Thursday, October 4, 2007

a tRIBuTe to DumbleDore

"It does not do to dwell in dreams and forget to live"

Can you recognize this line.?? Well, if not then you're not a true blue Harry Potter fanatic. This line was said by Albus Dumbledore in book 1, the Sorcerers Stone.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series. A well-loved wizard in the wizarding world and here in the muggle world who is taken by the Harry Potter frenzy. He is the headmaster in Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry, the founder of the Order of the Phoenix, a fictional organisation dedicated to fighting the main antagonist of the series, Lord Voldemort. The books describe Dumbledore as a classic wizard; tall and thin, with long silver hair that looks long enough to tuck into his belt and a long beard. He has twinkling, blue eyes, a very long and crooked nose, auburn hair and long fingers. He wears half-moon spectacles.

Throughout the series, Dumbledore does not give importance to the so-called "purity of blood" and believes that an individual's choices reflect one's character, rather than one's birth, blood or family, saying "it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be". Voldemort angrily refers to Dumbledore as "that champion of commoners, of Mudbloods and Muggles". Unlike most wizards, Dumbledore is not afraid to refer to Voldemort by name and instead addresses him as "Tom" when confronting him.
Characters in the books often remark that his greatest weakness is his willingness to trust those who may otherwise be considered untrustworthy. This trust is often criticised by those around him but is rarely questioned. He is frequently shown to have a great sense of humour, and often has a whimsical sense about him, especially during conflict, which can often infuriate those who are at odds with him. He is hardly ever impatient, and is always calm. He always makes a point to be polite, even to those whom one would consider his enemies. He is a great lover of music, calling it "A magic beyond all we do. He is really a funny, lovable yet powerful character in the series.

Of course, Harry Potter fans who already have read book 6 knows that our beloved headmaster was slain by Severus Snape. His funeral was filled by not only wizards and witches but also, creatures of different kinds like mermaids and giants. It wad indeed a great loss, like a very strong pillar of power suddenly collapsed.

I haven't read the last book of the series so I am really wondering how the other characters faced their enemies now that they have lacked in power and support. Yet, it an exciting thing to think about and watch out for.

Yet, for those who apart from reading the book, watched the Harry Potter movies can remember that "Dumbledore" already died before even before the book 5 was written by JK Rowling. I am talking about Richard Harris.

Richard St. John Harris, was the one who first paled the role as Dumbledore in Harry Potter movie 1 and 2. Harris initially declined the offer to play Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films wanting to commit to subsequent sequels. Upon learning that he had turned down the role, his granddaughter convinced him that he was "going to do it." He played the role of Headmaster Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter film adaptations, but died before filming commenced on the third movie.

Harris was born in Limerick on the 1st of October, 1930 and is one of the county's most famous children - other Limerick celebrities. Harris still calls the village of Kilkee his home, and still, when time allows, drinks in the Charlie St George on Limerick's Parnell St. As a lad, he studied at Crescent School where he excelled at both literature and rugby, then the Sacred Heart Jesuit college. His main dream was to play rugby for Ireland - as a boy he'd make his own ball from rags and rehearse glorious length-of-the-pitch tries. And he did come close, joining the legendary Garryowen club and, in 1951, winning a Munster senior cup medal. He played a rough game for a rough team - so rough that the name Garryowen has been given to the tactic of kicking the ball high in the air and descending en masse upon the poor unfortunate who tries to catch it.

He is multi awarded actor yet he is best known and remembered in his hell raising days. Drinking liquors like theres no tomorrow. True, his personality is a bit different form his role as Dumbledore.

Yet, I missed him a lot, especially when I watch the first Harry Potter filmd. I can not help but compare the way he acts to the "new" Dumbledore now, played by Sir Michael Gambon. Don't get me wrong, I love Michael Gambon and I believe that he portrays his role very well. He is fun to look at, he lookd like a caring and approachable headmaster. He really acts childish and mysteroius the way that Dumbledore should be yet he doesn't really fill the Dumbledorish aura unlike Sir Harris does. Harris has this certain aura, acretain glow, a certain look and elegance that defines a real Dumbledore.He looks like the one who has profound elegance and unmatched power and mystery yet has this loving and fatherly look and gestures. His blue eyes are shining , making his half moon spectales in the movie look like the real moon.

i just miss the way he moves in elegance and the way he comforts Harry(Daniel). He acts as if he is the real Dumbledore.

So I propose a toast, cheers to Harris and to Dumbledore. May he be in God's loving hands.

thanks to http://wikipedia.com and http://tiscali.co.uk/


Desperate Housewives and the racial sLur

"Desperate housewives and their racial slur..."

A headline that is now spreading like wild-fire..
Last night I was about to sleep when I heard a news about Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher and her popular show being pelted with comments of anger and disappointment. this is due to a scene in the premier episode in the fourth season of the show which was recently aired. In the said episode, Susan, Teri Hatcher's character said the line,
“Okay, before going further, can I check these diplomas cause I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”

The scene was that Teri was teasing her doctor because her doctor told her that she was experiencing signs of menopausal , and she refuses to believe it. As a last resort to explain why maybe the doctor was just mistaken she said the lines that are now causing so much raucous.

A lot of emails,forums and message boards have been posted in the internet, all of which expressing anger, discrimination and disappointment. US based doctors and nurses who graduated from the Philippines, most of which are home grown who chose to work in America were outraged. They were being degraded and so is the country's state of medical and educational level.

One of the email I saw on the web is quoted below:



Hello Kababayan,
I’m a Filipina living in Michigan and a proud Phil.Nursing Sch.graduate. I was outraged by last night’s episode and I’m glad many of us feel the same way. I have many friends who are doctors, nurses & physical therapists who work very very hard to make a living here, ABC owes us all an apology for that very insensitive remark.
I posted a bulletin in my Friendster Account this morning, here it is:

Date: Monday, October 1, 2007 5:07 AM
Subject: OFFENSIVE Remark Abt.FILIPINO DOCs on Des.Housewives
Message: Monday, Oct.01.07

I watched the Premiere of Desperate Housewives last night on ABC and was very offended by the remark of Teri Hatcher’s character about Filipino doctors. She said to her OB that she hopes “he’s not a graduate of some Philippine Med School”. I’m married to a Caucasian and you can just imagine how sensitive I am about racial matters. It was ONE line but I heard it loud and clear and I hated it. Why? because the writers were insensitive and that line was downright offensive to Filipino Doctors /healthcare workers and the whole Filipino Community as a whole. To think that SOOOO many Philippine grad.doc /nurses work here, how dare they include such line? I’m glad I’m NOT the only one who caught it, when I checked the show’s website message board, it is overflowing with sentiments as mine.



..For me, Teri Hatcher shouldn't be blamed for it whole scenario happening now.. She is just a actress who was given lines or script to internalize for her role. It was her job. The ones to be held responsible are the writers and the director of the controversial show. It was their job to produce funny yet witty lines to entertain their audience yet I don't think that what they wrote or what they showed was even an inch funny or witty.

..Being writers, being in the media, being in the entertainment business , they should be responsible in what they say and do, because if they don't they will pay a high price. The damage is already done. A lot have expressed their grief and angst on the on-going signature campaign to ban the show or even just have the ABC management send an apology to the Philippines and to those who were hurt by the show. Some people said that the only way for them to be totally forgiven is to make an apology or disclaimer directly on the show by the same character.

..The lesson to be learned here is that we must always be responsible to anything we say or do. We must make sure that it will not hurt any person and if does we must be ready to face the consequences.

..the scene of the Desperate Housewives episode can be seen below.