Filipino Films That Should Be Made in the Immediate Future, Part 1 (Film #1: F/F) and Introduction

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.

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.

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.

FILM NUMBER 1

Working Title: “F/F” 

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. 

Reeducating 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?”

Image: Public Domain

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.  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.

It suddenly hit me. I was that woman before.

Why I Do not Celebrate Mother’s Day and Two Myths About Motherhood

Painting: “Charity” (1878) by William

Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905). 

Image part of public domain. 

Sometimes, I think of myself as a well-adjusted happy Norman Bates living with his perky mother. Therefore, all guests are safe and we are a Woody Allen comedy than an Alfred Hitchcock horror flick. 

It is Mother’s Day and yes, I am sure that you have just posted your heartwarming greetings on Facebook for everyone to see. You have just told the world how wonderful your mother is and how she has been a force of power, good and inspiration to you.  That is what Mother’s Day is all about, celebrating mother in all her glory, and her resiliency against pain.

I have not greeted my mother today and I will never. I once gave my mom a Mother’s Day gift before, but she just put in on display and she never used it. It is now on our shelf collecting dust. However, she appreciates more the monthly bills that I pay, the daily low-sodium / low purine dishes that I cook, the daily monitoring of her blood pressure, the occasional treats that I bring home and so on. For my mother and me, every other day is Mother’s Day, sandwich with “I Hate Mother Day” or "I Hate My Son Day." We fight. We bicker. We get on each other nerves. We hurt each other, but we also stick together no matter what, even if the cheesiness is non-existent. One of the most important realizations in my life as I grow older is that my mother is not just my mother; she is a woman, and a human being.  To treat her as just my mother is to belittle her as a person.

The Legend of Hercules (Film Criticism): “The Cult of the Perfect Male Body”

Rationale for the use of non-free media, click this

May Dalawang Bahagi ang Ating Mga Dasal (Our Prayers Have Two Parts)

Pinaliwanag ni Mark Twain sa kaniyang tulang pasanaysay na “The War Prayer” (“Ang Pandigmaang Dasal”) na ang bawat panalangin ay may dalawang bahagi. Ang unang bahagi ay ang ating winika.  Ang ikalawang bahagi ng isang dasal ay ang mga bagay na hindi natin binanggit sapagkat hindi sila kailan man pumapasok sa ating pag-iisip o hindi natin tinatanggap sa ating sarili na iyon din ang ating pinapanalangin.

Best Performances in Filipino Films (2013): "Results of our Critics and Readers Poll"

Terracotta figurine of a theatrical
mask representing Dionysos.
Image part of public domain.
Taken from Wikipedia.

Updated: Jan. 17, 2014 (End of voting)

2013 is filled with outstanding performances from Filipino thespians both in local and international films.  For her role as a sacrificing but assertive domestic helper in Anthony Chen’s “Ilo Ilo,” Angeli Bayani has recently been nominated for Best Actress in the Asia-Pacific Film Fest.  John Arcilla also held his own in Sean Ellis’ “Metro Manila.”  

As expected, the best performances came from independently-produced films, but sadly, many Filipino moviegoers did not see these films.  In 2013, big studios that continually produce trashy films still dominated the industry and monopolized most cinemas in the country, specifically in Metro Manila.  In effect, most moviegoers had to contend seeing more “TV Patrol” and “Elevator” types of acting as Eugene Domingo puts it in “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank.” Let us face it, as long as films like “My Little Bossing” and “My Other Woman” remain to be blockbuster hits, we will continue to see more bad films with even worst performances in the coming years.

Anti-Pork Barrel Protest: "A Pictorial Essay, Part 1" by Rob San Miguel

Sanaysay (Linathala noong ika-7 
ng Setyembre, 2013)

May magsasabi na ang malawakang pagtitipon-tipon sa Luneta noong ika-26 ng Agosto, 2103 ay isang malaking pulong ng mga ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino laban sa katiwalian sa gobyerno.  Ang pagtittipon ay pagpapahayag ng galit ng ordinaryong Pilipino sa maling paggamit ng PDAF o pork barrel subalit kung naroon ka sa Luneta, may mga ilang bagay kang mapapansin. 

May mga nakita akong mga taong nakikinig sa mga talumpati habang pinapayungan ng mga ilang taong naka-uniporme. Klaro na sila ay mga mayayamang indibidwal na hindi dapat mainitan. May mga tao namang nagpapakuha ng litrato at ang demonstrasyon ang kaniyang background. Siyempre, naroon din ang mga kabataang mahilig mag-selfie. May mga ilang tao na dinala ang kanilang mamahaling alagang hayop. May mga ilang nakakagiliw na aso pa nga ang naging sentro ng atraksiyon at pinagkaguluhan ng mga tao at kinuhaan ng litrato. 

Anti-Pork Barrel Protest: "A Pictorial Essay, Part 2" by Rob San Miguel

May Nakatago sa Bandila

What is "Binara" in English? Problems in Translating Tagalog Words in English

Some people look down on Tagalog and put English on a higher pedestal but I have sometimes found English lacking when it comes to translating specific terms and expressions in Tagalog.  Our language is closely tied to our culture, which is often adaptable, dynamic and I dare say quirky.  Tagalog, and perhaps other Philippine dialects as well, often assign multiple meanings to just one word that English does not often do.  For example, the expression “naman,” does not have a direct translation in English. In some cases, “naman” can mean “of course.”

For example:

Statement: “Ang ganda mo ngayon!” (You’re beautiful today)

Reply: “Naman!” (“Of course,” or “you said it!”)

The Dishes that Continually Diss Women or “Why It is All Right to Hurt Your Spouse or Some Family Members If They Do Not Wash Their Own Dishes”

First published in “Sardonique” on May 21, 2011

Our Mother's Day Post: 
The best way to a man’s heart is to his stomach. This is not entirely true.  The stomach is just a stopover, the best way is further south but that is another story. My other theory is the best way to turn genteel women into violent men-killers is to have a messy kitchen and a clueless male partner. 

In my family, the men are always the best cook but we are often the worst people in the kitchen because we are messy and a tad bit emotional and obsessed as amateur chefs.  My mother was not always particularly happy whenever my father cooked.  He would come out with the best dishes but with the messiest kitchen. On top of that, the sink ended up looking like a miniature leaning tower of soiled plates and utensils.  My dad cooked the best Filipino dishes; when I was a little boy, I particularly remember his kare kare or ox tail stew (or ox tail in peanut sauce).  It was the only kare kare that I almost love and that is something considering I have never like this famous Filipino dish.  After my dad passed away, my younger brother wore the family toque and he is a genius in the kitchen.  He can create restaurant-style dishes with just the boring ingredients found in any house full of lazy grocery shoppers.  With just a few pieces of tomatoes, some inconspicuous herbs, onions, garlic and eggs, he can create a sumptuous egg dish that you probably would pay around 300 pesos in an expensive Italian restaurant in Makati.  The drawback is the kitchen becomes messy and that often turns my mom into Glenn Close ready to boil a rabbit.

Kamote: "The Filipino Superfood for Weight Loss and Improved Health"

If you want to lose weight and lessen your white rice intake, which is supposed to be bad if you are pre-diabetic or suffering from high blood pressure, then you may want to try the humble sweet potato, specifically the orange variety.  For Filipinos, sweet potato or “kamote” is considered a poor man’s diet or just another ingredient in halo-halo or your grandmother’s ginataan dessert. 

Unknown to some, orange sweet potato is packed with complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins including the B-complex group. In fact, orange sweet potato has more potassium than rice. This is very good for males who are more prone to potassium deficiency.  Active males and those who are building muscles or trying to look lean and cut should seriously consider adding orange sweet potato to their diet.  You may even replace white rice with steamed orange sweet potatoes. 

Photography: Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007 (#06 Vigan)

Nueva Segovia Photographs Series 2007

Taken in December 2007 (Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan) All Rights Reserved

(Click photos to enlarge)

Related Posts

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #01

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #02

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #03

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #04

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #05
Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #06

Photography Page

Photography: Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007 (#05 Vigan)

Nueva Segovia Photographs Series 2007

Taken in December 2007 (Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan) All Rights Reserved

(Click photos to enlarge)

Related Posts

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #01

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #02

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #03

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #04

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #05
Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #06

Photography Page

Photography: Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007 (#4 Vigan Plaza Hotel)

Nueva Segovia Photographs Series 2007

Taken in December 2007 (Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan) All Rights Reserved

(Click photos to enlarge)

Related Posts

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #01

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #02

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #03

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #04

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #05
Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #06

Photography Page

Photography: Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007 (#03 Vigan)

Nueva Segovia Photographs Series 2007

Taken in December 2007 (Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan) All Rights Reserved

(Click photos to enlarge)

Related Posts

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #01

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #02

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #03

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #04

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #05
Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #06

Photography Page

Photography: Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007 (#02 Burgos to Laoag)

Nueva Segovia Photographs Series 2007

Taken in December 2007 (Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan) All Rights Reserved

(Click photos to enlarge)

Related Posts

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #01

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #02

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #03

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #04

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #05
Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #06

Photography Page

Photography: Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007 (#01 Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte)

Nueva Segovia Photographs Series 2007

Taken in December 2007 (Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan) All Rights Reserved

(Click photos to enlarge)

Related Posts

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #01

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #02

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #03

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #04

Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #05
Nueva Segovia Photo Series 2007: #06

Photography Page

Open Road: My Trip to Ilocos

Saud Beach, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (2007)
Photograph by Rob San Miguel

 

by Rob San Miguel [Written on March 25, 2008]

(Nueva Segovia was the named used during the Spanish era for the region that now includes the provinces of Tarlac, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, and Isabela on the south and all provinces north of these provinces, way up to Ilocos Norte and Cagayan)

Leaving the City

Day in and day out, my routine is always the same. I go to work, do my job the best I can and then go home. Because I live quite far, it is really futile to go home early. If I want to ride a bus going home, I will just spend countless minutes waiting for a bus. If you are like me, you would like to get a cozy window seat in the bus so that even if the bus becomes packed with passengers, you will be comfortable and safe. So, I usually spend many minutes waiting for a bus that is not too crowded. However, at 7 p.m., that is highly improbable. If you do manage to get a bus that is not too crowded, you will just spend more than 1½ hours on the bus because of heavy traffic. So, after work, I choose to have dinner with some of my co-workers and chew the fat. If there is a great movie showing, I will call my friend who works in GMA-7, and we will watch a movie and talk about it afterwards over coffee. On some occasions, I will get an unexpected call from one of my ex’s and have dinner and make fun of each other. If I am alone, I stay in a coffee shop and catch up on my reading. Right now, I find myself enthralled in the universe of Salman Rushdie’s “Grimus.” All these post-work activities are actually stress relievers. I feel more relaxed at the end of the day. This, ladies and gents, is what a single unattached man (by choice) in the city do. I also sometimes go to a bookstore and browse. It is fascinating what and who you may find in a bookstore. Last week, I found a copy of Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore” and I ran into co-worker, C.J., in Fully Booked in Gateway mall as he patiently perused some of the books. It is always a good thing seeing a fellow bibliophile.