling a story is a very specific tool: It basically tells your eye where to go. It's very different from watching a show in the theatre, so it's extremely important that the director who is directing the camera is telling the right story, and I think that [cinecast director Michael Warren] did a brilliant job."

	Michael McElroy and Justin Johnston in Rent
	photo by Casey Stouffer

The filming is part of a new business venture launched by Sony Pictures Releasing, which is entitled The Hot Ticket. The Hot Ticket, according to a press release, will "distribute event programming, including popular music concerts, the performing arts, and sporting events in high definition digital projection to select movie theaters nationwide."

The final cast of Rent included Tracie Thoms (who was the movie's Joanne) as Joanne, Will Chase as Roger, Renèe Elise Goldsberry as Mimi, Eden Espinosa as Maureen, Michael McElroy as Collins, Adam Kantor as Mark, Justin Johnston as Angel and (original ensemble member) Rodney Hicks as Benny with Shaun Earl, Andrea Goss, Marcus Paul James, Telly Leung, Tracy McDowell, Jay Wilkison, (original ensemble member) Gwen Stewart and Destan Owens.

Rent, which has book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history.

Rent, directed by Michael Greif, opened on Broadway April 29, 1996, following a sold-out, extended limited engagement at Off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

Rent is one of only seven musicals to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

The Rent cinecast should not be confused with the "Rent" film, which was directed by Chris Columbus and featured much of the original Broadway cast.

For information visit www.rent.thehotticket.net.

As previously announced, a new tour of Rent — starring original cast members Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal — is now on the road. Visit siteforrent.com.

Goodbye Europe (for now)

I'll be leaving Saarbruecken for the Frankfurt in a few hours. I'll be arriving in FRA about six hours before my flight, so I'll probably leave my bags at the Flughafen and walk around the city for a while.

I'm really going to miss Germany again, but I hope my return will be soon.

I just watched the Anthony Bourdain / No Reservations episode featuring the Philippines on Ms. Girlie Rodis's site so natakam ako bigla sa Pinoy food. Although I had a great week here, I'm suddenly beginning to miss Pinoy food (just because of that show!)

Iniisip ko na ano kakainin ko pagland sa NAIA. Hehe.

Greetings from Heidelberg (Part 3)

26.Februar 2009

We were back at the Center by 9am and we convened in the main lecture hall for a meeting with the current Ph.D. student council.

The graduate student set-up in the Center is really interesting and, come to think of it, rather Atenean in nature. They really ensure that all (new) students are well-integrated into the program and all the important activities in the Center and HD. In ADMU lingo, may "Cura Personalis" ang Center na ito. There were five top positions and different committees under the five main leaders: (1) the welcome team, (2) the pizza and talk team, (3) the Ph.D. research retreat team, (4) the website team, and most importantly, (5) the party team.

Julia, the president, along with the other leaders, gave seminars on their most recent research. Similar to the day-1 intro seminars, they shared the highlights of their stay in the Center as well. We would later learn that Julia wasn't accepted into the screening process similar to ours four years ago. She was shortlisted then, but didn't get an offer after the three days. Fortunately, she found another fellowship which eventually got her into the Center. Her motto has always been, "There are many ways into the Center." That really comforted all of us because with the treatment they gave us and our experiences in the Center thus far, we were all starting to get attached. We just knew we wanted to work here one day.

The talk ended at 1030 and after a short Kaffeepause, we were off to our interviews. My first interview was with a tumor immunology specialist that was doing cutting-edge work. His research, team, and laboratory really impressed me and I left the lab learning a lot about his group. I immediately rushed to the Center's satellite building (which was a 20 minute walk to the Technopark Im Neuenheimer Feld) for my second interview. For this one, I just met with the group since the project director was out of town. Again, these were researchers at the forefront of glycobiology and tumor immunology.

I finally had a break by 130 and started heading back to the main building for lunch. I was to eat at the Center's cafeteria called the "Casino" (since one can only use pre-brought "chips" to buy food). This was probably to limit the people eating there since University/Center food was always cheaper. In fact, during my last visit three years ago, we would always look for a University Mensa/Cafeteria since the most "sulit" meals were there. (Eg. a full plate of Pommes and a large Wurst was only 1 Euro.)

We were all given gold tickets to take ANYTHING during our interview breaks. Some of the candidates (mostly those from HD) really took advantage of this, but I wasn't that hungry and I didn't want to carry around food all afternoon. I ended up taking a juicebox and a plate of Pommes and Pfefferwurst. I got to rest for a while after to check my e-mail and the train schedule for my trip to Saarbruecken the next day.

By 3pm, I was back outside walking to another annex building. This time, the professor was extremely prepared and had a powerpoint presentation when I came. He then proceeded to take me to his lab where I got to talk to his team. The team did impressive interdisciplinary work on epigenetic pathways. I had to rush back to the main building by 345pm for my final interview. For this one, the project director kindly fetched me at the building lobby so I wouldn't get lost looking for his lab. You see, most of the labs in the main building were hard to find since the Center was being renovated. Looking at the finished part now, I'm sure the offices/labs would be fantastic once everything's done.

I was all done by 5pm. It was then time for the last hard part: narrowing down my group list to the top 3. We had until 6pm to come up with our list and submit our pink form to the front desk. Every now and then, we would see potential mentors come up and submit their counterpart blue forms: ranks of their student choice. Some candidates would be so frank that they'd run up to the professor and ask if they were no.1 on his/her list and if they had a chance. If the professor answered "no", they'd change their lists.

In the process, you see, it was all about matching. The final result of this dating game was to find the most compatible student-mentor couples. I didn't ask any of my mentors, though. I just didn't know how. I kept changing my mind until the last minute, so I hope I made the right decision.

When 6pm came, Lindsay, the program director came in with letters for those with additional interviews the next morning. These were the ones with inconsistent scores in the seminar and interview rounds. It was nothing bad, she said, but nobody wanted to be called back anymore. I was with my barkada then. Lindsay was scanning the room, looked at us, and went along past us. Thank God! None of my new friends were also called back which meant we could arrive late at the Center the next day.

A bus then arrived to take everyone to the Heidelberg Altstadt (Old City) for dinner. The meal (including two drinks) was sponsored by the student council and welcome team, who also came with us and served as guides.

I had a great time bonding with my newfound friends. Two Italians were added to our barkada then: Manuela and Fabrizio. We were all amazed at how much these two knew about world history! (I would later learn from Kookie, that it really is an Italian thing.) The conversation went from German customs, to the difference between all our countries, to politics, and even naming our future children "Doctor" and "Ph.D" to save them the trouble of getting the titles.

We were served pea soup (where Johannes had fun with what it was called), Salat with a yogurt dressing, and, for the main course, a large piece of Schnitzel (pork, chicken, or veggie) with Pommes. The traditional dinner wouldn't be complete without alcohol and so I had a pint of Kellerbier (hazy strong beer) and another pint of Radler (beer with sprite). The Kellerbier was the best beer I've tasted.

The bus was supposed to return to the guesthouse by 1030, but most (especially those with no interviews the following day) didn't want to go home yet. A bunch of us (my barkada included, of course) joined the Ph.D council to another bar near the Heiliggeist Kirche. We had another round of drinks there and enjoyed the R&B being played. I don't think I've ever drunk so much alcohol in one night. (Kinema peeps would know I avoid alcohol to prevent vertigo attacks. I guess I'll have to get used to them here, hehe.)

When we left at midnight, the Hauptstrasse was still alive. The Heidelberg Altstadt really is the best "gimmick place" this corner of Germany. The students really know how to drink and party! (That is, until they run out of money or have to go back to the lab.)

When I got back, my roomate Hans was still awake watching TV. We talked about our interview experiencs and career plans for a while before we felt sleepy. Got to sleep really well that night knowing there was nothing left to do but wait for the results.


Next: Last Heidelberg tour and the trip to Saarbruecken