tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21769415677758077612024-03-20T16:05:03.102+08:00Brun Philippines (Online Magazine)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-35728472594118724992016-12-24T11:20:00.003+08:002016-12-24T11:46:13.332+08:00Merry Saturnalia or Jesus Put On Some Weight After He Came Down from the Cross (A Satirical Essay)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPOABgXY0c4/WF3pH4-GthI/AAAAAAAANPU/RDHmWTRUyxc5oKdz_5viZ_W63NDarMnPgCLcB/s1600/Santa%2BClaus%2Bas%2Billustrated%2Bin%2BPuck%2B%2528magazine%2529%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPOABgXY0c4/WF3pH4-GthI/AAAAAAAANPU/RDHmWTRUyxc5oKdz_5viZ_W63NDarMnPgCLcB/s320/Santa%2BClaus%2Bas%2Billustrated%2Bin%2BPuck%2B%2528magazine%2529%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #0b5394;">Santa Claus as illustrated in </b><br /><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puck_(magazine)" style="background: none rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #0b5394; font-weight: bold; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" title="w:Puck (magazine)">Puck (magazine)</a><br />Image part of public domain</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Warning: </span>This article contains some adult language that is not suitable for children</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What is Christmas? For me, Christmas is a curious season
for irony and paradoxes. In fact, like many people, I have noticed that Christmas
has less to do with the humble man who was supposedly born on December 25.
Instead, another man dominates the scenes. Santa Claus in his iconic red suit
is the real king. He is the real Christmas symbolic deity that drives us to spend,
and we comply blindly. If we do not, we feel guilty. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Oh dear, I have nothing to give this Christmas,”</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> we secretly tell
ourselves. Jesus of Nazarene is just the afterthought, maybe, after we feel
guilty spending more than we should and consuming more than we need. So we say,
</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Praise the Lord”</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> or </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Peace on Earth.”</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> These simple cliché phrases
are enough to justify our over-consumption. Perhaps, it is only fitting that
Santa, and all that he represents, overshadows the son of a carpenter because,
after all, a beverage company originally designed and peddled this jolly overweight
white man to the public. Business comes
first, above all else. Everywhere you go, we are encouraged to buy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
have to admit though that the idea of giving a gift to people you like is heart-warming.
This month, I went to many stores in the mall to buy obligatory gifts for
clients and so forth. Every now and then, I come across a nice token that would
be perfect for close friends and family members. I thought to myself, <i>“Oh wow, X would love this. This is her
favorite, and it’s on sale.”</i> Then, I see another item. <i>“This would be perfect for Y; this would cheer him up with all the
stress he has at work. This is also on sale!”</i> But then again, do I have to
wait for Christmas to give these items to them? What if they die before
December 25? Would it be all right if I just place these gifts on top of their
graves? They will look down on me from heaven, or look up at me from hell, and
say, <i>“Oh, that is so sweet. He remembers.”</i>
But what if your friend is a non-theist? Surely, belated gifts would not
matter. What if your friend believes in reincarnation? Maybe I would just say, “<i>I’m sorry you passed away before I could
give you this gift. Anyway, I’ll give it to you on your next life. I’m sure we’ll
meet again.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
wonder, <i>“Why didn’t I think about giving this
to X earlier, especially on regular days when malls aren’t littered with people
or when X needed it the most?” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Someone
asked me, <i>“What will you give your friends
this Christmas?”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
answered, <i>“Nothing really.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Nothing?!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Well, my friends and I see each other
every week. Sometimes, one friend treats me. At other times, I treat them, depending
on who has extra money to spend on that particular day. We spend much time
together, sharing joys and pains. We laugh; we bicker; we reconcile; we spend
many mundane moments together sandwiched between moments of wild joy.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“That doesn’t count.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“On the contrary, that counts the
most. Those expensive Christmas gifts or obligatory gifts that are obviously chosen
without much thought are the ones that do not count. They are fake. We give one
gift a year and that absolves us from ignoring friends and family members for
the rest of the year.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“You’re just cheap, and you’re using this
Zen Buddhist shit as a cover.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“You know, when Jesus was born in a
manger, three wise men or kings brought him three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. I’m sure that Mary was thinking at that
time. ‘Thank you for these lovely gifts but personally speaking as a woman who
just delivered a small human being from her vagina, I could really use a warm
blanket, a room in a simple inexpensive hotel and my best friend Martha by my
side instead of a donkey. Would anyone of you be a darling and fetch her?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
often wonder what gifts would Mary and Joseph have gotten if they had been visited
by three wise middle-aged women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">On a
funny note, if I were Mary, I would say, <i>“Oh
now you male bitches give me gifts? Where were you when I was being threatened
to be stoned to death by the patriarchal establishment when I chose to have
this baby out of wedlock? What changed your mind? Don’t tell me, you heard he’s
going to be king? Take those damn gifts away and get me Madonna!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">But
I digress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Christmas
gifts are wonderful and I would be a hypocrite if I refuse a gift from anyone,
but I do not really like being compelled by society to give gifts on a
particular season. Obviously, Christmas has ceased to become a celebration of
love, peace and the birth of a so-called savior. It is all business.
Ultimately, big businesses are the real winners. They capitalize on our faith
and joy to earn money and we accept that all purchases this Christmas season
are acts of giving and love, and all charitable donations are gestures of
sharing. It is true that we donate much to charities at Christmas. But, do we
really ask why poverty continues to exist? Are we part of a system that
continues to create poverty and events like Christmas are just distractions so
that we do not ask the right questions?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
used to be a Christian and I remember my devout Catholic grandmother telling me
that Jesus came to this world to spread love to everyone, regardless of the color
of skin, gender and so on. God is love. Today, I saw a hired overweight
Caucasian-looking man dressed as Santa Claus in a mall. Children fell in line
and waited for their turn to sit on Santa’s lap as their parents took pictures
of them. As soon as one kid finished, the mall Santa kindly gestured to the
next kid to come forward. I looked at this hired Santa’s eyes; he looked tired.
(How much is he getting paid?) Instead of real elves, mall employees dressed as
elves stood by his side. One of them looked indifferent. (Is she worried that
her contract will not be renewed after the Christmas season?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I
thought to myself, <i>“Well grandma, if that
bearded man in a red suit is Jesus, he certainly put on a lot of weight after
he came down from the cross.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">December
25 is actually not Jesus’ birthday. In fact, no one is certain about the exact
date of his birth. Considering that Jesus is supposed to be God, you would
think he would have reminded at least one of his disciples or angels to jot
down his birthday. Perhaps, Jesus intentionally kept his birthday a secret so
Christians should celebrate it any day of the year, sharing love and goodwill
to all humankind all year round instead of just one day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If
we really need to be historically accurate, December 25 was originally part of the
Saturnalia, a non-working festival when slaves and masters dined together, and freeborn
women were allowed to mingle with men. Everyone was treated equally. The poet
Horace called Saturnalia "December liberty"[1] because free speech
was allowed temporarily. Slaves could criticize their masters. People gave
gifts and attended public religious rituals. All these were temporary. After the
long festival, the status quo was restored. Slaves returned as slaves. Masters
remained masters and women stayed in their designated places. Do these sound familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">On
the other hand, people also got drunk, overate and, reportedly, some had wild
orgies. That gives “love to all mankind” a new meaning, doesn’t it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Perhaps
conversations before December 25 in the past went like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Maximus, are you going to Luxius’
Saturnalia party?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Oh no! I attended three orgies just
this week. My butt needs a rest.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Suit yourself, I just bought a new
synthesis [2] from Aphrodite’s boutique, and I’m just dying to take them off.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Enjoy then, and Merry Saturnalia!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">To
end, Merry Saturnalia to all and to Jesus, I sent you a p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">_________________</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>NOTES</b></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>[1] Horaces, Satires 2.7.4, libertas Decembri; Mueller, "Saturn," in
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome, pp. 221–222.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<i style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">[2] Colorful
Greek dinner clothes that were not usually worn during daytime.</i><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-53035928149314450872016-05-11T21:32:00.000+08:002016-05-14T13:34:11.338+08:00Calaguas, Camarines Norte: "Better Than Boracay but for How Long"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRdIPEUy67s/VzMuFTRxfoI/AAAAAAAAMvU/Po4TY6jCJ4kfE3dAlwf3m-tTTPz6IrsbwCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2B02%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TRdIPEUy67s/VzMuFTRxfoI/AAAAAAAAMvU/Po4TY6jCJ4kfE3dAlwf3m-tTTPz6IrsbwCLcB/s400/calaguas%2B02%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Calaguas, Mahabang Buhangin Beach</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><i>Travel Review</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">As the saying goes, you
get what you paid for. For the first time, we went on vacation using a travel
agency. The trip to Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte is around 10 hours, give
or take, and so we felt that we might be wasting time if we opted to do a D.I.Y.
trip. We were only available on Saturday and Sunday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>The verdict: </b>Calaguas
Island is beautiful indeed but the tour package that we availed was moderately
satisfying. But then again, for 2,300 pesos, we get what we paid for. This amount did not include the
transportation cost. Other tour companies include transportation service and
their overall cost is around 2,900 to 3,000. Mostly, you would be sharing a van
with other tourists. We chose to rent our own van because we wanted to get a
deluxe one that is more spacious and comfortable. We do not want to be stuck in
a crowded van for 10 hours. That would be torture. We could have taken the bus
but the van would take us directly to the port, and we do not have to run to
the bus station to get a bus back home to Manila. The van that we rented is
affiliated with the tour company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">In hindsight, a bus ride
might have been better. Next time we decide to return to Calaguas, we might opt
for D.I.Y.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mXZ6ZMPmrIU/VzMuMY4C7WI/AAAAAAAAMvY/pFtdA7RD9X8b9HdBSMgUsJ4xp1C-XuZxACLcB/s1600/calaguas%2BAR%2BSantos%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mXZ6ZMPmrIU/VzMuMY4C7WI/AAAAAAAAMvY/pFtdA7RD9X8b9HdBSMgUsJ4xp1C-XuZxACLcB/s400/calaguas%2BAR%2BSantos%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Calaguas, Balabag Malaki</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofAga-e0jzk/VzMuUmT1KDI/AAAAAAAAMvc/6bXddwoaNRQAsgs5QxtR92IdPDJ09rO6gCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ofAga-e0jzk/VzMuUmT1KDI/AAAAAAAAMvc/6bXddwoaNRQAsgs5QxtR92IdPDJ09rO6gCLcB/s400/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Calaguas, Mahabang Buhangin Beach</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJcYIZibAVE/Vza21zfTIMI/AAAAAAAAMxw/ZoxH16ADN60--W0IpzJet8q5b09BXVYQwCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJcYIZibAVE/Vza21zfTIMI/AAAAAAAAMxw/ZoxH16ADN60--W0IpzJet8q5b09BXVYQwCLcB/s400/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos%2B01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Calaguas, a view of Balabag Maliit</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXyfT2sDfp4/Vza284BpLaI/AAAAAAAAMx0/M6JugGDfIx4yaJ7m1dtxZSG6yqlGLJ_swCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXyfT2sDfp4/Vza284BpLaI/AAAAAAAAMx0/M6JugGDfIx4yaJ7m1dtxZSG6yqlGLJ_swCLcB/s400/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos%2B02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Calaguas, Top of Balabag Malaki</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Calaguas is like Boracay
in its early days. The sand is not powdery white but it is white enough and equally
beautiful. The beach is clean and the azure water that sometimes turns
aquamarine is clear. There is still no sign of pollution caused by the heavy
influx of irresponsible tourists. I also just saw one hotel-like resort
operating on the island. Most of the tour operators just offer tent
accommodations and they offer other activities such as snorkeling, trekking,
and kayaking. The quality of these services depends on the tour company so I
suggest being meticulous and doing extra research before deciding on a tour
package. Aside from asking the tour manager himself, I also contacted past
customers, and this was very helpful because they revealed something tour
companies did not.</span></div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdyQ-s0Nw40/VzMvvy6tbRI/AAAAAAAAMwY/jdzS19hncBs2SNyBkPn2rvJZyDPlHJ53ACLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bbalabag%2Bmalaki%2B01%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BJulius%2BMendoza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdyQ-s0Nw40/VzMvvy6tbRI/AAAAAAAAMwY/jdzS19hncBs2SNyBkPn2rvJZyDPlHJ53ACLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bbalabag%2Bmalaki%2B01%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BJulius%2BMendoza.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Calaguas, Panorama view at Balabag Malaki</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-erWVf0yMZFg/VzMv2gLYS0I/AAAAAAAAMwc/CaA06hsS6fM2y7faySaXuwTmHGkMdcitACLcB/s1600/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BBianca%2BVicente.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-erWVf0yMZFg/VzMv2gLYS0I/AAAAAAAAMwc/CaA06hsS6fM2y7faySaXuwTmHGkMdcitACLcB/s400/calaguas%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BBianca%2BVicente.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Calaguas, Panorama view at Sitio Tanaga</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The best time to visit
Calaguas is during weekdays. Weekends can be very crowded and a two-day stay is
not enough. Aside from the beautiful beach, you can also go island hopping. The
trip to Balabag Malaki was amazing. Once you climbed the top of the hill, you
have a breathtaking view that is reminiscent of Batanes. The snorkeling in
Pinakpakan beach is middling and I suggest you skip it unless your tour guide
will bring you to a better site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">To make things brief,
here are the bad and good things about visiting Calaguas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>THE GOOD </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The beach is amazing.
The water is clear and not too deep so even non-swimmer can enjoy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">An overly serious </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">barangay tanod</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, with a megaphone,
reprimands boatmen who park their boats on the beach, thus, depriving swimmers
of space to swim. He does it in an almost Duterte-like manner. Good job!
Calaguas is one of the few places where I have seen this done.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The food is mostly
seafood and fresh. Good luck to those with seafood allergy. We did ask a
representative from our tour company to provide at least one non-seafood dish,
and all they gave us was a piece of fried chicken. I suggest take antihistamine
for those with seafood allergies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The people are very
friendly and accommodating, especially the locals.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The main beach and other
islands are clean, and relatively free of trash.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj6dNfPNIe0/VzMucZhfS7I/AAAAAAAAMvk/jZJ-obSNOg4wbhQcE7mO5OvM8BgFuViewCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bfood%2B01%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj6dNfPNIe0/VzMucZhfS7I/AAAAAAAAMvk/jZJ-obSNOg4wbhQcE7mO5OvM8BgFuViewCLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bfood%2B01%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Fresh fish</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XadEfBVG7lE/VzMuiHxzFGI/AAAAAAAAMvo/CykdtOn_EFoVpdVbrpOL1tMQ0Ibe6SW7gCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bfood%2B02%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XadEfBVG7lE/VzMuiHxzFGI/AAAAAAAAMvo/CykdtOn_EFoVpdVbrpOL1tMQ0Ibe6SW7gCLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bfood%2B02%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Side dish, mashed santol with chili</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIecPDWtvBg/VzMuoMXdyzI/AAAAAAAAMvw/IEuDmnp_O68z4br8ZmVJY6vrlTbwp4RXACLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bfood%2B03%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIecPDWtvBg/VzMuoMXdyzI/AAAAAAAAMvw/IEuDmnp_O68z4br8ZmVJY6vrlTbwp4RXACLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bfood%2B03%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fm5jtZBciJo/VzMuwntVxPI/AAAAAAAAMv4/gY70qLq32ckVJFI0RGrL4Nb3ysKQcROvgCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bfood%2B04%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fm5jtZBciJo/VzMuwntVxPI/AAAAAAAAMv4/gY70qLq32ckVJFI0RGrL4Nb3ysKQcROvgCLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bfood%2B04%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>THE BAD</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The commute is long,
about 10 to 12 hours by bus or car so prepare. If you have the budget, you may choose
to take a plane.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The boat ride to the
island may be bumpy depending on the weather condition. We were lucky enough to
go when the water was relatively still.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">You have to share the
toilet with many visitors so at certain hours, there is a long line. There is a
10-peso fee to use the bathroom. In our case, the bathroom fee was already
included in the package. Unfortunately, sometimes the line was long so we had
to use other paid toilets. I heard some tourist opted to pee on the beach when
the lines to the bathroom were long and these people could no longer hold their
bladders. If there is no improvement regarding the toilet facilities, eventually, the water
will be polluted with human waste.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sleeping inside the tent
can get hot, especially if you are camped away from the beach. Unfortunately,
for us, it was hot even at night so some of us decided to forgo the
tent and sleep on the open cottage. I also saw some people sleeping on the
beach.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There is no cell phone signal on any of the islands except on top of the hills. Bring your phone when you climb any of the hills so you can call or post pictures online. Then again, having no cell phone signal can also be a good thing. </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZmkC8_oiRo/VzMu-yLvgoI/AAAAAAAAMwA/iC_OpYExt4wG_yJo6-UwGWHomo5Qw9n2gCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Btent%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZmkC8_oiRo/VzMu-yLvgoI/AAAAAAAAMwA/iC_OpYExt4wG_yJo6-UwGWHomo5Qw9n2gCLcB/s400/calaguas%2Btent%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BSid%2BPana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y8eV1p9sIEY/VzMvIufI_VI/AAAAAAAAMwI/qpx0t3BYzCwiZ2BRwWGHkQcpC8yXYhGjwCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bsitio%2Btanaga%2B2%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y8eV1p9sIEY/VzMvIufI_VI/AAAAAAAAMwI/qpx0t3BYzCwiZ2BRwWGHkQcpC8yXYhGjwCLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bsitio%2Btanaga%2B2%2B%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRVhbf7D6rs/VzMvXzwktiI/AAAAAAAAMwQ/xw3JJdHVUT4xvihtoklvL7S7ie5gfRmjwCLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bsitio%2Btanaga%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRVhbf7D6rs/VzMvXzwktiI/AAAAAAAAMwQ/xw3JJdHVUT4xvihtoklvL7S7ie5gfRmjwCLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bsitio%2Btanaga%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRenan%2BRivera.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Trekking Tanaga Hill</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc7gVgOKNtM/VzMwAG3fOXI/AAAAAAAAMwk/yAeysPiSEoUBPW7hDFX93sDYaW7qlykfACLcB/s1600/calaguas%2Bbalabag%2Bmalaki%2B02%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BJulius%2BMendoza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc7gVgOKNtM/VzMwAG3fOXI/AAAAAAAAMwk/yAeysPiSEoUBPW7hDFX93sDYaW7qlykfACLcB/s400/calaguas%2Bbalabag%2Bmalaki%2B02%2BBRUN%2BPHILIPPINES%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BJulius%2BMendoza.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Calaguas, on top of Balabag Malaki</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>BEST CALAGUAS TOUR</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We chose Best Calaguas
Tour based on the recommendation of one of their former customers. Overall, the package
was worth it, although calling their tour the “best” is overrated. Our van service was also recommended by Best Calaguas Tour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>THE GOOD</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Our contact person
regularly communicated with me via text before the actual trip. He was nice and
he answered most of my questions. He could not reply immediately when he was in
Calaguas because there was no signal in the island.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There is no advance
payment but once you confirm your booking; your slots are secured. They only
ask that you inform them in advance if you will cancel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The dishes that they
serve were delicious and the servings were ample. There were 10 of us and, sometimes, we were not able to eat all of the dishes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The people who served us
our food were nice, and I hope they are not underpaid.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>THE BAD</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Before we got to the
island, I texted the contact person of the tour company. I asked them if we had
to bring our own snorkeling gears or if there was a charge to use their snorkeling
gears. He said, and I quote from his text reply, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“wala pong charge yung gear.”</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">However, when we got to the snorkeling site, there were not enough
goggles for snorkeling, and some were broken. When I asked the guide, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Sir wala na pong goggles na may snorkeling
tube?”</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> He simply answered, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Prino-provide
lang po namin iyan sa walang dala. Hindi sa lahat.”</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> There were about 15 of
us on the boat and only one opted not to go snorkeling. None of us brought any
snorkeling gear. What if they had 20 people on the boat and they only had 10
working snorkeling goggles? Does that mean the other 10 would just sit on the boat
and mope? It would have been better if they had informed us in advance that
snorkeling gears were free but limited so we would have at least brought some.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Kayaking is part of the
package but apparently, good customer service is not. When some of us wanted to
go kayaking, I asked the tour guide, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Sir,
gusto po nila mag-kayaking.”</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> He just answered, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Sige kayaking kayo,” </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">and then he left. He did not even point where we
would get the kayaks. There were some kayaks on the beach but we had no idea if
those belonged to our tour company because the kayaks had “Camp Calaguas”
painted on the side. Plus, there were no paddles around. Eventually, some of us
just assumed the kayaks were for everyone. One of my friends asked somebody
from our tour company for a paddle, and my friend was given only half a paddle.
Nevertheless, since my friends did not want to spoil their fun, they just took
the half-paddle and went kayaking. Needless to say, they still had a blast.
Luckily, I was not the one who asked for the paddle because I would have thrown
a hissy fit a-la Duterte if I were handed half a paddle.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvAy3GPMu-8/VzMziFGUx4I/AAAAAAAAMw8/ouI4zWcqfAM9mDQG7OcnmZSss8F_4cdnQCLcB/s1600/brun%2Bphilippines%2Bcalaguas%2Bisa%2Bka%2Blang%2Bsa%2Bnapakaraming%2Bturista%2Bessay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvAy3GPMu-8/VzMziFGUx4I/AAAAAAAAMw8/ouI4zWcqfAM9mDQG7OcnmZSss8F_4cdnQCLcB/s1600/brun%2Bphilippines%2Bcalaguas%2Bisa%2Bka%2Blang%2Bsa%2Bnapakaraming%2Bturista%2Bessay.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2016/05/isa-ka-lamang-sa-napakaraming-turista.html">CLICK THIS TO READ THE ARTICLE</a></b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>THE VAN SERVICE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Regarding the van that
we rented, the driver was all right but he overtook many vehicles on the way to
Calaguas. This is bad considering we were travelling at night and in most cases,
on roads that had no streetlights. In many instances, he was quite reckless. I
also learned that he and the other drivers in our convoy had been driving
non-stop. For example, prior to driving us to Camarines Norte, our driver had
drove all the way from Quezon so he barely had time to rest for our 10-hour
trip. In addition, they also had another pick-up in another place, which
explained why they were driving so fast. On our way to Manila, we also discovered that they had to pick up another
batch of tourists going to Sagada. Yes, after a tiring 10-hour drive, they
would immediately head to Sagada. There was no time for our driver to rest. In
fact, at times, he was sleepy. I bet he was even underpaid. Certainly, the
safety of their passengers and the welfare of the driver was not the priority
of the owner of this transportation company. One of my friends who sat next to the driver also could not sleep because she had to talk with our driver so that he would not fall asleep. Luckily, they bonded well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We also paid for 11 passengers so we were expecting a van that can
accommodate 11 people. One of us cancelled but I did not inform the van owner because
we paid for 11 people anyway. To my surprise, the van could only accommodate 10
people. When I complained, the van owner simply said that our van was a deluxe
VIP Toyota Grandia. The van was all right. My point was that the van was not
big enough for 11 people. In a way, they cheated us. Unfortunately, there was
no time to rectify the situation so I had to give way and sit on the fold-able
seat for 10 hours. And yes, as agreed, I still paid for 11 people. I kept my word. They did not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bottom line,</span></b> be more
careful in choosing a tour company. You should also visit Calaguas before it becomes overly commercialized like Boracay. I hope that Calaguas stay pristine or the country will soon lose another piece of paradise. I hope the
local government will make policies on a long-term basis and not be lured by
quick profit. Most importantly, I hope the local will benefit more than big
businesses and seedy public officials. On our part, all of us visitors should
take care of these group of islands and not cause any further damage. In instances where we see environmental and social abuses, we should
protest in our own way. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slRXTQtm6mk/Vza4THxLpmI/AAAAAAAAMyE/lIKjcSZXSN0QNZspQ21UYW3u8gSgGJqNACLcB/s1600/Brun%2BPhilippines%2BBiyaherong%2BKulang%2Bsa%2BBoojei%2B%255Bgroup%2Bpicture%255D%2BCalaguas%2BIsland%2B2016%2B%255Bno%2Bnames%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slRXTQtm6mk/Vza4THxLpmI/AAAAAAAAMyE/lIKjcSZXSN0QNZspQ21UYW3u8gSgGJqNACLcB/s400/Brun%2BPhilippines%2BBiyaherong%2BKulang%2Bsa%2BBoojei%2B%255Bgroup%2Bpicture%255D%2BCalaguas%2BIsland%2B2016%2B%255Bno%2Bnames%255D.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><b>FOR MORE TRAVEL ESSAYS, <a href="http://brun-philippines.wix.com/home#!food--travel/cdle">CLICK THIS</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-31968762722460807922016-05-11T21:31:00.003+08:002016-05-11T22:05:20.580+08:00"Isa Ka Lamang sa Napakaraming Turista" (Calaguas, Camarines Norte) Isang Sanaysay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvAy3GPMu-8/VzMziFGUx4I/AAAAAAAAMw8/GfBvph4ETPIADFc6m0MfVYJSSAcsW7q-ACKgB/s1600/brun%2Bphilippines%2Bcalaguas%2Bisa%2Bka%2Blang%2Bsa%2Bnapakaraming%2Bturista%2Bessay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvAy3GPMu-8/VzMziFGUx4I/AAAAAAAAMw8/GfBvph4ETPIADFc6m0MfVYJSSAcsW7q-ACKgB/s320/brun%2Bphilippines%2Bcalaguas%2Bisa%2Bka%2Blang%2Bsa%2Bnapakaraming%2Bturista%2Bessay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sa bawat aking
paglalakbay, sinisigurado ko na may makausap akong tubo sa isang lugar. Kalimitan,
sa kanila ko nalalaman ang tunay na sitwasyon ng isang lugar. Marahil mukha man
mistulang paraiso ang isang pook subalit ito ay balot lamang at nakatago ang
tunay na realidad. Sa aming pagbisita sa pulo ng Calaguas, nakausap ko ang
aming bangkero. Hindi ko isisiwalat ang kaniyang pangalan para sa kaniyang
proteksyon at paggalang sa kaniyang praybasi. Tinanong ko siya kung ilan ang
kasya sa isang bangka sapagkat parang higit na marami ang sakay sa laki ng bangka.
Naka-upo na nga kami ng isa kong kaibigan malapit sa makina. Sagot ng aming
bangkero na hindi pa naman umabot sa overloading. Tinanong ko nang palihim kung
magkano ang kinikita nila. Ayon sa kaniya, 800 piso lamang ang bayad sa kanila papunta
at pabalik sa isla. Hindi 800 piso kada biyahe, kung hindi dalawang biyahe
(hatid at sundo). Mukhang paghahatian pa nila itong magkakasama sa bangka. Ibig
sabihin, hindi hamak na mas malaki ang parte ng mga tour company. Sabi rin niya
na kung minsan, nagbibigay ng dagdag na isang daan piso ang isa sa mga pasehero at
malaking tulong na raw ito sa kanila. Nagtitinda rin ang iba sa kanila ng ice
buko mismo sa bangka. Bumili ako. May isang magkasintahan na bumili rin matapos
makitang kumakain ako. Noong nakabili na ang nobyo, inalok ito sa kaniyang
nobya subalit ang sagot ng nobya, “I don’t want that!” Sagot ng nobyo, “Babe, I
thought you want some.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tinanong ko rin ang
aming boatman kung ano ang karaniwang nilang kabuhayan. Sabi niya na pangingisda
ang kanilang pangunahing pinagkukunan ng kita subalit paghahatid at pagsundo ng
mga turista ang kanilang inaatupag kapag panahon ng tag-init. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sa pulo rin ng Calaguas,
mapanpansin mo na simple ang pamumuhay ng mga lokal na tao. Bakas sa kanila ang
pagiging masayahin at minsan nga habang kami ay naglalakbay, binabati kami ng
mga ilang bata. Ang iba sa pulo ay kumikita sa pagtitinda sa mga turista. Ang
iba naman ay nagsasalok ng tubig para magamit sa banyo na ginagamit ng mga
turista. Ang ibang turista pa nga ay maarte at nagrereklamo sa bagal ng pagpuno
ng tubig. Wala rin kuryente sa lugar at tuwing gabi lamang nagkakaroon. Hindi
ako isang daang porsyentong sigurado kung tama nga ito subalit sa aming
pagbisita sa Calaguas, nagkaroon lang ng kuryente ng gabi. May mga solar panels
naman na ginagamit sa ibang lugar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">May mga “fire dancer”
din sa Calaguas, at matapos ang kanilang pagganap, narinig ko yung isang “fire
dancer” habang nakaupo sa buhangin. Sabi niya, “Pare, muntik na akong masabugan
ng gaas sa mukha.” Sa aking pagmumuni-muni, tanong ko sa sarili, “Taga-Calaguas
din ba siya? Magkano kaya ang bayad sa kaniya? Ano kaya ang kaniyang
pangunahing trabaho? Nag-aaral ba siya?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa aming pag-uwi, ako ay
nalungkot na ibang bangka ang aming sinakyan at hindi ko na makakausap muli ang
bangkero na aking nakahalubilo noon. Subalit natanaw ko ang kaniyang bangka at
tulad ng dati, halos 40 katao ang sakay. Marahil, hindi na niya rin naman ako
maalala. Marahil sa kanila, isa lang akong maarte at nagmamarunong na turista
na matapos magliwaliw sa paraiso, makakalimutan rin ang mga tao sa Calaguas.
Tanging ang magagandang tanawin lamang ang mapagbibigyan pansin. Sa ating mga
turista, mas mahalaga siguro ang dalampasigan, bundok, burol, mga pulo at ang
kagandahan ng paglubog at pagsikat ng araw, at siempre, ang “selfies.”</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-44711469347332383782016-01-23T20:51:00.000+08:002016-01-23T20:56:24.716+08:00Food Recipe: Homemade Celery Leaves Pesto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x9fyHQq3oww/VqN3CPfeUXI/AAAAAAAAMqI/cDS_jgx3Uu8/s1600/rob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel%2Bfood%2B%255Bcelery%2Bleaves%2Bpesto%255D%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x9fyHQq3oww/VqN3CPfeUXI/AAAAAAAAMqI/cDS_jgx3Uu8/s320/rob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel%2Bfood%2B%255Bcelery%2Bleaves%2Bpesto%255D%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I usually buy many
stalks of celery every week because I juice them along with cucumber, two
carrots and one half apple. This veggie juice helps detoxify your body.
Unfortunately, I always end up with so much leftover celery leaves. I like them
but my mom and other friends do not particularly like the bitter taste of the
leaves when they are juiced so I usually throw them away. Then I decided, “Why
don’t I make homemade celery leaves pesto? I’ll experiment.” Well, it turned out nice even if I do say so
myself. I put it on my whole wheat sandwich as a special spread, add it to my other vegetable dishes, use it as a side dish and as a dressing for salad. Making celery leaves pesto is easy and best of all, you can
come up with your own recipe as well. Be imaginative and add other ingredients
that you like. Bon appétit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Suggested ingredients</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>1 to 1 ½ cup of finely
chopped celery leaves<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>4 tablespoon of extra
virgin olive oil<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>4 tablespoon of balsamic
vinegar<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>1 tablespoon minced
garlic<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>½ teaspoon of finely chopped
ginger<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Salt and pepper to taste</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wanted to add fresh chopped
basil leaves but I ran out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The measurements are not
exact and you can adjust them depending on your taste. If you do not suffer
from high uric acid level, you may add in crushed peanuts or almonds or any
healthy variety of nuts. Just use unsalted and uncooked ones to minimize the
sodium. I also added about a teaspoon of
Chia seeds that I bought last year and I still have some leftovers. Feel free to experiment on adding other healthful
ingredients. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-89861170369384208372015-11-18T12:58:00.003+08:002015-11-20T16:30:58.890+08:00(Panitikan) "Hakbang" at Iba Pang Mga Tula ni Leo Ricafort Pura<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hakbang</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ika-17 Nobyembre 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dahan-dahang pagmulat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ng mga matang tanging
ikaw<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ang ibig mamasdan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dito sa lamig ng damuhan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">habang nakahiga sa
pagod,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sa wala na nga bang
kabuluhang paglalakbay,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">galing sa kung saan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sa patutunguhang di na
alam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dahil sabi mo ng walang<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pasintabi na paalis ka
na.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Para kanino pa ba
gagalaw,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">huhugot ng hininga,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">kikibot ng labi?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kung sa patuloy na
pagbago ng panahon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ay di ka na makikita,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">di na mayayakap nang
biglaan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">habang nagkakantahan,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">O mahahalikan kahit sa
pisngi lang, kaibigan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sana bago ka lumisan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at iwan itong hindi pa
nasisimulan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ay matulungan akong
muling makakilos,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">makarinig, makangiti.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mamutawi sa mga labi <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ng walang kurot sa puso<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ang pansamantala lang
sanang pamamaalam,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at hindi ang tuluyan nang katapusan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ng paghakbang.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></i></b><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: large;">Huling Pagkakataon</span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">
ika-22 Oktubre 2015<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
ang kadalasang gamit na salamin ay kalungkutan.<br />
Ikaw na ang boses ay sinlamig ng di natutunaw na niyebe.<br />
Ikaw na sa bawat galaw ay sari-saring hugis ng anino ang nayayakap,<br />
Ay hindi ko pa iniibig.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wala
pang puwang ang paborito kong kulay sa iyong mga kasuutan.<br />
Wala pang halaga ang iyong mga ngiti sa bawat nating pagtitinginan.<br />
Wala pang timbang ang iyong mga pagpaparamdam sa aking mga palad<br />
Dahil hindi pa kita sinisinta.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Isa ka
lang sa maraming kapalitan ng pagkagusto at pag-ayaw ng hilig.<br />
Isa ka lang sa mga natipon na at nadadagdagan pang kaulayaw.<br />
Isa ka lang sa hindi na mabilang at sadyang tinuturing kong kaibigan,<br />
Sadyang kaibigan pa lamang.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Marahil
nga, ngayon ay payak pa lamang ang ating pagkakakilanlan.<br />
Siguro nga hindi ko pa naiintindihan nang lubusan ang ating pagkakatugma.<br />
Pero sa iyong bawat ngiti, hagod, at sulyap, sa pagpapatuloy nitong panahon,<br />
Ikaw at ako na rin, sa huling pagkakataon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kaibigan</span></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ika-8
Setyembre 2015<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sabi
ko, kahawig mo kasi ang isang kaibigan.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Naaalala ko sya sa hugis ng iyong maamong mukha,<br />
At sa mapungay mong mga mata. Nakapagtataka,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Dahil ni minsan ay hindi ako nakaramdam ng ganito
sa kanya.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Ang aming pagkakakilanlan ay walang halong kurot
pag di siya nakikita</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">O kiliti pag nakakausap sa hapag kainan.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow">Walang tingkad ang mga kulay, kislap ang salamin,
at kinang ang sinagtala.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bakit
nga ba sa’yo ay mayroon? Ano ang iyong kaibahan?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Dahil ba ito sa tila kape mong kulay na inihalo nang tama<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Sa maligamgam na kondensada at mapusyaw na maskobadong asukal?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Ito ba ay sapagkat di pa kita lubusang kilala?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Oo alam ko kung ano ang trabaho mo, pero di mo pa<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Nasasabi ang paborito mong sine o banda,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
O kung kumakanta ka rin ba?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Daanin
ko na lang nga sa tula ang aking nadarama.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Bakasakaling matanto mo na kahit tungkol ito sa’yo,<br />
Itong nagbabalik at halos di ko na makilalang kaba,<br />
Tayo man ay maglulunoy sa maalong dagat,<br />
Maglalakbay sa bukirin na punong-puno ng bituin,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
O kumain ng paborito mo nga bang sariwang talaba,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Pagkatapos ng lahat, akin ring matatanggap,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Na
katulad nya, tayo ay hanggang magkaibigan lang.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ikaw</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ika-30
Hulyo 2015<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
minsan ay hindi man lang nagtanong<br />
Kung ilang tag-araw ang napapagitnaan natin<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
nanatili sa aking tabi kahit ilang bayan<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
Ang naipon at nagsamasama sa ating pagitan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
maaaring sa pagdating ng kinabukasan<br />
Ay iba ang sasamahang luluhod sa dambana<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
walang sawang bumabati sa araw-araw<br />
Kung ako ba'y kumain at nakauwi na ng bahay<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
nakasalo sa hindi mabilang na pagtumba<br />
Ng sari-saring lakas at timpla ng pagpaparaya<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
ngiti ang sukli sa aking bawat tingin,<br />
Mahigpit na hawak ang balik sa aking mga haplos<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
binabalik-balikan sa bawat paglalakbay<br />
Sa bayang ang daloy ng tubig ay walang-hanggan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw na
kasama sa mga pangarap at mga balakin<br />
Laman ng aking puso, hinahanap ng mga yakap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ikaw ay
aking mahal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ulan</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ika-8
Hulyo 2015<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Katulad
ba ang pagpatak ng ulan sa bintanang salamin<br />
Sa pagdausdos ng luha sa mukhang nababalot ng dilim?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kagaya
ba ang pagbuhos ng ulan sa napabayaang hardin<br />
Sa bigat ng haplos ng lamig sa katawang wala sa'yong piling?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bakit
ang ulan sa salita ay 'sindaming titik ng luha?<br />
Ang katawan ba'y tubig na rin na sa langit ibinaba?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TVOJbe4HIFU/VkwEE7Hs7_I/AAAAAAAAMRc/KwUWjt2AfvI/s1600/Leo%2BRicafort%2BPura%2B%255Bpoetry%255D%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TVOJbe4HIFU/VkwEE7Hs7_I/AAAAAAAAMRc/KwUWjt2AfvI/s320/Leo%2BRicafort%2BPura%2B%255Bpoetry%255D%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">THE AUTHOR</span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Leo Ricafort Pura</b></span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is a
published writer of poems and stories. His works were published in the <i>Philippine Free Press</i> and <i>Liwayway Magazine</i> in the 1990s. He
currently works full time in a consultancy firm in Ortigas and volunteers his
free time with <i>Love Yourself</i>. His
recent poems are mostly personal musings on relationships.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JE3SP6II4Ws/VkwEmP_zopI/AAAAAAAAMRk/MMWzxECtWpU/s1600/literary%2Bpage%2Bpoetry%2Bshort%2Bstory%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2BLINK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JE3SP6II4Ws/VkwEmP_zopI/AAAAAAAAMRk/MMWzxECtWpU/s1600/literary%2Bpage%2Bpoetry%2Bshort%2Bstory%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2BLINK.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>For guidelines, <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/08/guidelines-for-contributing-writers.html">click this</a>. To see to our Literary page, <a href="http://brun-philippines.wix.com/home#!literary-page/c8de">click this</a></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-81286179379172648702015-10-10T21:12:00.002+08:002015-10-10T22:43:44.574+08:00"Paraisong Puno ng Bakod"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J5dDKGu_ILE/VhkMe8lWdLI/AAAAAAAAMBY/GhQnaDMOEmc/s1600/Sabang%2BPort%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J5dDKGu_ILE/VhkMe8lWdLI/AAAAAAAAMBY/GhQnaDMOEmc/s320/Sabang%2BPort%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B03.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Potograpya ni Bianca Vicente.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sinulat ni Rob San Miguel</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Siguro ako ang may diperensiya sapagkat hanggang ngayon
ay hindi ako basta basta gaanong makapag-relaks sa isang lugar na aking
pinupuntahan para magbakasyon. Kahit maging sa isang marangyang lungsod o isang simpleng
lalalawigan, hindi ko nakaugaliang ibaling ang aking mga tingin sa ganda ng
lugar lamang. Hanggang ngayon ay napupuna ko pa rin ang hindi pantay ng buhay
ng mga Pilipino. Marahil dahil ako ay laking probinsiya at hirap. Nakatulong
din siguro ang pag-aaral ko sa isang pampublikong elementarya at ang pagsama ko
sa aking lola sa pagtitinda ng prutas sa palengke noong ako ay musmos pa. At
kahit dumating dati ang pagkakataon na lumaki ang aking sweldo, naging medyo
sosyal, at nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makabili ng kotse subalit pinili ko pa rin
makipagsapalaran sa pagsakay sa kalye tulad ng maraming Pilipino. Sa aking
pananaw, hindi magandang pamumuhunan ang magkaroon ng sasakyan. Alam ko na
medyo mapagmagaling ang dating ng aking pahayag subalit mas pinili ko pa ang
igugol ang ipon ko sa ibang bagay. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PrR9yof8_bU/VhkNJRrGD0I/AAAAAAAAMBc/KfmxDzZ5tuA/s1600/Mauban%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PrR9yof8_bU/VhkNJRrGD0I/AAAAAAAAMBc/KfmxDzZ5tuA/s320/Mauban%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Araw araw kapag nakikipag-agawan ka para sumasakay ng dyipni,
tricycle, bus, at namamalengke sa talipapa, mas lantad ka sa tunay na kalagayan
ng lipunan. Kaya nga naniniwala ako na dapat atasan ang bawat opisyal ng
pamahalaan ng magbiyahe araw araw gamit ang pampublikong sasakyan at ipagbawal
ang paggamit ng kotse maliban na lamang sa espesyal na okasyon. Kinakailangan
maranasan ng mga matataas nating lider ang pang araw-araw na suliranin ng ordinaryong
Pilipino. Hindi ba at pinagmamayabang natin na Kristiyanong bansa tayo. Kung ganoon,
hindi ba dapat na tularan ng ating mga “Panginoon ng Pamahalaan” si Hesu Kristo.
Bumaba sila sa trono at araw araw na makihalubilo sa masa hindi lamang kapag eleksyon
o may midiang kukuha ng litrato.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pero lumalayo ako sa paksa…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa aking pagbisita sa pulo ng Cagbalete sa may Quezon,
una kong napuna ang kagandahan ng lugar tulad ng mga pino at halos kulay puting
buhangin. Tubig na kulay akwamarin at mga mababait at mapagkumbabang tao ang
sasalubong sa iyo. Subalit sa likod ng kagandahang ito, nakatago ang isang
nakalulungkot na realidad. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HUFcQHZfobw/VhkNTDRUNyI/AAAAAAAAMBk/kNRMauFxhLU/s1600/Mauban%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B03%2B%255Bedited%255D%2Bblack%2Band%2Bwhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HUFcQHZfobw/VhkNTDRUNyI/AAAAAAAAMBk/kNRMauFxhLU/s320/Mauban%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B03%2B%255Bedited%255D%2Bblack%2Band%2Bwhite.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Ang may akda at ang kaniyang kaibigan guro sa <br />isang pambublikong paaralan sa probinsiya.<br />Potographya ni Bianca Vicente</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nakilala namin ang dalawang batang ina na may edad na
hindi hihigit sa 25. Kinse anyos pa lamang ay naging ina na sila. Ang dalawa ay
nagtitinda ng mga subenir o mga pagkaing-dagat sa mga turista para pandagdag na
pangtustos sa lumalaking pamilya. Ang isang babae ay may lima nang anak at
hindi siya pinayagang mag plano ng pamilya ng kaniyang biyenan, na parang
kumadrona noon. Nagpapaanak. Ayon sa
kaniyang biyenan, nakasasama daw sa kalusugan ang paginom o paggamit ng
kontraseptib. Sino ang nagsabi nito? Lahat ba ng paraan ng pagpaplano ng
pamilya ay masama at tanging natural na paraan ang dapat sundin? Noong namatay
na lamang ang kaniyang biyenan saka niya inumpisahang magplano ng pamilya. Ang
isa namang babae ay may anak na rin. Pareho masiyahin ang dalawang batang ina at
nakikipagbiruan pa sa amin. Minsan nagigilti ako kapag tumatawad sa tinda. Ano
ba naman ang konting dagdag na bayad? Sa ating taga-Maynila, ang 20 pesos ay
walang silbi subalit sa taga lalawigan, malaking tulong ito. Nang tinanong ng
isa naming kasama kung bakit marami silang anak, pabirong sinagot ng isa na ganado
daw lagi si mister, isang “ganador.” Kaming lahat ay napatawa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hindi sapat ang dalawang araw para lubusang maunawan ang
tunay na sitwasyon ng isang lugar. Aaminin ko na may pagka-ipokrita ang aking
dating. Ano ba ang akala kong matutunan sa isang lugar sa loob ng maikling panahon.
Subalit isang tingin lang sa isang lugar, may mga palatandaang nagpapahiwatig
ng hindi pagkakapantay-pantay ng Pilipino. Huwag lang tayong magtanga-tangahan.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z45hZ9OlvWY/VhkNbx_-cQI/AAAAAAAAMBs/XsMEAswR3BI/s1600/Mauban%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B02%2B%255Bedited%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z45hZ9OlvWY/VhkNbx_-cQI/AAAAAAAAMBs/XsMEAswR3BI/s320/Mauban%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B02%2B%255Bedited%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nang naglalakad kami paputang pantalan ng Sabang,
napansin ng isa kong kasama ang isang babae na may kargang sanggol. Mukhang
kinse anyos pa lang ang dalaga. Tinanong ng aking kasama kung kapatid niya ang
sanggol. Sumagot ang dalaga at sinabing anak niya daw iyon. Binanggit din ng aming
guide na ordinaryo lang daw ang ganiyang kabatang ina. Hindi ko alam kung tama
ang impormasyong binigay subalit ito ay isang palaisipan. Ang ganitong
sitwasyon ba ay kanilang pinili o ito lang ang kanilang tanging mapagpipilian
bilang babae. May napanisin rin akong nag-uusap na magkaibigan, isang
homosekswal at isang babae. Pinag-uusapan nila ang nagdaang beauty contest. Tipikal?
Ang beauty contest lang ang tangi at karapat-dapat na pagtuunan ng isang bakla? Palaisipan.
Gayunman, baka naman masaya silang lahat at ako lang ang nag-iisip ng iba dahil
nalinlang ako ng aking edukasyong maka-Kanluran. Kabilang na ba ako sa mga ipokritang turista tulad ng nakita kong mestisang babae sa Pagudpud na atat na
atat maki-pag selfie sa mga mangingisdang humahatak ng lambat?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ibinida rin ng aming guide na dati siyang nagtratrabaho
sa isang resort. Inihahatid niya sa kaniyang bangka ang mga turista patungong
Cagbalete. Nagbitiw daw siya sa resort dahil maliit ang binabayad sa kanila at
tuwing alas 4 lang sila pinapakain ng almusal. Ito ang una at huling pagkain na
binibigay sa kanila. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa akin din paglalakbay sa mahabang aplaya ng Cagbalete,
napansin ko na may isang napagandang resort. Ang harapan ay puno ng mga
kakaibang puno, sintulad ng mga punong pino (pine tree) at ang malaking bahay
ay mukhang pangmayaman. May lubid na nagsisilbing bakod bilang tanda na hindi
pwedeng pumasok ang sinuman. Marahil ito ay isang resort na hindi pa binubuksan
o isang pribadong pag-aari ng isang taong mariwasa sa Cagbalete o baka naman
taga Maynila. Hindi rin imposible na pag-aari ng isang mataas na opisyal ng
pulo o ng lalawigan ng Quezon. Ganito ata ang Pilipinas. Isang bansang
napapaligiran ng bakod. Minsan ay kitang kita ang bakod at minsan naman ay parang
salikmata, hindi nakikita, subalit batid ng ordinaryong Pilipino kung anong
lugar hindi sila pwedeng tumapak. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u1mQ9ZClOnY/VhkNoNLTWSI/AAAAAAAAMB0/AYxpkL4djCE/s1600/Mauban%2BChapel%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u1mQ9ZClOnY/VhkNoNLTWSI/AAAAAAAAMB0/AYxpkL4djCE/s320/Mauban%2BChapel%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kahit napaganda ng Cagbalete, kung bubuksan mo ang iyong
mga mata, nakabakod ang isla tulad ng napakaraming isla sa bansa. Hindi kakaiba
ang pulo ng Cagbalete. Tulad ito ng Boracay, mga pulo ng Palawan at iba pa. Sa
ating bansa, ang mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan ang may kakayahang gumawa
at magtibag ng bakod. Dito lang kayong mga dukha o ordinaryong tao. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parating na muli ang halalan kung saan pare-parehong uri
ng kandidato ang huminhingi ng ating boto. Mga parehong o lumang mukha, mga pare-parehong
pangako at iba pa. May pagbabago pa ba? Kahit ang nag-aastang bago ay mukhang
lumang trapo kung matapang mong huhubaran. Kung ilulukluk mo uli sa pwesto ang
isang magnanakaw o may pansariling layunin, hindi ba siguradong magnanakaw pa
rin siya? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa likod ng napakaraming paraiso sa bansa, maari mong
ituring na refugee o kaya dayuhan ang mga napakaraming Pilipino. Nakatapak man
sa lupang kanilang sinilangan, nakabakod naman at hindi lamang ang tinitirahan,
pati ang pag-iisip. At kung pareho pa rin uri ng tao ang ating magiging mga lider,
patuloy pa rin ang pagdami at pagpapatibay ng mga bakod sa ating kamalayan at
buhay. Siguro hindi natin kailangan ang mga lider o tagapagligtas. Siguro mas kailangan nating iligtas ang isa't isa sa mga taong mahilig gumawa ng bakod?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>KAUGNAY NA SANAYSAY</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/04/si-mang-romeo-isang-tour-guide-sa.html">Si Mang Romeo, Isang Tour Guide sa Bundok Pinatubo</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2015/10/travel-cagbalete-island-under-2000.html">Cagbalete Under 2,000 Pesos (Travle Tips)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-71437242775785145782015-10-09T16:10:00.002+08:002016-05-11T21:58:57.896+08:00Travel: "Cagbalete Island Under 2,000 Pesos! Saan Ka Pa?" (A Travel Guide in Three Parts)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Part 1: Travel Tips</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2015/10/paraisong-puno-ng-bakod.html">Part 2: Paraisong Puno ng Bakod</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Part 3: Photo Gallery (soon)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>PART 1: Travel Tips</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are tired of going to Mindoro and Batangas, and Boracay and
Palawan are just too pricey and far for you, you may want to consider Cagbalete
Island. The island is not as famous as the aforementioned beaches but Cagbalete
has its quaint country feel to it. The place is not yet commercialized and, if
you visit during lean season, you can enjoy the very laid-back atmosphere. You
can just lie on a hammock and enjoy the sea breeze. Getting to the place may be too tiring for
some but I think it is worth it. Most importantly, the trip is cheap, and it
can even be cheaper if you are creative. Members of the Biyaherong Kulang sa
Boojei visited the island during the lean season (last October 3 and 4, 2015)
and at some point, we had the resort and beach all to ourselves. Paradise
indeed.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5dDKGu_ILE/VhkMe8lWdLI/AAAAAAAAMBU/aXMovAtwRq0/s1600/Sabang%2BPort%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5dDKGu_ILE/VhkMe8lWdLI/AAAAAAAAMBU/aXMovAtwRq0/s200/Sabang%2BPort%2BCagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2B03.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2015/10/paraisong-puno-ng-bakod.html">CLICK THIS </a></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>TO READ THE ARTICLE</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We hope you will find our travel tips useful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Bon Voyage! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>BUDGET PER PERSON (for a group of 10 people)</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>P350 </b>– Accommodation (P3,500 for a medium cottage overnight / 10 people)=
P350</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>P360</b> – Food (let’s suppose you will spend 60 pesos per meal; that will
be 6 meals – Saturday breakfast, Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner, Sunday
breakfast, Sunday lunch, Sunday dinner)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>P440</b> – Bus from Kamias to Lucena (P220) / Lucena to Kamias (P220)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>P108</b> – Mini-bus from Lucena to Mauban (P54) / Mauban to Lucena (P54).
Aircon mini-van is P60</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>P100</b> – Public boat from Mauban to Sabang port in Cagbalete (P50 one-way
x 2)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: blue;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TOTAL: P1,358</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COST</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Additional expenses will be up to you. You may want to buy alcoholic
beverages, snacks, souvenir items and delicacies. You may also want to spend money on other
activities in the island. However, if you keep things simple, you can manage
with a budget of less than 2,000. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TENT</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you decide to use a tent, the total budget will even be less. Check
with your resort regarding rental of tent or just rent for a space to put up
your own tent. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>HIDDEN COST</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Resort corkage fees</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charge for the use of utensils</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tips for porters at the port (optional)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Panoramic shot of the aquamarine water. Click image to enlarge</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33pYNhPFg24/VhaAtbAWohI/AAAAAAAAL90/muO8qUh-UAw/s1600/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33pYNhPFg24/VhaAtbAWohI/AAAAAAAAL90/muO8qUh-UAw/s400/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panoramic shot of Bonsai Island during low tide. </b><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click image to enlarge</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tGXK6tzAqaM/Vhd1JIQbQQI/AAAAAAAAL_E/8IZj7m1hAEA/s1600/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2Bpanorama%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bbeach%2Bvilla%2Bcleofas%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tGXK6tzAqaM/Vhd1JIQbQQI/AAAAAAAAL_E/8IZj7m1hAEA/s400/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2Bpanorama%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bbeach%2Bvilla%2Bcleofas%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panoramic shot of the beach at Villa Cleofas. </b><b style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click image to enlarge</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THINGS TO DO</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swimming</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just enjoy the beach and relax</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bonfire at the beach at night (if your resorts allows)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Island hopping</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walk to Bonsai Island, which is submerged during high tide but you can
reach on foot during low tide</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoy the many sandbars of the island</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kayaking,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Snorkeling,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Horse riding (if available in your chosen resort)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fishing tour,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beach volleyball</span></li>
</ul>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SWIMMING</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best time to swim is early in the morning or late in the afternoon
when the tide is high. Otherwise, most of the beach is sandbar, which is not
good for swimming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>WALK ALONG THE BEACH</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have time and energy, walk along the coastline, some parts of
the island have better beaches plus walking is great exercise. Great way to
lose all that excess fat and get a banging beach body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>HOW TO GET THERE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9VGlcVt9c-A/VhaFr34C99I/AAAAAAAAL-Y/oX36LhWlgSo/s1600/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%2528boat%2Barrival%2529%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9VGlcVt9c-A/VhaFr34C99I/AAAAAAAAL-Y/oX36LhWlgSo/s320/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%2528boat%2Barrival%2529%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Touchdown!</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>A. GOING TO CAGBALETE</i></b></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Total travel time is around 6 hours</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take either Jac Liner or JAM Liner (along EDSA near Kamias) or at
Buendia/Taft (LRT)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Option 1: From Kamias bus station to Lucena = the bus leaves every
hour, the first trip is 1 or 2 AM </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Travel
time: 3 hours)</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Option 2: From Kamias directly to Mauban = 4:00 or 4:30 AM. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Travel time: 4 hours)</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> But the departure
time is not reliable so if you want to reach Mauban before the first boat trip
to Cagbalete at 10AM, I suggest taking the bus bound for Lucena at 2:30 AM
instead.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Lucena, take an ordinary mini-bus to Mauban. The fare is 54 pesos.
</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Travel time: 1.5 hours)</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Mauban, you may take the public boat. The fare is 50 pesos and the
first trip is 10 AM. You may also hire a private boat that some resorts offer to
their visitors. Villa Cleofas offers private boats and the boat rental depends on
the number of passengers. For 15 to 20 people, the rent is usually 5,000 pesos
(two-way). We rented a private boat good for 10 people and we paid 3,000
(two-way). </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Travel time: 40 minutes to 1 hour)</i></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>B. GOING BACK TO MANILA</b></i></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best time to leave is around 1 P.M. The public boat in Sabang port
also leaves at 1 P.M. but it is advisable to leave before 4 P.M.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At Mauban, you can take the ordinary mini-bus back to Lucena Grand
Station or an air-conditioned UV Express van (60 pesos). Both the bus and the
van are located near 7-11.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From Lucena Grand Station, there are many buses bound for Cubao or
Taft.</span></li>
</ul>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HLMFdWZXkqs/VhaEkvzG4-I/AAAAAAAAL-Q/mXXuilu8FVo/s1600/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%2528Villa%2BCleofas%2529%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HLMFdWZXkqs/VhaEkvzG4-I/AAAAAAAAL-Q/mXXuilu8FVo/s400/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%2528Villa%2BCleofas%2529%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Medium-size cottages in Villa Cleofas<br />Good for 12 people</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ACCOMMODATION</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Villa Cleofas</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chek-in 12 PM/ Check out 12 P.M.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are many resorts in Cagbalete and the best resort for you will
depend on your budget. In our case, we chose Villa Cleofas because many
bloggers wrote good reviews about the place. We also had a pleasant experience.
The staff were quite accommodating. Our contact person, Sir Tonet Reyeg, replied
to all my text messages and even my e-mails. He also answered all my questions
regarding the trip. When we decided to book a private boat, he also quickly
arranged it and gave me the contact number of our boatman. Three days before our trip, I was already
communicating via text with our boatman, Toto. The caretaker of the resort was also quite
friendly and considerate. Some resorts are very strict with their check-in and
check-out schedules, but at Villa Cleofas, you can check in early or check out
late as long as no new visitors will be using your room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>For room rates, visit their web site. <a href="http://www.cagbalete.net/">Click this</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TOTO, BOATMAN / TOUR GUIDE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>"Better than your average posh tour guide"</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Toto was quite attentive. He periodically kept us updated. He asked us regarding
our estimated time of arrival at Lucena.
He informed us when his boat already docked Mauban port. He even
regularly asked us where we were and wished us a safe journey. He even
accompanied us when we decided to walk to Sabang port to buy food even though
we did not ask him. He also offered us some tips on how to save money on food. A day after our trip, he even sent me text
messages asking if we arrived safely home. Now, that is great customer service.
I guess we were also nice and respectful of him so he returned the favor but I
think he is just good at his work. </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5edd96fv2w/VhdyrXQDHOI/AAAAAAAAL-4/knwVjx7YggI/s1600/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2Bhammock%2Band%2Bsquid%2Bbianca%2Band%2Bgwen%2BJPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5edd96fv2w/VhdyrXQDHOI/AAAAAAAAL-4/knwVjx7YggI/s1600/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BQuezon%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2Bhammock%2Band%2Bsquid%2Bbianca%2Band%2Bgwen%2BJPG.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Top: Relaxing on a hammock<br />Bottom: Bianca with a large squid. <br />Fresh catch of the day</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>FOOD</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best way is to bring canned goods or cooked foods that will not
spoil for 1 or 2 days. Some locals also offer to cook food for you for a
specific price but be careful. I heard from a group of tourists that they paid
a local 2,000 pesos to cook dishes for them, good for 2 days, but there was
some delayed and ended up skipping breakfast. We were lucky because our boatman
just happens to be married to a cook and his wife did some of the cooking for
us. They also bought the fish and rice for us and the dishes were delivered to
our cottage on time. The dishes were also scrumptious. As my friend said, <i>“may
pagmamahal ang pagkaluto.”</i> You can also cook your own food but check with your
resort if they have a charge for using their kitchen or utensils. Ask for any
corkage fee as well. Villa Cleofas does not have any corkage fees for food and
alcoholic drinks but they have a small charge for the use their cooking
utensils. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>ELECTRICITY</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Electricity is only available from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M. so bring power
banks. I also saw a charging device in Lucena Grand Station but I was not able
to check if that works. Some resorts have air-conditioned rooms but most of the
rooms in Villa Cleofas only have electric fans. From October to February, this
may not be a problem because of the cool temperature but some people may find
the heat unbearable during the summer months. If this is a problem for you,
choose a resort that has air-conditioned rooms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are our suggestions but feel free to modify depending on your
schedule and plans. When in doubt, ask the locals or the contact person of your
chosen resort. They are quite friendly and accommodating.</span></div>
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</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take the 2:30 AM bus from Kamias (Jac Liner or JAM Liner) to Lucena
Grand Station</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will reach Lucena Grand Station around 5:30 AM</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can have breakfast there. The station is filled with cheap
turo-turo restaurants. The price of a regular meal is around P50.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The ordinary mini-bus to Mauban leaves around 6:10 AM. Just look for
the Mauban sign or ask around.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will reach Mauban around 7:30 AM</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are planning to cook your own meal and your resort allows it
without any corkage, then I suggest buying stuff at Mauban public market. Mineral
water, soda and the like are cheaper in Mauban than in most resorts. If you
want seafood, our local guide said that it is cheaper to buy at Sabang port in
Cagbalete. If you are taking the public boat, your boat will dock at Sabang.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The system in Mauban is organized. By the time we got off the bus, a
tourism official wearing green shirt asked us if we were headed for Cagbalete
and he informed us to register and pay the environmental fee (P50) at the
Tourism Office. You can take the tricycle to the Tourism Office or just walk.
It is only 10 minutes away. Just keep looking for people in green shirt with
IDs, they will be your guide.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may also buy beer at Mauban port. We bought one case of beer and
the owner of the store just charge a deposit for each bottle, and we were able
to get back our deposit once we returned the empty beer bottles.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the Tourism Office, you need to register and pay. You will be given
a ticket that you will present to the boat checker at the port. The staff
members are quite friendly. You can also use the toilet in the Tourism office.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is quite a long walk from the Tourism Office to the port, especially
if you are carrying heavy bags. I suggest taking a tricycle. The fare is P10 per person but other tricycle
drivers may say “bahala na po kayo.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the port, look for the public boat to Cagbalete. The first trip is
at 10 AM. If you booked a private boat from your resort, most likely, you will
also meet your contact person at the port.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In case, you choose Villa Cleofas and you arrive during low tide, be
ready to walk to the beach (the water is just knee deep). Wear shorts. Low tide
is usually past 12 PM.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you get off at Sabang port, there are many sari-sari stores so you
can have lunch and buy some food items. From Sabang port, you will take a
15-minute walk to your resort. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Depending on your resort, a number of activities are available but
these activities may be additional cost. Common activities are island hopping,
kayaking, snorkeling, horse riding, fishing tour, beach volleyball and so on.</span></li>
</ol>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvXpxXZhpXM/Vhd5MS56yYI/AAAAAAAAL_Q/ddhTQqTUNQg/s1600/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BTayabas%2BQuezon%2Bhabhab%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvXpxXZhpXM/Vhd5MS56yYI/AAAAAAAAL_Q/ddhTQqTUNQg/s320/Cagbalete%2BIsland%2BTayabas%2BQuezon%2Bhabhab%2B%255BBrun%2BPhilippines%255D%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BAR%2BSantos.png" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>The famous pancit habhab <br />of Quezon Province</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>SIDE TRIP</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our way home, one Biyahero member recommended that we stopped at
Tayabas to enjoy the local food like <i>pansit
habhab, tamales</i>, and the famous <i>Rodillas
yema cake</i> and <i>yema puto</i>. From
Tayabas, we took a tricycle to Calumpang. The fare was P60 per trip, not per
person, and it took 30 minutes to reach Calumpang. From there, we waited for a
bus bound for Cubao although some of the buses were full so we had to choose a
bus that can accommodate 8 people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CONTACT DETAILS</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>VILLA CLEOFAS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Sir Tonet Reyeg </i></b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-21162278412871378732015-09-03T19:25:00.003+08:002015-09-25T20:59:26.371+08:00Tula (Poetry): Mga Tula ni Christian Niel D. Casita<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Ang Pagtatapos</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa tuktok ng burol<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ako ay tumindig<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tanaw ang mga lubak,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mga piraso ng alaala<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tumingala ako, lumingon, yumuko<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Bakit ako nandito?’ tanong sa sarili<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Napapaligiran ng alikabok<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ang mga nilimot na pangarap<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mga salita at pangako<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ay nakalutang sa kawalan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mga taon na ating binilang<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ngayon ay nakahimlay na..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wala na..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wala na akong maramdaman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Harmonya</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Umaawit ang mga katawan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa saliw ng musika ng pagmamahalan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patuloy ang pagtagaktak<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ng katas ng pag-ibig<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kasabay ng mga notang lumalabas sa’yong bibig<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ikaw ay alto<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ako ay baho<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tibok ng mga puso’y<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nasa iisang tempo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa gabing ito, sa init ng ritmo<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tiyak na di mawawala sa tamang tono<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0uJeIxyVJU/Vf186dVfslI/AAAAAAAAL4c/nRSwszj78v0/s1600/Photo%2Bby%2BJoyce%2BD%2BManigbas%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Bsayo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--0uJeIxyVJU/Vf186dVfslI/AAAAAAAAL4c/nRSwszj78v0/s400/Photo%2Bby%2BJoyce%2BD%2BManigbas%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Bsayo.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sayo</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sa hindi inaasahang
pagkakataon,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Isang pangarap sa tagong
sulok ng aking isipan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ang nabunyag sa puso at
kamalayan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Saksi ang mga ilaw sa
gabi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sa katototohan ng
pag-ibig na sa atin ay nakatanim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Mahal kita,” sambit ng
iyong mga labi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Mahal din kita,” ang
aking tugon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ngayong gabi, isang araw
ang matatapos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ngunit sigurado ang
pagdating ng bukas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Patuloy ang paniniwala
at pag-asang<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ang lahat ng ito ay di
lilipas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sa talim ng iyong tingin,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sa init ng iyong mga
kamay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At sa paninindigan mo sa
mga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Salitang iyong
binitawan,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hindi ko maitatanggi,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ako, ay sayo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2QJBw1BYdk/Vf192eho-tI/AAAAAAAAL4w/OI4WjTdOR-w/s1600/Photo%2Bby%2BJoyce%2BD%2BManigbas%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Bako%2Bay%2Bnakamasid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2QJBw1BYdk/Vf192eho-tI/AAAAAAAAL4w/OI4WjTdOR-w/s400/Photo%2Bby%2BJoyce%2BD%2BManigbas%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Bako%2Bay%2Bnakamasid.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ako ay nakamasid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Mula sa bintana ng aking
pagkatao,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Inaalala ang mga
sandaling mayroong ‘tayo,’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sinusubukang hanapin ang
mga pirasong ‘ako,’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Inakala ko na kaya ko,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Naniwala ako na kaya mo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ngunit sadyang may mga
pangarap na ‘di kayang abutin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">May mga pangakong ‘di
kayang tuparin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">At may mga bagay na
hihilingin mong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sana ay ‘di mo nalang
nalaman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">O natutunan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Tulungan mo ako.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Tulungan mo akong
matutunan,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Na sa pagiisa ay may
kalayaan.</span></div>
</div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JMwwpsetwSo/Vegtpsmn_PI/AAAAAAAAL2M/SA9MSxIpx_g/s1600/christian%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2B%255Bfinal%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JMwwpsetwSo/Vegtpsmn_PI/AAAAAAAAL2M/SA9MSxIpx_g/s1600/christian%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2B%255Bfinal%255D.png" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ABOUT THE WRITER</b></span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christian Niel D. Casita is a licensed science educator. He is currently working as a development editor in a publishing company somewhere in the snake-ridden jungle plethora of money-driven slaves of Makati. He finished BSE Biology in Philippine Normal University. His mind is messed up and he is still in search of his own style.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-57735230696817551362015-07-05T21:28:00.001+08:002015-07-07T20:04:38.786+08:00Poetry: Three Poems by Gabriela Alexandra C. Tayag<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-PH"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Here Lie the Words</b></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">Tonight, I weep for the words that died</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">In silence.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">Small utterances I muttered</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-PH"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In obsolescence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">I weep for the little laughs that I suppressed</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">That turned to shivers when you glanced;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH"> When my reflection in your eyes</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-PH"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Has borne intrepid alluring lies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">I weep for the tiny tears that trickled down</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">That glazed my body as we danced</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH"> To the melody that only I could hear,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-PH"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> To the beat that pierced my veins with fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">I weep for the whispers that my lips have sealed</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">While in your voice I was entranced,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH"> As you unleashed your soul into my universe</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-PH"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I helplessly succumbed to this amorous curse.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">I weep for the truth between the lines I spoke</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">That froze and passed upon a chance;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH"> For as of old, some stories would be left untold</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-PH"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In your eyes, my love, my story never will unfold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">For I have crushed the words tonight,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">In silence,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-PH">And the echoes drowned</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In obsolescence.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-PH"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>From Nowhere</b></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IoRfUmKq7Es/VZkvsZ9w1gI/AAAAAAAALwQ/hhxHWhZIcEo/s1600/poetry%2Btula%2Bicon%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Breaders%2Bcontributions%2BORIG.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there it was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Nowhere it appeared</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where Nowhere is a place</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside my heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An abrupt aching</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stubbornly dissipating</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All my sanity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there it was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From terse and subtle ways</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where terse and subtle ways</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speak endearment</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gesticulating</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sweet yet bitter yearning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For felicity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How gaudy it was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The curve upon your lips</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you mockingly spilled</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheer affection</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stepping on the brakes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When my eyes began to roll</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Onto your lips</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How taunting it was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You, deploring my touch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While touching me deeply</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enslaving me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sensitizing me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through a penumbra of sorts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emotions in the mist</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then when I looked</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into your eyes, I saw</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No trace of yester mist</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But a tear drop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like you loved me so</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And you wished for me to know</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But you let go</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there it was</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your love that sneaked a throb,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sneaked out and left me robbed,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disconcerted</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like you needed me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then you just said hello</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then you let go</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so here is love</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Nowhere it exists</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Nowhere is a place</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside my heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Constantly longing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To profess itself to you</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-PH"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Nowhere.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Ceiling</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw a light on the ceiling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And tried to touch it with my hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only to find out it’s not there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that it’s only in my mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I leaped for it so freely<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only to find out how I’m bound<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I marveled at its beauty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only to find out I am blind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so I closed my weary eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And tried to open them again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this time I saw nothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But felt from deep within<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no ceiling;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no light,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No illusions that mask the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I can leap and run about,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I can even fly… </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8pICcDYGfAY/VZu_-MnNjGI/AAAAAAAALxE/j2yqZkDCjOY/s1600/gabriela%2BTayag%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Bpoetry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8pICcDYGfAY/VZu_-MnNjGI/AAAAAAAALxE/j2yqZkDCjOY/s1600/gabriela%2BTayag%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Bpoetry.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><i>Gabriela Alexandra C.
Tayag, known to her friends as Gabo, is an avid Pablo Neruda fan. Even though a
newbie and still in search for her own style, she confesses her love for the
avant-garde. Gabo is a simple government employee now, who, every now and then,
turns to her paper and pen to escape to her world of emotions.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IoRfUmKq7Es/VZkvsZ9w1gI/AAAAAAAALwQ/hhxHWhZIcEo/s1600/poetry%2Btula%2Bicon%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Breaders%2Bcontributions%2BORIG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IoRfUmKq7Es/VZkvsZ9w1gI/AAAAAAAALwQ/hhxHWhZIcEo/s200/poetry%2Btula%2Bicon%2B%255Bbrun%2Bphilippines%255D%2Breaders%2Bcontributions%2BORIG.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>If you want us to publish your own original literary work, please click this <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/08/guidelines-for-contributing-writers.html">LINK</a> to read our guidelines. Thank you. </b></span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-5402341588763777922015-04-06T22:51:00.003+08:002015-04-06T23:08:00.633+08:00What is “balae” in English?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq_nyM3lIHE/VSKfGOov71I/AAAAAAAALlg/RvyFoUzQDms/s1600/what%2Bis%2Bbalae%2Bin%2Benglish%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq_nyM3lIHE/VSKfGOov71I/AAAAAAAALlg/RvyFoUzQDms/s1600/what%2Bis%2Bbalae%2Bin%2Benglish%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, one of my co-workers asked me if I knew the English
word for “balae.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did some quick research
and there is none. The closest terms we can use are</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Co-parent-in-law</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Co-mother-in-law</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Co-father-in-law</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My son’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">father/mother-in-law</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My daughter’s father/mother-in-law</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Filipino, specifically in Tagalog, we have the word “balae.”
The fact that such a term exists is proof that the extended family is important
in traditional Filipino culture. “Balae” indicates that the relationship
between the parents of both the husband and wife is significant. Perhaps in Western culture, parents of the
husband and wife are not really expected to form a strong bond, a long-term relationship
or they are not expected to be really involved in the married life of their
children. However, I am just speculating so please correct me if I am wrong.</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was growing up, I often witnessed my relatives interact
with their “balae.” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: “Hoy, balae,
kamusta na?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B: “Naku, balae, may
problema ang ating mga anak.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: “Huwag kang
mag-alala, napagsabihan ko na ang anak ko.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B: “Ako rin,
pinagsabihan ko na rin ang anak ko.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A: “Ang kabataan
talaga! Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi parang mainit na kanin na bigla na lang isusubo
at kapag napaso ay bigla na lang iluluwa.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B: “Sinabi mo balae.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being an unorthodox English teacher, perhaps it is time to
create a new English word for “balae.” One funny suggestion from a co-worker
was “balei” (sounds like ballet). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How about <b>“chidadilaw”</b>
/chee-da-dee-lo/ and <b>“chimomilaw”</b> /chee-ma-mee-lo/, which are the shortened versions of <i>“my child’s
dad-in-law”</i> and <i>“my child’s
mom-in-law”</i> respectively. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Example: "This is Susan, my chimomilaw." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you think?</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-72870712636846010242015-03-14T20:53:00.001+08:002015-03-14T22:06:36.665+08:00Vegetarian Recipe: "Kangkong Abbey" or Sautéed Water Spinach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ker5BDpoYA/VQQvmE-lhMI/AAAAAAAALi8/n7LxdcqIBBs/s1600/kangkong%2Brecipe%2B03%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Brob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ker5BDpoYA/VQQvmE-lhMI/AAAAAAAALi8/n7LxdcqIBBs/s1600/kangkong%2Brecipe%2B03%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Brob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel.JPG" height="268" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Photo by Rob San Miguel</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kangkong or water spinach (<i>ipomoea aquatic</i>) is not usually considered a posh side dish, and
some people consider kangkong as the poor cousin of the spinach; however, I
have always found kangkong tasty. In addition, kangkong "has a moderate amount of purines," </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">according to Dr. Oscar Novick of </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.healthtap.com/user_questions/1110322-is-water-spinach-high-in-purines-and-can-cause-gout">Healthtap.com</a>.</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Purines (specific chemical
compounds found in some foods) are broken down into uric acid. A diet rich in
purines from certain sources can raise uric acid levels in the body, which
sometimes leads to gout.” <i>(Source: </i></span><i><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/tc/diet-and-gout-topic-overview">WebMD</a>: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arthritis Health Center: Diet and Gout)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is one recipe to
elevate the humble kangkong into a delectable side dish, or even main dish. I
got this recipe from my niece and I just modified it a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bundle of kangkong (worth about 10 to 15 pesos in the wet
market)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-3 tablespoon of chopped garlic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4-5 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt to taste (optional, but must not be included if you are following a low-sodium diet)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Powdered oregano, ground sage and dried basil leaves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using fresh basil leaves is better. Just tear each leave into
small pieces. You just need about 2 tablespoons but feel free to add more if you
like.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may also add some other herbs that you fancy. Be
creative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zl9Fy9BZfg/VQQxHsohiaI/AAAAAAAALjQ/XTbLBPK8ARo/s1600/kangkong%2Brecipe%2B01%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Brob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zl9Fy9BZfg/VQQxHsohiaI/AAAAAAAALjQ/XTbLBPK8ARo/s1600/kangkong%2Brecipe%2B01%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Brob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel.JPG" height="320" width="283" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Procedure</b></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut the kangkong into pieces. You choose how big you want
them. Include the stalks as well. Wash them thoroughly and set aside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sauté the chopped garlic in olive oil, and once the garlic
is done, put in the kangkong and cover.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cooked it in medium heat for about 5 minutes or so;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sprinkle powdered oregano, sage and basil leaves. Stir to mix
and serve. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forget white rice, opt to have brown or any dark-colored rice instead.</span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-12741064961628430572015-03-10T19:58:00.002+08:002015-03-14T20:53:39.065+08:00Pininyahang Gulay: A Healthful Alternative<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRfyyW89jTc/VP7bhBWFznI/AAAAAAAALic/BCFrXbVsIlM/s1600/pininyahang%2Bgulay%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bfinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRfyyW89jTc/VP7bhBWFznI/AAAAAAAALic/BCFrXbVsIlM/s1600/pininyahang%2Bgulay%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bfinal.png" height="262" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Photo by Rob San Miguel</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was a bit nervous making this one. I have always found it
difficult to cook healthful alternatives to usual Filipino dishes. I have always loved “pininyahang manok”
(pineapple chicken) but this dish is often not healthful so I decided to experiment,
and viola! Surprise, surprise, my experiment turned out to be delicious. That
is saying much because I am a terrible cook. I guess if I can come up with a
tasty dish, anyone can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The great thing about this dish is that it is very low in sodium,
which is good for people who have high uric acid level or want to lower their
uric acid level. This dish also contains ingredients rich in vitamin C,
potassium and other joints and heart-friendly ingredients. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do not usually follow a strict measurements of
ingredients, I just go with the taste so feel free to adjust the measurements
depending on your taste and the number of people who will be eating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>INGREDIENTS</b></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 ½ tablespoon finely chopped garlic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 ½ tablespoon chopped onions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 medium-size ripe tomatoes (diced)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup sweet orange potatoes (diced). You may also use other
kinds of sweet potatoes. Regular potatoes will also balance the sweetness of the dish.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup carrots (diced)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 medium-sized red bell pepper (cut into small squares). You
may also use green bell pepper but the red variety is sweeter and contains more
vitamin C</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 regular size <i>saging na saba</i> (sweet plantain), cut about 1</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">½ inches or you decide</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups of water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon of tapioca or cassava starch (dissolved in 3
tablespoon of water). Regular cornstarch is bad for people with joint pains. I bought tapioca/cassava starch in SM</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup fresh pineapple (diced or tidbits)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup pineapple juice (fresh not in a can). I bought a small ripe pineapple from a street vendor. The skin was already removed. I cut the whole fruit in half and I diced the other half. The other half, I crush it to get the juice and threw away the pulp. I do not have a juicer, but if you have one, that will be easier.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extra virgin olive
oil (about 3-4 tablespoon)</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKM-J_JUG4M/VP7jKl1NEXI/AAAAAAAALio/fw6fQJmETrM/s1600/not%2Bthe%2Bchef%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2BFINAL.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKM-J_JUG4M/VP7jKl1NEXI/AAAAAAAALio/fw6fQJmETrM/s1600/not%2Bthe%2Bchef%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2BFINAL.png" height="188" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are not ready to go full vegetarian, you may add
chicken breast fillet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut the chicken breast fillet first. You can decide how big
you want the slices. Then, fry the pieces
of chicken breast in olive oil until they become slightly brown.Set aside. (<i>Skip
this part if you want the vegetarian version</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sauté garlic and onions in olive oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the garlic and onions are done, add the tomatoes and
continue to sauté</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add 2 cups of water and the carrots, let it boil. (For the
non-vegetarians, you can add the fried chicken breast fillet here)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then add the sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes soften faster
than carrots so do not add the sweet potatoes with the carrots at the same time
or the sweet potatoes will become too soggy when overcooked</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the carrots and sweet potatoes are done, add the
pineapple tidbits, red bell pepper and the pineapple juice. Let it simmer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then add dissolved tapioca starch. This will thicken the
sauce. If you do not want the sauce to be too thick, you may some water. It is
all up to you.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it. Once cooked, served with brown rice. Bon appétit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-54035287368628293342014-12-28T08:00:00.000+08:002015-02-27T20:33:09.273+08:00The Second Annual Brun Film Awards 2014: Critics' Choice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-77wGiaGnguY/VJ6NwZtPRNI/AAAAAAAALN0/GNJfhlQmblY/s1600/2nd%2BBrun%2BFilm%2BAwards%2BIcon%2B2014%2B(Rondanini_Medusa_Glyptothek_Munich).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-77wGiaGnguY/VJ6NwZtPRNI/AAAAAAAALN0/GNJfhlQmblY/s1600/2nd%2BBrun%2BFilm%2BAwards%2BIcon%2B2014%2B(Rondanini_Medusa_Glyptothek_Munich).jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>“Medusa <span lang="EN">Rondanini”<br />Photograph by<br />Matthias Kabel, 2005-10-26.<br />(<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rondanini_Medusa_Glyptothek_Munich_252_n1.jpg">The photo is part of the<br />Creative Commons<br />Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0<br />Unported license</a>.<br />The creator of the work<br />does not necessarily<br />endorse this site)</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Updated: Feb 27, 2014 8:27 P.M.] </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Resident Critics and invited reviewers have cast their votes and according to them, here are the crème de la crème of Philippine cinema in 2014. As always, choosing the best is a subjective endeavor and we welcome criticism as well. After all, what is the point of being a critic if you cannot take your own vile medicine? To all nominees, congratulations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brun Film Awards are divided into two sections: the <b>Critics’ Choice</b> and the <b>Readers’ Choice</b>. For the Readers’ Choice, please go to <b><a href="http://brunfilmawards.blogspot.com/">BRUN FILM AWARDS: READERS’ CHOICE</a></b> page to vote.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Results for both sections <strike>will be</strike> were announced on <span style="color: #990000;">February 27, 2015 [8:27 P.M.] </span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your support. Brun Philippines Online Magazine is a charity publication. We donate our earnings to various charities. The more visitors we get, the more earnings we receive from our advertisers. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">ABOUT THE ICON</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year’s icon is the “Medusa </span></i><i><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rondanini, ” a marble sculpture that depicts Medusa as a beautiful woman rather than the grotesque monster. We chose it as the symbol of this year’s award to symbolize non-traditional cinema and a call for a new style in Philippine cinema other than the usual run-of-the-mill Hollywood narrative.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“BWAYA”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Eight Films / Source Of Light Films) Produced by Nico Alonso, Raymond S. Francisco, Samuel S. Verzosa, Francis Xavier Pasion and Ferdinand Lapuz<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“CHILDREN’S SHOW”</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(One Big Fight Productions, One Dash Zero Cinetools, Monoxide Works) Produced by Joseph Israel Laban, Jedd Dumaguina, Charms Valenzuela, Sheron Dayoc and Hero Bautista<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“DAGITAB” (Sparks)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Ten17P) Produced by Hannah Espia<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“LORNA”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(Cinema One Originals)</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“MAGKAKABAUNG”</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(ATD Entertainment) Produced by Dennis Evangelista, Ferdinand Lapuz, Romeo Lindain and Romnick Sarmienta<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“MARIQUINA”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Cinemalaya Foundation + TEN17P)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“MGA KWENTONG BARBERO”</b> <b>(Barber’s Tales)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(APT Entertainment / October Train Films / Hong-Kong-Asia Film Financial Forum) Produced by Jun Robles Lana, Perci Intalan, Ferdinand Lapuz and Tonee Acejo<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“MULA SA KUNG ANO ANG NOON”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Sine Olivia Pilipinas / Film Development of the Philippines) Produced by Lav Diaz and Krzysztof Dabrowski</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“SUNDALONG KANIN”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Cinemalaya Foundation Inc., Frontmedia Entertainment, SQ Film Laboratories, Inc.) Produced by Sheila Ambray and Denise O'Hara<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">“VIOLATOR”</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Cinema One Originals) Produced by Tonee Acejo, Lawrence S. Ang and Eduardo Dayao<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEST DIRECTOR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giancarlo Abrahan for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Dagitab”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eduardo Dayao for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Violator”</i></li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lav Diaz for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francis Xavier Pasion for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Bwaya”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jun Robles Lana for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Barber’s Tales”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Milo Sogueco for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mariquina”</i></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nora Aunor in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Hustisya”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angeli Bayani in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Bwaya”</i></li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sharmaine Centenera-Buencamino in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Lorna”</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allen Dizon in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Magkakabaung”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eugene Domingo in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Barber’s Tales”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eula Valdez in</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Dagitab”</i></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDgeHfnTl4Y/VJ6Svbf6eJI/AAAAAAAALOc/OaoUnXiZV5Y/s1600/2nd%2BBrun%2BFilm%2BAwards%2B%5B2014%5D%2Bperformance%2Bin%2Ba%2Bsupporting%2Brole%2B%5Bfinal%2Bsign%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDgeHfnTl4Y/VJ6Svbf6eJI/AAAAAAAALOc/OaoUnXiZV5Y/s1600/2nd%2BBrun%2BFilm%2BAwards%2B%5B2014%5D%2Bperformance%2Bin%2Ba%2Bsupporting%2Brole%2B%5Bfinal%2Bsign%5D.png" /></a></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miggs Cuaderno in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Children’s Show”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barbie Fortaleza in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mariquina”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karenina Haniel in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bing Pimentel in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mariquina”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Che Ramos in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mariquina”</i></li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gladys Reyes in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Barber’s Tales”</i></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEST ENSEMBLE CAST</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barber’s Tales</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Children’s Show</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dagitab</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lorna</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mariquina</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sundalong Kanin</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BEST SCREENPLAY (2 RECIPIENTS)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giancarlo Abrahan for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Dagitab”</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sigrid Andrea Bernardo for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Lorna”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eduardo Dayao for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Violator”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lav Diaz for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Antoinette Jadaone for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“This Thing Called Tadhana”</i></li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason Paul Laxamana for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Magkakabaung”</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francis Xavier Pasion for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Bwaya”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jun Robles Lana for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Barber’s Tales”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jerrold Tarog for </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mariquina”</i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jerry O’Hara for </span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Sundalong Kanin”</span></i></li>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>RELATED POSTS</b></span></div>
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<li><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-15-outstanding-performances-in.html">Top 15 Outstanding Performances in Filipino Films 2014</a> </span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second Annual Brun Film Awards 2014 </span></i></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-85624444130226613342014-12-26T21:43:00.005+08:002015-01-04T13:50:02.630+08:00The 15 Outstanding Performances in Filipino Films in 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Greek
theater mask (First century BC) Louvre Museum </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>(Image part of public domain) </i></span><i style="color: #0b5394;">For
more info, <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mask_youngster_Louvre_S3044.jpg">click this</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
mainstream movies and television dramas offer actors big money, independent
films often showcase the talents of actors. In 2014, this is no exception. Fourteen out of 15 outstanding performances came from independent
productions. Here are the 15 outstanding
performances according to our resident critics.
We forego the division between lead and supporting roles because “there’s
no such thing as small parts, only small actors,” as the saying goes. We also combined
male and female actors because we espouse gender equality. Do you agree with
our critics? <i>(<span style="color: #0b5394;">For the 10 BEST FILMS OF 2014, <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-top-ten-filipino-films-of-2014.html">click this</a></span>)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Not Ranked (in alphabetical order)</span></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NORA
AUNOR (“Hustisya”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVT-qlsKkVY/VJ1h4gFmioI/AAAAAAAALIc/VIk4GOJR0lk/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bnora%2Baunor%2B(final).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVT-qlsKkVY/VJ1h4gFmioI/AAAAAAAALIc/VIk4GOJR0lk/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bnora%2Baunor%2B(final).png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Put a
mediocre actor in a great film, and somehow, this actor will eventually end up
with a good performance. Certainly, precise editing and great direction will
aid such a performance. On the other hand, put a gifted thespian in flawed films,
and he or she will deliver a compelling performance despite being handicapped
by a lackluster script and poor direction. This is the case of Nora Aunor in
2014. “Hustisya” and “Dementia” were both ambitious in scope but many critics
agreed that the two films could have been better. In the end, Aunor’s
performance in both films gave the two films credence. Truly, this is a mark of a great actor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ANGELI
BAYANI (“Bwaya”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ecGUKrNpVMU/VJ1iBIoHunI/AAAAAAAALIk/GzFPjLdQo3k/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bangeli%2Bbayani.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ecGUKrNpVMU/VJ1iBIoHunI/AAAAAAAALIk/GzFPjLdQo3k/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bangeli%2Bbayani.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No one
can play dignity in the face of grief than Angeli Bayani. Her outstanding
performance in Lav Diaz’s “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” in 2013 is solid
proof. This year, Bayani once again displayed her versatility by playing an
anguished Manobo mother in Francis Xavier Pasion’s “Bwaya,” and then playing an
exploitative mother willing to prostitute her prepubescent daughter in Jacco
Groen’s “Lilet Never Happened.” With
just minimal dialogues in “Bwaya,” audience members bear witness to the
unimaginable anguish of a mother suddenly losing her daughter, and as an added
challenge, Bayani did it all speaking in Manobo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SHARMAINE
CENTENERA-BUENCAMINO (“Lorna”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsPrWhgWTqY/VJ1iKu4j6FI/AAAAAAAALIs/obvTqBw_0NA/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bsharmaine%2Bbuencamino%2B(final).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsPrWhgWTqY/VJ1iKu4j6FI/AAAAAAAALIs/obvTqBw_0NA/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bsharmaine%2Bbuencamino%2B(final).png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Part of
what makes Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “Lorna” great is Sharmaine Centenera-Buencamino’s performance. Playing the title role, Buencamino has to juggle the
silliness, the absurdity, the humor and the pain of her character. In the hands
of a “minimalist talented” thespian (to use Hollywood producer Scott Rudin’s
phrase), Lorna would have definitely become a caricature rather than a real
complex individual. Buencamino’s performance is both cerebral and emotional and
that is where the humor emanates from (1). To think that Buencamino is not
really in her sixties, she is younger. If some people claim that her character
does not look like a sixty-year old woman, they should see my mom. As an added
bonus, her dramatic turn in “Barber’s Tales” is also worth mentioning.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">MIGGS
CUADERNO (“Children’s Show”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQNs0zzO48M/VJ1iR0CXKHI/AAAAAAAALI0/X07sqSijGnM/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmiggs%2Bcuaderno%2B(final).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nQNs0zzO48M/VJ1iR0CXKHI/AAAAAAAALI0/X07sqSijGnM/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmiggs%2Bcuaderno%2B(final).png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Miggs
Cuaderno is amazing and fearless for a very young actor. In 2013, Cuaderno
played a loveable innocent country boy in “Purok 7.” In the same year, in
“Quick Change,” he played a foster child of a transgender individual, and even
comfortably blurting gay lingos. In 2014, he is a fast-talking, foul-mouthed
child street fighter in Roderick Cabrido’s “Children’s Show,” and a child with
mental disability in Luisito Ignacio’s "Asintado." His acting resume should be the envy of any
young teen actors. Is Miggs Cuaderno our youngest method actor? Or is he is an instinctive
actor? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">RICKY
DAVAO (“Mariquina”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fAstQTqcz0o/VJ1iZcDqN6I/AAAAAAAALI8/HDCSeUc8lGA/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bricky%2Bdavao%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fAstQTqcz0o/VJ1iZcDqN6I/AAAAAAAALI8/HDCSeUc8lGA/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bricky%2Bdavao%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2014, Ricky Davao gave noteworthy performances in films such as “The Janitor,”
“Separados” and “Mana.” However, his performances in those aforementioned films
were typical Ricky Davao. They were good but nothing as compelling as his turn
as the patriarch of a shoe dynasty in Milo Sogueco’s “Mariquina.” Rather than delving into overacting, Davao
underplays his performance, letting the audience slowly witness his character
moral and emotional downfall. His
breakdown scene in the restaurant is a slow burn, letting the audience witness
a man slowly losing not only his family but also himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ALLEN DIZON
(“Magkakabaung”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9Xd8gEcYMs/VJ1if5ujLUI/AAAAAAAALJE/qjGhTIiBhF4/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Ballen%2Bdizon%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9Xd8gEcYMs/VJ1if5ujLUI/AAAAAAAALJE/qjGhTIiBhF4/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Ballen%2Bdizon%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For his
portrayal as Randy, a single father who accidentally kills her young daughter
by administering the wrong medication, Allen Dizon was chosen best actor in
both the Harlem and the Hanoi International Film Festivals. If you won over the likes of British actor
Ralph Fiennes (“Two Women”) and Korean actor Ko Soo (“Way Back Home”), you are
bound to raise eyebrows. On the other hand, Dizon has been active in the
independent film scene and he is often underrated or misdirected. In Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Magkakabaung,” Dizon
is finally at his peak performance.
Mixing vulnerability and confidence, Dizon’s portrait of Randy is very
human. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">MYLENE
DIZON (“Mariquina”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAtgxoTWLJc/VJ1i1YrGAeI/AAAAAAAALJM/qpdOXd-cZUQ/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmylene%2Bdizon%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EAtgxoTWLJc/VJ1i1YrGAeI/AAAAAAAALJM/qpdOXd-cZUQ/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmylene%2Bdizon%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mylene
Dizon’s character, Imelda, is the moral compass of “Mariquina,” and often in
this case, other flawed characters, both major and minor, revolve around her.
Dizon’s character often has to take a back seat in the film. Her character serves more as the pivot of the
story. Imelda is like the thread onto which all others hang. She weaves the
characters together, and that is a challenging task because if the actor
stumbles, all the other pieces fall apart.
Fortunately, Dizon is quite adept. She played Imelda’s confusion, guilt
and pain with brilliant subtlety – (which is the opposite of her namesake,
Imelda Marcos. I am sorry. I can’t help it.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">EUGENE
DOMINGO (“Barber’s Tales”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHMUGkAmLQU/VJ1i7YFofpI/AAAAAAAALJU/qwptIyAgLNA/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Beugene%2Bdomingo%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHMUGkAmLQU/VJ1i7YFofpI/AAAAAAAALJU/qwptIyAgLNA/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Beugene%2Bdomingo%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eugene
Domingo proved that she is more than just a comedian in Jun Robles Lana’s
“Barber’s Tales.” Domingo plays Marilou, a widow forced to take over her
husband’s barbershop. Her intense but subdued portrayal of Marilou should not
be a surprise. In 2013, she adeptly mixed drama and comedy in “Instant Mommy.”
Domingo belongs to a select group of actors who can mix drama and comedy in any
genre. Still, “Barber’s Tales” is
Domingo’s purely dramatic aria. She is the first Filipino thespian to win an
acting award in the Tokyo International Film Festival. I assume that Kimmy and
Dora are popping the champagne as we speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BARBIE
FORTALEZA (“Mariquina”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u7ixRjb7vdA/VJ1jDsLrNII/AAAAAAAALJc/1_vp8jh4eQI/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bbarbie%2Bfortaleza%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u7ixRjb7vdA/VJ1jDsLrNII/AAAAAAAALJc/1_vp8jh4eQI/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bbarbie%2Bfortaleza%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Playing
the young Mylene Dizon in “Mariquina,” Barbie Fortaleza proves that she is not
just your typical teenybopper. She is a great actor in the making. Perhaps, she
may not achieve super celebrity stardom as Marian Rivera or Angel Locsin, but
then again, perhaps she should not aspire to be such. If she plays her cards right, she can be a
respected actor like Lorna Tolentino or Gina Alajar. Her breakthrough
performance in “Mariquina” gives her a head start among her contemporaries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">KARENINA
HANIEL (“Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-no6Tcum5LA8/VJ1jKoIrS0I/AAAAAAAALJk/oeg_l4FSRc4/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bkarenina%2Bhaniel%2B%5Bfinal%5D%2Bjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-no6Tcum5LA8/VJ1jKoIrS0I/AAAAAAAALJk/oeg_l4FSRc4/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bkarenina%2Bhaniel%2B%5Bfinal%5D%2Bjpg.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
those who have not seen Lav Diaz’s “Mula sa Kung Ano and Noon,” Karenina Haniel
is a nobody. However, for those who have seen her performance, she is
unforgettable. Many critics have
applauded her co-star Hazel Orencio’s performance in the same film, but even
more critics praise Haniel’s portrayal of Joselina. To quote Nadin of “The
Art(s) of Slow Cinema,” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“One actress, in particular, stands out in
her contribution to this feeling of imminent misery: Joselina, a handicapped
person like no other, portrayed in such a realistic fashion that Diaz had
difficulties arguing that the role has been played by an actress, who is not
handicapped at all. Joselina is the character who makes you wants to close your
eyes and shut your ears.” (<a href="http://theartsofslowcinema.com/2014/08/11/mula-sa-kung-ano-ang-noon-lav-diaz-2014/">From the “The Art(s) of Slow Cinema”</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ANGELICA
PANGANIBAN (“Beauty in a Bottle”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w0fTvVV8eow/VJ1jRsV8GTI/AAAAAAAALJs/z72WbxCRpdk/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bangelica%2Bpanganiban%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w0fTvVV8eow/VJ1jRsV8GTI/AAAAAAAALJs/z72WbxCRpdk/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bangelica%2Bpanganiban%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When in
comes to listing great performances, comedy often takes the short end of the
stick. In reality, outstanding comedic
performances are some of the hardest feats to achieve. Perhaps, the lowbrow comedies
of Vice Ganda, Tito, Vic, Joey and other members of the flock give comedy a bad
name. Thankfully, the Goddess of Comedy gave us Angelica Panganiban. During the Tenth Cinema One Originals Film
Festival, Panganiban won the Best Actress award in Antoinette Jadaone’s “This
Thing Called Tadhana.” However, her performance as the portly starlet Estelle
in “Beauty in a Bottle” got viewers and critics laughing. Panganiban does not only play it funny, her
performance deconstructs her image, the audience’s collective prejudice and the
industry all at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BING
PIMENTEL (“Mariquina”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErLY1kY4nOQ/VJ1jZo9OSsI/AAAAAAAALJ0/j19S-PJ05Vo/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bbing%2Bpimentel%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErLY1kY4nOQ/VJ1jZo9OSsI/AAAAAAAALJ0/j19S-PJ05Vo/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bbing%2Bpimentel%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I
watched “Mariquina” during the Cinemalaya Film Festival, many viewers enjoyed
Bing Pimentel’s turn as Tess, the ambitious would-be other woman, and understandably
so. Tess is the stuff that fuels any Filipino soap opera but director Sogueco
and screenwriter Jerrold Tarog practiced restraint and turn Tess into a complex
human being than a stereotype. However, Bing Pimentel gets most of the credit.
We hate and love Tess. We are against her but eventually, we understand her
side and root for her, and that is all because Bing Pimentel is such a superb
thespian. Pimentel’s Tess is the yardstick that all “other woman” should
measure up to. (1) On that note, Bing deserves a movie of her own. Pronto!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CHE
RAMOS (“Mariquina”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Che
Ramos’ performance defines subtlety and nuance. She underplays Leonor quite
appropriately to match her character's personality. Just one look at Leonor,
her entire history is revealed: her upbringing, her background, and clues about
her marriage. Ramos’s character design is complete, from the surface and deep
within, from the clothes, the stance, the voice inflection, the hair, the way
she moves. All of these may be under the guidance of director Milo Soguecio,
even still, Ramos apparently did her homework. Most importantly, Ramos provided
us a glimpse of Leonor’s internal life during her most somber and mundane
scenes. Those silences only magnifies Leonor’s final slow breakdown towards the
middle of the film. Long before her character has left the movie, we still feel
her presence, and that is what defines a great supporting performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">GLADYS
REYES (“Barber’s Tales”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3FPlWBPfoA/VJ4pUe5szlI/AAAAAAAALMM/_6tV0YyMBOY/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bgladys%2Breyes%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3FPlWBPfoA/VJ4pUe5szlI/AAAAAAAALMM/_6tV0YyMBOY/s1600/15%2Bbest%2Bperformances%2Bof%2B2014%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bgladys%2Breyes%2B%5Bfinal%5D.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gladys
Reyes has been a regular in many telenovelas, and has always played supporting
roles in many movies. Oftentimes, Reyes’ performance is dismissed and the lead
character overshadows her performance merely because the latter has more screen
time. This is not the case in “Barber’s Tales.” Like all other supporting
characters in “Barber’s Tales,” Reyes stood her ground. She owns all her
scenes, complimenting Eugene Domingo’s performance. Her performance as Susan, a
young mother burdened by many consecutive pregnancies, is a true supporting
performance. She does not steal scenes; she helps make a scene a true ensemble
piece. Her role in “Magkakabaung” is also worthy noting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">EULA
VALDEZ (“Dagitab”)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eula
Valdez’ character Issey is the anchor of Giancarlo Abrahan’s “Dagitab,” and the
most layered. In many instances, important details about the story are revealed
through Issey, while the rest of the characters, specifically Noni
Buencamino’s, </span>maneuvered<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> the lofty political and philosophical meanderings of
the narrative. Valdez owns this film from start to finish. She underplays her
character in such a way that her subtle gestures and other nuances are
magnified. With every scene, viewers will become more fascinated with her
character’s complexities. Valdez is endearingly funny when drunk, relatable
when melancholic, engaging when she implodes and cathartic when she finally had
her last laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>CLICK <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-second-annual-brun-film-awards-2014.html">THIS</a> TO SEE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>RELATED POSTS</b></span></div>
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<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-15-outstanding-performances-in.html">Top 15 Outstanding Performances in Filipino Films 2014</a> </i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-ten-best-filipino-films-of-2013-put.html">Top 10 Filipino Films of 2013</a></i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-first-annual-brun-film-awards-2013.html">First Annual Brun Film Awards 2013</a></i></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2015/01/defending-praybeyt-benjamin-its.html">Defending "Praybeyt Benjamin</a>" and its Audience</i></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Note:</span></i></b></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(1)
To all grammarians out there, it is now acceptable to end a sentence with a
preposition. Just ask Merriam-Webster Editors or British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, oh yeah, he’s
dead. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #990000;">Rationale for the use of non-free media,</span> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/p/useof-non-free-media-all-video-clips.html">click this</a></i><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Brun Philippines invites movie lovers and film critics who do not have their own blogs to join our family. If you have a film review or criticism about a new or old film (local or foreign), you may submit your work for consideration. We only have a few requirements: (1) your work is original; (2) the piece is well written, in Filipino or English; (3) you want to do it for charity. Yes! Since Brun Philippines is a charitable publication, we donate all our earnings to various charities and so we cannot pay you. All our contributing writers publish out of love. If you are interested, please e-mail us at <b>robdpchair@gmail.com</b>. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>For additional information, <a href="http://robdpchair.wix.com/brun-philippines#!articles/cwop">click this</a>.</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-14060421521641621332014-12-26T08:00:00.000+08:002015-01-04T13:50:38.056+08:00The Top 10 Outstanding Filipino Films of 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQpOpiwDie8/VJ1sq74XXiI/AAAAAAAALKo/rob1vDBcVAM/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilipino%2Bfilms%2B2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQpOpiwDie8/VJ1sq74XXiI/AAAAAAAALKo/rob1vDBcVAM/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilipino%2Bfilms%2B2014.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The critics of Brun Philippines Online Magazine have voted
and here are their Top Ten Outstanding Filipino Films of 2014. Choosing the best films is a
subjective exercise, and we are certain that some of you may not agree with our
critics but the important thing is we celebrate excellence. Do you agree with
our critics? What are your choices? <i><span style="color: #0b5394;">(For the TOP 15 PERFORMANCES OF 2014, <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-15-outstanding-performances-in.html">click this</a>)</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Not ranked (In alphabetical
order)</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BWAYA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Directed by</i> Francis
Xavier Pasion<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7v9dQ-Lr3eA/VJushoeuTKI/AAAAAAAALHA/skQpIac6wiY/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bbwaya.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7v9dQ-Lr3eA/VJushoeuTKI/AAAAAAAALHA/skQpIac6wiY/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bbwaya.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Director Francis Xavier Pasion obviously had a clear
understanding of and respect for his subject matter. His style works because it helps capture the
serenity but hidden unpredictable danger of the Agusan marshland. The Manobo
integrity is never in peril and the natives are presented as dignified people
living simple lives, and despite having meager means, they still dream and work
for a brighter future. They are not so different from the rest of the country.
Professional actors work alongside non-actors and the dialect and folk stories
of the place are part of the fabric of the film. This commitment to
authenticity elevated a culturally distinct story into something universal,
which is the pain of losing a young child and having no control over powerful
unfathomable forces. – </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read full review. <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-bwaya-film-review.html#sthash.vAc9iDsA.dpuf">Click me</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHILDREN’S SHOW</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Roderick
Cabrido<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAR0heXQ94E/VJuswDkluUI/AAAAAAAALHI/gHq7BEjcVBc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bchildrens%2Bshow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iAR0heXQ94E/VJuswDkluUI/AAAAAAAALHI/gHq7BEjcVBc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bchildrens%2Bshow.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Children’s Show” is gritty, brilliant and bold aided with
an excellent ensemble cast. The approach of the film may not be entirely
original, but director Roderick Cabrido managed to infuse some originality in an
unexpected way. Beautifully photographed
and skillfully edited, the film is engaging to follow. The script is realistic,
but also quirky. The music pulsates and gives the film its heartbeat. Good production
design also subtly highlights the intent of the film, and you really have to
pay attention to those little clues. Some critics have argued that the
treatment of fight scenes actually diluted the intent of the filmmaker to
dramatize the inhumanity of forcing children to fight for money; however, “Children’s
Show” is still one of the best miserablist films of the year. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read full review. <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-childrens-show-film.html#sthash.aCft95cY.dpuf">Click me</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DAGITAB (Sparks)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Directed by </i>Giancarlo
Abrahan V</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qLQ4Z7Pf9m8/VJus3oGOFkI/AAAAAAAALHQ/X14umyBzLdU/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bdagitab.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qLQ4Z7Pf9m8/VJus3oGOFkI/AAAAAAAALHQ/X14umyBzLdU/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bdagitab.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps the most French of all the Filipino films of 2014, “Dagitab”
is the follow-up film from the production company that gave us “Transit.”
“Dagitab” revolves around two professors as their marriage slowly erodes. It
also touches on history, activism and literature. “Dagitab” is a personal favorite
of mine mostly for three reasons. First, its noble ambition; second, my
nostalgia for the University of the Philippines; and lastly, a visually and
textually poetic scene: two different characters at a crossroad in their lives,
and lying still on a beach as the waves tries to engulf them. Beautifully
photographed, and lyrically written, this somber moment alone is enough reason
to see this film. Director Giancarlo Abrahan V, who also penned the screenplay,
is indeed one of the most outstanding young directors of the day.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read full review. <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-dagitab-film-review.html#sthash.fWvn295W.dpuf">Click me</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LORNA</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Sigrid
Andrea Bernardo<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjagCLD2vqw/VJus-Ky7MoI/AAAAAAAALHY/1rk9tKIY8C4/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Blorna.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjagCLD2vqw/VJus-Ky7MoI/AAAAAAAALHY/1rk9tKIY8C4/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Blorna.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the amazing “Ang Huling Cha Cha ni Anita,” (which
incidentally won the Brun Readers’ Choice for Best Film for 2013), director
Sigrid Andrea Bernardo once again offered us another intelligent film about
women. With the positive critics and
viewers’ response to the Nova Villa starrer, “1st ko is 3rd,” (another 2014
comedy about women in their 60s), “Lorna” also proves that romance is not
exclusively for the young. However, “Lorna” is a cut above the rest because it
refuses to offer a simple resolution. The end of romantic comedies or dramas is not
eventually finding true love in the arms of Mr. Right, but the goal should be
making the audience see the entire process of discovering the true nature of
love, and the kind of love that we ultimately deserve. The modern day romantic
comedies should be about a woman loving herself first, and rejecting the notion
that she is incomplete without a partner. For love’s sake, even Disney’s “Frozen”
end up with both princesses unmarried but happy. “Lorna” is said to be Bernardo’s
love letter to her own mother, and perhaps like Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall,” it
is her love letter to love itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sharmaine Buencamino shines as Lorna, and she is by far, one
of the most fascinating and complex romantic leads in Filipino movies for a
long time. (<b><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/11/cinema-one-originals-2014-reviews-for.html">Review</a></b>) </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MAGKAKABAUNG (The Coffin Maker)</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Jason Paul
Laxamana<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aukQW_bkUEg/VJutJs2Fr3I/AAAAAAAALHg/IaeL4MMobxc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bmagkakabaung.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aukQW_bkUEg/VJutJs2Fr3I/AAAAAAAALHg/IaeL4MMobxc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bmagkakabaung.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the Third Hanoi International Film Festival, “Magkakabaung”
won the Best Asian Film award and its lead actor, Allen Dizon, won Best Actor, winning
against British actor Ralph Fiennes. The film is an outstanding follow-up to Laxamana’s
dramatic thriller, “Babagwa.” Laxamana’s world has never been black and white. Shades
of grey are his most prominent colors on his paint palette, figuratively
speaking. He deals with life in the fringes, and he is one of the few current directors
who do not shy away from focusing on unsympathetic characters. However, unlike
some directors who deal with “poverty porn,” Laxamana is more focused on the complexities
and humanity of flawed individuals, and in so doing, does his best critique of
Philippine society as a whole. In “Magkakabaung,” we witness Laxamana’s
growth as a director and storyteller. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MARIQUINA</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Milo Sogueco<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwTWBwXYiLU/VJutQ_MCMAI/AAAAAAAALHo/9t025RnYvhc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bmariquina.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hwTWBwXYiLU/VJutQ_MCMAI/AAAAAAAALHo/9t025RnYvhc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bmariquina.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Probably the film of 2104 that has the best ensemble cast. Some
of the year’s best performances come from “Mariquina,” lead by Mylene Dizon and
Ricky Davao with an even superb supporting cast: Che Ramos, Bing Pimentel and a
breakthrough performance from Barbie Fortaleza. “Mariquina” is good artisanship
at work. All the pieces fell into their proper places: a tight screenplay,
music that highlights a scene than drown it, appropriate production design,
fluid editing, and good cinematography. The ambition of the film may not be as
grandiose or as philosophically lofty as some independent films, but the beauty
of “Mariquina” is in its smallness. The problem of one family adeptly
encapsulates Philippine society in the last twenty years. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read full review. <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-mariquina-film-review.html#sthash.98Cpv73t.dpuf">Click me</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MGA KWENTONG BARBERO (Barber’s Tales)</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Jun Robles
Lana<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNQH7uLYU_0/VJutZKeuZ4I/AAAAAAAALHw/4i-d4sXAe7k/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bbarbers%2Btale.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNQH7uLYU_0/VJutZKeuZ4I/AAAAAAAALHw/4i-d4sXAe7k/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bbarbers%2Btale.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set during the Marcos dictatorship, “Barber’s Tales” is a
feminist film that dramatizes how Filipino macho society, then and now, regards
women as commodities for male consumption. In a way, the Marcos military rule
is a mere extension of whole scale male oppression of women, and rebellion
against such macho domination is regarded as evil and must be severely
punished. Lana was astute enough to put forth his message in an unhurried
manner without being too preachy. In the end, the film espouses that freedom
from all forms of oppression is achieved through solidarity, in the case of
“Barber’s Tales,” female solidarity. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read full review. <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/jun-robles-lanas-barbers-tales-film.html#sthash.tGjy1Ft2.dpuf">Click me</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MULA SA KUNG ANO ANG NOON (From What is Before)</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Lav Diaz<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxhpst8Djbg/VJutkR3h9UI/AAAAAAAALH4/gUmXlBNcJyE/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bmula%2Bsa%2Bkung%2Bano%2Bang%2Bnoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rxhpst8Djbg/VJutkR3h9UI/AAAAAAAALH4/gUmXlBNcJyE/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bmula%2Bsa%2Bkung%2Bano%2Bang%2Bnoon.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film was chosen as Best Picture at the 2014 Locarno International
Film Festival, and in “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon,” Lav Diaz’s talent is at its
peak. Mainstream moviegoers still has not warmed up to Diaz’s cinematic style,
and this is further hindered by the industry’s focus on pure commercialization.
However, Diaz’s films continue to attract a stable cult following, and the
numbers appear to be increasing. Slow cinema is a tricky genre because it can
go only two ways. The film can be pretentiously empty, a cinematic "Emperor New
Clothes," or if done right, the film can be utterly brilliant. As <a href="http://www.ifc.com/fix/2010/05/slow-cinema-backlash">IFC’s Vadim Rizov</a> puts it, <i>“the problem (with slow
cinema): there are masters, and then there are imitators. The problem isn’t ‘slow
cinema’ per se… the problem isn’t the masters. It’s the second-tier wave of
films…”</i> It is safe to say that Lav
Diaz is one of the masters of slow cinema, and “Mula” is his best work to date.
That is something because I am not a fan
of slow cinema but my white flag is up, I surrender to Diaz. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read full review. <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/09/lav-diazs-mula-sa-kung-ano-ang-noon.html">Click me</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SUNDALONG KANIN</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Janice O'Hara<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXnTbsSZ8Fg/VJutt4Z0D5I/AAAAAAAALIA/opZwen6KRrc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bsundalong%2Bkanin.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXnTbsSZ8Fg/VJutt4Z0D5I/AAAAAAAALIA/opZwen6KRrc/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bsundalong%2Bkanin.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Sundalong Kanin” is a fine tribute to Mario O’Hara’s 1976
classic “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,” and who better to pay homage to a great
film than O’Hara’s own kin: Denise O’Hara (producer), Jerry O’Hara (scriptwriter)
and Janice O’Hara (director). Director Janice O’Hara skillfully
balances the poignant, the terror, and surprisingly, even the silliness of
conflict. Class conflict is not ignored, and simplistic moral judgment is not
shoved down your throat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film focuses on the complicated nature of war and its
atrocious consequences. However, what makes the film unique from most Filipino
war films about World War II is that the story revolves around innocent
children. We witness the horrors of war from the point of view of children,
specifically young pre-pubescent boys. From innocence to harsh realization, the
young boys discover the true face of war, but without the experiences and
maturity of adulthood to help them process, they become war’s most tragic casualties.
</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read full review. <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-sundalong-kanin-film.html#sthash.nONYCrl1.dpuf">Click me</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VIOLATOR </span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by Eduardo “Dodo”
Dayao<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TlL_DnNeQd8/VJut3WX0QSI/AAAAAAAALIM/C8O4tcFo4oA/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bviolator.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TlL_DnNeQd8/VJut3WX0QSI/AAAAAAAALIM/C8O4tcFo4oA/s1600/top%2B10%2Bbest%2Bfilms%2Bof%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bviolator.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calling
“Violator” as a horror movie is limiting. Eduardo Dayao’s debut film is a
breath of fresh of air in an industry that churns out horror clichés one after
the other. After all, the best horror films are always the ones that
brilliantly capture the public’s unspoken fear.
“The Ring” became popular in Japan because it dramatizes the Japanese
fear of technology controlling their lives. The fixation on haunted houses in
American horror movies is symbolic of the hidden horrors in the American family
(but I could be wrong). In the Philippines, the <i>aswang</i> is the oldest and most popular representation of the Filipino
collective fear but the myth of <i>aswang</i>
is passé, and it is now trapped in the “creature film genre.” Yes, the <i>aswang </i>is as bland and blasé as the
vampire next door. The Filipino film industry is yet to put a face on the
current collective fear of the Filipinos. Perhaps, the purveying evil in our public institutions
such as the government, our churches, our schools, or our correctional facilities
(to name a few) is the “new fear” of the Filipinos. This milieu’s evil is unapologetic
and out in the open, walking among us. We elect them. We are the evil ones. In “Violator,”
Dayao may be telling us that we have control over this evil and the horror is
we let it go. (<b><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/11/cinema-one-originals-2014-reviews-for.html">Review</a></b>)</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dUpkKOVzvxU/VJ-Nf5LbFeI/AAAAAAAALP8/gAJNPDk22Co/s1600/2nd%2BBrun%2BFilm%2BAwards%2BIcon%2B2014%2BSIGN%2Bbox%2Btype.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dUpkKOVzvxU/VJ-Nf5LbFeI/AAAAAAAALP8/gAJNPDk22Co/s1600/2nd%2BBrun%2BFilm%2BAwards%2BIcon%2B2014%2BSIGN%2Bbox%2Btype.png" height="164" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>CLICK <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-second-annual-brun-film-awards-2014.html">THIS</a> TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>RELATED POSTS</b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">Rationale for the use of non-free media,</span> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/p/useof-non-free-media-all-video-clips.html">click this</a></i><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Brun Philippines invites movie lovers and film critics who do not have their own blogs to join our family. If you have a film review or criticism about a new or old film (local or foreign), you may submit your work for consideration. We only have a few requirements: (1) your work is original; (2) the piece is well written, in Filipino or English; (3) you want to do it for charity. Yes! Since Brun Philippines is a charitable publication, we donate all our earnings to various charities and so we cannot pay you. All our contributing writers publish out of love. If you are interested, please e-mail us at <b>robdpchair@gmail.com</b>. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>For additional information, <a href="http://robdpchair.wix.com/brun-philippines#!articles/cwop">click this</a>.</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-35282482273205010502014-11-23T11:48:00.000+08:002014-12-27T16:32:18.622+08:00Readers' Survey: Top Ten Filipino Films and Performances of 2014.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>For latest updates, <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-top-ten-filipino-films-of-2014.html">click this</a></b><br />
<br />
About 35 days left before 2014 ends. Is 2014 a great year
for Filipino films or not? What do you think? One big film festival remains: the ominous
Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which is more of a carnival of commercial
films than anything else. Still, MMFF’s New Wave section always offers one or
two gems every year so there is still hope. <br />
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Brun Philippines would like to ask our readers and other
cinephiles regarding the best films and performances of the year so far. In your opinion, what (who) are</div>
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[1] The top 10 best films (and directors) of the year, </div>
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[2] The top 10 best screenplays, </div>
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[3] The top 10 leading performances (regardless of gender)
and</div>
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[4] The top 10 supporting performances (regardless of
gender) </div>
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Thank you very much for sharing your choices. You do not
need to give exactly 10; fewer than 10 would suffice.</div>
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Post your choices on the comments below.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBukH2p-iH8/VHFYuRXlDNI/AAAAAAAALBM/hWbullaKlUs/s1600/second%2Bannual%2Bbrun%2Bfilm%2Bawards%2BFB%2Bsurvey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBukH2p-iH8/VHFYuRXlDNI/AAAAAAAALBM/hWbullaKlUs/s1600/second%2Bannual%2Bbrun%2Bfilm%2Bawards%2BFB%2Bsurvey.png" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-58908399180837094002014-11-01T17:14:00.004+08:002014-11-26T22:03:07.133+08:00Kwento ng isang First-Time Mommy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>COVER STORY</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sinulat ni <b>Marriane Bautista-Alcantara</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sa patnugot ni Rob San Miguel</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mula pa noon, sobrang mahilig na ako sa bata subalit hindi ko una gusto
magkaanak. Alam ko na mahirap mag-alaga. Masarap lang silang laruin pero iba na
kapag ikaw ang nag-aalaga buong araw. Naging parang pangalawang ina ako ng
aking isang taong gulang na pamangkin nang pumanaw ang aking kapatid na babae
noong 2004. Kahit noong buhay pa siya, ako na rin talaga nag-alaga sa baby
niya. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bago kami ikasal ng aking asawang si Chris, nakalimutan kong talakayin
sa kaniya na ayokong magka-baby kaya noong sinabi ko na, sagot niya, “Hindi!
Hindi pwede!” Siya ang unang ikinasal sa kanilang magkakapatid at magpipinsan
kaya hindi pwedeng walang apo. Nais kong maging maligaya ang aking asawa kaya
pumayag ako. Hindi ko na kinailangan magdasal. Nabuntis kaagad ako ilang buwan
lang matapos naming ikasal. Napakaligaya ko noong nag-positive ang aking
pregnancy test dahil alam kong magiging napakaligaya ni Chris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa kabutihang palad, hindi ako maselan magbuntis. Wala akong
kinahiligang pagkain o ano pa man. Parang hindi ako buntis. Ang pinakamahirap
na naranasan ko lang ay noong ika-4 o 5 buwan kong pagbubuntis. Hindi ko alam
kung anong pagkain ang tatanggapin ng aking sikmura. May mga panahon na o-order
kami ng pagkain at titikman ko lang para malaman kung masusuka ako. Sa bandang
huli, si Chris lahat ang kumakain. Nakakadismaya. Hindi ako makakain nang maayos.
Hindi ko alam kung anong pwede kong kainin. Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sapagkat
wala akong tinatawag na morning sickness. Hindi ko rin naranasang magsuka.
Nagtratrabaho pa ako noon sa isang public school habang pinagbubuntis ko ang
aking baby na pinangalan naming Sachi kinalaunan. Panhik panaog ako sa hagdan
ng aming paaralan pero hindi naman ako na-stress. Pag naninigas na aking tiyan,
indikasyon na kailangan kong umupo at magpahinga. Pagod na si baby. Naghintay
pa kami ng 39 linggo bago namin siya nasilayan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nakakapagod ang mga tanong na: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Kailan ka manganganak?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Hala, bakit hindi ka pa rin nanganganak,” at iba pang mga tanong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kahit ako na-frustrate na din. Buti na lang at sinabi sa akin ng dating
kaklase na hindi ko kinailangang mag-alala. Pag lalabas na si baby, lalabas
sya. “Let him take his time.” Iyon na nga, noong ika-22 ng Mayo, dumating ang
oras na aming hinihintay. Noong gabi, nag-spotting na ko. May pakonti-konting
dugo na lumalabas sa akin kaya pumunta na kami sa emergency room. Sumasakit na
ang aking tiyan. Naintindihan ko na yung tinatawag nilang “labor.” Mataas ang tolerance ko sa sakit pero iba
ito! Grabeng sakit! Hindi talaga maipipinta yung mukha mo. Isabay pa yung mga
ibang bagay na nakakabwisit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halimbawa: Pagdating ko ng ospital, sinabihan ako na 1 centimeter pa
lang daw. Tinanong rin ako kung gusto kong magpa-admit. Ten centimeters dapat
daw bago ako mapaanak kaya nagdesisyon kaming umuwi muna ng bahay. Sa bahay, magdamag kong tiniis yung sakit.
Noong bumalik kami sa ospital ng mga ika-10 ng umaga, 4 centimeters na daw.
Kailangan ko nang ma-admit. Sa sobrang sakit, sinabi ko na gusto ko painless
childbirth kaya may sinaksak sa likod ko na tubo at doon ininject yung gamot.
Painless nga talaga sya. May sakit pa rin subalit kaunti na lang. Kapag nawala
ang bisa ng gamot, balik na naman sa napakagrabeng sakit. Pagod na ako. Alas
kwatro na ng May 23 pero hindi pa rin bumaba si Sachi. Anim na sentimetro pa
lang. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryIHeWJgSrc/VFSgw4K9A4I/AAAAAAAAK9w/amLYmC6PIHI/s1600/pic%2B05%2Bfirst-time%2Bmom%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmarriane%2Bbautista%2Balcantara%2B(edited).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryIHeWJgSrc/VFSgw4K9A4I/AAAAAAAAK9w/amLYmC6PIHI/s1600/pic%2B05%2Bfirst-time%2Bmom%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmarriane%2Bbautista%2Balcantara%2B(edited).jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Nagulat ako kasi ang gwapo niya <br />at ang puti pa! Bakit ang puti nya? <br />Pagkatapos, nawalan na ako ng malay."</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nagdesisyon ang mga duktor na C-section birth ang gawin dahil sa laki ng
aking tiyan. Sa totoo lang, napangiti ako nang narinig ko na CS. Pagod na pagod
na ako. Noong dinala ako sa operating room, sobrang saya ko sapagkat ibig
sabihin makikita ko na si baby. Gising ako habang hinihiwa ang aking tiyan at
hindi katagalan, narinig ko ang unang iyak ni Sachi. Ipinatong sya sa dibdib
ko. Nagulat ako kasi ang gwapo niya at ang puti pa! Haha! Bakit ang puti
nya? Pagkatapos, nawalan na ako ng
malay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noong ako ay nagising, nasa ibang silid na ako kasama ang ibang
pasyente. Kailangan maigalaw ko ang aking mga paa bago ako ilipat sa ibang
silid na naman. Umabot ng dalawang araw bago ko nakita si Sachi. Badtrip sa
ospital. Ang taas ng kama at sabay pa, inaalagaan ko si Sachi. Hindi ako
makatulog nang maayos. Walang lumalabas na gatas sa akin kaya kapag umiiytak si
Sachi, padededehin ko siya pero kapag nakikita kong frustrated na siya dahil wala
siyang madede, nakikiusap ako sa ibang nanay na pinagpala sa dami ng gatas. Sa
sa kanilang kagandahang loob, napadede si Sachi o kaya humihingi ako sa
attendant ng breastmilk na nakalagay sa fridge. Naubos nga yata ni Sachi ang
kanilang stock na breastmilk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kahit noong nakauwi na kami mula sa ospital, wala pa rin akong gatas.
Wala akong choice kung hindi i-bottle feed siya. Masakit sa bulsa ang formula.
Masakit din ang tahi ko. Gusto kong lumaklak lagi ng pain reliever sa sobrang
sakit pero bawal iyon. Hindi ko magawang tignan yung tahi ko, parang
nakakatakot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7bNTBRZLfY/VFShG5EpY5I/AAAAAAAAK94/61L62ECn5NE/s1600/pic%2B02%2Bfirst-time%2Bmom%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmarriane%2Bbautista%2Balcantara%2B(edited).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7bNTBRZLfY/VFShG5EpY5I/AAAAAAAAK94/61L62ECn5NE/s1600/pic%2B02%2Bfirst-time%2Bmom%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmarriane%2Bbautista%2Balcantara%2B(edited).jpg" height="400" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">"Sa tingin ko, kapag <br />tamad kang tao, wala kang <br />karapatang magka-baby."</span></span></i></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Taas: Kasama si Chris, proud<br />and happy papa.<br />Baba: Sachi and me</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tulad ng maraming bagong ina, napagdaanan ko ang “postnatal depression”
pero hindi naman grabe. Lagi akong umiiyak at lagi akong galit. Alam ko na
“postnatal depression” ang nararanasan ko kaya nagbasa ako ng mga articles para
malabanan iyon. Kinailangan kong may makausap para maisiwalat ang lahat ng
aking naramdaman. Ang aking kaibigan na si Lovely ang aking naging sandalan.
Mabuti na lang at mas nauna siyang manganak kaysa sa akin. Kapag may sinasabi ko sa kaniya ang aking pinagdadaanan, sinasabi niya na normal lang ang aking nararamdaman. Hindi ako
nababaliw. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sa tingin ko, kapag tamad kang tao, wala kang karapatang magka-baby.
Opinyon ko lang. Having a baby will take much of your time. Kailangan mo lagi
maghugas ng baby bottles, paarawan si baby sa umaga, paliguan siya, linisin ang
pusod, timplahan ng gatas, labahan ang mga damit niya, matutulog ka lang kung
kalian siya matutulog at iba pa. Ito ang mga panahon na iisipin mo, “Bakit ba
ako nag-baby? Ang sarap ng buhay ko noong single ako.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mahirap na masaya maging nanay. Kahit isa akong working mom,
sinisigurado ko na marami pa rin akong oras para kay Sachi. Tuwing weekends,
gumigising ako ng maaga para tapusin ang gawaing bahay para kapag nagising si
Sachi, tapos na ang lahat: linis ng bahay, saing ng bigas, hugas ng pinggan,
laba at iba pa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't imagine life without Sachi now. He is the reason why I look
forward to Halloween, Christmas, children parties and so on. Kung wala siya,
boring ang buhay. He gives me reasons to smile every day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ang cute niyang sumayaw, ngumiti, umiyak, mangulit, makipaglaro at iba
pang bagay. Paborito ko yung tititigan ko siya at tititigan niya rin ako
pagkatapos ngingiti bigla. Kapag
nangigigil siya, bigla niya akong yayakapin at hahalikan. Sobrang cute! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkBTcWKm61s/VFSjLZKcyYI/AAAAAAAAK-E/WYRHrsOAyIU/s1600/pic%2B03%2Bfirst-time%2Bmom%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmarriane%2Bbautista%2Balcantara%2B%5Bedited%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkBTcWKm61s/VFSjLZKcyYI/AAAAAAAAK-E/WYRHrsOAyIU/s1600/pic%2B03%2Bfirst-time%2Bmom%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bmarriane%2Bbautista%2Balcantara%2B%5Bedited%5D.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>"I can't imagine life without Sachi now. He is the reason why I look forward to Halloween, Christmas, children parties and so on. Kung wala siya, boring ang buhay. He gives me reasons to smile every day."</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isang taon pa lamang si Sachi at alam kong marami pa akong hirap at
sayang pagdadaanan bilang isang ina pero I am forever thankful to God for
giving me the opportunity to be Sachi's mom. Sa lahat ng blessings na nakuha sa
Diyos, pagiging mommy ni Sachi ang pinakapaborito ko.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">PATALASTAS</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Mayroon ka bang mga kwento bilang isang "first-time mom" o "first-time dad?" Maari mong ibahagi sa amin. Isulat ang inyong kwento sa Ingles man o Filipino. E-mail at robdpchair@gmail.com</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJd4l2P3Y5A/VHXdFNb3ZfI/AAAAAAAALCE/MLLzVJnFlEo/s1600/darling%2Bdannah%2Bads%2Btutu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJd4l2P3Y5A/VHXdFNb3ZfI/AAAAAAAALCE/MLLzVJnFlEo/s1600/darling%2Bdannah%2Bads%2Btutu.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>CLICK <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007341377228">THIS</a> FOR MORE INFO AND ORDERS</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-73997229345660216462014-10-19T18:03:00.001+08:002014-10-19T18:40:04.344+08:00The Judge: “A Middle Child Syndrome Story” (Film Review)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TUGv2aRVg20/VEOLdRVn2rI/AAAAAAAAK74/Ni9lWugcJNk/s1600/the%2Bjudge%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bfilm%2Breview%2Bby%2Broghadal%2Bsaint-michel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TUGv2aRVg20/VEOLdRVn2rI/AAAAAAAAK74/Ni9lWugcJNk/s1600/the%2Bjudge%2B2014%2B(brun%2Bphilippines)%2Bfilm%2Breview%2Bby%2Broghadal%2Bsaint-michel.png" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">RATING: 5/5</span><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">Rationale for the Use of Non-Free</span><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">Media, </span><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/p/useof-non-free-media-all-video-clips.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">click this</a></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reviewed by Roghadal
Saint-Michel <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">(Toronoto, Canada)</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Directed by David Dobkin; starring Robert Downey, Jr., Robert Duvall and Vera Farmiga</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A hotshot lawyer
comes back to a small town where he grew up to attend his mothers' funeral,
carrying with him loads of baggage from a past that is about to unfold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A seemingly short
planned weekend turned into an agonizing excursion of family drama that has now
crept up on him when his father, a highly regarded judge gets involved in a
murder. Hank (Robert Downey, Jr.) is now compelled to defend his father (Robert
Duvall) when Hank realized that a small-time attorney would most likely lose
the case and put his father in jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This courtroom
drama has been told a gazillion times in Hollywood films. Of late, films like
“On Golden Pond,” “August: Osage County,” “One True Thing” weaves a tale about
children who are forced to confront their own demons by revisiting their
relationship with their parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although most of
the aforementioned films explored the mother-son or mother-daughter
relationships, Paul Schrader ‘s “Affliction" (1998) zeroed in on the
violence as if it were genetic and were passed on from father to son. This is
one of the few films that profoundly dissected the father-son relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
“Ordinary People" (1980) is a good complimentary film to "The
Judge." The guilt possessed by the main lead in this Robert Redford's
masterpiece is now carried by Downey's character. This time the domineering mother is gone and
the focus is shifted to the father/the judge. The father is a strong-willed but
aging as he slowly loses his mental faculties because of a debilitating medical
condition. Robert Duvall gave a brilliant performance highlighting his
character’s strained relationship with his son, which is tested further when
they are forced to work together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a way, "The
Judge" is almost an extension of what happens after the middle son in
"Ordinary People" has moved on after a tragic event that caused the
family's unraveling. In “The Judge,” the middle son is now a successful lawyer.
He has to prove his worth and possibly his acceptance back to the fold by
defending his own father. However, the case is a mere catalyst to drive the
family drama. Old wounds are opened, and in a grand symbolic scene in the film,
dirt is swept under the old rug and flung open during an explosive tornado
scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much has been
written about the curse of the middle child: the birth order that is neither
favoured as the first born nor precious as the last child. The middle child
strives to be recognized by acting up or over-achieving. However, the middle
born is deprived of parental blessings that he richly deserved, although
sometimes the middle child only perceives the supposed dismissal. The middle child feels unrecognized even in
his or her adult life and therefore negatively or positively overcompensates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robert Downey Jr.
masterfully understood his character’s dilemma. His Hank Palmer is a bundle of
contraction of achievement and insecurities. The hankering to be loved is
camouflaged by his cocky disposition in his personal and professional life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written with the
small town mentality, this courtroom drama succeeds because the voyeurism about
a family affair escalates like a national crisis in a typical small town.
Ordinary folks care about the comings and goings of the people whom they
personally know. If this case happened in a big city like Chicago or New York,
the story will just be dismissed as a trivial domestic problem. Nevertheless,
in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, people will care and
so will you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OTHER REVIEWS </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Roghadal Saint-Michel</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/10/gone-girl-film-review.html">Gone Girl</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/02/stranger-by-lake-film-review-finding.html">Stranger by the Lake</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/09/lav-diazs-mula-sa-kung-ano-ang-noon.html">Mula sa Kung Saan Ang Noon</a></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-15531042883571004262014-09-25T22:43:00.002+08:002014-09-26T09:15:23.348+08:00Filipino Films that Should be Made in the Immediate Future, Part 2 (Film #2: "The Imeldific Drag Show")<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim have already produced a stage musical about
the controversial and polarizing Imelda Marcos. Some Filipinos easily became
thrilled as Filipino stage thespians were chosen to play key parts in the New York production and the coming London production. For some, it is "Miss Saigon" all over again. This is another
proof that the new generation has perhaps forgotten the sins of the Marcos
dictatorship and so the apparent return to glory, and maybe to power, of the
Marcos clan is well under way. Whether the new Imelda musical presented the
great “Maleficent of Shoes” in a favorable or unfavorable light, I suppose it
is up to the viewers. But as “The Guardian” critic Alexis Soloski wrote,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“It becomes more
difficult to judge or be critical of the characters – dancing with Imelda
(played with almost unparalleled sweetness by Ruthie Ann Miles) makes you more
likely to sympathise with her and her husband (Jose Llana), despite knowing
better.”</i> (<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/apr/23/here-lies-love-stage-review">Source: The Guardian, 13 April 2013</a></b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IduFIkUMduQ/VCQk7JsVCBI/AAAAAAAAK1w/NlCiBwnzSq4/s1600/the%2Bimeldific%2Bdrag%2Bshow%2Bposter%2B(filipino%2Bfilms%2Bthat%2Bshould%2Bbe%2Bmade)%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2B(rob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IduFIkUMduQ/VCQk7JsVCBI/AAAAAAAAK1w/NlCiBwnzSq4/s1600/the%2Bimeldific%2Bdrag%2Bshow%2Bposter%2B(filipino%2Bfilms%2Bthat%2Bshould%2Bbe%2Bmade)%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2B(rob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel).jpg" height="320" width="251" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #0b5394; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">U.S. Ambassador allegedly wrote:<br />“This whole affair was a saccharine<br />suffusion of sycophancy.”</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Byrne and Fat Boy Slim interpret Imelda as a flamboyant “forgivable” individual
(quotation mark intended). Imelda is neither a saint nor a sinner but just a
tragic/comic literary character akin to a street smart Cinderella who brazenly
played the game of life as she figuratively danced on gray areas than on black or white. Victims and people who
valiantly fought the Marcos regime will feel betrayed, but then again, I
suspect that Byrne and Fat Boy Slim just wanted to produce a more danceable “Evita” for the millennium than anything else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps, a film antidote to all current and coming poisonous
production is needed as swiftly as possible. I think that you do not need to make a
full biography of Imelda but just focus on a specific episode in her life that will
best encapsulate the Marcos couple’s hold to power, Imelda’s state of mind and
regard towards Filipinos, whom she often says she loves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to WikiLeaks, we found the perfect episode. U.S. Ambassador to
the Philippines in the 1970s William Sullivan allegedly reported that Ferdinand
Marcos had a lavish two-day birthday celebration that included a: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“Military review,
fly-by, and rambling speech by president at Camp Aguinaldo, followed by
dedication of newly constructed facilities there. This consumed entire morning.
Ceremonies resumed 7:00 p.m. that same evening with moonlight parade,
reception, serenade, dinner, floor show, and concert </i>(<a href="https://search.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1973MANILA10390_b.html"><b>Source:</b> Public Library of U.S. Diplomacy, WikiLeaks</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The culmination of this lavish celebration was a military drag
performance during the floor show, ordered by Imelda herself. Ambassador Sullivan reports: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“All general
officers in the armed services (Constabulary Commander Ramos excepted) were
required, as part of the palace floor show, to parade in garish female attire.
This caused much grumbling among military hierarchy, and wives of service
chiefs stood conspicuously in a grim, un- smiling phalanx throughout the
hilarity.” </i>(<a href="https://search.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1973MANILA10390_b.html"><b>Source:</b> Public Library of U.S. Diplomacy, WikiLeaks</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ambassador Sullivan allegedly further
commented that: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“This whole affair
was a saccharine suffusion of sycophancy which reminded me unhappily of the
heydays of Sukarno and Sihanouk. Although Imelda was responsible, the president
seemed to enjoy it and appeared unaware of the negative vibrations among his
courtiers, especially the senior military…” </i>(<a href="https://search.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1973MANILA10390_b.html">Source: Public Library of U.S. Diplomacy,WikiLeaks</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tebrdBPHlvM/VCQl1czYnpI/AAAAAAAAK14/CWj3gflXtxw/s1600/filipino%2Bfilms%2Bthat%2Bshoud%2Bbe%2Bmade%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bfuture%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2B2014%2Brob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tebrdBPHlvM/VCQl1czYnpI/AAAAAAAAK14/CWj3gflXtxw/s1600/filipino%2Bfilms%2Bthat%2Bshoud%2Bbe%2Bmade%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bfuture%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2B2014%2Brob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel.png" height="184" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ordering macho Filipino soldiers to wear women’s clothes and asking them to perform in a floor show is tantamount to utter disrespect, especially in a
macho homophobic society like the Philippines, and in the 1970s even. The whole
idea is insulting. Regardless of your opinions about the participation of the
military during the Martial Law years, this whole drag show simply illustrates,
in the most farcical way, Imelda’s power. She has never been Cinderella; she is
the wicked stepmother or the Evil Queen. She and her husband had abducted and
buried Cinderella and Snow White in an unmarked grave somewhere in the
boondocks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of inscribing “Here Lies Love” on her tombstones, Filipinos
should inscribe “Lies Love It Here.” These words will be a tribute to a woman
who enjoys twisting words to her advantage, and so, we Filipino should play her
game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE IMELDIFIC DRAG SHOW</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgKBEBSUzuE/VCQmwpJOUDI/AAAAAAAAK2A/Z3KJW8g3CMY/s1600/US%2BAmbassador%2Bto%2Bthe%2BPhilippines%2B1973%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bimelda%2Bmarcos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgKBEBSUzuE/VCQmwpJOUDI/AAAAAAAAK2A/Z3KJW8g3CMY/s1600/US%2BAmbassador%2Bto%2Bthe%2BPhilippines%2B1973%2B%5Bbrun%2Bphilippines%5D%2Bimelda%2Bmarcos.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">U.S. Ambassador to the<br />Philippines in the 1970s:<br />William Sullivan</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making “The Imeldific Drag Show” is a perfect dramatization of the Marcos
excesses at a time when many Filipinos lost their lives fighting a corrupt
administration, and many others suffering from poverty and lost of their civil
liberties. I think even if you have been brainwashed to believe that the
Philippines was better off during the Marcos regime, this particular
celebration is enough to jolt you back to your senses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like “F/F,” “The Imedific Drag Show” should also go on a nationwide
tour, specifically in schools to enlighten the new generation of Filipinos. Certainly,
the film should also run for seven consecutive days in commercial cinemas just
to qualify for the Oscars. I see a future Oscar contender here. It has
everything: corruption, excess, over the top characters and overall
ludicrousness. In fact, the would-be director and producer can even hire an
American actor to play U.S. Ambassador Sullivan to give some international
traction. Which Hollywood actor should
play him? More importantly, who would play "Imelda?"</span><br />
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<b>TO BE CONTINUED...</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">RELATED POSTS</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filipino Films That
Should Be Made in the Immediate Future (Series)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 1: <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/09/filipino-films-that-should-be-made-in.html">“F/F”</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 2: <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/09/filipino-films-that-should-be-made-in_25.html">“The Imeldific Drag Show”</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 3: “Poque-poque at Patiti: The Senate RH-Bill Hearing” (soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 4: “Desaparesidos” (soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 5: “Angela, the Bading Assassin, A Musical (soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and <i>many more</i></span></li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other Film Essays</span></b><br />
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<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/08/cinemalaya-2013-cinema-of-disconnection.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cinema of Disconnection</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/09/from-filburger-films-to-something.html#sthash.w7ROvZ5K.dpuf"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From "Filburger Films" to Something Radically New:What Will the New Philippine Cinema Be Like?</span></a></li>
</ul>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-46590679673333665902014-09-20T16:14:00.002+08:002014-09-26T09:23:52.622+08:00Filipino Films That Should Be Made in the Immediate Future, Part 1 (Film #1: F/F) and Introduction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year, we see many excellent
Filipino films, mostly from independent filmmakers. However, after the year is
over, most of us forget. Even more interesting, the same kinds of people watch
these so-called “excellent” films. If film is mere entertainment, then save me a
seat for the new Avengers movie, or the next Vice Ganda and Daniel
Padilla flick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, I was taught that
film is power, and every year, I see that power being flushed in the toilet
together with shit in the name of cash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being an uppity critic,
I decided to suggest some future films to all film artists out there. I call
this “Filipino Films That Should Be Made in the Immediate Future.” Here is film
number one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">FILM NUMBER 1</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working Title: “F/F” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many films about the
rich and powerful in the Philippines have been made in the past but none of
them actually has incited righteous anger from the common person. Let us face
it. Many ordinary Filipinos do not need to be reminded that their government
officials are stealing people’s money, which is one the main causes of dire
poverty in the nation. Ordinary Filipino perhaps only wonders about the daily
lives of the top one percent elite of the country. In this year’s Cinemalaya, “#Y”
provided a glimpse but this film is more about rich teenage angst and morbidity
than an accurate representation of the Filipino upper class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suggest that a
director/scriptwriter make a movie about the Filipino ultra rich. The story
does not have to be groundbreaking. In fact, it can just be about the daily life
of an upper class family. The family is more similar to the Ayalas, the Cojuangcos,
and may be even the Sys of SM Malls. The father owns a big manufacturing company
with countless underpaid employees. The mother comes from the old elite of the
country, dating back perhaps to the American occupation. They have well-fed beautiful fair-skinned (almost)
Caucasian looking kids who cannot speak straight Tagalog and they sound more
American than Filipino. The kids complain about the troubles they have in their
lives; for example, not being allowed to have an iPhone 6plus, or not being
able to go to Europe for summer vacation because of his poor grades in his
international school. Some scenes in the
film include complaining about the food that they eat, the kind of car that
they still have to drive, and so on and so forth. Certainly, we also see the day-to-day spending
and activities of the parents.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bottom line, we see how
money is no longer their main concern; perhaps they may even engage in charity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the trick. As
the movie about the rich family unfolds, the director correlates the affluent
life with the life of a family living in the slums, or to be more politically
correct, informal settlement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This means that the
director will splice the screen in half. On the left, we see the life of the
rich; and on the right, we witness the life of the poor. Each scene from the
rich family’s life must have the exact equivalent in the life of the poor
family. For example, if the rich man drives a Mercedes Benz to work, we must
see how the poor man gets to work; perhaps he is clinging on the door of an
ordinary bus, which I often see, and sometimes I do when I commute to work.
Perhaps the poor student is falling in line at the MRT station while raining
while we see the rich student complaining about being stuck in the car with his
nosey brother. In another scene, we see
the rich father being patted on the back by the shareholders for boosting the
company’s profit. He receives a bonus, something fancy and expensive perhaps.
At the same time, we see the poor father (who may work in the rich father’s
factory) laments as he receives his meager salary.Even the dialogues must
be cleverly matched. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The goal of this
artistic exercise is to show how the rich differs so much from the poor. The intention
is to incite repulsion, both from the poor and the rich. The repulsion from the
poor person comes from the realization that he will always remain poor even if
he works hard, and that other people carelessly waste money. On the other hand,
the rich person will also be repulsed, perhaps more fearful, because he will
realize that he does not live in the First World, and that he cannot afford to
live comfortably rich in a country like the Philippines, even if the rampant
poverty is not his fault. Inevitably, the pitchforks will start marching, if
they have not already. Probably, the pitchforks will not come in droves but one
by one in the dead of night, preying on one person after another, indiscriminate.
Is this not happening now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certainly, in the latter
part of the two simultaneous films, the two lives merge. After all, this is the
Philippines. Each one of us helps create the other. We live in a system where
we create every thief, snatcher, embezzler, plunderer, and thankfully, even
hero and heroine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What brings the two representative
families together, well, that is up to the director. The important thing is
this film will not have a Carlito Siguion-Reyna ending, as exemplified in “Hari
ng Tondo.” Period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>FILM DISTRIBUTION</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second trick of the
film is its distribution scheme. New Philippine cinema should do away with the
old temples of commerce like SM Malls, the Ayala cinemas and the like. They may
never be the home of new Philippine cinema, at least, the cinema that should
matter. In order to build a new order for the new Philippine cinema, we must do
away with the traditional venues, and ways of distribution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mainstream films,
whether foreign or local, have already cornered the market. Honestly speaking, even
if this proposed film of mine were distributed in commercial cinemas, only
people like me might watch it so we could feel artistically and intellectually
superior, just like after we watch any of Lav Diaz’s long meanderings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No! This movie will be
shown in schools and small communities only. This film will go on a tour across
the country. Every public (may be even private) elementary, high school and university will become SM and Ayala cinemas. In addition, open-air screening in small
barrios around the country will be done. Perhaps, all of these will be
sponsored by a company that makes soap or toothpaste or any product that the
masses can afford. A conflict of interest may exist but let us leave
it all to delicious irony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With astute planning,
this film can get back its film budget. It may even earn money, and as an added bonus, accolades from Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno and Pagadian City. Of course, all these things will only happen if the would-be director gets this film right. If your name is Joel Lamangan, you need not
apply. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps, I am being too
unrealistic but then again, have we really seen “reality” in Philippine cinema?
Most importantly, this is not entirely my own idea. Sergei Eisenstein appeared to me in a dream, and whispered this concept to me as he sipped his coffee next to Mae West who kept flirting with
Apolinario Mabini in an old Escolta café. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my friends calls
my proposed film as dangerously close to propaganda, I say, “it all depends on
the director and writer.”</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>TO BE CONTINUED</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">RELATED POSTS</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elgC8n4wJNc/VCS-lElzpZI/AAAAAAAAK2Q/opZx5Prao4A/s1600/the%2Bimeldific%2Bdrag%2Bshow%2Bposter%2B(filipino%2Bfilms%2Bthat%2Bshould%2Bbe%2Bmade)%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2B(rob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elgC8n4wJNc/VCS-lElzpZI/AAAAAAAAK2Q/opZx5Prao4A/s1600/the%2Bimeldific%2Bdrag%2Bshow%2Bposter%2B(filipino%2Bfilms%2Bthat%2Bshould%2Bbe%2Bmade)%2Bbrun%2Bphilippines%2B(rob%2Bsan%2Bmiguel).jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/09/filipino-films-that-should-be-made-in_25.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">FILM # 2</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filipino Films That Should Be Made in the Immediate Future (Series)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 1: <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/09/filipino-films-that-should-be-made-in.html">“F/F”</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 2: <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/09/filipino-films-that-should-be-made-in_25.html">“The Imeldific Drag Show”</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 3: “Poque-poque at Patiti: The Senate RH-Bill Hearing” (soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 4: “Desaparesidos” (soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film # 5: “Angela, the Bading Assassin, A Musical (soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and <i>many more</i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other Film Essays<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/08/cinemalaya-2013-cinema-of-disconnection.html">The Cinema of Disconnection</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/09/from-filburger-films-to-something.html#sthash.w7ROvZ5K.dpuf">From "Filburger Films" to Something Radically New:What Will the New Philippine Cinema Be Like?</a></span></li>
</ul>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-48024926222003967352014-08-07T01:59:00.002+08:002014-08-16T00:39:58.371+08:00Brun Critics' Choice for the 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival (Year 2): Nominees and Recipients<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Updated: Aug. 8, 2014 <br />(7:00 PM)</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brun
Philippines announces our choices for the <b>2014
Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.</b> This is our second year of selecting
which among the film entries deserve recognition. In 2013, Brun Philippines chose “Transit” as
Best Film (New Breed). This year, we decided to forgo the distinction between
New Breed and Directors Showcase entries. All films were evaluated equally. We
also merged the awards for best male and female actor in leading and supporting roles to promote gender
equality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We <strike>will
announce</strike> announced our final choices on <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">August 8, 2014 (7:00 P.M.)</span></b> Do you agree with our
critics? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3SyFxdUKz4/U-SryMRVjHI/AAAAAAAAKjk/xhfcRFokV5M/s1600/best+film+cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bbrun+philippines%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3SyFxdUKz4/U-SryMRVjHI/AAAAAAAAKjk/xhfcRFokV5M/s1600/best+film+cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bbrun+philippines%5D.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“<b>Mariquina</b>” is good artisanship
at work. All the pieces fell into their proper places: a tight screenplay, music
that highlights a scene than drown it, appropriate production design, fluid editing, good cinematography and a powerful ensemble cast. Its ambition may not be as grandiose
or as philosophically lofty as some independent films, but the beauty of “Mariquina”
is in its smallness. The problem of one family adeptly encapsulates Philippine
society in the last twenty years. The only stain in this polished work is
Imelda Marcos. Fortunately, director Milo Sogueco can easily edit Imelda Marcos
out of the film, and he should. No one likes stain on his or her masterfully
made Marikina shoes. <b><span style="color: #e06666;">(Read full review, <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-mariquina-film-review.html">click this</a>)</span></b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_eKe2csD6M/U-TdpWx2nJI/AAAAAAAAKj0/c1y_2x70h_8/s1600/Cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bbest+film%5D+nominees.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R_eKe2csD6M/U-TdpWx2nJI/AAAAAAAAKj0/c1y_2x70h_8/s1600/Cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bbest+film%5D+nominees.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST FILM</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1st Ko
si 3rd </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bwaya</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Children’s
Show <i><span style="color: #e06666;">(Runner-up)</span></i></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Mariquina</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sundalong
Kanin</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed):</b> Bwaya</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </b>Kasal</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST DIRECTOR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Roderick
Cabrido, (Children’s Show) <i><span style="color: #e06666;">Runner-up</span></i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Real
Florido, (1st Ko si 3rd)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Janice
O’Hara, (Sundalong Kanin)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Milo
Sogueco, (Mariquina)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Francis
Xavier Pasion, (Bwaya)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed): </b>Giancarlo Abrahan V for Dagitab</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </b>Michael Tuviera for The Janitor</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST SCREENPLAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Giancarlo
Abrahan V, (Dagitab) <i><span style="color: #e06666;">Runner-up</span></i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ralston Jover, (Children’s Show)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jerry O’Hara,
(Sundalong Kanin)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Jerrold
Tarog, (Mariquina)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Francis
Xavier Pasion, (Bwaya)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed): </b>Giancarlo Abrahan V for Dagitab</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase):</b> Aloy Adlawan and Micheal Tuviera for The Janitor</i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_cvg8pm9Cs/U-JrRPF28PI/AAAAAAAAKiM/TdsCvTpcmq0/s1600/cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bleading+performance%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_cvg8pm9Cs/U-JrRPF28PI/AAAAAAAAKiM/TdsCvTpcmq0/s1600/cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bleading+performance%5D.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE</span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Nora
Aunor in “Hustisya”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Angeli
Bayani in “Bwaya”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ricky
Davao in “Mariquina”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eula
Valdes in “Dagitab” <i><span style="color: #e06666;">(Runner-up)</span></i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nova
Villa in “1st ko si 3rd”</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The <b>Nora Aunor </b>persona
sometimes gets in the way of her characters. Aunor has become so iconic that
this sometimes blindsides some viewers in acknowledging her characterization. Many
comedians have mimicked the iconic Aunor delivery, and so this turns off many
non-Noranians who are more interested in the characters that she plays than her
public persona. Luckily, she has proven repeatedly that there is more to the
Aunor signature acting style. She was successful in playing Sheleha in Brillante
Mendoza’s “Thy Womb.” Her commitment to authenticity was apparent down to the
small act of making a mattress. If she had spoken in Sheleha’s Badjao dialect,
her character design would have been more complete. In “Hustisya,” she
replicated this success. Biring is unlike many of Aunor’s recent characters.
She is foul-mouthed, crass, contradictory but stubbornly clings to her moral
values despite being an active participant in a crime. Even if her role was handicapped with
misdirection, Aunor still kept Biring interesting. Scene by scene, she draws in
the audience sympathy. In the end, she
did indeed have the last laugh, bittersweet it may be. It all works because
Aunor has become even more skillful in her craft as she matures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed):</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dante Rivero in "1st Ko Si 3rd" for best actor</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eula Valdes in "Dagitab" for best actress</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase):</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robert Arevalo in "Hari ng Tondo" for best actor</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nora Aunor in "Hustisya" for best actress</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPN8qeURZ84/U-Jra0DFwnI/AAAAAAAAKiU/uPB-zo2krno/s1600/cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bsupporting+role%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPN8qeURZ84/U-Jra0DFwnI/AAAAAAAAKiU/uPB-zo2krno/s1600/cinemalaya+2014+brun+critics+choice+%5Bsupporting+role%5D.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST PERFORMANCE IN A
SUPPORTING ROLE</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Marc
Abaya in “Sundalong Kanin”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Miggs
Cuaderno in “Children’s Show”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bing
Pimentel in “Mariquina” <i><span style="color: #e06666;">(Runner-up)</span></i></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Che
Ramos in “Mariquina”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dante
Rivero in “The Janitor” (and ““1st ko si 3rd”)</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>Che Ramos</b>’ performance
defines subtlety and nuance. She underplays Leonor quite appropriately to match her character's personality. Just one look at Leonor, her entire history is
revealed: her upbringing, her background, and clues about her marriage. Ramos’s character design is complete, from the
surface and deep within, from the clothes, the stance, the voice inflection,
the hair, the way she moves. All of these may be under the guidance of
director Milo Soguecio, even still, Ramos apparently did her homework. Most importantly, Ramos
provided us a glimpse of Leonor’s internal life during her most somber and mundane
scenes. Those silences only magnifies Leonor’s final slow breakdown towards the
middle of the film. Long before her character has left the movie, we still
feel her presence, and that what defines a great supporting performance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed): </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barbie Fortaleza in "Mariquina" for best supporting actress. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miggs Cuaderno in "Children's Show" for best supporting actor</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicco Manalo in "The Janitor" for best supporting actor</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cris Villonco in "Hari ng Tondo" for best supporting actress</i></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST EDITING<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bwaya (Carlo Manatad)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Children’s
Show (Gerone Centeno)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Janitor (Tara Illenberger)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Mariquina (Benjamin Tolentino)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sundalong
Kanin (*1)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed): </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Children's Show</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </b>The Janitor</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bwaya (Neil Daza)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Children’s
Show (Mycko David)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dagitab (Rommel Sales)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">K’na,
the Dreamweaver (Lee Briones)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mariquina (Sasha Polmenares)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed): </b>Children's Show</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </b>Kasal</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST MUSIC<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bwaya (Erwin Fajardo)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Children’s
Show </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">(*1)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Dagitab (Mon Espia)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mariquina (Jerrold Tarog)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sundalong
Kanin </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">(*1)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed): </b>Bwaya</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </b>Kasal</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST PRODUCTION
DESIGN <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bwaya (Mau Fudul)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Children’s
Show (Stefanie Dereja)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">K’na,
the Dreamweaver (Toym Imao)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mariquina (Aped Santos)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Sundalong
Kanin</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed):</b><i> K'na, the Dreamweaver</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>- </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </b><i>Kasal</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST SOUND<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">* Bwaya (Mike Idioma)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Children’s
Show (Jonathan Hee/Bryan Dimaguina)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Janitor (Mike Idioma)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sundalong
Kanin </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">(*1)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (New Breed): </b>Children's Show</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">- </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cinemalaya Winner (Directors Showcase): </b>The Janitor</i></span></div>
<br />
____________________<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;"><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #444444;">* Brun referred to the Cinemalaya 2014 official website for information regarding production credits. If some of the credits listed below are incorrect, please inform us.</i><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(*1) No credits cited in the Cinemalaya 2014 Official website. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(*2) For Best Music. I would like to apologize because I forgot to highlight "Children's Show." I was reminded by one of our member critics that we had a tie in that category. </span><br />
<br />
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lZ9sqsxJ5k/U-bRw7ii6hI/AAAAAAAAKl8/sdtesYCNLm0/s1600/brun+philippines+2014+oscar+best+foreign+language+film.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lZ9sqsxJ5k/U-bRw7ii6hI/AAAAAAAAKl8/sdtesYCNLm0/s1600/brun+philippines+2014+oscar+best+foreign+language+film.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #7f6000;">OSCARS 2015: BEST FOREIGN </span><br /><span style="color: #7f6000;">LANGUAGE FILM</span><br /><span style="color: #7f6000;">Which film will be our entry? </span><br /><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-philippine-entry-for-87th-oscars.html">Click This</a></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RELATED POSTS</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/which-films-should-you-watch-in-this.html">Which Films Should You Watch in this Year's Cinemalaya</a> (2014)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/brun-critics-choice-for-2014-cinemalaya.html">Critics' Awards</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post-Analysis Essay <b>(soon)</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b><i>2014 Entries</i></b></span></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-y-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#Y</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-1st-ko-si-3rd-film.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1st ko si 3rd</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-asintado-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asintado</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-bwaya-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bwaya</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-dagitab-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dagitab</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-childrens-show-film.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Children's Show</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-hari-ng-tondo-film.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hari ng Tondo</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-hustisya-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hustisya</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-janitor-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Janitor</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-kasal-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kasal</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-kna-dreamweaver-film.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">K'na, the Dreamweaver</a><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-mariquina-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mariquina</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-ronda-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ronda</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-separados-film-review.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Separados</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/cinemalaya-2014-sundalong-kanin-film.html" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sundalong Kanin</span></a></li>
</ul>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><i>2013 Cinemalaya Essays</i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/07/what-is-critic.html">What is a Critic?</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/07/our-choices-for-2013-cinemalaya.html">Our Choices: 2013 Cinemalaya</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtFz3SMPDqo/UtKKeBom7CI/AAAAAAAAJWE/KflSXYiVrOc/s1600/be+a+guest+critic+%5Bbrun+philippines+online+magazine%5D+icon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jtFz3SMPDqo/UtKKeBom7CI/AAAAAAAAJWE/KflSXYiVrOc/s1600/be+a+guest+critic+%5Bbrun+philippines+online+magazine%5D+icon.png" height="211" width="400" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Brun Philippines invites movie lovers and film critics who do not have their own blogs to join our family. If you have a film review or criticism about a new or old film (local or foreign), you may submit your work for consideration. We only have a few requirements: (1) your work is original; (2) the piece is well written, in Filipino or English; (3) you want to do it for charity. Yes! Since Brun Philippines is a charitable publication, we donate all our earnings to various charities and so we cannot pay you. All our contributing writers publish out of love. If you are interested, please e-mail us at <b>robdpchair@gmail.com</b>. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-48424410327795279242014-07-27T19:12:00.000+08:002014-07-27T19:38:34.494+08:00The Grammar Knight #4: "Try and Stop"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXfSqWt7T4Q/U9Tkl7jm_sI/AAAAAAAAKYA/D7kEAzWvOTU/s1600/04+The+Grammar+Knight+by+Rob+San+Miguel+using+Goanimate+(Try+and+Stop)+2014-07-27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXfSqWt7T4Q/U9Tkl7jm_sI/AAAAAAAAKYA/D7kEAzWvOTU/s1600/04+The+Grammar+Knight+by+Rob+San+Miguel+using+Goanimate+(Try+and+Stop)+2014-07-27.png" height="235" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AclQ-K94FfQ/U9TeG3Gg2kI/AAAAAAAAKXo/4DSUx0cPKjE/s1600/05+The+Grammar+Knight+by+Rob+San+Miguel+using+Goanimate+(Try+and+Stop)+2014-07-27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AclQ-K94FfQ/U9TeG3Gg2kI/AAAAAAAAKXo/4DSUx0cPKjE/s1600/05+The+Grammar+Knight+by+Rob+San+Miguel+using+Goanimate+(Try+and+Stop)+2014-07-27.png" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE GRAMMAR KNIGHT: <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-1-you-are-not-god.html">1</a> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-2-on-bus.html">2</a> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-3-to-be-or-not-to.html">3</a> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-4-try-and-stop.html">4</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disclaimer: I did not draw this strip. I made it using GoAnimate application. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only the script is original. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-15509193699460650522014-07-07T18:55:00.001+08:002015-11-08T13:24:58.527+08:00What is "Kilig" in English? Ano ang Ingles ng "Kilig?"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P2wNvPohxeQ/U7qrL0qUhpI/AAAAAAAAKUs/JrRNpIirFZE/s1600/brun+philippines+kilig+in+english.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P2wNvPohxeQ/U7qrL0qUhpI/AAAAAAAAKUs/JrRNpIirFZE/s1600/brun+philippines+kilig+in+english.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What
is “kilig” in English? “Kilig” is not
equivalent to giggle because a person who experiences “kilig” does not
necessarily giggle. “Kilig” is also not entirely synonymous to shiver because,
according to Merriam-Webster’s Learners Dictionary, shiver means “to shake
slightly because you are afraid, cold or happy.” Perhaps the closest translation to “kilig”
using the word shiver is the phrase “feel a shiver of delight, pleasure or
excitement.” In this phrase, “shiver” is a noun than a verb. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Example:</b>
“She felt a shiver of delight (pleasure or excitement) when she saw her
favorite actor on television.” (<i>Kinilig
siya nang nakita ang kaniyang paboritong aktor sa telebisyon.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Others
have suggested that “shudder (verb) with” may also be a possible translation of
“kilig.” <b>For example</b>, “I shuddered with excitement when she kissed me on the
cheek.” (<i>Kinilig ako nang hinalikan niya
ako sa pisngi</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
idiom “tickle pink” is also a strong candidate. <b>For example</b>, “I was tickled
pink when my crush greeted me good morning.” (<i>Kinilig ako nang binati ako ng </i><i>aking kinahuhumalingan</i><i> ng isang magandang umaga </i>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However,
do all these terms truly encapsulate the entire meaning of “kilig?” What do you
think?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">RELATED POSTS</span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2015/11/anxious-then-you-must-be-gay-accidental.html">Anxiety means "Bakla" in Tagalog</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/what-is-kilig-in-english-ano-ang-ingles.html">"Kilig" in English</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/08/makabagong-talahuluganan-ng-mga.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Makabagong Talahuluganan ng mga Pilipino (The New Dictionary for Filipinos)</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-is-quirky-in-filipino.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is Quirky in Filipino</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2013/07/what-is-binara-in-english-problems-in.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is "Binara" in English? Problems inTranslating Tagalog Words in English</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/08/ano-sa-tagalog-ang-condom-what-is.html">Ano sa Tagalog ang Condom?</a></span></li>
</ul>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-75711951242607693062014-07-07T00:10:00.001+08:002015-05-01T11:37:46.094+08:00Reeducating a Former Evil Manager or Lessons That I Learned as a Manager (A Series of Essays) Part 1: “Are You Acting Like an Elitist Middle Class Prick?”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-za3vA7_Unz4/U7lw6Nvhv3I/AAAAAAAAKUc/d6bkq399jLo/s1600/Are+you+acting+like+an+elitist+middle+class+prick+(rob+san+miguel)+brun+philippines.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-za3vA7_Unz4/U7lw6Nvhv3I/AAAAAAAAKUc/d6bkq399jLo/s1600/Are+you+acting+like+an+elitist+middle+class+prick+(rob+san+miguel)+brun+philippines.png" height="198" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Image: Public Domain</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">A few months ago, I accompanied a friend to a department store
because he wanted to buy a sofa. We found an attractive blue sofa on sale but
my friend wanted a different color. We manage to get the attention of one saleslady who just happened to be rushing pass us. We asked her if only the blue sofa was on sale. The
saleslady was slightly startled, but she politely stopped. She listened
attentively but she was clearly anxious, perhaps she was rushing to entertain
another customer before we stopped her. She then told us that she did not know
if only the blue sofa was on sale but she would ask, and told us to wait.
Afterwards, I scanned the department store and realized that the place was
understaffed. On top of that, I saw many impatient and annoyed customers
standing with their arms akimbo, or folded on their chests, clearly
unsatisfied. As we wait for the saleslady to return, my friend inspected some
furniture while I secretly observed a female customer complaining loudly to the
cashier and another salesclerk at the counter. After some time, the customer
grabbed her plastic bag and left angrily.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> Both
the cashier and the clerk looked humiliated but they just continued serving
other customers, a few of them also looked annoyed, as if to signify that they
agreed with the female customer who just stormed out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">It suddenly hit me. I was that woman before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Before I became a manager, and even during my first three years
managing a company, I did not have patience for employees who give poor
service. When I received unsatisfactory service from any establishment, I
confidently complained to the person at the counter, the waiter, the salesperson
or anybody who was tasked to entertain customers at ground level. I spoke with
an authoritative voice and complained. I honestly believed that I was an
empowered consumer, demanding proper service equivalent to the amount of money
that I paid. If an employer could not give me a justifiable explanation,
I would raise my voice until he or she budged or called the manager.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">However, all that changed when I started looking at my co-workers as
people not just my subordinates. Being tasked to negotiate for their pay
increase, I realized that some entrepreneurs think differently. Certainly, most
of us put businesspeople on a pedestal. They belong to an elite class of
people, the Steve Jobs, the Henry Sys, the Manny Pangilinans, the Lucio Tans,
the Jaime Zobel de Ayalas. These entrepreneurs are willing to take big risks. Now, I think this is “elitist” thinking. Ordinary underpaid employees
also take risks. They risk their lives, their future, and the future of their
children by working hard and staying in a company that does not compensate them
sufficiently so they could live decent lives while big CEOs buy yachts, countless luxury items, and some even bribe government officials and exploit the environment. But ordinary workers cannot quit because they know, the
situation will still be the same in other companies. Definitely, the risks that
ordinary employees take cannot be monetarily quantified the same way we quantify sales; therefore, the accepted assumption is risks that involve money are the only “true
risks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Every now and then, we read about success stories of young and old
entrepreneurs. “Businessman A” got his first million at the age of 25 and so
on. This used to impress me. Now, I realized that behind many financially
successful entrepreneur are many underpaid hardworking employees. Ironically,
we do not see those underpaid workers even though "we are they." We only see the
attractive tycoons, grown figuratively fat and wearing fancy attire on the
covers of business magazines. They are the veil of exploitation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">If we remove the veil, we may become aware that typical entrepreneurs singularly aim for
personal profit, the bigger the better. Even more ludicrous, when billionaires reach old age and realize that they cannot take their money to the grave, they start giving their wealth away as if it were a grand gesture of "divine philanthropy." My view is a bit cynical. Perhaps this gesture of magnanimity in the Nietzsche-an way is a last resort for forgiveness or buying your way to heaven. If these billionaires are atheists, they may be simply safeguarding their legacy so we cannot question that they are part of the reason why the poor existed in the first place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Segoe UI, sans-serif;">Bottom line</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">, even if some of these rich businesspeople mean well, they still
believe that raising the salaries of ordinary employees is counterproductive. I
am referring to employees on the ground level, not the mid to high-level management.
These so-called ordinary employees are dispensable. They are regarded as mere
workers; they are not the product; they are not the company, even though
company rhetoric says otherwise. “You are the company” is just an empty slogan
in my experience and observation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Unfortunately, ordinary employees bear much of the brunt of
customers’ complaints. High-level managers, especially business owners, use
low-level employees as human shields, to put it bluntly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">In reality, if you lambaste an ordinary clerk for his company’s
substandard service or product, you are reprimanding the wrong person. You are
punishing the innocent. In fact, you are creating an enemy with every harsh
word shooting from your mouth like a bullet. To be really candid about this,
you are acting like an “elitist middle class prick (or bitch).” Pardon my
French.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Segoe UI, sans-serif;">Unquestionably, some employees deserve reprimand from customers, especially if the fault entirely falls on the employee; however, it is a different matter all together if your complaint is about the company product or rules. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Ordinary employees are regarded as foot soldiers. They are in
the front line in the battle between irate customers and dubious
company owners, and these foot soldiers are mostly underpaid. Most of
them are probably paid just slightly above minimum wage, and worse, they are
contractual employees. They might not even know if they will still have a job
in a month or two. They are most likely overworked and doing tasks
outside their job descriptions.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Without a doubt, some people may say,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“If you focus on the money first,
then you will never get ahead. Do the work first, and your good work will bring
in the money.”</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> Yes,
this is still true, and I used to say this to my co-workers. But I have also
accepted that some workers have worked hard for a company for a long time, but
they never get a raise, if they do, the amount is inconsequential. Eventually,
they will become demoralized and unmotivated, especially if they cannot afford
to quit. Why would they kill themselves for a company that treats them as
cattle rather than human beings? If they perform poorly, but still manage to
keep their jobs, why make the extra effort? You may ask, <i>"what about personal fulfillment or plain old good work ethic?"</i> Try listening to angry customers for a day while Henry Sy counts his millions, then try to squeeze personal fulfillment between every harsh word. Personally, your good work ethic should also be co-terminus with your contract. In the end, the company that
exploits its employees will suffer. Why should employees take the complaints of customers
seriously? Is it not enough that they are the capitalist's slave being publicly humiliated?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Do you think any underpaid employee would bend over backwards to
assist a customer when the employee knows he or she does not have the power to
give what the customer wants? However, while he is being attacked, the bosses
are sitting comfortably and safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I once witnessed a customer berate a customer service employee.
The customer kept complaining about the company’s slow internet speed. The
employee calmly listened to the customer’s litany of grievances. I thought to
myself,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“Shut the fuck up!
Prick. Even if you berate this employee for twelve hours, he does not have the
power and the skills to fix your internet speed. Why don’t you go to the
house of the owner of the company and complain to him. He is about to buy a
billion dollar network. He can afford to solve your problems. You are just
attacking the human shield; stab the one behind the shield.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Luckily, these days, we have the internet to air our complaints.
We can use Facebook, Twitter or similar venues. Instead of airing our
grievances to ordinary employees, we can write open letters to company bosses.
Flood their websites or Facebook pages with countless complaints. Let us storm
the “Cyber Bastilles” of big businesses. Our computers and mobile phones will
be our pitchforks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Perhaps instead of airing our complaints to these hardworking
underpaid employees, we should win them over. As in wars, get them to fight for
our side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I once did an experiment in a restaurant. The place was
understaffed even though it was supposed to be posh, and the dishes
ridiculously pricey. When a waitress finally approached me after I waited for a long time, instead of acting like a prick, I told her,<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">“You have many customers tonight. You must be tired and stressed.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">The waitress replied,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“Yes
sir, we're multiple tasks, double duties.”</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(Translated
from Filipino). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I replied,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“Your
boss should hire more people because this place is packed. Are you even paid
enough? They should pay you more.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">The waitress just shyly smiled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I asked her,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“What’s
the easiest and fastest thing to prepare on the menu so you guys do not have to
work hard.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">She said,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“Sir,
you can order what you want.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I said,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“No, I’ll
just order something easy to prepare and serve.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">She then suggested the pasta. True enough, after just ten minutes,
I was served. After I ate, I stayed longer to wait for my friend. When he
arrived, most of the customers were gone. I noticed that the waitress was more
attentive to us, and even gave my friend bigger servings. My friend and I lost
track of time, and did not notice that it was already closing time, but the
waitress said that we could still stay a bit longer, they were not leaving yet.
When we did finally leave, the waitress and another waiter waved goodbye to us.
Eventually, we returned to the restaurant because we love their coffee, and the
waiters and waitresses were more attentive to us. Imagine if I had acted like a
prick, berated the waitress for being too slow, and demanded special attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">However, I still believe she is underpaid, but perhaps she cannot
afford to quit. Most likely, she is the breadwinner of her family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">I still do have some complaints about the place but if I do get
pissed, I will air my grievances to the right person, the owners of the
company. Whoever they may be, they are the ones getting rich, not the
overworked underpaid employees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">In your case, have you recently yelled at an underpaid employee?
How did you feel about it? Most importantly, do you want to know what these
underpaid employees say about you during their free time? I heard most of them;
let me put it this way, what you do not know will not hurt you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Coming Soon, Part 2</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2176941567775807761.post-23671110878972520872014-07-06T14:42:00.001+08:002014-07-27T19:13:48.315+08:00The Grammar Knight #3: "To Be or Not to Become?"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE GRAMMAR KNIGHT: <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-1-you-are-not-god.html">1</a> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-2-on-bus.html">2</a> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-3-to-be-or-not-to.html">3</a> <a href="http://brunphilippines.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-grammar-knight-4-try-and-stop.html">4</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disclaimer: I did not draw this strip. I made it using GoAnimate application. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only the script is original. </span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0