Our friends at the Heroic Melon Collective have done it again! They released their latest episode of the Awkward Compilation on Christmas Eve entitled “Awkward Again – episode 03: Holidays“. This Christmas themed episode was not as comedic as their usual entries, but it was definitely in keeping with the holiday spirit. It’ll warm your heart just watching it.

You can check out season 1 and season 2 of The Awkward Compilation here!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

-phibz.

It’s that time of year again! Where the lines between religiously celebrating the birth of the savior, and basking in the most glorified day of modern capitalism are oxymoronically blurred. I find that this is the case with all the Christmases I have spent.

I am lucky enough to call more than one place home, Hong Kong and Toronto. And as a gift and a curse, I have not been able to spend the holidays in Toronto yet, which is a shame. I’ve only been exposed to a hybrid form of Christmas. First of all, I am not a particularly religious person, and in many ways I’m a skeptic. I guess I consider myself agnostic, yes, a lazy atheist as many would say. This means that I have been celebrating Christmas non-religiously for most of my adult life, and I’m not ashamed of it.

After spending my Christmases in Hong Kong for so many years and knowing the interdisciplinary nature of my celebrations, I realize that it is quite fitting for the city I spend it in. Hong Kong is a consumerist and commercially run city-state that is also a former British colony. Christian, Catholic and Mormon churches are an abundance in this city, but traditional Buddhist temples and practices are equally present if not more prevalent. Capitalism, Christianity, Buddhism, among many other things rolled up into this claustrophobic, overpopulated, magnificent city.

It may be slightly blasphemous to celebrate Christmas without religious intent, but for a lot of people, that’s all they know. My parents are Buddhist, but I am not, and still they never fail to put up the Christmas tree every year to mark this occasion. Ironically, the Christmas tree is almost always placed next to a makeshift shrine of buddhas.

So I looked at this image closely this year. A Christmas tree next to a Buddha. A symbol of an important Christian event placed peacefully next to a statue of a Buddhist deity. That’s what my Christmases are like. Where religion, philosophy, commerce and ideology are merged into an event where family and friends congregate to celebrate each other’s company and love more than anything.

I guess that’s my religion. Family and friends. These are the people who gave me life and breathed meaning into it. Why not worship them a little bit? Even if it’s just for humor’s sake. In response to Christmas episode, “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”, of NBC’s Community, I have found my meaning of Christmas.

So no matter where you are, my family and friends near or far, even without religious intent, even without things to repent, I wish you all the best and a very Merry Christmas.

..Via Facebook.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Philbert: @philbertlui
Banana Times: @bananatimes

Its been a little dry on the blog side of The Banana Times as of late, but I assure you its for good reason. Just bask yourselves on poster above and you’ll know its for good reason. Before I get into what I’ve been working on in the past 2 weeks, I first want to promise I will write reviews on all the amazing films I watched at the Reel Asian International Film Festival, just as soon as things ease up a little.

Now, I am happy to say that I am once again part of the amazing movement of Kollaboration Toronto for their upcoming 6th annual show in March 2011. This year I will reprise my duties in producing videos for Kollaboration Toronto as well as being part of the marketing team. I can already FEEL the excitement of this year’s show, because I know it will be awesome. Here are the two videos I’ve proudly done for them so far. Pump. It. UP!

Kollaboration Toronto 2011 Volunteer Video
A mash-up and montage of sorts, highlighting the success of the Kollaboration movement across 11 North American cities (the video is missing Boston, I sincerely apologize..). Did you know Far East Movement was a winner at one of the Kollaborations in LA? Yes. The guys who brought you LIKE A G6 and ROCKETEER (:

An Interview with ESLY – Winner of Kollaboration Toronto 2010
A short interview with last year’s champion of Kollaboration Toronto 2010. She shares her relationship with Kollaboration, what it has done for her, and her overall musical background.

So what are you waiting for? Log on to the Kollaboration Toronto website and get your friends, families, foes to audition! Keep this movement alive! Empowerment through Entertainment. This year’s gonna be huge. 100% guarantee. Stay tuned!

-phibz.

PS: It’s not to say that I didn’t have some time to myself. I carved for American Thanksgiving (: