Pepsi Gay Ad

I was surprised to see a gay-themed ad from Pepsi. This ad is reportedly banned from TV for promoting a "homosexual" lifestyle.

Sex Workers

(Macho Dancer, the landmark Filipino film on commercial sex workers)

Hi Lex,

Here I go again. My apologies to you and to your readers if I will appear as a simpleton, naive gay guy but really, I do want to raise a couple of questions again.

First, for people in the film industry, producers, directors, writers, editors, etc. How come, as much as 95% (this estimate is mine and has no scientific basis) of all gay films produced or done in the Philippines revolved around the lives of commercial sex workers (macho dancers, callboys, masahistas, and now group dancers) and their patrons?

Alex

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Hi Alex,

You have a very nice name!

I agree with you. Male Sex workers and their trade is quite tiring as a subject matter for film.

Most filmmakers would choose them as subject matters because it is a good excuse for the censors to get away with some flesh. As the "milieu" of the film requires sexual images.

Lex

Ace & His Armpit

For armpit lovers, here's an erotic photo of Ace Ricafort, one of the new actors to be launched in Joselito Altarejos' "Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan". Here's an article from Edgar Cruz of Stir.ph on the film:

Recall the handsome and personable young hunk J.D. that Thelma falls for at first sight in Ridley Scott’s 1991 road movie “Thelma and Louise?” He turned out to be the sexiest man alive and the great actor Brad Pitt! Mark this hunk, Ace Ricafort! He will have the Brad Pitt effect on you when you watch Joselito Altarejos’ “Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan” showing exclusively in Robinsons Cinemas (Galleria and Manila) on Oct. 21.

“Ang Laro ng Buhay ni Juan” explores two hours in the life of Juan Reyes, known to others as Erwin. Juan is a 25 year old Masbate native who just found his way to Manila three years ago. Erwin has tried his hand at many odd jobs and now works as a live-sex performer at an underground gay bar but has decided to leave Manila for good.

On the day of his departure, he will take us with him as he makes life decisions—big and small. The most important one of all is leaving the impoverished place which he called home for a year, capping it with his emotional goodbyes with his lover, Noel. And, how a raid by the authorities marred his last performance in an underground bar called Inner Sanctum which changed his resolve.

The film marks the beginning of filmmaker Joselito Altarejos’ foray in producing his own films under BEYONDtheBOX. It features Ray An Dulay as Juan, Nico Antonio as Noel (Juan’s lover) and the daring newcomer Ace Ricafort as one of the live show performers called Tupada Boys together with able actors like 2008 Cinemanila’s Asian Best Actress Angeli Bayani, Perry Escano and Richard Quan.

Michael & Madonna

In the book, "The Michael Jackson Tapes", Rabbi Shmuley Boteach based on a thirty hour interview with the deceased pop superstar, Jackson reveals an interesting anecdote between him and Madonna.

Jackson admits, he was interested in women sexually but is very shy. He tells Boteach he had never asked a woman out on a date, although he acknowledged having sexually charged phone conversations with Madonna.

In recounting one conversation, he said: "Madonna laid down the law to me before we went out," saying, "'I am not going to Disneyland, okay? That's out.'"

Jackson said Madonna was jealous of him because his female fans screamed and swooned while her male fans were less demonstrative. He recalled her crying in admiration at one of his concerts.

When contacted Friday, Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, said, "Madonna has very fond feelings for Michael Jackson, and I don't think anything in the book is going to change that." - AP

Help!

(Wilson st, Greenhills)



(Katipunan ave, Quezon City)

The Ondoy/ Ketsana typhoon has devastated Metro Manila with the worst flood in recent history. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos are in need of help. You can help by donating through Paypal.

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Stranded

As the storm Ondoy hit Metro Manila, I was stranded at the North Luzon Express Way for about 11 hours! Car engines were turned off. And we were all at a standstill. The scene was reminiscent of a disaster film. Children were crying. Several people have begun to walk the endless kilometers of the highway with plastic bags covering their bags. Radio news were blasting everywhere naming people who need to be rescued.

I'm still luckier. Many people died. Many more people have lost their homes.

Donations are needed for victims of the tragedy.

A Positive Step

Scientists and government leaders have already started mapping out how to try to improve the world's first successful AIDS vaccine, which protected one in three people from getting HIV in a large study in Thailand.

That's not good enough for immediate use, researchers say. Yet it is a watershed event in the 26 years since the AIDS virus was discovered. Recent setbacks led many scientists to think a successful vaccine would never be possible.

The World Health Organization and the U.N. agency UNAIDS said the results "instilled new hope" in the field, even though it likely will be years before a vaccine might be widely available.

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