NOSTALGIA: The A-Team Action Figures

Back in 1984 (I feel so old), toy maker Galoob released the A-Team action figure line to coincide with the television series which was popular at the time. And, naturally, me and my friends had to get our hands on these. My neighbor had one first, then I had mine a few weeks after Christmas.

We both purchased the 3.75" Soldiers Of Fortune 4-pack, since none of us really cared about the Bad Guys 4-pack that was also available. Oh well. The more, the merrier.

Each figure came with 10 articulation points (could actually be 12, if one considers that the arms can also swing from side to side in addition to rotating up and down), and some weapons and accessories:

Hannibal included a demolition backpack, detonator, and a rifle (plus that grin on his face).

The Face came with a flamethrower and a rifle (plus a grin on his face also).

Aside from the grin and the rifle, Murdock came with a mortar launcher with a stand.

B.A. Baracus came with an ammo backpack, and that rifle again (they say it's an M-16 but I think it looks different). It's also interesting to note that B.A. is the only action figure in this set who is not wearing a grin on his face (he does look a bit catatonic, though).







Me and my friends had tons of fun with these. One of them would always use Hannibal, since he feels like he was the leader of our group; his younger brother was a pretty face and would always use The Face. My best friend was the tough one in our group, and so would use B.A. Baracus. Me? I'm a nutcase.

These toys were on the brittle part, though. Their thumbs snapped off rather quickly, and we were left with mostly thumbless figures. Notice also their jaundiced hands (except for B.A.), owing to the fact that the flesh color were only painted on. This also chipped off in no time.

And so, after the summer of 1985, G.I Joe came into our world. What happened to these figures? I guess my Joes buried them somewhere in the yard, along with my Matchbox collection, Action Jack/M.A.C., and Star Wars action figures.


Images courtesy of toymania.com.

The Audition

There's much to say when somebody holds an audition and isn't clear as to the details of the audition itself.

I am not pissed that I did not get the part, but perhaps I am pissed as to WHY I did not get the part.

But before I delve into that...

I did not find it pleasant, nor amusing, that the "organizer" made us wait only under the trees and a few tarpaulin tents that were barely enough to protect everyone from the elements on a hot and humid day while waiting for their turn to be auditioned. From 9am to 5pm, most of us waited, under the heat.

This is one of the main reasons why I never visit my grandparents' grave on All Saints' and All Souls' Day anymore: sitting under the cover of a tarpaulin tent all afternoon under the elements. I enjoyed the sun when I was younger. But all the pollutants that mankind has stuffed into this forsaken planet has somehow screwed up the weather -- I do not remember the sun being as painful to my skin as it is nowadays. Nor do I remember spitting out gray-colored phlegm the morning after I've been out in the city, either -- there is also much to say about this country's fucking government still allowing the open use of diesel fuel, but that's for some other future blog post.

And while the auditions were held inside a university's campus, there wasn't any place nearby to get something to eat or drink. At least somewhere near enough that whenever the numbers are being called, it would be audible -- there wasn't any P.A. system set up outside, just some girly man shouting out the numbers. Adding to this, is the fact that one has only 15 minutes to respond when his/her number is up. Miss it and kiss your audition goodbye.

And so there was I, dry throat and drenched in sweat, stomach growling for some food. I did not foresee it coming. I had the impression, owing to the poster, that this was to be a simple audition: either one gets the part or not. That was my mistake. I did not buy any food or drink before I went to the venue.

My first taste of water since my 8am breakfast before going to the auditions came in at around 4pm, when a vendor dropped by to sell some orange-flavored soda and mineral water. COLD WATER. Bad for anyone's singing voice, but much-needed by my system. I tried swirling it around my mouth for a few moments just to warm it up a bit and not affect my voice, but 7 hours worth of thirst took over and so I gulped the remaining contents down.

As my number was about to be called, somebody set up a hotdog stand. Amazingly idiotic. It has been 8 hours since auditions began and it was just during the final hour that somebody realized to set up some sort of food stand. Must've gone through some thick bureaucracy shit inside the university before being given a permit to set up a food stand inside the premises. And with the oil used to cook them 'dogs, there was barely enough time to remove all that grease from my throat and be able to sing as well. So, against my growling stomach I refused to ingest any food for the meantime. "Meantime"? Shit. I've gone without food for 8 hours already.

So what pissed me off big-time?

I was only informed of this audition, a week before it was to be held. While the poster was accurate as to the details of the venue, time and date of the auditions, there were other essentials that were not expressly mentioned in that poster. There were contact details on the poster, and inquired I did.

My SMS (translated and expanded form, for those who are not familiar with 'abbreviated' SMS language used by Filipinos): "Good evening. Will the auditions push through this Friday?"

Reply: "Yes, it will."

SMS: "How many songs?"

Reply: "2-3 songs, but not whole."

SMS: "Okay. Should it necessarily be (the band's) songs, or would it also be okay to sing other songs? Sorry for asking so many questions."

Reply: "(The band's) songs are not a requirement."

Cool. Not a requirement. I could quickly get the band's songs' lyrics in my head, but it's those nuances in singing the songs that take time, and less than a week is barely enough time for me. So I went to the auditions armed with every song I know, except the band's songs. After all, it wasn't a requirement. 'Bring your own voice', as I recall what was printed on their poster.

I arrive at the venue, to be greeted by a giant tarpaulin of the band and what seems to be a tv schedule for a show. What the hell?! This wasn't a simple audition after all. Was this going to be some kind of reality show type thing? I hate almost every friggin' "reality" show that has been aired on television.

I was handed some sort of pre-audition contract, stating that while this "contest" is ongoing, I am not entitled to any residual stemming from any public or television appearance/event, if ever I'm chosen as one of the finalists. Great. Not only have I figured myself in some sort of contest, I also have to shell out for my own transportation expenses to wherever they want us to show up.

And it wasn't to be just a simple audition. Some genius/es decided to split it into two auditions, as if it was necessary, by having an "initial screening committee" before auditioning in front of the people who are really in the music industry, i.e., musicians. So this was why it was taking us ages to wait for our turn.

I wanted to back out, but since I've already traveled all the way to the audition, I might as well go give it a try.

And so, after 8 fucking hours of waiting under the elements with only a small bottle of water to refresh my throat on the eighth hour it was, finally, my turn.

Having the bad luck of somebody who has been struck by lightning more than twice, they decided to move the initial screening upstairs just as it was supposed to be my turn. So move upstairs we all went, including the equipment. Well, not all the equipment. They were either too lazy to set it all up again upstairs, or too lazy and/or too stupid to figure out how to reconnect a simple P.A. setup (which was obvious, since they could figure out where to put the cable jack in) so they decided that we, the remaining auditionees for the day, sing our songs acapella without the help of any amplification.

After singing my first piece, they asked me to sing one of the band's songs. Just what I needed. Thank you so much to whoever that fucking idiot is, who replied to my SMS inquiry and told me that the band's songs were not a requirement.

And so after all was sung and done, I was told by this 'initial screening committee' that I was not prepared for the audition, and that my image does not fit with the band.

Not prepared for the audition? I've got about a hundred songs inside my head, motherfuckers! I've been learning songs longer than most of you rocker poseurs have ever been in the 'music industry' or thought about getting into it. Too bad for me, that I do not know any of the band's songs because I've never EVER really listened to most of the crap they put out. Too bad for me, that I never really listen to most of the offal played on the radio, nor do I watch stupid MTV nowadays.

Too bad for me, that I never dress up like most of the emo-wannabe youth nowadays. They got one thing right though: my image does not really fit with most of the local bands nowadays who put image first before any real, original talent. Bands and/or "artists" who need to sound or look like some foreign group, just to get the attention of today's shallow superficial youth.

Maybe they should've stated that it was a "sound-alike, look-alike" contest, instead of just an audition. Then I could've saved time and effort, and did something more productive and intellectual that day.

Third

Saigo no kisu wa
Tabako no flavor ga shita
Nigakute setsunai kaori

Ashita no imagoro ni wa
Anata wa doko ni iru n' darou
Dare wo omotte 'ru n' darou

You are always gonna be my love
Itsu ka dare ka to mata koi ni ochite mo
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made

Tachidomaru jikan ga
Ugoki-dasou to shite 'ru
Wasuretaku nai koto bakari

Ashita no imagoro ni wa
Watashi wa kitto naite 'ru
Anata wo omotte 'ru n' darou

You will always be inside my heart
Itsu mo anata dake no basho ga aru kara
I hope that I have a place in your heart too
Now and forever you are still the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made

You are always gonna be my love
Itsu ka dare ka to mata koi ni ochite mo
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
Mada kanashii love song
Now and forever...



"First Love", by Utada Hikaru

NOSTALGIA: Star Wars Action Figures

Here are pictures of what was once my collection: vintage Star Wars action figures. Looking back, it's rather funny how their articulation was so basic during those days: five points (and on some figures, four points) of articulation - neck, arms and legs. So there wasn't much fun in posing these figures, but they were one of the coolest toys back then.

This Hammerhead was my very first Star Wars action figure. I now do not know what came over me, to buy such a horrible looking toy. Ugh. It could likely be my utter desperation to own a Star Wars action figure, just when all the good ones were no longer in stock. Blame it to my folks' "award before reward" b.s., wherein I have to show very good grades at school before they decide to buy me cool toys -- after much begging and pleading at that.

One of my favorites in my Star Wars figure collection was this Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot. I especially liked how this figure looked.

And, strangely, this came with some kind of sweet-smelling citrus scent which stayed on the figure for so many years. I never had an idea what it was. Even up to now.

Third one in my collection was this Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot figure. It was another Boba Fett-less day as I scoured the toy shops, so I had to settle for this one.

This AT-AT Driver was my second favorite Star Wars action figure. It came with a nice-looking rifle but just like the Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot that I had, its head did not turn. Bummer.

After being frustrated for such a long time with that Boba Fett figure, this was the LAST Star Wars figure I bought. I got tired of the limited articulation anyways, so I decided that I might as well stop this obsession and move on to other ones. *lol*

Boba Fett. This is the action figure that was ever so elusive.

I never had one, and I don't think I'll ever do.

PVC Anime Figures -- A New Hobby?

Browsing through pages upon pages of items being sold off eBay as I was pondering the near possibility that I will dispose my whole Mini4WD collection through that website, I ended up on an item which struck my fancy: PVC anime figurines. I have already seen some of these being sold at toy shops but due to the limited selection available here, it never made me curious enough.

Not until now.

Stumbling upon Danny Choo's excellent website by way of Google (ahh, the wonders of being an internet researcher), I saw a very beautiful PVC anime figure: Mirei San. I think this is one of the hottest looking PVC figures I have ever laid my eyes upon, and I knew I had to get one.

I took the liberty of downloading some pictures of Mirei San (my apologies, Mr. Choo), just to help those who read this blog understand what I meant when I said 'beautiful' and 'hot':

Scorchin'. Now if I could only find out where to get one of these. Or two.

I guess I've found a new hobby to take Mini4WD's place.

I just hope my G.I. Joes won't bury these figures again somewhere, someplace. *lol*

Images courtesy of dannychoo.com

Hello Kitty for bad Thai cops!

Here's an article from Yahoo! News:

Mon Aug 6, 7:38 AM ET

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thai police officers who break rules will be forced to wear hot pink armbands featuring "Hello Kitty," the Japanese icon of cute, as a mark of shame, a senior officer said Monday.

Police officers caught littering, parking in a prohibited area, or arriving late — among other misdemeanors — will be forced to stay in the division office and wear the armband all day, said Police Col. Pongpat Chayaphan. The officers won't wear the armband in public. The striking armband features Hello Kitty sitting atop two hearts.

"Simple warnings no longer work. This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor," said Pongpat, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok.

"(Hello) Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho police officers want covering their biceps," Pongpat said.

He said police caught breaking the law will be subject the same fines and penalties as any other members of the public.

"We want to make sure that we do not condone small offenses," Pongpat said, adding that the CSD believed that getting tough on petty misdemeanors would lead to fewer cases of more serious offenses including abuse of power and mistreatment of the public by police officers.

Hello Kitty, invented by Sanrio Co. in 1974, has been popular for years with children and young women. The celebrity cat adorns everything from diamond-studded jewelry, Fender guitars and digital cameras to lunch boxes, T-shirts and stationery.

Way cool, if you ask me. Wish something like this could also happen here in the Philippines. But with all the corrupt monkey cops around, I'd bet Sanrio would have to triple their production of these armbands. And if you disagree with me, then just shut the fuck up. Go make your own blog.

I am a bigot for a reason.

Image courtesy of Yahoo! News.

The Simpsons Movie

Feeling like I was carrying the world's boredom on my shoulders yesterday during my off day from work, I decided to forcibly pick myself up off the bed and go outside. But since there was nothing new at the toy and hobby shops, it felt like my window shopping was unexpectedly cut short.

I wanted to rent a PlayStation 2 at the mall to while away my time and let the remainder of the day pass, but realizing how ridiculous E.G.G. (Extreme Gaming Grounds) charge per hour (P80 to P100) and I had no energy to travel all the way to San Pedro, Laguna where the hourly rate would be a lot cheaper (P20 per hour, but then the transportation expenses would total to an additional P100 or so), I decided to catch a flick instead.

So off I went to QUAD in Makati, to watch The Simpsons Movie.

Being an occasional viewer of the tv show, all I can say is that the movie was nothing special really. It was like watching one long episode of the show. But it was indeed edgier and funnier, compared to the episodes shown on television. The most memorable (and funniest) scenes for me was the Itchy and Scratchy portion during the beginning of the movie, and Bart's nude skateboarding stunt ("We thank the Lord for this bountiful... PENIS!!!"). Green Day's appearance at the beginning was also cool.

Was it worth the P120 ticket price? I do think it was better spent watching that movie rather than giving it to the capitalists of E.G.G. or traveling all the way to Laguna to play some PS2 games.

And at the end of the film when the credits begin to roll, Maggie utters her very first word: "sequel?" Hehe... Why not, Maggie, why not?

NOSTALGIA: Die-cast Car Collection

Back when life was so much simpler, and toys were just the same (to my knowledge, that is), I had my first experience in being a collector -- a "hobbyist" if one might like to call it -- with my modest die-cast Matchbox and Tomica collection.

Growing up in a not-so-middle class family, seldom was the chance for my folks to allocate a budget for my toys. I often, if not always, had to prove myself by getting good grades at school, just so I can get them to buy me something new. But still, the prohibitive costs of the toys that I DID like to have prevented me from acquiring them. And to make matters worse, if my folks would've had the money for me it was most of the time too late -- either because the hottest toy that I had wanted during the time had been replaced with a new, more expensive trend, or it was still so popular that after the school's grading period they were almost impossible to find since stocks had run out.

And because of this, most of the time I had to settle for something more practical - something easily found in the store shelves: die-cast cars. These cars might also be the reason why I like cars up to now.

My first die-cast Matchbox car was this 1969 Lotus Europa which was given to me during my preschool days. Wait a minute... Preschool? I skipped preschool and jumped straight to 1st Grade.

So that makes this my first die-cast car (along with a Toyota Sprinter, which I haven't found a picture of) before I started going to school.

Most of the vehicles in my collection weren't even something I had liked or wanted. They were given to me as gifts by some relative who didn't really care as long as they had something for me during Christmas, or on my birthday:

Just like this 1972 double-deck bus named "The Londoner". I can't recall if this was given to me by my aunt or some other relative. I never really cared for this one, so this wound up in the water most of the time.

The same also goes for this 1974 Hondarora. It had no use other than be displayed, because that kickstand that's keeping it upright was always in the way. That and the fact that I had been given a Star Rangers motorbike+sidecar toy (I still have to find pics of that) which was way cooler with its rubber tires and removable figures. I remember getting tired of that kickstand and cut it off with some pliers.

This 1975 Atlas Truck was way better than the previous two, but I still couldn't care less about dumptrucks because my grandparents wouldn't let me play with sand, soil, or anything that had "germs". *lol*

I can't remember whom I got this from. My mother perhaps. Ma, how could you?!! Hehe.

A 1975 Fandango. So named because of that blue fan-like projection at the back which spins as the car's wheels roll. That fan also had the tendency to get stuck, so the fun factor for this car would dive down to zero everytime that happened. I think I got this from a cousin. Or this WAS taken from a cousin's. Bad kid, me.

Another one of those things that they thought I found cute: a 1975 Mini Ha-ha. Well... Ha ha ha ha ha. It wasn't funny then, and it still isn't funny now.

This orange 1975 Vantastic was anything but. I think I traded this for a Hairy Hustler (somewhere below).

And so my aunt gives me this 1976 Hovercraft for Christmas. Gee, aunt, thanks. By now I know you know I like sportscars, and this does NOT look anything like it.

A 1976 Mercedes Benz container truck, with a removable container that also had opening hatches. At least I could put something inside the container. Too bad these toys weren't made to scale, so I'd put a baby gecko inside, or a ladybug -- guaranteed to freak my friends out. *lol*

Gah!!! Another one of them Atlases. This time a 1976 Skip Truck. I think I also traded this off. I just can't remember for what, though.

This is a 1977 Ambulance (looks like a Ford). At least this had some use whenever I'd pretend my sportscars figured in an accident. Rear doors open so they'd also find a baby gecko inside from time to time.

Grandpa was into those big American station wagon-type cars, so he brought this 1978 Cougar Villager home for me one night.

After some time, he also picked up this 1978 Renault 5TL, for good measure. It wasn't a station wagon this time, but more of a hatchback. Grandpa likes anything colored blue.

My aunt (or was it my mom?), to annoy me even further, got me this 1978 Shunter train on another birthday.

Mom got this 1978 Wreck Truck for my birthday. This went well with my 1977 Ambulance.

I can't recall who gave me this 1980 Ford Courier Camper, but after getting tired of that ubiquitous camper shell, I decided to saw it off which left a gaping hole at the roof of the pickup truck.

Some in my collection were acquired through trades with friends:

This 1970 Dodge Charger MkIII looked cool, so I traded off one of my vehicles for this (dunno which one it was, though).

I personally think that trading off my 1975 Vantastic for this 1971 Hairy Hustler was a good decision.

I found a second-hand 1979 Plymouth Gran Fury squad car, being sold by some sidewalk vendor outside school one day, and decided to buy it to complement my ambulance and tow truck. I lost this one while playing at a friend's house -- fell down their water-logged basement and I didn't bother going after it (after all, the water down there was from their leaky toilets. *Eww*).

As always, I cannot recall with whom and with what did I trade off for this 1981 Swing Wing. I loved the F-14 Tomcat, and it was even the very first model kit I assembled (more on that next time).

And now, on to the good stuff in my collection:

I loved Mustangs, so I wasted no time trading off one of my least liked vehicles for this 1972 Boss Mustang.

This 1975 Pontiac Firebird was one of my long-time favorites. I played with this so often that most of the blue sparkle paint chipped off, and the chrome plated parts tarnished.

I also found this 1976 Dodge Challenger as one of my favorite cars in the collection. Funny how I seemed to prefer American muscle during the early years.

One day I suddenly seemed to have become interested with large-wheeled four wheel drive vehicles, like this 1976 Jeep. That "Golden Eagle" artwork on the hood looked cheesy though.

My grandma used to love watching that British crime-action TV drama "The Professionals", where I first saw this 1978 Ford Escort RS 2000. Funny how it wasn't until around six years later, that I was to finally find this on sale.

This started my love for everything Porsche: the 1978 Porsche Turbo. This looked kinda bulkier than normal, compared to my other sportscars though.

This was the very first sportscar in my collection: a 1979 Chevrolet Corvette. Another one of my long-time favorites, I left this one as a souvenir to a neighbor when we moved residences in 1984.

Perhaps one of the very first cars in my collection that had suspension-type wheels, this 1981 BMW M1 became an instant favorite. The hood opens and I would put small stuff in there (not baby geckos now though *lol*).

A 1981 Ferrari 308GTB. The car that introduced me to the world of Ferrari. I loved this car so much that I bought another one, after I accidentally scratched the paint and somehow rusted the spring leaf "suspension" on my first one. This also reminded me of Magnum P.I., though Tom Selleck was driving a 308GTS on that one.

As my curiosity for off-road 4x4's was starting to grow, I bought this 1981 Flareside Truck to complement my 1976 Jeep. This was way better than the Jeep because this now had "suspension" on its wheels.

As with all things 4x4, I took this 1982 Audi Quattro in my collection after buying a remote controlled Audi Quattro.

This car will always remind me of the WRC. This, I think, is also where Toyota got their design idea for their Corolla DX back in '83.

Knight Rider was my favorite show during '83 - '85, and as such, I hunted high and low for this 1982 Pontiac Firebird. Too bad I couldn't find a black variant, which would've made this look more like K.I.T.T.

I can't recall buying this 1983 Corvette. This might have been part of a good friend's collection that ended up in mine. This reminded me of Faceman's car in the A-Team.

Aside from the Matchbox brand, I also had some cars from Majorette (which I haven't found pics of), some other obscure brands (like my Lamborghini Countach), and Tomica:

This 1974 Nissan Fairlady 240Z was one of my favorites in my collection, and seeing a real one parked in my neighborhood make me like this even more.

I primarily loved this 1977 Shinden BMW because of its fat wheels. Those very same wheels would end up in my 1988 Porsche 930 Turbo, when I "chopped" this one up.

I've been a fan of Formula One ever since I can remember, so I didn't have a hard time deciding whether to pick this six-wheel 1977 Tyrell P32 up or not.

The same goes with this John Player Special Lotus Ford 78. I just forgot who drove this car in Formula One. Was it Gilles Villeneuve?

I first had a Dome 0 as a pullback action car, which was about three times larger than this Tomica 1979 Dome 0. Me and my friend liked this car so much that we each bought one for ourselves.

My most favorite car, a 1988 Porsche 930 Turbo. After a while I felt that its wheels were too thin for a sportscar, so I chopped my 1977 Shinden BMW and gave its wheels to this baby.

So there you go: another part of my toy collection history. Sometimes I still toy with the idea (no pun intended) of starting a die-cast car collection again, or those fancy looking DUB cars. But it's going to be another expensive hobby, and I can't even keep up with my GI Joe Sigma 6 collection. Oh well. Perhaps some other time.


Photos courtesy of Areh's Matchbox Picture Dictionary and HelloToTomica.