Gallery Update: "McCantina"

My friends over at Action Figure Empire and Imperial Shipyards asked me to come up with a Mos Eisley Cantina rendition. So what happens when I mix my favorite movie with my favorite fast food chain?

Gallery Update: Swamp Master

Big Bike with Sith Lights: A Star Wars hog from the Pinoy Harley Riders Club

My grade school classmate, Lorenzo Paran III, maintains a blog called Pinoy in America, and while I was reading his post "A Day with the Pinoy Harley Riders Club" I spotted one special bike that suddenly ka-blammed my SW geeksense into hyperdrive:

A Skywalker pop and son lightsaber duel paint job up front, and Vader break lights to complete the Sith intimidation!

Third (as he is still fondly called and who is currently based in CA), informed me that the bike was invited to be displayed at the LA Oscar Awards Night  2011 red carpet "but got bumped off at the last minute". The Harley is owned by a Fil-Am dentist based in SoCal, who surprisingly is not into Star Wars, but entrusted the custom job to a man who obviously is a fan of the George Lucas saga.

Pinoy in America is an enjoyable read, a candid and often times humorous take on the lives of Filipinos living and working in the United States. Third has already published a book "An Isteysayd Life" last year. I gotta get an autographed copy soon.

(All photos were posted with the permission of Lorenzo Paran III)

My Ewoks are achievers!

April 5 was a banner day for my two Ewoks: Gboy graduated from preparatory school with honors (6th place and Best in Values Education) while Yamee was recognized as Number 1 in her Grade 3 class, and received 7 awards (Best in English, Mathematics, Science, Filipino, Computer, Values, Civics). Marissa and I are so proud of you kids!

So here's something that I did to commemorate this wonderful occasion:

Yep, Ewoks were also there during the Yavin 4 Medal Ceremony, alongside Luke, Han, Princess Leia, Chewie, Artoo and Threepio :)

Here are some more pics of the real awarding ceremonies:

The Galvanized Force

Just playin' around with some image editing software. Here's my take on the Skywalkers, the most famous family in the Star Wars universe. Only this time, instead of Anakin, Amidala, Luke and Leia, it's me, Marissa, Gboy and Yamee, haha!

My Star Wars Birthday Wish...

I'm turning a year older today, and though I may not be as old as Master Yoda, let me borrow his line:

"When 38 years old you reach, look as good you will not, hmmm?"

Kidding aside, I have a planet full of reasons to be thankful for. I thank the good Lord for blessing me with a wonderful family: a beautiful, loving wife, two smart and adorable kids; a job that squeezes out my creative juices and brings food to our table; friends that have been with me through thick and thin.

On my birthday, may the good Lord grant me:

Anakin's great love for his mom and Amidala...
Yoda's wisdom...
Luke's courage...
Han Solo's swagger and confidence...
Chewbacca's strength and loyalty...
Threepio's mastery of languages...
Artoo's technical wizardry...
Princess Leia's diplomatic savvy...
Grand Admiral Thrawn's intelligence...
Boba Fett's focus and durability...

...and may the Forces of good forever prevail over the Dark Side.

Noong unang panahon, in a galaxy far far away....Cast ng Star Wars Pinoy comedy

Kumusta mga suki ng Carinderia?

First time ko mag-blog in Filipino, meron kasi akong  ideyang maaring ikatuwa, ikagulat or ikainis ni George Lucas at ng lahat ng mga fans ng Star Wars, kaya atin-atin lang muna ito mga kabayan ha!

Kung meron kasing mga parody tulad ng Hardware Wars, Spaceballs at Star Wars Robot Chicken, bakit kaya hindi natin gawan ng Pinoy comedy version ang Star Wars? Heto ang mga magiging bida ng ating intergalactic sarswela:

Luke Skywalker - Ang bidang mahilig sa basketball at iniidolo si Samboy Lim

Princess Leia Organa - Ang kakambal ni Luke, nahiwalay nung ipinanganak at napunta sa mayamang pamilya ng mga musikero. Pinag-aral sa Berkley School of Music at nagdalubhasa sa pagtugtog ng piano

Obi Wan Kenobi - Ermitanyong Bisaya, nagtitinda ng Ube halaya. Siya ang may alam na si Luke at Leia ay magkakambal

Han Solo - Feeling cool na sigang playboy, pero ang totoo'y virgin pa at 35 years old.

Chewbacca - Mutated talking cow, besfren ni Han

Darth Vader -  1/3 man, 1/3 robot, 1/3 dart board. Meron siyang hika, kaya parang laging hirap huminga.

Threepio - Robot na madaldal. Totoong pangalan niya ay "Popopo", pero mabantot pakinggan, kaya ginawa nya na lang Threepio para maging cool

Artoo - Robot na pandak, pero di hamak na mas astig at mas matalino kesa kay Threepio. "Rrrrr Rrrrr" nga lang ang alam niyang salita.

The Emperor - Bossing ni Darth Vader. Ang totoong pangalan niya ay Palpatine, pero pinalitan niya dahil sa daming palpak na nangyari noong kabataan niya. Also known as Darth Sidious, dahil kahit may katandaan na'y mahilig pang magpa-cute sa mga kababaihan.

Stormtroopers - Mga alalay at goons ni Emperor, susugod sa bagyo at lulusong sa baha para kay bossing

Boba Fett - Babaeng bounty hunter na mali-mali

Abangan ang mga susunod na episodes...

Darth Bader and Athletes with Star Wars inspired monikers

The Dark Side of the Mouthpiece: Ryan "Darth" Bader (photo from phoenix.fanster.com)

One of the undercards of UFC 126 (featuring Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs Vitor "The Phenom\ Belfort" as the main event) piqued my interest as it pitted two young up and coming fighters, Jon "Bones" Jones and Ryan "Darth" Bader. Now that's a cool crossover between the UFC and Star Wars .

(image from cbssports.com)

Ryan (real name: Ryan DuWayne Bader) was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 finale and had a pristine MMA record of 12-0, racking up impressive wins over Keith Jardine and Antonio "Little Nog" Noguiera) before falling to Bones Jones in their match via 2nd rd guillotine choke. Too bad, I guess the force was not strong  with Darth Bader today. Bones was the same fighter who broke Brandon Vera's cheekbone and I wanted Bader to sort of avenge him.

So, which other athletes have used Star Wars influenced monikers?

I Believe I Can Fly (Samboy Lim before Space Jam)

1. Avelino "Samboy" "The Skywalker" Lim
This Philippine Basketball Association legend mesmerized Pinoy hoop fans in the early 80s with his devil-may-care aerial acrobatics

Kenny Walker (image from hoopedia.nba.com)

2. Kenny "Sky" Walker

His claim to fame was winning the 1989 Slam Dunk contest while he was with the New York Knicks.

DVD Cover of Skywalker: The David Thompson Story (Image from tower.com)

3. David Thompson

Perhaps more deserving of the moniker than Kenny Walker is David Thompson, a Hall of Famer whose career started with the ABA then eventually the NBA where he was a 4 time All Star. He played for the Denver Nuggets and Seattle Supersonics. His Airness Michael Jordan admitted that he looked up to David Thompson as his role model while growing up. Another interesting fact: Thompson was drafted number 1 by both the ABA and the NBA

Lester Hayes (image from fannation.com)

4. Lester Hayes ("The only true Jedi of the NFL")

More popularly known as "The Judge" and "Lester the Molester", Hayes was a big Star Wars fan who anointed himself "the only true Jedi of the NFL" He played for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders as cornerback and was the 1980 NFL Defensive Player of  the Year. He was literally a Force to reckon with.

Black Mamba with a Lightsaber (image from with-malice.com, an LA Lakers blog)

5. Kobe Bryant (Kobe Wan Kenobi)

OK, you might say I made this one up just because I'm a Kobe Bryant fan. But to prove you wrong, early in Kobe's career, Chris Berman of espn.com conducted a poll among readers of The Berman Files to see which nickname was appropriate for Bryant. Interestingly enough, out of 15,500 votes casted, Kobe Wan Kenobi won with 5,586 votes. If you're still skeptical, click on this link: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/bermanfiles/bryantwinner.html

Shaqawookiee? (image from mtv.com)

Just wondering, if Shaq had a SW nickname, what would it be? Remember that dance number he had during the All Star game in Phoenix with the Jabbawockeez? Could it be "Jabba the Shaq?" "Shaqawookiee?"

Your guess is as good as mine.