Superman is Back! Man of Steel Review

There have been several versions of Superman in TV and film and seeing the trailers for this one, I initially feared that this movie might all be drama with much less action.

I was proven wrong. This Superman film proved to be the most action-packed. Some may say the scenes are OA but this is exactly the Superman I was looking for. Think Justice League animation fighting scenes coming to life in the big screen. Or imagine the Dragon Ball's Son Goku versus Vegeta fighting scenes except you have Superman and General Zod slugging it out. Picture the Hulk smashing his adversaries destroying buildings in the process except you have Superman doing it here. When you have Zach Snyder on board I guess this is expected.

However if in 300 and Watchmen Snyder employs slow motion closeups in his fight scenes, you have in Man of Steel the opposite. The action scenes reminds me of the Matrix except there is more destruction in this one and the speed is just crazy to make you appreciate the power, strength and speed of the characters.

The film is start-studded with Russel Crowe (as Jor-el, Superman's biological dad), Kevin Costner (as Jonathan Kent, Superman's father on Earth), Diane Lane (as Martha Kent, Superman's mother on Earth), Lawrence Fishburne (as a re-imagined Perry White) and Amy Adams (as a non-brunette Lois Lane). These actors did not disappoint with their performances. With a script, storyline and approach quite different from the previous Superman films, the film provides some heart (the human part) amidst the special effects-laden latter half of the film (the Super part) and the Nolan touch was evident.

After watching Terrence Stamp's General Zod in the previous years, I thought it will be difficult for another actor to successfully play it but Michael Shannon also nailed it.

Henry Cavill did not fail us either with his convincing portrayal. He deserved to be the modern Superman, with the right build, look and expressions.  So much so that like Christopher Reeve, I think there will be many sequels with him as Superman after this one.

I have to admit, I was waiting to hear the original Superman theme by John Williams but the film succeeded in putting up a credible new soundtrack for this one.

The film also had that Independence Day or an alien movie feel with the costumes and spaceships in it.

I don't want to give out some spoilers so I refrained from discussing the plot. All I can say is there are very clear differences in this Superman from the previous Superman films. The story is a little different. The environment is different. Lois Lane is different. Perry White is different. Even Jimmy Olsen is replaced by a Jenny. Clark Kent is also different. You may or may not like it.

As for me, I liked it. Even more than Iron Man 3. Superman and DC is back in the game. Bring on the Justice League movie I say.

Reliving the Tartanilla Experience during the Gabii sa Kabilin

About a little more than 30 years ago, if I remember correctly, the tartanillas (local horse-driven carriage) were still plying some routes passing through streets like Sanciangko. I recall riding the tartanilla going to various destinations.

Of course now the tartanillas are already few. And perhaps one gets to experience it again only in Gabii sa Kabilin.

My wife was particularly interested in experiencing the tartanilla so we really set time for it in our itinerary that night. We rode a bus to Fort San Pedro and there along with many others, lined up to wait for our turn to ride the tartanilla. Of course we took several pictures to document the experience.

Riding the tartanilla was fun! One nice thing about being in the tartanilla is you can have time chatting with the "kutsero" (carriage driver) or anyone in the tartanilla. I guess that's why you have the tagalog term "kwentong kutsero".

We learned from the kutsero that there are only 3 places in Cebu City that assembles the tartanilla. And they rent the tartanilla unit together with the horse for a certain amount per day (I think 150 pesos). The usual tartanilla fare is around 5 pesos and these days it only travels in very few routes including the Carbon area. Despite this limitation, it is nice to know that there are few people who retain tartanillas.

Regarding the horse and kutsero relationship, the kutsero feeds the horse and basically becomes its buddy so that the horse would be more comfortable only with a certain kutsero it is used to. We can tell that our kutsero takes good care of the horse. It appears to be healthy and it follows the kutsero's directions without it being whipped. Just a little pull of the ropes here and there and the horse knows what to and where to go. There was even one time that the kutsero did not do anything and the horse just went into its designated "parking" area. Amazing! The kutsero was a horse whisperer I guess.

My wife was all smiles during the short but memorable trip. We were bouncing up and down a bit inside the carriage but it's ok. That's part of what's enjoyable in this experience. Even if the carriage is made of simple wood without much decorations as a jeepney would have.

As I stepped down the tartanilla, I told myself that if I have time I would like to know more about the tartanilla by researching more about it. For now, I am just glad that even for a day, many people are able to experience the tartanilla thanks to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated through the Gabii sa Kabilin (GSK).

From our Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Convention experience, I know many doctors would want to experience the Gabii sa Kabilin. I hope some of them were able to attend the 2013 edition and ride the tartanilla because it is definitely one of GSK's highlights.

2 Days to Go before Gabii sa Kabilin 2013

Felt "bitin" from last year's Gabii sa Kabilin? Not able to visit the other heritage sites you want to see last year. Friday (May 31) is your chance to visit them. But there are even more participating sites including some in Mandaue and Lapu Lapu City so that you'll have more to visit now and in the following years.

Anyway, do not forget the Gabii sa Kabilin 2013 is not about museums only. Natural heritage will also be featured through an exhibit of native tree species in Casa Gorordo for example. Cebu has its own native tree species that needs to be preserved.

The Gabii sa Kabilin also offers a gastronomic experience. In Casa Gorordo for example, they will show food recipes from the Gorordos like the humba and bihon. Cebu City Museum will also offer various dishes.

Expect also cultural performances in the different venues.

When you go around the different destinations for Gabii sa Kabilin, it would be nice to reflect on our past. This is what I learned among other things when I attended a workshop for documenting, reporting or writing about heritage initiated by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI) last May 25. (Thanks RAFI and to the speakers!)

Be curious. For example, did you know that some of our schools in Cebu were used as Japanese garrisons, stockade or headquarters? When you eat a delicacy, ask yourself how this was made. When you ride the tartanilla, imagine how where they made or how transportation was in the past. Let us give a silent salute to our local heroes as we visit some of the museums. These heroes were not as popular as their Luzon counterparts but tghe Gabii sa Kabilin is the chance to know more about them. These heroes and personalities are the names behind many of our streets even.

For a guide on the destinations for Gabii sa Kabilin, you can visit http://rafi.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/gabii-sa-kabilin_final_05152013.pdf

Tickets are available at the participating destinations and also at the Casa Gorordo Museum.

Thank you Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI) for bringing Gabii sa Kabilin.

LASIK Eye Surgery and where to have it in Cebu

In some major roads in Cebu, you see billboards that show these words "LASIK".

LASIK stands for laser-assisted-in-situ keratomileusis, the most common type of refractive surgery that changes the shape of your cornea with the aim of producing a clearer, sharper vision without glasses or contact lenses by enabling light entering the eye to be properly focused onto the retina.

It is an option for people with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism and presbyopia. Of course, your ophthalmologist will screen you first if LASIK surgery is really for you considering factors such as other health conditions that you may have. Like any surgery, there may also be potential risks and complications or side effects but they can be avoided or resolved in most cases.

The eye surgeon makes use of tools like a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser to make a thin flap in the cornea. The hinged flap is folded to access the underlying cornea. A portion of corneal tissue is then removed with the use of an excimer laser, a highly-specialized laser.

After the cornea is reshaped, the flap is then laid back in place.

In Cebu, there are several facilities that offer LASIK surgery with each one of them highlighting the tools or equipment that they have. Below are the ones connected to the major hospitals.

1. Centre for Sight - found at Cebu Doctors' University Hospital, Osmena Blvd., Cebu City tel no. 2542020/ 412-2020
2. ACES Eye Referral Clinics found at Perpetual Succour Hospital Cebu, SPC Specialty Bldg.. Gorordo Ave., Cebu City, tel.no. 234-1520/232-1727 or at Cebu Velez General Hospital. F. Ramos St., Cebu City, tel.no. 255-2821 or 253-1871
3. Chong Hua Hospital Eye Institute - Don Mariano Cui St., Fuente Osmena, tel. nos. 255-8000 local 58000
4. Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Laser and Eye Bank (no specific website) B. Rodriguez St., Cebu City, 253-9891 to 99

Remember, more than the equipment, the most important factors that may determine the outcome of your planned surgery are 1) your suitability as a candidate, and 2) your surgeon's skill and experience.

Aboitiz Group participates in Earth Hour

On March 23, it will be Earth Hour and the Aboitiz Group, one of the country's biggest conglomerates and long term investor in Cebu will join the entire globe in celebrating Earth Hour at the Plaza Independencia, Cebu.

To recall, Earth Hour is a worldwide event, organized in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund to encourage households and businesses to switch off their lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change.

Through the years, the campaign spread to more countries.

Locally, the Aboitiz Group has consistently took part in the Earth Hour celebration even going beyond the one hour of Earth Hour.

Driven by a Passion  for a Better World, the group continues to pursue initiatives such as Reuse and recycle, Reduce, Renewable energy and Recharge communities.

The group also has the APARK (Aboitiz Passion for Reforest and Agro forest to Keep) program, the Aboitiz group's biodiversity enhancement program that aims to plant 3 million trees by 2015.

There is also the group's Race to Reduce program where team members from the different business units participate in reducing consumption of water, paper and energy.

We should follow the Aboitiz group's lead and on our own find ways to save Mother Earth and take action on the problem of climate change.

Cebu Bloggers Society Turns 5

One of the best things that happened to me was joining this group, the Cebu Bloggers Society (CBSi). I learned a lot from them and it is because of this group that I get to widen my circle of friends and networks. I got to enjoy Cebu more and it's products because of CBSi. It's because of Cebu Bloggers Society that I am able now to receive writing and speaking opportunities and reach out to more readers spreading my public health and other advocacies. And it's because of CBSi that I was emboldened to raise funds for my kidney transplant.

And now CBSI is turning 5. How fast time flies. I may not be one of it's original members but I have definitely grown roots here. I am with them in celebrating this memorable occasion even as I celebrate it in a hemodialysis chair or perhaps in the hospital bed once my surgery is scheduled.

Cebu Bloggers Society will have the CBSi Appreciation Night to celebrate it's 5th year and to thank all those who supported the organization through the years. It will be held at the Harolds Hotel,  which boasts of 5-star rooms with 3-star prices, is conveniently located along Gorordo Avenue cor. Rosal Street, Lahug, Cebu City.

I would have loved to be there on that night. I am sure it will be a great night at Harolds Hotel but perhaps I will just witness the event from my computer.

Anyway, here's to CBSi. Cheers! And more years to come! Continue being a positive influence in the blogosphere!