I got to watch the first two hours of Whitney Houston's funeral. Indeed it was heart-felt and touching. Hearing the wonderful things about a great legend who went off to rest from all the troubles she endured. I felt a deep emotion inside of me. The same kind of emotion I felt watching Michael Jackson's funeral. Watching this funeral though I couldn't help but compare the two funerals.

Michael Jackson - had his funeral at the Staples Center.

Whitney Houston - had her funeral at the church she was raised in

Michael Jackson - was only 2 hours maximum that showcased his kids at the end. More of a secular nature.

Whitney Houston - was 4 hours long. Marvin Winans served as the main speaker.

I think though that Whitney's funeral was more of a blessing though to those who watched the funeral. Well I am only stating an opinion because I truly don't know what everyone else's reaction was. I just know a few people though that didn't really care though. Maybe because they weren't really emotionally invested as many of us were.

I loved how the New Hope Baptist choir opened up the service with a beautiful chorus - Psalm 23. Even before the service started, they were singing. And it was sooooooo beautiful. Reminds me why I love to listen to gospel. You just know them choirs are going to kill it with their voices. I would love to add the music to my collection.

Donnie McClurkin - Stand
Alicia Keys - Prelude to a Kiss
Stevie Wonder - Ribbon in the Sky
R Kelly - I Look to You
The Winans Family - Tomorrow

Everyone just sang from the heart.
It's a trip though because, Reverend Marvin Winans made a comment - "God says, I got you. Thank you Whitney Houston for your life. We and the whole world is/was attending church and your funeral to
day and enjoying all these moving inspirational words of wisdom and sermon. You lived well and fought the good fight of faith and have won, and left a mark in life that has inspired us all. You will be truly missed be never forgotten. We love you and you will live in our hearts forever! RIP and in love Whitney...

Other quotes: Beautiful, Uplifting, moving and spirit filled -

"You stand! I need you!" Whitney Houston to her sister in law and manager
"You are an angel from God's choir." Stevie Wonder to WH
"Don't grieve for me." Dionne Warwick
"Because you were there, I'm here." - Ricky Minor, WH's music director
"Give your life to Jesus today as tomorrow is not promised." - Rev. Marvin Winan and his family's performance of the song "Tomorrow"

Here's a link to the Winan's tribute to Whitney:

I love this song a lot. It is true when they say, tomorrow is never guaranteed.

This weekend.. Sat 11 Feb - Sunday 12 Feb, 2012

This weekend is crazy. First up, I went to watch the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth 2: Mysterious Island. Yes, I made the actual cut. I was on screen for a good 5-7 seconds. Watch for the pier scene. A fish was cut, then the camera pans to the Rock and Josh Hutcherson walking. I walk right in back of them carrying a lobster cage. I was wearing a blue t-shirt. My little nephew Peri was also on-screen. He shows up as i put the lobster cage down. It will be a movie that I will be forever remember. The second time you see me, but it is from afar, is I am walking from the left side of the screen and into one of the middle shops. My friend Brandy is walking in front of me.

I also got to see some of my other friends as well - Gregg Savella, Brandy Rivera, Libette Garcia, Geri Galanto, and many others as well. I will post their names at a later time, only because I have to go watch it again just for that scene on the pier. Watching it in 3D was awesome but kind of got me dizzy. Overall it was a fun and entertaining movie. However, I thought there was going to be more action. I am most definitely buying the DVD when it comes out.

The second thing that happened, I seen the news on Whitney Houston's death and for a moment, it felt like time just stopped. I had just awaken from a nap and I did not want to believe what I was reading. It just seemed so unreal. I was sad, because here was a person with a powerful but sweet voice. Many have come afterward, but will never be able to match what she had. Too bad, as with many others before her, succumbed to the greatest killers of all time - drugs and alcohol.

I was thinking, what goes on in the heads of these people? Don't they know what happens to them if they get on that stuff? I would think that with the deaths of many other greats like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and others would send a message that mixing drugs and alcohol just is not a great combination. One thing many of these great singers have in common, yes they are rich and famous. No one will ever be able to match their talent. But they were always missing something. They were unhappy, depressed. They had a wonderful talent that they could have kept on using to bless the world with. Yet, they messed themselves up physically. So being great and famous is not always what it seems to be anymore. Never was. Takes me back to the verse in the Bible - For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Matthew 16:26.

These stars that are shining may have gained millions and millions of money, yet they still died searching for something. It is a sad day.

I remembered hearing the news about Michael Jackson and how sad I felt when he passed away. I even cried watching his funeral. I felt that same sad sentimental feeling when I heard the news of Whitney Houston. She didn't even reach her 50's yet. The only difference between these two greats is that Michael Jackson was a star even when he was a child. So the world watch him grow. We did not get the opportunity with Whitney. However,  once she shared her voice with us, we were in awe. Now we get to keep the memories and even though they may be gone, they will not be silenced. Thank God for whoever invented recording, because we still get to listen to them.

The third thing that was the highlight of this weekend - the awesome win of Samoa in the USA Sevens Rugby Tournament. They defeated New Zealands Rugby team. A wonderful day for the nation of Samoa. Certainly something to be grateful for and proud of. I wish I could have been able to watch it in Las Vegas, but it was jus great to watch it on NBC. Thank you #NBC for showing it live.

That's all that I can think of for now.

Friday, 10 February, 2012 - Journey to the Center of the Earth 2: Mysterious Island

I can't wait til Friday comes. This is when the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth 2: Mysterious Island comes out. This movie stars include Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzman and Michael Caine.

The reason I am excited about it, is because I worked as a background on this movie. This was my first time on a movie set. The experience I went through was similar to the one I been on with Hawaii 5-0 and Off the Map (two television shows that were filmed here in Hawai'i). So anything that was done on set, I was already used to. However, what excited me as well is I was also on set with my nephews Daniel McMoore and Perelini, my nieces Etenauga Perelini and Malaea Perelini. They also had a part. I am posting a snapshot of the trailer that caught a glimpse of them...

In this scene, you can see David McMoore, Daniel in a gray t-shirt, and little Ete. Ete is hanging over David's lap as he is trying to show her something while the Rock walks in back of them. I will post the actual trailer afterwards.

So yes, I got to experience this wonderful time with them. I'm sure they had a great time. Another great moment while filming this movie, is meeting all the great people there as well. Some of them, I got to see them again on Off the Map and Hawai'i 5-0. Because Hawai'i is such a small island state, we tend to meet up with each other again. 

Another moment I had on set was getting to hang out with #JoshHutcherson, #VanessaHudgens, and Luis Guzman's son. A group of us background actors were sitting in a circle while one of the background actors played his ukulele and sang. Vanessa and Josh both joined in and we kind of had fun. My nephew Daniel came over and was just awe struck. I kept telling him to go over there and say hi. He was shy. 

So the filming took three days to complete. I am greatful to #AnnaFishburn's casting agency for the opportunity to work on this movie. I also got the chance to at least see Dwayne Johnson up close as well as Luis Guzman. I didn't get to see Michael Caine though as he didn't come down until much later.

I hope you go and see this movie because from the trailers, it looks like a fun and entertaining family movie. Most movies nowadays looks cheesy and looks like a dud even before it hits the screen. I watched part 1 with Brendan Fraser and I enjoyed that movie for what it was. Never have I ever thought I would have a tiny part of this movie. Even though I may not see myself in this movie, just knowing I will always have this memory with me for the rest of my life. Most importantly, my nephews and nieces can also say they were a part of it. This will be something they can carry on for the rest of their life as well. 

So with that, I'll be happy to go and see it. I may not be seen, or you might get a glimpse of my hand or I may even be blurred. But who cares?  I hope you get to see it though. Here's the trailer if you have not seen it yet. 

Journey to the Center of the Earth 2: Mysterious Island

It's starting off to a great new year for the SF 49ers!!!

Yes that is my favorite football team. San Francisco 49ers! I grew up in the San Francisco Bay. Every other day or so when I lived there, I used to always drive by Candlestick Park. But never once in my life have I ever had the chance to step into that stadium and watch a 49er game live. I have always seen it on t.v. Now granted, nothing beats watching a game on the big screen. However, I have yet to be a part of the 69,000+ fans and cheering them on.

As I look back on the years that the Niners have made it to the Superbowl: 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1995, I have that sense of pride. I've seen every single one of those games. I still remember when the Niners played the Dolphins. I was at at Tanforan mall, in fact at Sears with my mom. I remember when the game was over, how everyone at the store was cheering for them.

I still remember in 1990, the camera had focused on Roger Clark and he was  like "threepeat." Of course that did not happen. I tell you, the 1980's was truly San Francisco's golden decade. More importantly, Joe Montana's decade. Steve Young came in 1995 and won his one and only superbowl. After that, it seemed as if the Niners diminished. Yes, I followed their game, but it just never seem to go anywhere.

Fast forward to 2010-11 season, I remembered I told myself, the next season would be better. Sure enough, 2011-12 would prove to be the one that would bring back that momentum. I was in Las Vegas the weekend after Labor Day for a function. That was the first game of the season and as I passed by the Bally's Hotel, I seen on the screen - San Francisco 33 - Seattle 17. I was hella happy. At that moment, I truly felt this season was going to be better. Was disappointed that the Niners went on to play the Dallas Cowgirls and lost, but it was only the beginning and early in the season anyway. Then finally, they started winning more games and once again, I was feeling that pride again. So what they lost to the Ravens. So what they lost to the Cardinals. The thing that mattered the most, we were in the Playoffs. It was unreal.

When ESPN were talking about different scenarios, my first  reaction was that the 49ers was going to be playing either against the Giants or the Falcons.. But then they announced it was going to be the Saints and I tell you, my stress levels started getting high. During the week leading up to the actual game, I was debating whether or not I am going to watch the game, or go to church. I chose to stay and watch the game. At least if the 49ers lost, it would have been all kool.

So watching that game on Saturday, just kept me on my toes. Sure the first quarter was 17 points to 0. However, San Fran needed to score as much as possible only because you knew already the Saints are going to be pounding as hard as possible. And pound they did. By the end of half-time, they scored two touchdowns for a score of 17-14. The third quarter was boring and nothing exciting there. But then the fourth quarter came along. I tell you that was the most thrilling part of the game ever. NO came from behind and led 24-23. Then it became a seesaw. Niners took the lead, and then the Saints would. SF tried to go for a 2 pt conversion and didn't make it.