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Because in 1986, that’s exactly what 10-year-old Lucas did—he stole a pair of red shoes from Imelda’s collection of 3,000. He gave one shoe to his heartbroken mother hoping that this will somehow help ease her pain; the other, he handed over to his childhood sweetheart, a pretty ballerina named Bettina.

Fast forward to several years later, and the EDSA revolution is a distant memory, Bettina is a nurse, Lucas is struggling with a job he hates and the burden of dreams left unfulfilled, and Lucas’s mother is spending what little money she has to communicate with her husband through a bogus spirit questor.

The Red Shoes, a movie under Unitel Productions, promises to change the way you see the Philippine film industry. And with its unconventional, original story, amazing cinematography, and world-class acting, it definitely lives up to this promise. Starring Marvin Agustin, Nikki Gil, Tessie Tomas, and Tirso Cruz III, this movie will make you laugh and cry, like most local romance-dramas you’ve seen. But perhaps more importantly, it will make you listen, and think, and understand. It will make you want to discuss the various themes and metaphors with your friends. It will make you want to look up the history of People Power, and travel the Philippines to further appreciate its beauty—a beauty this film captures perfectly and poetically. It will make you fall in love, not just with that special boy or girl, but with your family, your community, and your country. This movie will make you proud to be Filipino, not just because it was conceptualized and produced here, but because it shows how much love and generosity and forgiveness we, as a nation, are truly capable of.

During the presscon, Nikki Gil invited everyone to see the film, then “write about it, blog about it, talk about it, tweet about it.” And I couldn’t agree more. This is the kind of movie you’d want to see more than once—the kind of movie you’d want to tell your friends, family, and even total strangers about.

Some of you might say, all this hype for a local movie about a pair of shoes? I suggest you watch it when it hits cinemas on Wednesday, March 10. And then you can let me know what you think.

Big hugs,
Marla

I’m still on a high from the Backstreet Boys concert. Obviously. Because I can’t seem to stop talking about it. Yesterday, “Shape of My Heart” was on repeat in my iTunes, and I couldn’t stop smiling at the thought of finally being able to watch my first love Brian (aka B-Rok) perform live after many, many years of fangirl-ing. Today, I woke up to “All I Have to Give” playing in my head. This is really bad.

But when I really think about it, this BSB obsession probably stems from the fact that the ’90s were the simplest, easiest days of my life. Back then, I was a grade school kid whose biggest concerns were finishing my Math homework on time and getting my mom to buy me a new top to match my neon yellow jeans. Nobody my age was moving to other countries to find a job, or getting married and having babies, or getting their hearts broken, or staying up all night to talk about the purpose of their existence. We had our whole life ahead of us.

And if I think about it that way, being a BSB fangirl isn’t so bad. Neither is looking back at the good ol’ days from time to time—as long as you know how to live in the present and keep moving forward.

Having said that, let me share with you my three favorite boy band music videos from that era, along with the grandest, cheesiest, awesomest declarations of love EVER. (Yeah, I totally had to write all of THAT before finally getting to the point. Haha!) Happy watching… and reminiscing!

1. “I wish for you on a falling star, wondering where you are. Do I ever cross your mind in the warm sunshine?” —LFO

2. “I won’t give up while there’s a glimmer of a chance, a dream is never ending, inviting love and a perfect romance.” —911

3. “How can I tell you so that you can see? You know that life has a meaning when you are here with me.” —5ive

What’s YOUR favorite ’90s boy band song? You know you have one!

Big hugs,
Marla

Woke up early on Friday, was initially cranky but felt better after a cup of coffee and a blueberry-yogurt granola bar. Listened to Shout Out Loud’s “Fall Hard” in the shower. Wore my new black dress, which I got from the Rockwell bazaar with Mia. Paired it with black and gold heels, walked to the office. Sat down at my desk and actually worked instead of just pretending to work, which I often do. Was supposed to talk to a Hollywood teen star over the phone but had problems connecting. E-mailed her my questions instead (clue: she turned 17 last week!). Had lunch at Selah with the Candy Girls, gobbled up my fish fillet with corn sauce in minutes. Headed to Ateneo to give a talk for an org called PEERS with my good friend Chris. The talk was about love and relationships and everything in between; it was hilarious. Watched The Red Shoes with Mimi and absolutely loved it. Went home to pack for a beach trip with my cousins. Woke up early on Saturday for said trip. Arrived at Laiya, Batangas. Ate, slept, and laughed until my cheekbones hurt. Played dodgeball and patintero, which was fun at first but kind of became pointless. Used the free videoke to practice for the Backstreet Boys concert this weekend (woohoo!). Sunday morning snorkeling—an epic first for me. PS: I can’t swim. Drove back to Manila. Japanese dinner with my parents, siblings, and nephew Cisco. Life is awesome if you want it to be.

I don’t like Valentine’s Day.

And it’s not just because I’m single–even when I had a boyfriend 20 million years ago, I still wasn’t a huge fan of this holiday. I don’t like the way the price of flowers magically shoots up in February, the ridiculously fancy dinner dates, the pressure to find the perfect gift and wear the perfect outfit, the traffic, the lovestruck girls and boys floating around in their own little clouds, the way everyone always asks everyone else what their plans are, the way the… okay, let me stop now before I take up permanent residence in Bitterville. The point is, I don’t like Valentine’s Day.

Which is why I loved Romeo and Bernadette.

A story about what would happen if Shakespeare’s Romeo (who didn’t drink poison after all, but a very powerful sleeping potion!) woke up hundreds of years later in the swinging ’60s, this play is funny, crazy, filled with talented performers, and perfect for the non-romantic. Watch how Romeo tries to win the heart of Bernadette, a rebellious Mafia princess who looks exactly like Juliet—but who, unlike his former fair lady, refuses to be impressed by his grand gestures and poetic declarations of love. Keep an eye out for the hilarious oddball characters, like Bernadette’s best friend Donna, the dance instructor, the flower shop owner, the US immigration officer, and Tito Titone, Bernadette’s fiancé (1. what a name, right?, and 2. oh yeah, she’s engaged!).

Directed by Joy Virata and starring Cris Villonco and Candy Cutie PJ Valerio, this play doesn’t just poke fun at over-the-top romanticism and how some people’s lives are practically one big mushfest, it also touches on the value of being loyal to your family (even when your parents drive you nuts every single day!), the joys and pains of friendship, and the way we all have to grow up and pursue our own corner of happiness sooner or later. Towards the end, one of the characters says, “Every girl, even the toughest one, has a little bit of Juliet in her.”

Which I’m sure you’ll agree with, even if you don’t like Valentine’s Day.

Repertory Philippines’ Romeo and Bernadette runs until February 28 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1. Call 887-0710 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Big hugs,
Marla

Of course, I just need to write a separate blog post about food.

The great thing about big cities like LA is that there are literally hundreds of restaurants, cafes, and bakeshops to satisfy your every craving—to call the choices overwhelming would be a huge understatement. It’s a good thing I did so much walking during my visit a few weeks back, or I would have come back with excess baggage—in my belly, not in my suitcase! Here’s a rundown of the ones that stood out:

From top row, L-R: (1) First meal at Four Seasons. I was exhausted from the trip, so I had chicken veggie soup, baked potato chips, and a fresh basket of bread delivered to my room. (2) Kiddie meal for undersized me—silver dollar pancakes, bacon strips, and OJ in an adorable dino cup. (3) Cappuccino and blueberry pie from Urth Caffe. (4) Okay, I don’t remember what this was called, but it was spicy tuna sashimi on top of crispy rice that tastes like hashbrown. Yum-o! (5) Pan-seared, melt-in-your-mouth white fish with beans, mushrooms, and tomatoes in a creamy sauce. This was really, really good. I finished the entire plate! (6) Pinkberry chocolate frozen yogurt with mangoes and bananas. Ate this alone at the busy Farmers Market while observing the cute, stylish teens hanging out on a Friday afternoon. (7) No LA visit is complete without In-N-Out! (8) Sprinkles from my new friend Annabelle. Obviously, I tried the Chai flavor before remembering to take this photo. (9) Honey Nuts & Oats cupcake from Crumbs for breakfast. Best way to start the day.

Big marshmallow hugs,
Marla