Contagion --- Nothing Spreads Like Fear

The Movie:  Contagion

 

Plot:  

An unknown virus spreads rapidly across the globe and causes death among helpless victims. Everyone could be infected-- young and old, ordinary and professionals, even doctors!   The virus weakens the immune system, causing flu-like symptoms, and then seizure comes that results to sudden death on the 4th day of infection!  The movie shows how the deadly virus affects the lives of different people and how those in the medical field, and those in the position to help, struggle to come up with a cure.    

Cast of Main Characters:

Gwyneth Paltrow (Elizabeth Emhoff)- an employee of AIMM and wife to Mitch Emhoff, played by Matt Damon.  She fell ill from a business trip in Hong Kong.  She initially had flu-like symptoms.  In a matter of 4 days, she fell into seizure and died in the hospital.  Her 6 year-old son, contracted the disease from her, and soon died after her.  Beth’s death disclosed a secret that she had been concealing from her husband—she had been cheating on him.  It was exposed when the man she’s having an affair with in Chicago, died of the same symptoms.

Matt Damon (Mitch Emhoff) - a good husband to Beth, his second wife.  A good father to a teenage daughter by his first marriage, and a good stepfather to 6-year old Clark—Beth’s son from her previous relationship.  Mitch tried his best to protect his surviving daughter from the virus.

Laurence Fishburne (Dr. Ellis Cheever) -  an officer of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC.  He is reluctant in disclosing to the public the nature of the disease and its cure.  Inspite of his responsibility to the public, he protected his wife by sending her away.  He was later beset by guilt and gave an MEV-1 vaccine to the son of the CDC janitor.

Kate Winslet (Dr. Erin Mears) --  a doctor from the Epidemic Intelligence Service.  Very passionate in her duty to help the victims, she struggled in her negotiations with the local bureaucrats of Minneapolis who were unsupportive of her cause to trace back the origin of the disease and find the cure.  Dr. Mears herself contracted the disease and died in the medical station she earlier helped set up..

Jude Law (Alan Krumwiede) – a freelance journalist in San Francisco with a blog on the mysterious disease.  He stated in his blog that he was cured from the mysterious disease through the forsythia.  His thousand visitors believed his pronouncements that the CDC is concealing from the public the real cure for the disease because it is conniving with the pharmaceutical companies for selfish profiteering.  It was later discovered that his declarations in his blog is a hoax. He did not really get sick of the virus.

Marion Cotillard (Dr. Leonora Orantes) - an epidemiologist from the World Health Organization (WHO).  She gathered evidences from the Macau Casino CCTV tapes, to trace the source of the virus which infected Beth Emhoff.  Dr. Orantes was kidnapped by Sun Feng, a Chinese epidemiologist, who made her stay in their community with possibly infected children.  She acted as teacher to the children with whom she got close during her stay.  She was released in exchange of the cure.  She discovered that her team fooled the Chinese group by giving them placebo, instead of the MEV- 1 vaccines, the real cure to the virus.  She immediately left the official who rescued her and went back towards the direction of Sun Feng's community. 

Jennifer Ehle (Dr. Ally Hextall) -   a selfless scientist who untiringly discovered MEV-1 vaccine, the cure for the deadly virus.  A trusted scientist colleague helped her in the several tests.  She first tried the vaccine and exposed herself to her critically ill doctor father.  She did not contract the disease, afterwards the MEV-1 vaccines were distributed to patients by batches. 

Movie Review:

The movie is star-studded with Oscar-nominated actors who showcased an intertwining of lives of different people and how they react to events resulting from the spread of the disease.   

Among the actors,  the following were outstanding in the movie:

Jude Law gave justice to his role as the scheming journalist taking advantage of the dreadful situation.  His fake bad teeth added convincing power to his quite lisp speech, which he did very well.  Jude Law has truly graduated from that vulnerable teenager image in Love Me, Love Me Not (a B movie opposite Claire Danes) into one of Hollywood's formidable actors.    

Jennifer Ehle was brilliant in her performance as the dedicated scientist.  Among the female characters, hers showed strength of emotions.  Ehle's acting was able to convey her character’s passion to come up with the cure.  

Kate Winslet’s performance is convincing as the doctor who pursued investigation and possible cure but was met by the bureaucrats' cold shoulders.  Her succumbing to the disease showed her poignant acting. .  

Other actors were undeniably good but were not given the adequate sequences to showcase their acting prowess.  This is the challenge when a movie involves several characters.  Some of the main characters appeared passive.  They could have shown more. 

Towards the end of the movie, the scene of Matt Damon reminiscing his wife, and the mock-prom night of his daughter and her boyfriend, were dragging.  The prom dance looked as though it was a scene from a Nicholas Sparks tearjerker (no offense meant to Sparks who is definitely a good drama writer).  But Contagion, being an action-adventure-thriller, failed to give a thrilling sequence (with impact similar to the holocaust in Schindler's List).  I was expecting something more from the movie.  But then, it reached its end without detaching my back from the theater seat out of sudden response to a heart stopping scene.  The mass grave burial scene could have been a highly moving scene, but it was weakly executed.  The movie untimely ended by showing the origin of the virus--- a bat and pig viral mix. And you would say to yourself, "ah, so that's the cause".  Then, you regrettably stand from your seat, and as you look at the credits on the silver screen as you leave, inside you-- you are clamoring for more.  

With due fairness to Director, Steven Soderbergh, who helmed Traffic and the remake of Ocean’s Eleven,  overall, Contagion is a good movie.  It succeeded to convey the message that this type of pandemic is possible.  The movie re-awakened the public’s awareness of the threat of a viral scare.  People who have seen the movie would be more conscious of their sanitation and overall health.  

Rating (based on 5 Stars): 

3.75 Stars

Despedida Dos

September 16, 2011

Friday Night

Finally, I was able to fulfill Phase 2 of my send-off program for Ira, my reliable assistant who resigned recently.   For a change, we skipped Serendra and High Street in Global City and went to Powerplant Mall in Rockwell.  The last time I’ve been to Powerplant was in 2003, my MBA final year at the nearby Ateneo Graduate School of Business (AGSB).   I have a lot of fond and funny memories of Powerplant and AGSB, for me they are synonymous.  Powerplant has been our hang-out during those years in the graduate school.  

Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City

Not much have changed.  Beauty Bar, Rustan’s Supermarket, McDonalds, Burgoo, the Cinemas and Starbucks have remained in their original locations. Dulcinea, Kulinarya, Kaya and Mongkok are still in their same spots in the upper basement.  I did not see Cinnabon anymore, instead there’s Cheesesticks. Among the additions in the upper basement are Banana Leaf and Cucina Victoria.  Cucina Victoria used to be located outside the ground level.  

Ira wants Italian food so we walked around and looked for Italiannis.   We did not see one inside the mall.  Probably it’s outside.  I think we both felt lazy to go outside the mall.  So we went to Cucina Victoria. 

The facade of Cucina Victoria

No regrets that we did not find Italiannis.  Cucina Victoria has a homey ambiance.  The inside floor area is not that big.  More or less there are just 10 tables inside, but extra tables are outside the multi-color tiled entrance.  At the left side is a corner couch, leaning on the wooden wall with black and white photographs of noted personalities and politicians.  There are two blue cupboards containing the condiments.  There is an orange shelf displaying jars and other decorative items.  At the central part of the area, a straight couch leans on the wall with three brightly colored contemporary paintings.

The entrance lintel is covered with colorful tiles

Ira, getting comfy on the corner couch

Not aware of the shot?

One of the blue cupboards

Paintings on the central wall

For soup, we had Clam Chowder.  It’s not overwhelmingly creamy, has the right seafood flavor, especially when sprinkled with freshly ground pepper.  I love the freshly baked bread.  It has that ultimate crisp sound when tapped and broken by fingers.  The herbed butter is the perfect spread for the bread.   

For main entrée, we had pork medallion pasta, the pasta sauce is like chicken parmigiana, but the chicken is replaced by pork, in pomodoro sauce.   

We tried Pizza Pinoy, with toppings consisting of tomatoes, kesong puti (white cheese), bell peppers and salted egg.  The Pizza Pinoy I think would be a good contrast with any meat pasta. 

After dinner, we roamed around in the new wing, where bargain-like stalls sell accessories, clothes, shoes and bags.  But the price tag is definitely not bargain.  There’s a Happy Lemon outlet near the stalls, there’s a long queue of people waiting for their turn.  We further walked around and went to National Bookstore.  The NBS here has a set-up similar to Powerbooks.  We looked for CFA calculators because we aspire to take the CFA review and exam, to put us in the elite group of investment professionals!  :)

 

After further rounds in the apparel, accessory and shoe stores, my feet, or rather shoes, were already killing me!  I was wearing heels and for some strange reason, I think my feet grow bigger as the night deepens.  We went to Starbucks near the cinemas at the 4^th level. Contagion is currently being shown. 

 
Probably it’s a good movie,  with an ensemble of Oscar-nominated actors.   I will watch it, not tonight, but on another day. 

The Powerplant Cinema adboards carry the faces of Marion Cotillard and Jude Law.  Probably because the two have the most beautiful faces among the cast.  Marion is a french actress known for La Vie en Rose while Jude Law is a true-blue brit actor, who had his beginnings in B movies.
 

French actress, Marion Cotillard

British actor, Jude Law

While I was resting my feet, Ira ordered fraps.  Mine is Green Tea Frap.  It’s Ira’s treat.  We’ve gone kooky while sipping our fraps.  We took turns in taking our photos in different crazy poses.  Some poses were serious or pretending to be unaware of the camera.  Some were truly smile-ready for the cam!  

Ahh... sit back and relax...

Half-ready for the cam, my feet still ache...

Remember this face!

Guess what's running on my mind?

This is how to sip demurely

'Sadako' sips frap, face powder has melted! :)

Calculating the forthcoming wealth

Multiple choice: a) "I don't care..." b) "I'm fed up!" c) "I see lizard on the ceiling"

I tried to mimic the expression of Marion Cotillard in the theater board, but my version looked like I was mentally deranged. I immediately deleted the photo while guffawing.  :)))  Who says you always have to be serious even after work?  We need to unwind and have fun, without a care that someone is measuring our actions.  In a clinical observation, it was shown that people who are too serious, has a lot of stringent rules in life, and do not unwind-- grow old mean and ugly.  So, if you don't want to be mean and ugly as you grow older, take time to have fun after work!  

Also, never lose kindness in your heart-- a great beautifier.

                                                   

Finally! An average, normal, run-of-the-mill pose!

Going back to our kooky picture taking, there’s one ok picture of mine. I effortlessly posed before the cam, and the result looks a bit like Amaya of GMA 7. (Laughter!) :)))  

Ira urged me to reactivate my Facebook and post it as profile pic.  I deactivated my Facebook since March 20, 2011.

It was past 10PM when we left Starbucks.  We planned to have crazy photo op at Anne Klein (Ira says my mocha straight dress looked like one of the outfits in Anne Klein’s shelf) and Dorothy Perkins (Ira says this is the only high-end store that she has a size).  But when we went down, the stores were already closed.  We forgot the time because of our kookiness.  My feet now are feeling alright.  

Before we went home, I took a photo of Powerplant against the night sky.  The backdrop was sort of dramatic.  It feels good to go back to a place which had been close to my heart.

Powerplant by twilight

I’ll be back , Powerplant.  Soon…. 

:)

The Cure of the Cake

I recently had a series of heartaches.  Talk about when it rains, it pours, like a tropical depression in the ITCZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone). 

I’d imagined myself like Ally McBeal (incidentally we are both waif-like and kooky and thrives in the serious corporate world), with radical thoughts that my chest is the bullseye target board of flying arrows.  Uh-oh, that hurts!  (Vonda Shepard sings in the background). 

Ally McBeal, the pretty protagonist in the hit TV adult comedy series from 1997-2002

Uh-oh! My imaginary chest hit by arrows!

But life goes on.  I have realized that there’s no quota of heartaches.  One, two, or three heartaches do not spare you from future ones.   As long as people are living, we are bound to get hurt, sometime, somewhere.  Scientifically speaking, only non-living things do not get hurt.  

The good news is….(drum roll…! trumpet fare….!) -- time heals all wounds.  Yeah, yeah right…you probably heard that for the nth time from your grandparents, parents, parents of your friends, your friends, and even from yourself when you advise other people.  Yes, it’s an ancient adage, but haven’t you noticed that its efficacy is eternal?  Albeit the recovery period varies from one person to another.  There are personalities that would cry a river while there are others that would only cry a bucket, dry their tears and then bounce back soon. 

As for me, I’m thankful that my personality is like a rubber ball. Yes I drop, but I bounce back!  Probably my positive disposition helps.  And yes, other things also help, like cake!

It has been scientifically proven that intake of sweet foods increases the level of endorphins, the hormone that’s responsible for the feeling of happiness.  It’s that something unseen that makes you feel alright, unclogs that block in your chest and calms your breathing in a breeze.

I was born with a sweet tooth, but I notice that each time I feel depressed, my sweet intake increases.   So, if my usual chocolate indulgement is just one bar a week, I would consume one chocolate bar each day. If my regular cake treat is just a slice on a weekly basis, then I could finish two slices on one sitting.  

Of all the sweet things, cake is my favorite one when I’m sad.  Aside from the sweet taste, cake looks pretty and colorful and artsy, and it has a sweet message written on it that cheers you up!

The Sweethings on Earth cake reminds me of the sweet things in life despite odds

My theory when I eat cake during depression-- I’m more courageous when I’m down and low, because I could brave the danger of diabetes and threat of weight gain (or probably I am just confident of my fast metabolism).  I also noticed that my face is prettier when I’m sad.  Why, my sad eyes become more soulful and my pensive expression makes my face angelic.  There goes my positivism in the midst of chaos! :)))

Thanks to all sweet things, like my adorable cake, and to the sweet people who care for me who serve as my life support system, they give me a reason for living.  Life is beautiful.  So be a beautiful person inside and out while you are living.  Be a blessing to others.

Sweethings on Earth cake is vanilla cake with white icing, bright yellow borders, pink and red flowers and green leaves

I’m sure, in a few weeks, I’ll be alright. I’ll be bouncing back like a rubber ball.  As a matter of fact, the cure of the cake is kicking in… You have to excuse me… I’m ending this article.  Gotta reach for my next slice of cake. :)

Another slice of this not overly sweet cake

Save the sweet flower for last

 :)

Feast Day of the Nativity of Mary---the Maria Bambina Story

September 8, 2011
12:00 AM

Happy Birthday, Mother Mary!

Let us also say, Happy Birthday, Infant Mary!   Let us be one with her parents, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, and the other privileged ones who saw the birth of the Immaculate Infant. 

Only a few people practice veneration to the infant form of Mother Mary.  So now, I would like to share with you this blessing of getting to know Mary as the Holy Infant.   You might just obtain a miracle starting today, September 8, the feast of Mary’s nativity.  

History of Santa Maria Bambina (Holy Infant Mary)

The image was modeled in wax in 1735 by Sister Isabella Chiara Fornari (1697-1744), superior of the Poor Clare Sisters in Todi, Italy.

Maria Bambina, Milan, Italy`

In 1876, the waxen image was brought to its current location at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity, Milan, Italy.  During this time, devotion to Maria Bambina was mostly limited to the sisters and novices within the religious community. The image is kept in the novitiate and moved only to the chapel every feast day of the Nativity of Mary (September 8^th) and during the Octave (8-day period of observance including the feast day and the 7 following days).

Time and events left their mark on the wax image. The face became discolored and unattractive.  It was then removed from the Novitiate and was placed in a large chest of drawers, taken out only and brought to the chapel to be displayed on the Nativity of Mary and during Octave.

Maria Bambina’s Beautiful Stories of Graces and Miracles

Beginning on September 9, 1884, Maria Bambina rewarded those who had devotion to her. 

Sister Josephine Woinovich was bedridden due to paralysis of her arms and feet. On the 8th of September, she begged the Mother General Nazari to bring the image of Maria Bambina to the infirmary to remain near her overnight. The following morning Mother General was inspired to take Maria Bambina, so old, worn, and gray to the other sick sisters in the infirmary so that they could venerate Our Lady's image. In the infirmary was a devout novice, Giulia Macario, who was unable to move because of her serious illness. With ardent faith, she took the likeness of the Child Mary into her arms and tenderly pleaded with Maria for the grace to regain her health. Immediately she was miraculously cured!

After this miracle, the venerated image was kept in Mother General Nazari’s room. On October 18, 1884, the Feast of the Motherhood of Mary, Maria Bambina, dressed anew and placed in a beautiful cradle, was solemnly carried and placed between two candelabra in a room on the first floor as its provisional chapel. There the sisters would stop to spend time in prayer on the single bench provided.

In the following months, Sister Crocifissa Mismetti and Sister Giuseppa Woinovich were miraculously cured through the intercession of Maria Bambina. Many graces and miracles come from devotion to Maria Bambina. Sister Josephine Woinovich, the sister who originally had asked the Mother General to bring the Baby Mary to the infirmary, also recovered. That is why these Sisters of Charity have become known as the Sisters of Maria Bambina.

Amazing Transformation!

Maria Bambina's beautiful face

On January 16, 1885, the Sisters started noticing an amazing transformation in the image of Maria Bambina which changed from the former dull yellow and gray color to warm flesh hues while its features were becoming so lovely as to make it look like the face of a living baby.  

The "Santa Madonnina” (Madonnina is an affectionate diminutive meaning little Madonna) became famous in the city and crowds hastened to venerate the childhood of the Blessed Virgin Mother and obtain from her extraordinary graces.  This same image of Maria Bambina is the one venerated today at the Motherhouse in Milan.



In subsequent times, it became a custom to give newly married couples a small wax image of Maria Bambina as a wedding gift. The devotion to Maria Bambina spread from the Milan area to the whole of Italy.

During World War II, during the days of constant bombing, the shrine and Mother House fell into ruins. Despite of the destruction of the shrine, the sisters and the people of Milan celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of Mary on the ruins.

On September 4, 1945, Maria Bambina was returned to Milan.  Each year on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, the Sisters touch small pieces of cotton to the miraculous image. These pieces of cotton are then distributed as sacramentals to those who have a devotion to Maria Bambina.

The center of devotion to Mary as an infant is currently based in the interior chapel of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity located in Milan, Italy, at Via Santa Sofia 13. The Sisters of Charity are the guardians of the miraculous wax image of the Infant Mary. One can visit during the hours of 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Holy Thoughts About Infant Mary

“The Blessed Virgin is the spoiled child of the Blessed Trinity.

She knows no law. Everything yields to her in heaven and on earth.

The whole of heaven gazes on her with delight.

She plays before the ravished eyes of God himself.”

-Raissa Maritain (Philosopher mystique)

                                                                                                          

“The kingdom of heaven is of children, and especially of a little child: Mary.”  

-Pope John Paul II

(speaking to the Superiors of the Sisters of Charity of Milan)

February 6, 1984

Maria Bambina in the Philippines

Aside from Milan, you can see an image of Maria Bambina in the Philippines.   Our Lady of the Abandoned (OLA), a Franciscan church in Sta. Ana, Manila, has a resident Maria Bambina image.  During the weeklong celebration of Mary’s nativity, the holy infant image is displayed near the altar, for people to venerate.  Every September 8, a special mass is held at 6:30PM to honor Mary as infant and as Christ’s Mother.   Before and after the mass, people are allowed to approach and kiss the Maria Bambina. 

Maria Bambina, Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, Sta. Ana, Manila

Holy and innocent, Maria Bambina will grant your wish as long as you make it with ardent faith in your heart. 

We usually give present to the birthday celebrator, but the Infant Mary will give us presents on her birthday today.  We only have to say, thank you! :)


:)

Peaches Please!

The pink of the peach stands out in black background

I think one of the most gorgeous fruits is the pink peach.  It has that fresh blush color that looks so pretty (I wish the cosmetic companies might one day come up with a blusher with the exact shade of the pink peach, it would look so healthy and lovely on the cheeks!). 

   

Sometimes, the color of the pink peach might deceive the eye of the beholder who might mistake it as Fuji apple.  But if you are already familiar with pink peach, you will distinguish that it has a prettier flush of pink.  And unlike the apple which has a shiny satiny skin, the pink peach has a velvety skin texture.  

When it comes to the taste, I love the taste of good ripe pink peaches.  It’s not overwhelming yet definitely not bland.  The sweetness is just enough to take and there’s hardly a hint of sourness.  I think the pink peach is a feminine fruit.  It is a simile of a lady who looks elegant yet you’ll be surprise that she’s easy to get along with.  

Fresh pink peaches in the fruit stall

The Chinese revere the peach as a sign of longevity.  They give it to their parents as a sign of good health and long and comfortable life.  My Chinese blood is just 12 1/2 percent, but I gave a peach figurine to my parents a few years ago as a present for Grandparents’ Day.  

Prosperous old couple inside the peach figurine

 

Chinese characters that endow longevity and prosperity engraved at the back of the peach figurine

Canned yellow peaches

  

You will seldom find pink peach preserves in the grocery and similar stores.  There are canned peaches in syrup, but they are the yellow variety, that looks a cross between mango and pear.  

So, I am making pink peach preserve.

 

Pink Peach Preserve

3 large pink peaches, peeled and sliced into wedges

125 g refined white sugar

2 tbsp honey

Nutmeg

½ tsp lemon zest

Lemon, honey and nutmeg enhance the flavor of pink peaches

Mix peach wedges and sugar in a large ceramic bowl.  Do not use plastic bowl as it will affect the taste.  Cover the bowl with cling wrap.  Chill (do not freeze!) in the fridge for 18-24 hours.   The peaches will release their pink juice in this span of time.  

Pour the entire mixture into a casserole over medium-high heat until it boils.  You must keep close watch over the mixture to prevent it from burning.  Do not leave.  Switch heat to medium-low while simmering for 5 minutes.  The pink juice will now turn passionate red.   

The delicate pink juice turns deep red when cooked

Turn heat to low.  Keep on stirring while simmering to prevent the mixture from clumping in the bottom of the casserole.  When the mixture is already thick, add the honey and lemon zest.  Stir.  Sprinkle some nutmeg.  Keep on stirring.  When you are satisfied with thickness of the consistency, remove from heat. Let the preserve cool in room temperature.

The delicious pink peach preserve

 

Pink peach preserve ready for the taking

Meanwhile, sterilize a glass canister.  Dry it with clean paper towel.  Transfer the cooled peach preserve in the canister and seal cap tightly.   

You can use peach preserve as filling for your puff pastry, as topping together with macadamia nuts over vanilla ice cream, as spread for your soda crackers or wafers topped with grated goat cheese.  You can simply eat this peach preserve, since its just-right-sweetness could never go wrong.