Vuelve….Come Back Soon.

Yesterday i was looking at some stuff at home and some notebooks. I saw this red covered like thickler of mine. I wrote here some of my daily journals and also i wrote here some short stories that i was so inspired of the situations and it depends as well the day and the mood.  So i am sharing you some of it. Excerpt from the red diary.

It was August 20,2010 when Carlos and Nelson meet after a summer break when Carlos went to Italy. Nelson was so happy to meet Carlos so he can tell his stories of his trip. They met during the night and they went for a dinner, Even though Carlos didn’t told Nelson that it was his birthday, Nelson bought something special for him. Something too keep.. A reminder of their love. That was the start of a chance of sharing each other love for each other…. (to be continued).

In the photo, a stuff teddy name Joey and Leo… with a rose…. how sweet…

This song is dedicated to special someone…… You know who you are…. Still loving you…. Ricky Martin, Vuelve-

Loose Cannons (Ferzan Ozpetek, 2010),Premiere Night Madrid

Last December 21, 2010. It was the premiere of the film Loose Cannons by Ferzan Ozpetek in Madrid. So i was there and got the free Premiere Ticket.

Ferzan Ozpetek and me in the Premiere. I got an autograph and a dvd of his film Turkish Bath signed.

Ben and Ferzan in the Premiere.

One of the Rojas and Rodriguez guy flamenco attended the premiere too.

The premiere was packed with people from the movie industry, magazine, and other medias.

Oscar Alcantara of FAMA and me in the Premiere as well.

Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan, Joseph’s Tunic, Las Meninas (Diego Velázquez)

 Last January 2,2011 is a Museum Day. Starting this year will be the year for Arts, Culture and Travel for me. So why not start the year with some Art Museum. That day we had visited Three Museums in Madrid. MNCARS Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Museo Nacional del Prado and La Caixa Forum.

We started with MNCARS but i will give you details of the Paintings of Museo del Prado. The Prado Museum has many Galleries. Works of Goya, Rubens, Durero, Bosco, Tintoretto.El Greco, Fra Angelico and of course works of Diego de Velázquez.

We got the brochure of the museum and we passed by as VIPS. Ben works in Museo del Prado. Then we had visited first the works of Rubens, with 2 big gallery parallel to each other all works of Rubens.

We then get the brochure of the collections of Museo del Prado and each one of these we had visited one by one. And the 3 paintings that i like most are the works of Velázquez.

 Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan is an oil painting by Diego de Velázquez completed after his first visit to Italy in 1629. Critics agree that the work should be dated to 1630, the same year as his painting “Joseph’s Tunic“. It appears that neither of the two paintings were commissioned by the king, although both became part of the royal collections within a short time. The painting is currently to be found in the Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Joseph’s Tunic is a 1630 painting by Diego Velázquez, now held in the museum of the Sacristía Mayor del Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid, Spain).

The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a 45 min from the city centre. It has the library and where the Kings tombs are found.

One of the infantas, Margaret Theresa, the eldest daughter of the new Queen, appears to be subject of Las Meninas (1656, English: The Maids of Honour), Velázquez’s magnum opus. However, in looking at the various viewpoints of the painting it is unclear as to who or what is the true subject. Is it the royal daughter, or perhaps the painter himself? The answer may lie in the image on the back wall, depicting the King and Queen. Is this image a mirror, in which case the King and Queen are standing where the spectator stands? Are they the subject of Velazquez’s work? Or is the work simply a court painting? Much is still in speculation about the true subject of this masterpiece, and many of the questions that are asked may never be truly answered.

(some articles courtesy of wikepedia,photos museo del prado)

New Year 2011

Ben and I went out in the New Years Eve of 2011 right after the grapes. I’ll tell you the story of the grapes. Here in Spain as one of the tradition is to eat 12 grapes during the twelve chimes of the bell from the clock located at Puerta del Sol center of Madrid. You can see the tower right above the Municipal Hall of Madrid. One the ball from that tower will go down then 12 chimes be ticking and people will start to eat their grapes. Some have eaten their grapes with or without seeds. Well I’ve already pealed my grapes before it struck 12 midnight. They say that eating grapes gives us good luck!!  

One of the activities in Madrid of those big shopping malls is the CORTYLANDIA. It’s from the El Corte Ingles. Parents bring their kids to watch this big marionettes move and sang in their music and the children loves to sing with them. This year theme came from the different children of the world. Some from Italy, UK, Japan, China and Germany..

After a walk and picture taking in Puerta del Sol after all the people have all gone to their parties at that night We went to the FAMOUS Chocolateria San Gines. This chocolate place is one of the tourist places where to go when your in Madrid. Since I arrived in Madrid this is one of my rituals in New Year’s Eve is to eat chocolate with Churros.

You wont be stop having parties whether your with your family and friends in 3 weeks time. One week on the Xmas Eve. a bunchfull of meal dinner for Xmas Eve, those turrons, mazapan and tablets of chocolates in the table, its not time to have your diet back… After a week then here comes New Year. This champagnes, grapes, dress to get impress with families and friends, at this time you can see fresh faces in the subway going to the city centre for an all night party to groove and booze up…Then The three kings will pass after a week as the spanish people celebrate it with lots of children to not so children to watch the Cabalgata de Reyes. Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar will ride with those big floats throwing up candies on the 5th of January, then when you wake up on the morning on the 6th Jan you can see your gift under your Christmas tree. If your good the whole year they will give you something and if not, you will get a coal. And i guess I’m good this year and I got this 3 things, a dvd, a calendar of the BOMBEROS DE MADRID 2011 with their autograph signed and a picture frame with Ben. The morning was great. with matching ROSCON DE REYES avec Nata. I’m happy though as i get the suprise of the ROSCON…

Cheers.

OMG Magazine September 2010 Issue

This September Issue is back with the sailor!!! Famous for his perfume Le Male and his ads campaign of this sailor mens!! The one and only JEAN PAUL GAULTIER!!!

Another recap of this coming September fashion as autumn is coming in the next months!!

Our very own Israel Acevedo who will represent Spain next year search for Mr Gay World in Manila and who will also represent Mr. Gay Europe 2010. From Sevilla who represent his province last july 4, in search for Mr. Gay Pride 2010 Spain in Madrid a day before the Pride March.

One of the Biggest Event before summer, the much awaited start of the season is the Pride In Madrid. Over a million people gathered in the street for fun, pride and for family. Yours truly dressed up like sailors and march around the streets with friends. OMG took a pic of the events.

Last year I saw Mr. Sevilla 1st Runner Up in the Mr Pride 2009 and this year we’ve seen each other again. Mr. Sevilla Daniel Perez.

Check out last year post. Mr. Gay Pride 2009.

Some of the men who wear like me, Querelle’s!

Peter Paige // BOR Exclusive ’10

Peter Paige came to visit the Madrid Pride Week and a motive to get his award this year from the GLBT Spanish community for his work and career representing the GLBT. Peter Paige known on the Tv Series Emmet Honeycut from the Queer As Folk. and the movie Say Uncle!

This year also he is part of the judge for the search of Mr Gay Spain 2010.

Your truly had the chance to meet him and talk to him personally!

Nanga Parbat // 12th Festival Cine Aleman

The 12th German Film Festival In Madrid was held last June 1 at 9pm in the Cine Palafox. The premiere was totally packed. I had as yearly an invitation for the premiere movie Nanga Parbat.

Me and Reinhold Messener, the mountain climber in which the film Nanga Parbat was based. Mr Messener together with the director was there last night and I had the chance to meet him in person.

Here are the other films from this festival such as My words, My lies, my love… Ceasefire. Friendship and Es Kommt der Tag!

I attended the premiere together with my friend Pedro. This will be our second year on the festival.

On Hiatus till Spring

Hi friends of Boxofrecollections, this is not what i have done lately, the pictures are taken sometime summer of 2009 when me and friends from Holland came over to madrid and we have been going out of the city. I will be on Hiatus until the spring for personal matters so stayed tune..

Charl Van Den Berg;Worldwide Mr.Gay 2010

Charl Van Den Berg, from South Africa won the Worldwide Mr. Gay 2010 celebrated in Oslo, Norway last Febraury 14. 

Other contestant made to the top 5 were;

1  runner-up: BYRON ADU (Australia)

2. runner-up: RICK  DEAN TWOMBLEY (Hong Kong)

3. runner-up: XIAODAI MUYI (China)

4. runner-up: SERGIO LARA (Spain)

Charl is 28 years old  and like reading and playing guitar. He also practice extreme sport. He is now running a restaurant in Sea Point Cape Town in South Africa. He’s now study and getting a diploma in Business Management.

Have a look at the last year winner Max Krzyzanowski: Mr Gay World 2009

and Next Stop on 2011 it will be held in Manila, The Philippines!

 

Photograph credits to WorldWideGay.

Christmas in Madrid 09

It’s Christmas time once again, can’t you feel it? Yesterday when i woke up in the morning and i opened up my window looking out the top of the other apartments, snows where there covering it, the chilling cold breezed my cheek, I said to myself this is Christmas. It’s cold and snowing. The other day i was at the CTBA ( Cuatro Torres Business Area) , if you have a look the four tallest buildings in Madrid, It was covered with fog.

Madrid is different in terms of Xmas celebration. Unlike i guess from Manila, New York or London. In Manila, you have all this Christmas traditions where they celebrate it year by year. You can hear the Christmas song waving in the radio in every frequency. Childrens are carolling in the streets and in others houses. Others go to the Misa de Gallo to attend mass and after that they taste filipino delicacies like puto, bibingka etc. Each houses are decorated with their lights and trees. But all of these i guess im missing way back home.

( Top photo: Madrid Chueca District )

In Madrid, some ferias are open, the lights are out there in the Gran Via and other Commercial Areas like Puerta de Sol, Red de San Luis, Chueca, Plaza Mayor and even in Cibeles. They even open an ice rink in the Plaza de Callao. Some mercadillos as usual in Plaza Mayor. Calle Preciados is inundated with people for their last minute Christmas Shopping. But i couldn’t hear any Christmas songs in the air….

(Top photo: Plaza de Red de San Luis)

It’s been a pleasure for me to continue this blog, despite the fact that sometimes i may be very busy in work and personal life. I even forget to post my Fourth YEAR blog ANNIVERSARY last month. and still thanking for all the readers out there and other blogmates for their continued support on my blog. This Christmas, i would like to thank everyone and to all the people who became part of me. Your all in my BOX OF RECOLLECTIONS!

( Top photo: Plaza de Callao) ; All photos courtesy of manu269 of flickr.

” It’s the part of giving and sharing to everyone is the spirit of Christmas.”