“El dia de tu Santo” – Name Day

It is a tradition that takes place in some countries where we celebrate the NAME DAY or SAINT DAY. Mainly, if you were named after a Saint, the day that saint died or was canonized becomes the NAME DAY. In my case, IGNACIO (Ignatius) is remembered after IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.

He was born in 1491 (one year before Spain discovered the American continent to the eyes of the western world). He was also born in October in a province called Guipuzcua in the Basque region, Spain (coincidentally where part of my ancestors come from!) For more information on the interesting life of this saint Click here

As for me, today I celebrate by being availble for free lunches or dinner. What do you say?.

(Thanks Gitti for the present!)

Chicago meets Moulin Rouge meets Third Reich!

Almost one month ago I had this series of promotions coming into my inbox for theatre plays and arty-farty stuff as I am subscribed to many of these distributions lists.

One of these emails certainly caught my attention and we decided to buy a couple of tickets for… CABARET! We attended today and it was most certainly a very pleasing experience: the play is great, the music very catchy, the love story behind quite amusing; the whole Nazi scene leaves a bad aftertaste, as usual.

Plot
Berlin 1931: a story of hedonism and love as the shadow of evil unfolds, when a writer falls in love with a singer in a cabaret called the Kit Kat Klub, in a time where the Nazis were gaining more and more power. Stellar cast, taut choreography, infectious score, and outrageous costumes complete what is set to be the most bizarre yet enticing musical experiences. For more information on the plot click here

It is totally recommendable. A MUST SEE.

Not present but present...

The battle of the heart rages of its own will.
Heeding only briefly to sorrow time and again.
A vow of eternal love
Braver souls have known no battle so fierce
as that of a love that conquers any
and all intrusions in its path.

Unfortunately, I could not be at the wedding. I however, congratulate our Pedro and lovely wife and wish them to find happiness in each other, everyday.

Congratulations!

(Thanks Pedro O. for the excellent picture!)

Tell your boss off... if applicable.

(Thanks Parkie!)

Have a Great Day!

An artist owes it to his own audience...

For all those who wnjoy "the dwarf pose" here it is one more time.

"Thank you... Thank you for coming"

We said TIME WOULD TELLl.. and IT DID!

You ARE the first one getting married!

Sad sad sad… so many friends getting married and because I am soooo damn far away I cannot attend. See!? This is ironic. Yesterday posting about friendship and stuff. Today posting about me not going to one of my friend’s wedding. AIYO!

J&B, I AM REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU BOTH GUYS!!!!. I recall how you two met and how we teased Bryan about it. And I know Joanna Banana will be a great influence (as she has already been) on your style! (HA HA HA I still remember the Banana Republic trips, getting you away from Eddie Bauer). I think it really paid off, see… you are NOW getting married (You’re welcome Joanna!)

HUGS HUGS HUGS

By the way… a picture from the past. One getting married…. 5 more to go! It is said the next one is CM!! Then me. Will it be this way?! Time will tell…

The family you choose

In Argentina today we celebrate FRIENSHIP DAY. It is a very special day in which you get to formally share with your friends how much you love them, need them, and cherish the friendship. Same as mother’s day, father’s day, etc… Friendship Day should be everyday.

I like to think FRIENDS ARE THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE. I am blessed enough in this life to have many friends all over the world. Being a nomad is quite alluring for some people, but there is a curse on it: you do not have all your friends by your side all the time. I tried to put together a collage with my friends and even then i was not able to add all the pictures I wanted (sorry for the ones left out... you know I love you anyway)

Today I would love to hug everyone of you.

HAPPY DAY, mis amigos!

Again with the name...

My name is Pablo Ignacio. It would sound quite weird for me to say it but IGNACIO is a very nice Spanish name. Not many people are named Ignacio, and therefore it sounds quite unique. So unique that I decided ever since I remember “deleting” my “Pabloness” and mainly naming myself Ignacio. Too many Pablos in elementary school, even more in High School; only ONE Ignacio: YO! J

The average nickname for IGNACIO is NACHO; like BOB to ROBERT. I was born, I was named Pablo Ignacio, but automatically became NACHO o NACHITO (when I was a kid). So people immediately know my name is IGNACIO. However, NACHO is a very informal nickname. I could never introduce myself as NACHO in a business meeting in any Spanish Speaking country. NACHO is only reserved for family and friends.

I never thought I was gonna move to Asia at some point of my life. I found out IGNACIO is quite difficult to pronounce around these latitudes, so NACHO became the name.

Get this; this is the ultimate sign of respect in a sort of informal way: I received a proposal from a vendor addressed to me…



So I guess I am Mr Nacho now. I find it quite funny!

Click here My previous posting about IGNACIO & NACHO.

When God visits Singapore...

...it looks somewhat like this.

Singapore Idol - Two ang mos in the crowd

I know, I know what you are gonna say:
- Are you nuts? Singapore Idol? NO WAY!
- They are not as good as their American counterparts?
- I cannot believe you actually went and sat in the crowd!

Well, get this: BELIEVE IT, because it just happened. We went to the TV studio where they shoot the show LIVE.

I have a friend who works for a company that sponsors the show. we got free tickets to sit in the middle row by the stage: HELLO!? Of course I would go! And on the way, I dragged Gitti as well.

It was by FAR one of the funniest nights this year. Fun songs; crazy teenagers cheering for the different contestants; the parents (sitting in front of us, literally) crying for their now “Grown up children”; the judges and their comments; the fans and their organized dances and posters. A complete Singaporean cultural experience.

It was F-U-N, with capital F Cannot wait to go again!

J & W, Thanks for the invitation!

...they keep falling...

In Singapore when it rains, it p-o-u-r-s. It is not like one of those pathetic little 2-minute spitting rain sessions some places experience. No, no, no, my friend. We are talking 20 minutes of pouring rain; heaven coming down on human beings in chunks of heavy water as God’s collective punishment for whatever unforgivable sin we committed. Cruel and merciless; yet somehow refreshing and revitalizing…

And you look through the window, and wonder when it is going to stop. But then you think again. It is Saturday; there is nothing better to do outdoors. Why not a little nap. Just a tiny small little nap. And as you cover yourself up with the warmth of the blankets you hear the soothing sound of the raindrops deperatedky knowking on your window. In conspiracy against Morpheus. But He finds his ways and you surrender to his power. Calmly. Defenselessly. Lovely.

You wake up two hours later; and the same drops that were once in frenesi to enter the room are now resting on the glass of your room window; bored. Exhausted. Probably tired of trying and trying. Looking at you with this hopeless expression in their liquid crystal faces.



Rain makes you think, of course, of sappy stuff. And I always come to the same conclusion: it is one’s choice to get caught in this paranoid feeling of “the world is conspiring against me”.



I am that last drop. Hanging in there. Waiting for the perfect moment to jump… if it ever comes.

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head;
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red;
Cryin's not for me;
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin';
Because I'm free…
Nothin's worryin' me.

Who AM I to contradict them?

I mean, if THE EXPERTS of the WORLD in soccer say so… who AM I to contradict them, right?

(Congrats Italy, though!)

New SuperHeroe in Town!

You know, with this whole Superman fever going on these days you cannot avoid but to wonder what SuperHero you would be.

I have not found who I would be, but I have certainly discovered who my friend/flat-mate Andi would be: Super AntMan!

He spent a good chunk of Saturday afternoon trying to exterminate the little ants hidden somewhere in his room. He tried different methods:

• Blowing at them
• Smashing them with his own hands
• Spraying glass-cleaner
• Burning them
• Spraying body deodorant

Yesterday the ants seemed to have disappeared. To his very surprise this morning they were back… with their friends!

I explained to him that ants have a great communication system and what happened is they discovered their very own spa!
They get massaged; washed; cleaned; then a little Turkish heated bath and finally perfume. They started talking about the great SPA TREATMENT they received in this room of the house so he is now facing some overbooking. The ants are going crazy!.

Way to go AntMan!

If you are in trouble; if the ants are taking over your space; if you have nowhere to go and need a helping hand… call Super AntMan!

By the way, any idea on how to get rid of ants? He will most certainly appreciate the advice…

Argentina's Independence Day

In this special day I will sing my National Anthem at home. And I would like to share the lyrics with you :

Mortals! Hear the sacred cry
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
Hear the noise of broken chains
See noble Equality enthroned

The United Provinces of the South
Have now displayed their worthy throne
And the free peoples of the world reply
We salute the great people of Argentina!

We salute the great people of Argentina!
And the free peoples of the world reply
We salute the great people of Argentina!
And the free peoples of the world reply

We salute the great people of Argentina!
May the laurels be eternal
That we knew how to win
That we knew how to win
Let us live crowned with glory

Or swear to die gloriously
Or swear to die gloriously
Or swear to die gloriously

VIVA LA PATRIA!

Should you be interested in looking at some pictures of Argentina, please click here

Singa-Theatre

The Singapore Repertory Theatre offers a series of plays throughout the year. They are quite interesting and mainly well acclaimed productions with lot of soul and great acting.

Yesterday night we went with a couple of friends to watch this play THE DRESSER. At the end the actors had a mini conversation with the audience and suggested us if we had liked the play we could share it with people we know promoting face to face. I decided to do so through my blog, for those who read it and are around… nice evening out! PLUS with the ticket you have a glass of wine free at a bar in the corner where you can go after the play to comment on it.

THE DRESSER
Norman was merely a mildly entertaining, fey Englishman devoted to his job of dressing the stage actor he calls Sir. Chatty, cranky or cajoling, he’d take on whatever tone needed to get his man on-stage and keep this traveling theatrical company afloat.

Game?

Happy Meal...

Well, not only in Mc Donald’s will you have a happy meal. I chose an Italian restaurant to have lunch with some friends. Being Argentine, having lunch in an Italian restaurant, on July 5th, after last night’s game… well I guess it brings a certain inexplicable stupid sense of comfort and reward. PLUS, we all know how good a plate full of BOLOGNESE RAVIOLI could be.

Mmmmm…

PROST… oops... I mean… SALUTE!

Divine Justice

There were, unsurprisingly, tears among German players and fans after the extraordinary end to an enthralling encounter - in which Italy also hit the woodwork twice in extra-time.

There are many things that could be said, like:

• EAT THAT!
• You DO it, you PAY for it!
• The best will win. I guess you guys are NOT the best ones then.
• Told you so, told you so
• MWAHAHAHAHA

I just prefer to quote a very wise sentence:

And there will be justice on Earth; and it will be Divine...

Flirting with Fortuna.

As I shared with my friends:
- I think it was an outstanding game both in terms of soccer quality as well as entertainment value
- The referee had some issues
- Definition by penalties is always cruel. It does not measure the quality of the soccer played and it certainly does not reward the performance of the team. It is a simple act of flirting with Fortuna.

Life goes on. It certainly does; and we will all have the chance to flirt with Fortuna.