Nora, Bona and the Masa

Though all things seem to have settled down and it has been considered a wrinkle in time, Nora Aunor the greatest actress on the face of Philippine cinema must nevertheless be thankful that she was not bestowed the recognition of National Artist.

Reason?

She should be thankful for not being conferred by a President who doesn’t seem to know anything about sining (art).  I have yet to read or learn in the news that the present Philippine president supports Philippine art.

She should be thankful for being nominated by her fellow potent Philippine artists but only to be scratched by a non-worthy President because this made a lot of people especially today’s generation to be interested and curious about how magnificent her body of work has been.

She should be thankful because her not being declared a National Artist pushed me to watch one of her greatest works entitled Bona.

the prolific nora in bona

the prolific nora in bona

Bona, directed by the equally genius Lino Brocka, remains significant and substantial in today’s time.  The story and characters still remains to exist in today’s Filipino realm.  It is unlike other films made in the past that when viewed now would already look silly and stupid.  It remains germaine and relevant up to this day.

Some would say that Bona (the movie) would have been a better film  if it explained why Bona (the character) had so much obsession and bizarre infatuation towards Gardo (a bit player and struggling movie actor).  For me, this impenetrable and baffling element made Bona a great work of art. It is like conveying that feelings of passion, adoration and reverence need not be explained for it is simply unexplainable.

Bona, the movie is so relevant!  Simply look on how we, the masa (ordinary middling populace) adore and revere today’s movie stars.  Can you imagine today’s glamorous movie stars being so filthy rich when in fact they did not even finished high school or college?

Furthermore, like Bona, we are so unexplainably awestruck by the charm of these movie actors and actresses, majority of us even had the bizarre obsession of voting for them during election to occupy crucial seats in government offices.  Only to be duped and hoodwinked later on by these very celebrities (slash now-government-executives), similar to that of Gardo towards Bona in the movie.

Surprisingly, even though the movie is already 15 years old, it still depicts the poverty and destitution that an ordinary masa endures to experience and suffer from.  It felt like this unglamorous movie was just done yesterday!  It is so unfortunate that the country’s presidents in the past and the present (the one who refused to name Nora a National Artist) seem not have done enough to alleviate these adversities.

Now that the President has gone over with the condemnation by the Philippine art community because of his dim-witted decision of not declaring Nora a National Artist, he should find time to watch Bona the movie.  He would definitely get enlightened and learn a lot about Nora, Bona and the masa.

Pans kasi ni kristeta…

Nengkoy’s Movies, Sarah’s Wigs, My Day-Off

nengkoy: a great tagalog movie buddy

nengkoy: a great tagalog movie buddy

Are you the type of Philippine inhabitant who has difficulty looking for a friend whom you can drag to a cinema to watch a Filipino movie?

I am.

Fortunately, I have Nengkoy.  This is because every time I crave to watch a Filipino flick I could easily drag my mother to the nearest movie house.  Aside from her senior citizen discount, what is good thing about Nengkoy is that she doesn’t want to watch any Hollywood movie!

Thus, if I am channeling the “persona of every domestic-helper-on-a-day-off”, she could be a great movie buddy and companion.

In actual fact, I along with a couple of the members of my zany family was with Nengkoy at SM Mall of Asia.  We watched the cheesy movie of Sarah Geronimo and Coco Martin entitled Maybe This Time.

maybe this time movie poster (taken from google images)

maybe this time movie poster (taken from google images)

I would not want to be critical and diagnostic on how bad the movie was.  What is good about this types of movies is that you need not bring a lot of brain cells to analyze, digest and comprehend it.  Besides, I had too much thinking and analyzing already.  So in general, I enjoyed it.  I liked it because it gave me a couple of laughs.

Coco Martin was surprisingly comical, diverse and atypical!  But the big revelation was Sarah Geronimo.  The sweet girl can act.   Too bad she no longer sport those ill-fitting wigs she wore in her movies with John Lloyd Cruz.  I miss those atrocious wigs!  The movie could have been more hilarious if she did!

Na relaks naman ako impernes…

Epic Pornographic Fail

porno

porno

When the movie suddenly stopped and reeled on the credits, I felt blunt.  The people in front of me were already standing up and leading their way out of – CCP’s Tangahalang Huseng Batute – theatre, but I was still seating there trying to absorb and figure out what I just saw.

That is what I exactly felt when I saw the Cinemalaya 2013 Directors Showcase category entry entitled Porno.  I don’t know who or what was blunt.  I don’t know if I was the one who was so stupid I did not get what the movie wish to impart or if it was the movie that was simply dull and dreary it should be considered an epic fail.

I guess the director’s failure to string together the engaging tales of the three main characters was deliberate.  The failure to interconnect the key characters with each other in the film is typical of a real porn movie.  And I hate porn movies because of this usual and seemingly incoherent plot.  I can therefore say that I similarly hate this movie because of this.

With the excellent actors in Porno, the movie had its greatest potential to be one excellent film.  Rosanna Roces, Yul Servo, Angel Aquino and even the short stint of Bembol Rocco were effectively compelling.  Carlo Aquino only confirms that he is one great actor of his generation.  When his tale being a porn dubber by profession ended in the movie, I was still yearning that his character would pop out in the end.  If the writer and director effectively interlocked and inter-related the stories of the 3 characters, I would definitely have raves about the film.

But the movie as it is was like watching three slurring short films that were not connected with each other at all.  For me I’d rather watch the corny and clichéd yet entertaining Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise trilogies of Regal Films than watching an incoherent movie like Porno.

Epic peyl…

Feeling Kafkaesque

Feeling kafkaesque.  This is exactly how I felt because the severe and cruel Cyber Crime Law of the Philippines takes effect today.  Without the implementing rules and regulations of this newly implemented law, it evokes nightmarish feelings of disorientation and helplessness.  A lot of mixed-up thoughts would sneak into my mind on what shall be a specific idea that can be posted, shared or “liked” on my social network account that will not make me a cyber criminal.  I feel so disoriented with this law that it even came to a point of thinking that “liking” a photo of a freshly cooked medium well steak posted by a friend on Facebook would be so offensive to the vegetarians these vegetarians can file a case against me.

Feeling kafkaesque.  This is exactly how I felt after watching the multi-awarded movie entitled Give Up Tomorrow which has a limited run in few movie houses in the metro.  It is a docu-film about Paco Larranaga who was convicted of a crime which the movie claims he clearly did not commit yet struggles for the elusive justice and vindication.  His life and his family have been overpowered by the bizarre and cruel Philippine bureaucracies.  I felt so baffled and perplexed about the incomprehensibly complex and illogical circumstances he was faced with regarding the embarrassing Philippine justice system. His struggles as well as the events that transpired and still transpiring sent me chills, I was squirming on my seat while watching.  I have nothing but remorse for this man and his family.

Grabe, ang sakit sa anit! Ikaw? Nakakapkaisk ka ba?

Bus Movies

On a long journey via bus what do you usually do? Are you the type who would bring tons of salty chips to nibble? Are you the forty winks aficionado? Are you the bus’ bookworm? Are you the creature who would simply gaze outside the window?  Or are you the beast who would drain your battery’s digital gizmo?

Very long travels by bus could be very daunting.  That is why a lot of bus companies try to be innovative by introducing various facilities available inside these massive roadsters – free WiFi; cool drinks and sandwiches for sale; air conditioning; toilet facility; shock-proof LCD flat screen TV with DVD player; reclining chairs, etc.  These add-on features aims to further enhance passenger’s comfort over a lengthy journey.

I have been to two long journeys via transit buses in the past week (first was an 8-hour journey to Baguio and just the other day was the two-and-a-half-hour travel to Magalang, Pampanga).  Adding up all the hours I spent inside the bus on a round-trip-basis would be a total of 21 hours.

While inside those buses, I was all the types I inquired above.  But what I noticed every time a movie will have to be played on TV inside a Filipino bus, the film has to be a Hollywood movie.  I will not rant about the pirated DVD being used by these bus companies but instead the type of movie being shown.

I guess it would have been better and my focus would have been more stuck on TV if the movie being shown were the black and white 50’s and 60’s Filipino film that were shown in the pinalakang tabing (silver screen).  The time spent inside the bus could have been more pleasant and comforting seeing the young and stunning Gloria Romero, the then skinny Dolphy and plump Panchito and Dely Atay-atayan, the bubbly Rosemarie Sonora, debonair Mario Montenegro as well as suave Rogelio Dela Rosa or Diomedes Maturan.  The Pinoy film to be shown would be at its best if, of course, the contrabida (villain) would be the wicked Bella Flores.

Further to this suggestion, it would be best if contemporary Filipino short indie films would be featured in between these classic full length movies.  This I guess would be one great vehicle for the unrecognized and undistributed yet artistic short indie films gain wider viewership.

If this fantasy would turn out to become a reality in the future, this would improve and further bind Pinoy cultural cohesiveness.  It presents the Pinoy film heritage and at the same time makes the riding public aware of the richness of the prevailing film industry.

Spending bus hours on the road could have been more comfortable and enjoyable!

Ang Tagalog ng bas ay bus.

Sgt. Diosdado Carandang

vic silayan as sgt. diosdado carandang

Ten years before Hannibal Lecter was introduced in the Hollywood motion picture Silence of the Lambs (1991) there was an even scarier movie character.  His name is Sgt. Diosdado Carandang in the classic 1981 film entitled Kisapmata.

Kisapmata, a Filipino movie directed by Mike De Leon must really be a very good film.  I tried telling a couple of people that this was the film I saw last weekend and it seems that all people who has seen it in the past can actually recall without difficulty the events that transpired in the story.  This 31-year-old movie must really be an excellent film that it actually made a mark in the memory of those who has seen it.

I for one do not only consider this movie a drama but also horror.  No, the movie does not have freaky ghosts as characters nor this film would scare you by jolting you off your seat.  The storyline, the crisp snuffcolored sepia-like cinematography, the monotone quietness of sound as well as the whole ensembles’ fine acting will actually haunt you.

I particularly was very impressed by the performance of Vic Silayan who played Sgt. Diosdado Carandang.  The mere tonality of his deep bass voice when he speaks will make you so terrified and start blaming yourself why you even dared started watching this film.  Silayan’s haunting characterization is so scary you wouldn’t want to meet that character ever in your lifetime.  Silayan was so eerie you’d prefer to talk and spend your time with Hannibal Lecter.

Katakot!

The Super Powers of Anne Curtis

anne curtis

Without doubt, fear and hesitation let me declare that the most powerful human being in the Philippines in this present time is none other than Anne Curtis.  Why?  If Curtis with her enigmatic charm, gorgeous face and drop dead body will just live with her most popular spoken lines on television “I may be a slut, but I’m the best slut in town”, she can easily swoon all the chauvinist public officials (both in politics and in the armed forces) as well as the dirty richest men in the country.  She can effortlessly mesmerize these men to fall unto her prey to instruct them on whatever she may want them to do.

You can never get rid of her in this country.  Curtis nowadays is everywhere.  She’s on the façade of your favorite malls, she’s on the cover of your glossy magazines, she’s on the huge billboards of the major thoroughfares, she’s in the stories of your newspapers, she’s singing on your radio, she’s hosting on TV, and she’s even at the back of your commuter bus.

Ironically, Curtis has yet to be named and ranked #1 as the sexiest Filipina by the most popular male magazine of the land.  Maybe because Curtis has gone beyond just being sexy, Curtis is a goddess.

Nowadays, whatever thing, event or person that Curtis is associated with seems to spell out nothing but success.  Just like the recently concluded Philippine Fashion Week which actually became fashionable because Curtis was there.  Riding the metro has also been a hip thing to do after the news broke when Curtis took the train ride twice: to catch the Kylie Minogue concert on time and to report to her TV studio recently.

She was also in the headlines when her photo on a magazine cover smoking a cigarette created a huge buzz among the medical practitioners, in which the issue she shared with was with no less than the prime actress and superstar Nora Aunor.

Unlike Aunor, Curtis can hardly sing.  She actually laughs at herself when she does.  When Curtis sings, people surprisingly stop to listen for it will result to a vivacious laughing moment.  But when she recorded and sold an album it turned multi-platinum.  The last time I heard, people will again catch this lady via her mall shows and mini-concerts all around the metro.

And most recently, to everybody’s surprise, her movie entitled No Other Woman just broke the record for being the highest grossing film in the Philippine movie industry history.  One thing though.  I don’t seem to have the chutzpah to watch this movie and would rather settle to be one of the few souls who failed to see it in a movie theater.  This is because I disagree with the story-line.  Curtis played the role of a mistress while her co-star Christine Reyes played the role of the legal wife who expectedly went on a meltdown, turned sad and miserable but later on fought for the man that she loves.  I disagree with the story line of Christine Reyes going depressed and miserable because for me if a woman learned that her husband’s mistress is Anne Curtis then she must instead celebrate and be in good spirits.  This only confirms that her husband got some impeccable taste.

Anyway, maybe the reason why Curtis is so powerful is because she can project various personas effectively.  She can be highly fashionable, she can be extremely sexy, she can be flirtatious and liberated, she can be subtle and delicate, she can be fun and bubbly and she can be silly yet strong-willed.

Paki-bagayan ang di pagsang-ayon base sa iyong kagandahan.

Look Up Below

Six weeks ago, while waiting to locate my naturally recurring state of reduced or absent consciousness called sleep, I watched a number of videos via YouTube.  I was lucky enough to stumble into watching two of the ten short films produced by Nestle Philippines.  Nestle’s collection of short films released simultaneously a couple of months back is dubbed as Kasambuhay Habambuhay in celebration of Nestle’s 100 years of existence in the Philippines.

Three weeks ago, while in the middle of a Management Committee Meeting, Malou Domingo my office’s Marketing Manager, out of the blue whispered to ask me if I have seen Nestle’s collection of short films released this year.  I whispered back and told her that I have seen two of the films that starred John Lloyd Cruz in one (entitled: Sign Seeker) and Marvin Agustin with Kaye Abad in the other (entitled: Unplugged).

Last night while waiting for sleep to seep and leach onto my being, I was able to watch (still via YouTube) the other Nestle short films featured.  I was able to see the other four of it.

I have yet to see the other two, but the last film I saw last night touched the tender-most region of my emotion.  It is the film directed by Henry Frejas entitled “Tingala sa Baba”.  It is a light satire that depicts the lopsided life of the rich and poor.  The film gave me goose bumps especially the delightful scene when the poor boy descends while the rich boy was lifted up the seesaw.  The goose bumps in my skin were so distinct it was like Braille on my arms that reads “Amazing!”

There are tons of socio-economic and socio-political paradoxes depicted in the film presented in a smart, creative and entertaining yet subliminal manner.  The film can also be depicted as a portrayal of reaching a dream; of personal acceptance; of friendship regardless of social strata; and, of life’s contrariness on the concept of happiness.

The main characters were brilliant!  The actor who portrayed the rich kid is so adoring!!! The film does not have big stars neither have complex settings, yet it will twist your thoughts and make you very emotional in the end.

Check the film below and I hope you be amaze the way I do.  Also, at the end of the film, try to figure out which end of the seesaw are you actually seated.  Are you a Renzo or an Angelo?

Aber, aber, aber. Saang dulo ka ng siso naka upo? Di pwede sa gitna, maiipit ka.

Zombadings

Almost all Filipino blogs has released an article or two about the movie Zombadings 1: Patayin Sa Shokot si Remington (Zombadings 1: Kill Remington By Fear).  Let this blog join the happy bandwagon and let me give my two cents on it.

Almost all blogs says that it is hilariously funny and smartly written and executed.  I totally agree with all of it.  I always adore Filipino camp movies.  And Zombadings is one classic that is comparable to the level of campiness achieved in the likes of Temptation Island and Secrets of Pura.

However, majority of the articles written about the movie is their failure to acknowledge the birth and emergence of a new and unique local pop vernacular different from the recorded dialects in the Philippines which I think was taken into great consideration in the movie.  The Bekimon dialect. Awaaard!!! 

Anyway, this is the only movie where you can find an insane-looking gaydar; a serial killer; a widow in roller blades; homosexual animals; a lunatic policewoman; the morphing of a hunk to an effeminate eve; and of course, gay zombies.  All combined and mixed up to create a coherent hilarious movie.

All in all Zombadings is undoubtedly heaps of fun.  But if those who watched it would contemplate deeper amidst the laughter and entertainment that the movie brought, it is actually a piece about empowerment; it is a deposition on embracing your own personal choice; and at the same time giving a big hard punch towards society’s intolerance and narrow-mindedness.

May puso ang istorya at ang hindi matawa sa pelikulang ito, bato.

Isda (Fable of the Fish)

Isda is a full-length movie entry in Cinemalaya 2011 written by Jerry Gracio.  It is one of the most unique story materials that have been crafted into a film.  The story is about a poverty-stricken woman who gives birth to a fish.  This poignant premise alone has been enough to jolt my interest to go to CCP’s Tanghalang Huseng Batute (Studio Theater) to watch it.

According to the director Adolfo Alix Jr., who was present to answer few audience’s questions after the screening, it was inspired by the 80’s TV show Eye-To-Eye in which host Inday Badiday featured a woman who was said to have conceived and gave birth to a dalag (mudfish) in the midst of a raging super typhoon.

Isda is an intriguing account that crumbles the barrier between true to life drama and the fight of imagination.   I can consider this film as one of the greatest films of Philippine cinema.  It’s rich, it’s multi-layered and it’s thought provoking. What I like most about the film is that it leaves the viewer to decide in what slant and perspective he wants the characters of the story to be perceived and takes the lesson/s out from it.

I was very impressed with the delivery and portrayal of actors and actresses in the movie.  Cherry Pie Picache in the lead role (of Lina, the mother of the fish) was so overwhelmingly effective she was able to reconcile the irreconcilable.  Picache’s portrayal and attack on the role was serene and simple yet so real and undeviatingly precise.  She was able to depict Lina’s character being a normal loving wife and mother without any tinge of being psychologically insane.  I was actually made to believe that she truly gave birth to a fish and nurtured it.

Bembol Rocco, who portrayed as Miguel (the father of the fish) was a class of his own.  He was no doubt compelling.  Though he uttered very few lines, Rocco exhibited the full intensity of his convincing characterization through his mere looks and gestures.  Supporting actors and actresses in the film – Rosanna Roces, Anita Linda, Evelyn Vargas, Allan Paule and Arnold Reyes – were equally brilliant.  Even the fish in the movie deserves an acting award!

I am not a film authority but for me, Isda (Fable of the Fish) is a mixture of great elements of a motion picture: a unique and intriguing material; a distinctive director; and, an inimitable cast.  It deserves all the awards and recognitions it will be bestowed with, may it be in the local or international film arena.

Parang gusto ko kumain ng pinangat na tulingan.