The Karate Kid - East Meets West All Over Again

The Karate Kid is the 2010 martial arts remake of the classic 1984 movie of the same title. The movie retells the classic inspirational martial arts movie to the new generation of film enthusiast. The Karate Kid 2010 remake will hit the cinemas Summer 2010.



Synopsis:

Set in an exotic Asian locale of Beijing China, The Karate Kid (Kung Fu Kid in Asia) will borrow elements of the original plot, wherein a bullied kid named (Smith) Dre learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor Mr. Han (Chan).

Watch The Karate Kid Official Trailer Here:





If the video above doesn't work try this The Karate Kid 2010 Trailer here:





The Karate Kid, also Kung Fu Kid is distributed by Columbia Pictures
Directed by Harald Zwart. Starring Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson

For more exclusives check out the Official Website of Karate Kid:
KarateKid-TheMovie.com

The Japanese and Their Human-like Robot Technology

I have always been fascinated with technology and robotics. If robotics and new technology is what you are looking for then news about Japan should be your first stop. Japan is one of the leading competitive countries in developing new innovation and technology for human convenience and work efficiency.

As an evidence to this CMAQUEST will be featuring videos scoured from the worldwide web showing some of the innovation the Japanese has made in their robotics industry which include:





Source



The HRP-4C robot which has a close to human facial features and 42 motion motors programmed to mimic the movements of flesh-and-blood fashion models. A fashion robot.






Source



Japanese Robots with Touch Motion



Source



Source

This technology that Japan has boarded is like a slow yet progressive train to robotics success. What innovation and upgrades will Japan comes up next is for you and I to find out.

The Cat of The Chinese Zodiac

I've always wanted to share this story of why the cat was not included in the Chinese Zodiac and in celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Ox I'll temporarily focus away from the Ox and give way to the Poor Cat.

The Cat of The Chinese Astrology



Legend has it that the Jade Emperor wanted to choose twelve animals which will be represented and will be designated for each year. He decided to have a race to decide the order of the twelve animals whose names will come to the order of twelve.

There are two variations of this tale but all resulted to the same fate for the cat...

Version One

The cat and the mouse were good friends and neighbors that time. When the two animals heard the news they both become excited and the cat told the mouse that they should wake up early in order to be the ones who would be signed in first. The cat asked the mouse to wake him up because he usually wakes up late. The rat promised that he would wake up the cat early and they would go together.

The next morning the mouse was too excited and forgot his promised to the cat and immediately proceeded to the gathering place where he met tiger, the rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig which run a lot more faster. In order not to be left behind he thought of a good idea. He approached the straight forward ox and promised him that he would sing him a song if the ox allows him to carry him. The Ox and the rat arrived first but the mouse slid in front of the ox and became the first one to be enlisted on the twelve chose animals. The other animals followed and the twelve animals were complete.

Meanwhile, the cat was too late when it finally arrived, the selections were over. This is the reason why the cat hates the mice so much that every time they meet, the cat will always chase and kill the mouse.

Reference:
Origin of Chinese Zodiac

Version Two

The cat has forgotten the time of the race and asked the rat for the schedule. The rat very alertly gave the cat the wrong time.

Towards the end of the race, a river had to be crossed. The rat asked the ox to ferry him across. When they arrived on the other side, the rat jumped over the ox's head to finish first.

The ox came second, followed by the tiger, the rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig. The cat missed the race and swore to kill the rat which, so the legend goes is why cats chase rats.

Source:
How The Rat Jumped Ahead To Win The Race

Urban Legends: The Slit-Mouthed Woman

The slit-mouthed woman is an urban legend and myth originated from Japan about a woman mutilated by her husband out of jealousy and returned as a malicious spirit (or demon) committing the same acts done to her. Usually her victims are children. This urban legend (like most Urban Legends)has induced and created a short-lived fear and worries to some concerned individuals, specially to Asian children during the 1970s which is why a movie was produced about the tale of the slit-mouthed woman.



A short fan made news on the slit mouthed or the incident of severed mouth woman in the 1980s. Warning: Very Disturbing because I got disturbed hehehe.

"THE SLIT MOUTHED WOMAN"

There once was a very beautiful and vain woman had a very jealous husband. The jealous husband attacked his wife upon the impression and belief that he was being cuckolded or cheated. what he did was slit the mouth of his wife's beautiful ear from ear to ear screaming "Who will think you're beautiful now?".

The urban legend which is said to originated from the samurai era picks up from that point. The urban legend tells about a woman who has a surgical mask (as people with colds often wear masks for the sake of others in Japan) covering her face was said to roam at night.



"Am I beautiful?"

When she encounters someone (primarily children or college students), she will shyly ask, "Am I beautiful?". If the person answers yes, she will take off her mask and say, "Even like this?" on that point, if the victim answers "No," she will slay them usually with a pair of scissors. If the victim tells her she is pretty a second time, she follows the victim home and slays them in their own doorway, due to the fact that "kirei" (きれい), Japanese for 'pretty,' is a near homophone of "kire" (切れ), the imperative form of "to cut". In other versions of the myth if you reply yes again she will give you a large blood soaked ruby and walk away.



"How about now?!?!"

During the seventies, the urban legend went that if the victim answers "You're average", "so-so," or by saying the word "Bryllcreem" three times in a row they will be saved (or can escape) from the wrath of the "kuchisake-onna" (slit-mouthed woman).



slit-mouthed woman or severed mouth woman


Reference:
The "Kuchisake-Ona" or Slit-Mouthed Woman on Wikipedia

Previously:
URBAN LEGENDS: THE LICKED HAND

The DigitalFilipino.com Club and Bloggers Davao Networking Event

Chris A. here again with another Author Updates. CMAQUEST will be attending and covering the upcoming DigitalFilipino.com Club and Bloggers Manila Networking Event this Saturday, October 25, 2008. This is what is the what the event is all about:

- - - - - - -

The DigitalFilipino.com Club is organizing a fellowship/networking event where e-commerce industry players and bloggers can catch up and exchange updates. This will be on October 25, Saturday, 6 to 11 pm at Forum Hall, Casino Filipino, PIRC Bldg. Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Parañaque City.

This event is sponsored by our club member PAGCOR.

6:00 - 7:00 Registration and Dinner
7:00 - 7:30 Guest introduction / plugs
7:30 - 8:00 Updates by Janette

* DigitalFilipino Web Awards 2008
* DigitalFilipino.com Club Updates (online workshop and other efforts)
* Ratified.org Philippines Top 100 Blogs 2008 (blogs that had big moves in 2008)

8:00 - 8:30 - PAGCOR launch Internet/E-Commerce project
8:30 - onwards - Raffle, Networking, Games

For more informations and reservations for interested Filipino and nearby-Bloggers in Manila, visit their blog site here:

http://digitalfilipinoclub.blogspot.com/
- - - - - - -


This will be a double featured post here in CMAQUEST: An Entertainment and Magazine Blog and my personal blog Life on a Pencil (http://lifeonapencil.blogspot.com).

Wonder Girls: Korean Cuteness Overload!

Chris A. here again with another entertainment post about a very interesting and cool Korean Girl Band... The Wonder Girls. They group is composed of five group members mainly Ye Eun, Yoo Bin, So Hee, Sun Mi, and Sun Ye.

These are some videos of their Korean Cuteness and sexyness... I was mesmerized.




Irony



with Hyun Ah, she was later replaced with Yoo Bin.

Tell Me





So Hot



"This Time" and "So Hot" Live



The Wonder Girls



Sun Hye



Sun Mi



So Hee



Yoo Bin



Ye Eun



Former Wonder Girl - Hyun Ah

Dragon Ball GT: Zard's Don't You See

"Don't You See" Music Video sung by Zard



Japanes Lyrics:

Tomodachi ni tegami wo kaku toki mitai ni
Surasura to kotoba ga dete kureba ii no ni
Mou sukoshi o-tagai wo shiriau ni wa jikan ga hoshii
Uragiranai no wa kazoku dake nante
Sabishisugiru yo Love is asking to be loved
Shinjiru koto wo yamete shimaeba raku ni natte wakaru kedo

Don't you see! Negatte mo inotte mo kiseki omoide
Sukoshi wa ki ni kakete
Don't you see! Chotto sameta furi wo suru kuse wa
Kizutsuku no ga kowai kara

TAXI noriba de matte 'ta toki no chinmoku wa
Tatta gofun na no ni
Mono sugoku nagaku kanjita
Muri wo shite tsukarete
Aozameta koi wa yokisenu dekigoto

Don't you see! Chiisana kenka de
Makezugiraina futari da kara hotto shita no
Don't you see! Ironna hito wo miru yori
Zutto onaji anata wo mite itai

Don't you see!
I'll never worry, tonight
I'll lay me down, tonight
You know, I do it for you

Don't you see! Umareta machi no nioi
Kurekakaru gairojuu wo futari arukeba
Don't you see! Sekai-juu mo dare mo ga donna ni isoide mo
Watashi wo tsukamaete ite




Dragon Ball GT's 2nd Ending Theme - Don't You See





English Translation:

In spite that it would be nice if words flow out to me
Like when one writes a letter to a friend
I want some time to know each other a little more
That the only one who won't betray you is your family
Is too lonely a thing Love is asking to be loved
I know I'll be happy if I stop believing but

Don't you see! Even if I ask and pray for miracles and memories
I worry a little
Don't you see! Even if I have a habit of pretending to be cold
I'm afraid to be hurt

Though it's only been five minutes
Of silence since I waited in the taxi stand
I feel like it's been an eternity
Wasting my time and making me weary
An event that doesn't help a love that lost its color

Don't you see! We're not to be beaten
By such petty quarrels
Don't you see! Rather than ogle at girls
I want to look just at you

Don't you see!
I'll never worry, tonight
I'll lay me down, tonight
You know, I do it for you

Don't you see! If we walk together on the streets
Filled with scents of the town we were born
Don't you see! No matter how much the people in this world hurry
You can still catch me

_______

Urduja: First Filipino Full Length Animated Movie

It has been a dream of mine to see a Filipino made, produced, directed and everything Filipino animation movie or a series and this is slowly becoming a reality (well, I hope it will) with a new movie shown today here in Philippine theaters entitled "Urduja".



Here are two of the trailers for the movie shown in June 18, 2008:






"Urduja" movie theme song "Babae Ako" is sung by Asia's song bird Regine Velazquez.

The 110th Philippine Independence

Today is June 12, 2008 (Well here in the Philippines, of course) and we are all commemorating the 110th Philippine Independence against the tyranny of the Spaniards (Thanks to America for buying the Philippines hahaha that's another historical issue XD). Well let me say this in my proud language...

Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino. Malaya man tayo ngunit saklaw pa din tayo ng responsibilidad sa ating sarili, sa ating kapwa, sa ating pamilya, sa ating kalikasan, at sa ating bansa kay kilos Pilipino... Makibahagi! magkaisa! Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino... at...



Well, that made me all hyped up!

__________

Great US Series Available for Philippine TV

If you want to get out of the usual chain of the same old boring shows of the tyrant Philippine Giant Networks, well just browse your local channels to see more great shows.







There are these three new stations.. well, not really new but has a new look and feel via incorporating US shows and series in their program lists. I am talking about SBN 21 a.k.a as "ETC"; RJTV29 now known as "2nd Avenue"; and finally RPN 9 with its popular shows from "C/S" - "Crime / Suspense".

These are the shows I am currently hooked up or watch every once in a while:

ETC: It's All Good

Lateshow with David Letterman - Love his interviews and humorous segments
America's Next Top Model - My brother is hooked in this contest so I have no choice but to simply adore models strut their cool stuff
Make Me A Super Model - also, Influenced by my brother.

2nd Avenue

- Well just browsed this, with bad reception and few exciting shows, well guess they have a long way to gp.

The Price is Right
Wheel of Fortune
Ellen

C/S

- My favorite station as of the time being

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Heroes - 3rd season will be up on September. Can't wait...
X-Files - Reruns. The first Season was done. Hope they can show the second season.
La Femme Nikita - Reruns also. I am also hooked on this series every 1:00 - 2:00 am XD
Prison Break - Reruns of the first season of the hit Prison Breaking series.
Psych - A hyper observant teams up with a sniffer = wacky crime bustling duo.
Cold Case - There are no unfinished old cases they can't finish.
Burn Notice - Season one just ended hope to see the second season soon.
American Gladiator - All new with energy draining obstacles
Bones - ala CSI majoring on the Bones. Great series for David Boreanaz
New Amsterdam - Looks interesting, will soon watch this

Visit them at:

http://etc.com.ph
http://2ndavenue.com.ph

The Echo: A Filipino Adapted Horror Film

Again another Milestone that we Filipinos should be proud of. This time an original Filipino Horror Movie entitled "Sigaw", which directly translates to "Scream" in English has won about a handful of awards seen in their The Echo Official WebSite ( http://echothemovie.com/ ) has now been adapted by USA to "The Echo".

Here are the Movie posters of both Sigaw (2004) and The Echo (2008)



Sigaw by Directed by Yam Laranas


The Echo


Hope they make a good rendition of our very own "Sigaw". I will end this post with a scene from the movie:

Alodia Gosiengfiao: A Cosplay Icon

I first encounter her name back in the Culture Crash Comics Comics Convention back at the early 2004 or 05 (I can't really recall). I saw her role playing in a costume (or "cosplaying") as the Gunner Rikku on the Cosplay Contest on the event. and immediately fell in love with her... I mean admired her beauty. Yup! That's the Term! Hehehe What a very multi-talented, pretty, angelic faced woman with a great figure ^^,



Alodia as Final Fantasy X2's Rikku

By the way, according to wikipedia:



Alodia as Death Note's Misa

Cosplay, short for "costume play" is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, Japanese pop music bands, Visual Kei, fantasy music stories (such as stories by the band Sound Horizon), novels, and anything in the real world being unique and dramatic (or their moe anthropomorphic form). However, in some circles, "cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.



Alodia is a cosplay icon for she has entered a number of many cosplay competitions and how much she spend for a costume is not something to laugh about. Here is an interview of her on QTV's The Beat:



She has also gained popularity and media mileage through photoshoots and magazine interviews. For a complete list of her appearance and interviews check out here wikipedia description over at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alodia_Gosiengfiao or better check her official web and art site at http://blackmage9.deviantart.com/.



Did I say she's angelic?

Alodia is a Cosplay Icon and soon to be celebrity? This is one of her appearance on Pedicab's Music Video of "Ang Pusa Mo"



For more and fresh images of the Philippines' Cosplay Icon head over her official site here at http://blackmage9.deviantart.com/

Yummy Treats for your Computer

Ahoy!!!

Chris A here again back with another Stumble and Yummy eye Candy for everyone. Last week's image post was about sexual organ inspired accessories. This time I stumbled upon another design on one of computer's now popular portable storage device... The USB Flash Drive.

I've got to hand it to the Japs or whoever designed these Japanese Food Inspired Flash Drives, it really looks delicious and edible.

Here are some of their delicious designs:

















If only your pc can taste and talk... XD

Street Children: Who's to Blame?

I just got home from the city today. As I walked the overpass I can't help (and who wouldn't?) but notice two of the many street children laying down on the cold tiled floor. These street children are either sleeping or am looking at every passers-by with a pitiful look on their greasy or dirt-covered faces with arms extending and at the end a small disposable plastic cup.

A grabbed photo taken by Mommybug29 in her stay in the Philippines back in 2007.

I hope I didn't lose all my sense of "being merciful" because every time I see these street children I don't feel any (mercy). Why? Because almost everytime I go to the city all I see is these children's faces depending on the amount given to them by sympathetic passers-by. Makes me want to talk to them and say "Where are your parents? Why are they allowing you to beg for small coins?" but I can't, coz I am also considering the idea of "what if they are lost and all alone in this cruel society". Still my belief is that they are somewhat being ordered by some mafia to gather money for them or worst the mafia I am talking about are their very own parents.

Now if it is the parents responsible, then what's the reason behind this shameless and undignified act of making their children beg for money? I hope it is not another one of those cliche answers "because if we don't then we would starve to death", why would they starve to death if they are not doing anything? They can surrender themselves and their children at a local Social Welfare Development Department but why wouldn't they?

I have also seen documentaries that street children and other beggars tends to escape upon being absorbed or nurtured by these social departments. They say that they are not properly treated, fed and cared for in these agency. Then is it any better from the dangerous roads infested with vehicle pollution? With more corrupt environment of violence and abuse?

So who is to blame?

Dyesebel: Swimming Its Way to Philippine Television

Dyesebel, one of Philippine Comics, Movie and Entertainment icon will now be reborn as a television series by one of Philippines Largest Television Company GMA - Kapuso Station. Dyesebel is one of the many roster of marvelous creation of Philippines' father of Comics, the late Mars Ravelo.

Dyesebel's basic plot(in the past depictions in the movies) is a mermaid abandoned by her outraged father and mother upon seeing her abnormality. She was then cast out to see and was adopted and cared by a fellow mermaid. She grew to be a beautiful mermaid. She'll meet a dashing bachelor and love will blossom between the two. Conflicts shall arise from the people and other sea creatures around them to seperate their extraordinary love.



Dyesebel will be airing this Monday, April 28, 2008 after Joaquin Bordado. Hope GMA will give justice to the story of one of Philippines Classic Icon... Dyesebel.