Ed Cruz

I meant to post this review last January, but completely forgotten. I've seen the film in it's last day of showing in Sydney, and I was listening to Scott Matthew's "In The End" (from Shortbus Soundtrack) - and so I remember to post this now. So what is it about.. Shortbus is a film full of sex - real people having actual sex - in various gender permutations, which, in the currently divisive political and cultural climate becomes a gesture of radical purpose. It's written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell, the same director who give us Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Shortbus is an engagingly funny, emotionally honest, joyfully romantic drama exploring the modern relationships of a group of New Yorkers. His characters are an agreeably diverse lot. Sofia, a sex therapist who loves her husband but has never had an orgasm; Jamie, a former child star who loves everybody, "especially cute people"; his boyfriend James, a former hustler turned Ja...

So last night, Jac and I went to the launch party of Brink Magazine in Soho at a resto + bar called Bohemia Lounge. Not too many people when we arrived but enough crowd to make it exciting. Our friend Walter was there already when we arrived, and Mark welcomes and introduced us to his circle of guests. Mark invited some performers but for some reasons they didn't perfom/show-up, anyway he's got his own band and they play the night away. At the party, we got to talk to some young Israelis and the ever popular Long Hair . Long Hair is a brave individual who protested lots of time on the streets of Hong Kong, before he becomes a legislator - which is an amazing achievement. I remember seeing/hearing him talk two years ago here in Hong Kong at the first International Day Against Homophobia , and it's great to see a heterosexual guy standing up for the equality rights of LGBT community. So that was a privilege to meet him and talk to him. Then an hour later, our mate Tim who ...

Today we went to see a film recommended by our Austrian friend Walter, and also happened to be the winner of this year's Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, The Lives of Others .. wow, what a beautiful film! (and I don't mean that in physical sense, although there are moments). The film was set in Berlin back in '84 - bleak and depressing; before the fall of the famous Berlin Wall, the former East- German government (known as the GDR, German Democratic Republic) ensures its claim to power with a ruthless system of control and surveillance via the Stasi, a vast network of informers that at one time numbered 200,000 out of a population of 17 million. Their goal is to know everything about "the lives of others." And it goes on... Just a tip in watching this film.. don't get too affected by the obvious bleakness to it cos otherwise a possible dislike will occur.. just sit through and watch it till the end, cos am telling this film have one of the strongest/unforgetta...

So that was an exhilarating experience to see/hear Youssou N'Dour at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre last night. He was with his band "the Super Etoile de Dakar". Fantastic band!, and they even have a male dancer with them who was dancing wildly. How I wish the Philippines would bring or host such event here, with such performers but then again not many Filipinos would appreciate African music like they appreciate American Pop music. I'm in Cafe O again with Jac, I'd say this would be a usual place for us, cos the Wi-fi access here is just handy and very convenient. I just met another interesting Aussie bloke that Jac befriended with, he's name is Mark Aldred - this guy is super skilled - he's a photojournalist/writer/musician/, and he's also one of the people behind a new magazine called "Brink". Jac asked him what advice he can give me in regards to working in the music field, and the next thing I heard was he's asking me to write the m...

I arrived today in Hong Kong, after 16 months. I come here often because I get invited by my dear friend Jac. And in the past year, I was working in a call centre in Manila, so travelling outside the country is an option I chose not to do. So it's good to be back! Of course, it didn't take long to know that I'm in Hong Kong, cos arriving here Sunday means that most Filipino workers are out and about, on every streets and foot paths, 'cos it's their day off from work, so everyone get together and do stuff. I'm staying at the Caritas House on Cain Road with Jac, it's a hostel where it's strictly for "male" guests only. It's a lovely place, as it's next to the Hong Kong Park, so when I got into the room at around 11a.m., the Orang-utang are making some wild noise. Jac arrived after a lecture in Sai Kung, so it's good to see him, especially after he left Manila in his terrible accident up in Tagaytay. He's recovering and still exper...