Will Movie Theaters Survive The Internet?

Will movie theaters survive the Internet? This is the 24-dollar question being floated around today by those who acknowledge the strength of the World Wide Web. Indeed, the Web has become the new boob tube. The Internet even offer movies rights in the comforts of your home or your office.

But why fear that when some naysayers predicted before the death of movie theaters with the popularity of Betamax and then the VHS and then the CD's and the DVD's. Now comes Internet rentals. You know why the movie theaters will stay? It's because it's a different experience, watching movies in a big screen. Unless of course you are one of the lucky ones who can afford the new 150-inch plasma TV by Samsung.

Will PGMA Stay In Burj Al Arab?

More Filipinos will not be able to sleep tonight. Not for thinking about their economic plight but because of thoughts that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo might have the gall to stay at the Burj Al Arab, one of the most expensive hotels in Dubai and in the world, where an overnight stay can cost from $1,770 (P70,800) for a basic suite to as much as $10,890 (P435,600) for the Royal Suite.

Hundreds (if they have not reached the thousand mark already) of Dabawenyos are working in Dubai's lavish hotels and restaurants. Majority of them get a monthly salary of P13,000 for working in restaurants with shifting schedules leaving them sleepless and suffering from ulcer. Others who are not as lucky get less.

In the Philippines, P70,800 can be used to pay for the first two years in school of a college student enrolled in a private school. In the Philippines, P435,600 can mean a low cost home for a homeless family.

The Burj Al Arab is a 1,000 foot hotel that boasts of gold-plated interiors as well as butler service and a size 42" plasma TV for every room. Before sleeping, guests will have difficulty which of the 13 options in their pillow menu they will choose.

If you doubt its grandeur, see this YouTube of Federer & Agassi on the world's highest tennis court.

If PGMA decides to sleep in Burj Al Arab, I pray she gets a good night's sleep.

Kumander Bucay Finally Free After 23 Years

Norberto Manero, Jr. aka Kumander Bucay has been set free at 5:35 p.m. today following the signing of his release papers by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales. Manero and two of his brothers were convicted in 1987 for the killing of Italian priest Fr. Tulio Favali in 1985.

The infamous Manero brothers were former members of the Integrated Civilian Home Defense Force (ICHDF), a defunct paramilitary group. However, they became infamous (somehow a legend in Mindanao) as members of the Ilaga Group who fought Muslim insurgents in the 1970s .

Manero's prison term was commuted by then President Fidel V. Ramos from 40 to 24 years. Former President Joseph Estrada granted him a conditional pardon in December 1999 but was quick to revoke it in March 2000 after he was accused of the 1977 killing Ali and Mambawatan Mamalumpong. The Sarangani Regional Trial Court however dismissed the case in 2002, making him eligible for the commutation.

Manero's two brothers were released in 2003 after serving 18 years of their sentence while Norberto served a total of 23 years.

Dateline Davao Squad?

Passed by this eatery on my way to Chimes and I could not help but smile at the following signs. Below is a tarpaulin of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and on top is the store's signage---DDS SUTOKIL. In Davao, DDS is the abbreviation given to the Davao Death Squad (name is self explanatory) which has been blamed for the summary killing of people involved in the drug business.

Despite his constant denial that the government does not have anything to do with the DDS, Duterte has been blamed, rather praised, for the summary killing of drug users and pushers in the city.

SuToKiL can mean Shoot To Kill to any American but in Davao, it means SUgba, Tinola and KILawin.

Get the drift?

Wednesday Movie Guide

National Treasure is now on its third week at NCCC Cinema 2. The movie leads the Top 10 Box Office Hits (US and Canada) with a weekly ticket sales of $36.5 million. National Treasurer has earned an estimated $199 million as of January 21, since its release last December 2007.


Will Smith's I am Legend, number 3 in the Top 10 Box Office List, is not on its second week here in Davao City. It's amazing how Smith can hold almost the whole movie with only himself and his dog Sam as the active characters (if you don't count the zombies). Not surprising though considering his antiques in MIB. But this time, Smith plays a different character, that of a military doctor trying to find a cure for a virus (to which he is immune) and trying to stay sane in his aloneness.

Aliens vs Predator (R13)
SM Cinema 1 11:25/13:20/15:15/17:10
NCCC Cinema 1 12:00/2:00 4:00/6:00

Elizabeth The Golden Age (PG13)
SM Cinema 2 11:20/14:30/16:40/1850

Rendition (R13)
SM Cinema 3 12:20/14:30/16:40/18:50
NCCC Cinema 4 12:20/4:25/5:10/7:35

Catacombs (R13)
SM Cinema 4 12:15/14:00/15:45/17:30

Martian Child (GP)
SM Cinema 5 12:20/14:30/16:40/18:50

I am Legend (PG13)
SM Cinema 6 11:05/13:00/15:00/17:00
NCCC Cinema 3 12:00/2:00/4:00/6:00

Web: Is It The Next Boob Tube?

Do you know that one in every three American adults have given up their friends and even their sex lives for the Web? Well, it seems that this phenomenon is not exclusive to the Americans but also to people from all over the globe. Even people from emerging economies like the Philippines and India are becoming web freaks.

Television has been blamed for breaking relationships and even families but it seems television is slowly being replaced by the Internet. The television has not been called the boob tube for nothing. In fact, it is a shortcut for IDIOT BOX, a name given by those who believed that majority of the programs being shown on television are foolish.

But who can blame people for wanting to spend endless days and nights in front of the computer when the world is virtually in their hands? The World Wide Web has also become one of the most accessible venues for income opportunities.

A lot of people can no longer survive one day without the Web. Are you one of us?

Is Higher Education Still Necessary Today?

Would your lives be different if you have taken a different course in College? Despite the reality that economic salvation for people living in third world countries like the Philippines lies in going abroad, a lot of Filipinos still prefer to get white collar courses so they can get white collar jobs after graduation. To their chagrin, those who took up the not-so white collar courses ended up working in foreign countries with to-die-for salaries.

But who is to blame these people? While blue collar jobs command respect and higher salaries in foreign countries, the same types of jobs are not only frowned upon in 3rd world countries but they are also at the lowest end of the salary bracket.