Minus kiting para bagting

Late last year, my Netflix queue was getting small and I decided that I would finish it off and cancel my subscription. That plan changed when, in January, I found Netflix had added more Pinoy movies to their catalog. (I've since put my Netflix account on hold until July due to an upcoming 2 week trip to the Philippines, the arrival of baseball season, and to catch up on my reading list.)

Learning about a country through its cinema is difficult at best, but I watch Pinoy movies to see the people, villages, and landscape, and to hear the languages. The movies themselves are ok. I've found at least one that was magnificent, but I've only scratched the surface. Critic After Dark reveals many more titles that I want to watch. When I am in the Philippines I hope to acquire some of these. Non-pirated versions, of course.

I'll also be on the lookout for some classic Pinoy rock CDs, such as the Juan de la Cruz Band. Vinyl would be preferred, but I recently saw some of these rare LPs sell for more than $300. Like...uh...Steely Dan, there isn't anyone actually named Juan de la Cruz in the band. A sure sign of a great band. "Juan de la Cruz" is the name of the Filipino every-man. And their carabao head logo is great.

If I get kidnapped by terrorists in Mindanao...please, don't pay the ransom.