Ilang Pretensyosong Pananaw Tungkol sa Ilang Pretensyosong Argumento at Pretensyosong Reaksyon na Nakalap Nito

Pagbigyan n’yo na ang pagsawsaw ko sa high pitch na usapin tungkol sa OPM at kung ded na nga ba ito o humihinga pa. May kinalaman ito sa ilang article na na-publish sa dyaryo o maging sa internet na sa awa ni Batman ay huwag na nating ilagay rito para lang masabi na factual at impartial. Para sa isang katulad ko na at some point ay na-appreciate ang “Crush na Crush” ni Isabel Granada o ang isang song ni Roeder na hindi ko na maalala ang pamagat, heto ang aking masasabi:

1. Wala akong masyadong na-digest na sustansya sa unang article (at ang isa o dalawang sumunod dito) na bumasag sa katahimikan. Para sa akin, puwede itong pagkasyahin sa isang tweet. Wala rin akong nakitang masama sa pagsasapubliko ng opinyon pero upang maging kasing revolutionary ni Christopher Nolan (for the lack of example), kailangan ng mabigat na ammunition sa paratang na OPM is dead. Ang isang article ay naghamon pa ng demanda kahit alam nating lahat na hindi mo puwedeng i-sue ang ang isang opinyon, crappy man o sobrang crappy;

2. Ang punto ng unang article ay ang komentaryo na ang pinakamabentang music album so far ngayong 2012 ay mula sa tweenstar na si Daniel Padilla. Pinapaigting ng article na tapos na ang maliligayang araw natin na ang mga naghaharing uri sa OPM ay totoong mga OPM: Original Pilipino Music. Tingin ko, walang kasalanan si Daniel Padilla rito. In the same manner na walang kasalanan si Judy Ann Santos nang minsan ay nag-platinum ang kanyang album. Eh ‘tangina, paano pa si Vilma Santos noon na nagso-song and dance ng “Sixteen” at “My Boy Lollipop”? Namatay ba ang OPM dahil dito? Tingin ko, hindi. Walang kasalanan si Daniel Padilla (na sa panonood ko nang ilang “Princess and I” episode ay swag naman sa TV at merong ibubuga). Wala ring kasalanan ang mga nag-produce ng album at ang mga bumili nito. Showbiz ito, business. Merong demand kaya gumawa ng supply in the form of a music album. Not a noble idea at all pero hindi rin naman ito krimen. My gulay, kahit i-vacuum seal mo ang utot ni Daniel Padilla sa isang botelya, marami pa ring bibili nito. At siguradong sigurado ako, walang mahilig sa pabango ang magrereklamo na patay na ang Original Perfume Maksyet;

3. Kaya hindi ako nagbigay agad ng stand ko kung ded na nga ba o hindi ang OPM ay simple lang: wala naman talagang argumento. Of course, OPM is alive and kicking. Sobrang glaring ito. Hindi ito kamukha n’ung naparatangan din noon na Pinoy Cinema is dead. Ramdam na ramdam mo ang tibok ng OPM. Pumunta ka ng Saguijo. Pumunta ka ng 70’s Bistro. Sa local iTunes Music recently, halimbawa, nag-top ang album ni Julie Anne San Jose na merong magkahalong orig at revival. With that, parang wala sa hinagap ko na nag-flatline ang musikang Pinoy. Ibig sabihin kasi n’ung patay, hindi na humihinga at wala nang evidence of movement. Para sa akin, ni hindi ito naghihingalo;

4. Naiintindihan ko ang violent reaction dito lalo na mula sa mga musikero. It’s a healthy reaction lalo na kung aktibo ka sa panganganak ng bagong komposisyon. Sabi nga dati ng isang katoto, parang aso ‘yan na bagong panganak, bawal hawakan ang mga tuta. Pero naman, ‘wag sobrang violent to a point na sabihing “whore” ang sumulat ng article. Remember, it takes one to know one; at

5. Tingin ko, ang article ay hindi talaga isinulat upang mag-post ng debate. Well, napaka-abnoy naman na bumukal ang heated argument mula rito. Let’s read between the notes este lines. Ang basa ko, gusto lang sabihin na we should support the local music industry. That’s golden naman. I-download nang legal, bumili ng orig CDs, lumabas ng bahay at manood ng gig at concert. Pero s’yempre, hindi na hipster kung ganyan lang ang content ng article. Unang una, panawagan din ito sa gobyerno upang ma-address ang pagkapilay ng suporta nito sa OPM. Sa katunayan, naaawa ako sa organisasyon sa tuwing binabalewala sila ng gobyerno kapag meron silang protesta laban sa mga Broadway musical na lumalanding sa ating bansa. Parang langaw lang na pinapalabas sa bintana ang kanilang mga sopistikadong hinaing. Sa perspektibong ito, I swear, marami pa talagang puwedeng isulat na mas mataas ang nutritional content. Halimbawa, bakit nga ba na-disband ang Apo Hiking Society? Bakit nga ba gumawa ulit ng all-revival album si Noel Cabangon matapos nitong bumalik sa all-original pagkatapos ng unang all-revival? Bakit nga ba hindi na kinukuha si Basil Valdes para umawit ng bagong movie theme song? At ano ang motibasyon ng kumuha sa kanya para sa teleserye na “Sa Ngalan ng Ina” ng TV5? Bakit nawala ang Metropop at bakit lukewarm ang reaction ng tao sa kakatapos lang na Philippine Pop Music Festival? Paano na-conceptualize ang collaboration ng Team Manila at ni Dong Abay? Ano ang staying power ni Rico Blanco? Nasaan na si Lito Camo at ano nang ginagawa ng Aegis? Hipster din naman ang mga tanong na ‘yan. At mas subtle.

Kung tinatamad kang basahin lahat ang mga pretensyosong comment na ‘yan, ito lang ang gusto kong sabihin tungkol sa OPM: i-download nang legal, bumili ng orig CDs, lumabas ng bahay at manood ng gig at concert.

Accidental Tourist for 14 Hours in Sao Paulo

In less than two weeks before we finally left Montevideo, we got news that Pluna, Uruguay’s national airline that would bring us to Sao Paulo, filed for bankruptcy. And unlike those companies facing the same dilemma, Pluna stopped the operations right there and then. That was tough for us since we didn’t have much time and we were not given any word on how to at least refund the ticket. For close to a week, we were calling and waiting for any booked flight. The challenge then was to still catch the succeeding Emirates flights from Sao Paulo to Dubai then Dubai to Manila. Otherwise, it would be more taxing if we rebook the whole thing. And just days before the original schedule, we secured a trip through GOL (a Brazilian airline) that would let us leave Montevideo as early as 5am and will have a short stop-over at Porto Alegre in Brazil before landing at Sao Paulo. I have no clue why mishaps like this always happen on my way to Cinemalaya. Last year at exactly the same time, a volcano in Chile erupted and its ashfall stopped most of the outgoing flights from Montevideo.

Anyway, for the new trip, we were required to have a long layover (around 12 hours) in Sao Paulo. I took the opportunity to explore the city since we were prompted to book a hotel where we could stay in less than a day and without even spending the night. Mike left a day early so I had no choice but to do any available city tour on my own. With the 4-hour trip we did in Rio de Janeiro in mind, I checked Tripadvisor for the most popular (and therefore the most trusted) guided tour in Sao Paulo. There I found this company called Around Sao Paulo (www.aroundsp.com) and I started emailing for reservation three days prior to the trip. Luiz Quevado (Phone: +(5511) 99139940 / 93912302, Mobile: (5511) 7880-4186, Email: reservations@aroundsp.com) replied back and we settled for the hotel pick-up at 2pm.

On the day of the trip, I was early at Carrasco International Airport and I was the first in the queue. By then, Mike was already done with his Brazilian leg and he mentioned that the lines in Porto Alegre were long and the time to catch the next flight was very challenging. He had to pick up the luggage and have it checked in again on the way to Sao Paulo. The GOL staff who attended to me mentioned that the Porto Alegre flight was cancelled due to a “methological error”, whatever that is. She said that I will need to stay in the said Brazilian city and will leave for Sao Paulo at 4pm. Before I even reacted, she corrected it by saying that I will be flying out instead through TAM that will leave Montevideo at 6am and will go straight to Sao Paulo (skipping Porto Alegre). I was so sleepy then and at first, I didn’t get the idea that it was a more convenient flight.

I arrived in Sao Paulo as early as past 10am. It was a nice flight and it’s a treat to experience sunrise from the plane window. Immigration and taxi queues went smoothly and off I went to the city center through a SLEX kind of airport road. It is too long for me for an airport-to-city trip and I was informed already that the traffic will get worse in the evening. It was rainy at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) that time and gloomy all throughout when I finally reached the heart of the city.

Golden Tulip Park Plaza is located close to Paulista Avenue which is their equivalent of Ayala Avenue in Makati. I was too early for check-in and no room was available that time. Since the tour will start later at 2pm, got no choice but to leave my luggage there and went to visit Museu de Arte de São Paulo or simply MASP. Based on the map, it’s just seven blocks away from the hotel but when I realized that it’s uphill heading to Paulista Avenue, I hailed the very first taxi that passed by. The driver didn’t accept the one real bill which I got from the money changer in Montevideo. He told me that it’s worthless. I didn’t bother figuring out if he was just outwitting me or what. At least I have Brazilian money for souvenir.

MASP opened after I lined up for 15 minutes. Entrance was free that time. I bothered asking why but everybody seemed to ignore my English and I didn’t know any helpful Portuguese word. The iconic museum stands on four bright red pillars with an open space at the ground. From afar, it could resemble a giant table or a cabinet. It houses a wide range of pedigreed artwork from Claude Monet and Rembrandt to local artists. It’s just one floor of packed art stuff from sculpture to doodles and it didn’t take a while for me to finish browsing all the items. I just walked back to the hotel, explored Paulista Avenue some more and had lunch at one of the carinderias along the way. Let’s just say that I survived my very first meal there by pointing to the pictures on the menu. It helped, too, to observe how people pay up.

Clocked at 1pm, I was already having a shower in the hotel room. I made it a point not to adore the bed because I won’t be able to sleep there during the night. At 2pm, I was already at the hotel lobby. Luiz wasn’t around yet so I followed my instincts about a possibility of having two or more Golden Tulip hotels in the city. I was right when I called him. After 30 minutes, he showed up apologetically and said that he will just make up for the lost time. It started to rain the moment we left the hotel aboard his car.

Oscar Niemeyer's The Oca at Ibirapuera Park

At the lobby of Ibirapuera Auditorium, also by Oscar Niemeyer

Ruy Ohtake's watermelon-inspired Hotel Unique

Luiz is very fluent in English and he’s open to customize the tour based on points of interest. I told him that I was fine with anything architecture especially those that paved the way to Sao Paulo’s distinct character. I mentioned, too, that I learned from Morgan Spurlock’s documentary “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” that there’s a city ban on billboards. He confirmed this and elaborated more as we cruised along Paulista Avenue. He mentioned a media building that has four or five more floors below and another one that is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Then we headed to Ibirapuera Park to get up close with two of Oscar Niemeyer’s iconic buildings, the Oca and and the Ibirapuera Auditorium. The former functions as an exposition place while the latter serves as an intimate venue for concerts and the like. I was informed that one of the said Brazilian architect’s signature designs is the absence of stairs. Levels are creatively connected by platforms or those spiral walkways, very unique and impressive. It was raining hard that time so we stayed for a couple of minutes at the auditorium lobby. The obelisk was seen from the car park but we didn’t get near.

Sao Paulo's iconic sculpture Monumento às Bandeiras

Before we saw the iconic sculpture Monumento às Bandeiras, we made a stop at Hotel Unique that was conceived by another great Brazilian architect named Ruy Ohtake. As suggested by the name, the hotel is quite unique. It looks like a chopped watermelon from afar. Inside, it’s very posh and cozy. On our way to the bar upstairs, we actually saw the architect himself accompanying a group of guests on their way out. Luiz said that I was lucky to see Ohtake in person.The viewing deck of the hotel was not open when we went up because of the weather but I had the chance to take a picture of the skyline from there. Back to Bandeiras which is located in a rotonda, I was so eager to get up close with the sculpture after the rain had subsided. Luiz and I agreed to drop me off on a red light then he will just make one round then pick me up. That part was exciting.

From there, we went to the central part of the city. Luiz parked in one of those huge old-buildings-turned-parking-spaces and we started walking. The rain completely stopped. We visited the Catedral da Sé which looked like 400 years old to me but was only built during the 60’s. It’s massive and the interior is intricate. When we went out of the church, it started to rain again and we didn’t bring any umbrella. Glad that I managed to bring a raincoat with me. From there, we walked a little more to the left and reached the place where the city was born. It’s called Pátio do Colégio where some Jesuits built their mission-school that converted the natives to Catholicism. There are other interesting historical sites in the area and we managed to explore it amidst the rain. We then went back to the parking space and off we strolled around the city some more.

Edificio Copan, also by Oscar Niemeyer

Luiz brought me to the Japantown area called Liberdade and highlighted some establishments made famous by its early Japanese immigrants. We also passed by at Edificio Copan which is another Oscar Niemeyer and if I remember it right, the Italian embassy. As a finale, Luiz made a stop at Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho which is also known as Estádio do Pacaembu. It was one of the venues for 1950 FIFA World Cup and for some major concerts. At 6pm and after a tour that lasted for three hours and a half (Luiz really meant it when he said he’s going to make up for the lost time), we were back at the hotel. I thanked Luiz big time and said that I enjoyed the tour and I promised to blog about the experience.

At 7:30pm, I was already on my way to the airport. The hotel attendants were helpful enough in securing me a cab though I was initially looking for those that accept credit cards which would take 30 minutes more of waiting time. Traffic was pretty bad that time. Using the same route I had in the morning which lasted for 30 to 40 minutes, it took two hours or more to finally reach GRU. It was my first time to see the receiving area of the airport and it didn’t take long for me to check in and reach the lounge close to the designated gate. It was raining when I arrived in the morning and when I left Sao Paulo. It was a tiring day. I just slept half of the 14-hour trip to Dubai with a thankful smile and a promise that I can make it to Cinemalaya 2012.

The rest of the pics here plus some pics on our last week in Montevideo here.

Movie Digest # 086

CARNAGE
Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 6, May 3, 8:05pm

This is Roman Polanski’s film adaptation of the Tony and Laurence Olivier-award winning play by Yasmina Reza. Aside from the first and last sequence, everything in the film is devotedly stagey. Having said that, the thrill solely relies on the four performer (really big names, I would say), namely Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly, Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet. As for the four, I like Kate Winslet the most. She pulls off the poised and very modern-day mom character without crossing the line. Jodie Foster does the opposite. I can see that she’s trying very hard in those parts that require her to face her neurosis. It just doesn’t sit well for an intelligent actress like her. Somebody should have reminded her that the play is, first and foremost, a comedy. An icon in Philippine theater suggested Emma Thompson for the character and I couldn’t agree more.

Friends who might appreciate it: Those who are watching the Manila staging soon.

SHAME

Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 8, May 4, 10:25pm

Given the list of Oscar nominees this year for Best Actor, I have to join the clamor that Michael Fassbender should have been included in the short list. His reckless take on Brandon, a sex addict, is consistently lost and soulless. But if there’s another performer who really stands out, for me it is Carey Mulligan who played Brandon’s sister Sissy. She owns every scene she’s at and makes a striking contrast, more of burdensome, to her brother. In one uncut sequence, she sings “New York, New York”. At first, I was wondering why the whole performance was included until the potential commentary on immigrants relocating to a dog-eat-dog world like New York City dawned on me. Maybe it’s the city that turned Brandon into a monster. His sister even declared at one point that they become distant. Steve McQueen did a great job in infusing quiet long takes to a snooping topic like sex addiction. The viewers are given space to absorb the weight of it and try to empathize with Brandon. I just wish that there are more scenes of self-destruction other than the part where the protagonist skips work to attend to his demons.

Friends who might appreciate it: Those who can figure out why Michael Fassbender is always given a heartless and soulless character and still able to get laid.

BATTLESHIP

Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 4, May 11, 10:00pm

Another Hollywood film based on a Hasbro merchandise that probably originates from that paper-and-pen guessing game that I used to play when I was a kid. I don’t remember getting hooked with the game and so with the film. It’s the usual formula and predictably predictable. Not so impressive, too, in the acting department given that the great Liam Neeson provides support in some unimportant scenes. There’s a sequence in there that runs for about a minute that best reminds me of the game but that’s about it. Not so bad concept, though.

Friends who might appreciate it: Rihanna’s fans.

EVERY BREATH U TAKE

Greenbelt 1, Cinema 2, May 27, 9:20pm

It’s the nth time that Star Cinema is crapping its followers with rom-coms like this one. Sometimes I don’t mind, especially if the director is Cathy Garcia-Molina (probably the best we currently have in mainstream cinema), but this Piolo Pascual – Angelica Panganiban starrer is just pointless. It nearly made a point though when the film suggests a shade of dark comedy (the male character’s ex-girlfriend’s brothers’ murder attempt) but it seems determined to deliver an all-out romantic comedy where the film company is always associated with. If there’s one thing that the film has proven, more of sealed, it is the notion that Angelica Panganiban is a fine and versatile actress.

Friends who might appreciate it: Those who can hold their breath for about one hour and a half.

BORN TO LOVE YOU
Newport Mall, Cinema 4, June 2, 12:30am

There are countless ways why I ended up declaring this film as one of the worst Pinoy rom-coms I’ve seen in my entire life. First, we all know that Coco Martin is a very capable actor (as proven by his body of work and awards he got from it) but as Rodel Nacianceno, it’s a hit and miss. I don’t know if he’s the one to point a finger at as credited in “Story by”, but there’s something suspicious on how the film ends. Maybe he wanted to try a role that he hasn’t tried before and that prompted the writers to devise that overly dramatic dénouement. Secondly, there’s the Star Cinema factor. Meaning, the film has to please its poor followers with its commonly used and occasionally forced chemistry from the two leads. I have to admit though that the scene in the railroad is a bit cute. Then there’s the promise from Jerome Chavez Pobocan who has done a lot of engaging teleseryes like the “Mara Clara” reboot and the localized “Nasaan Ka, Elisa?” that looks hindered by the studio system. That breakdown scene synonymously called unloading of excess baggage in theater-speak is segued by another character’s attempt to pick up a bag. Just clever. At least the director has confirmed that Angeline Quinto, for a first-timer, is not bad an actress at all.

Friends who might appreciate it: I’ll pass.

MEN IN BLACK 3
Greenbelt 3, Cinema 4, June 3, 5:30pm

It’s one of those films that I catch in cinemas with zero expectations. Well, maybe at least for make-up as it once beat “Titanic” during the Oscars some years ago. True to form, the film is still a delight to see especially those scenes that involve the aliens. There are dragging moments that surprisingly made the movie more likeable than I expected. The time travel part is a little corny but having to introduce the underrated Josh Brolin as the young Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K), I couldn’t complain.

Friends who might appreciate it: Safe to say, those who have seen the first two installments.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN
Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 1, June 9, 7:25pm

It’s flawed all over. For instance, the world where the film is set is suggestively magical but how come only the queen possesses some superpowers? And yes, trusting Kristen Stewart for the lead role is a flaw on itself. Charlize Theron looks like a far better Evil Queen than Julia Roberts but the CGI sometimes overshadows her. The reimagining of the dark forest is commendable though.

Friends who might appreciate it: Kids should stick to the fairy tale.

A DANGEROUS METHOD
Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 6, June 9, 10:05pm

Just like Polanski doing a film adaptation of a theater piece, this time it is David Cronenberg’s turn on Christopher Hampton’s 2002 play “The Talking Cure”. Compared to the director’s previous films, this one is partly historical. The audience is given a glimpse of what could have transpired when luminaries Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) discuss substantial psychoanalysis issues that are now immortalized in Psychology textbooks. The “guinea pig”, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), happens to be the object of the argument. I won’t be surprised if Cronenberg fans will be disappointed with this attempt. It’s talky, almost uneventful and the scenes are relatively flat but interesting enough to let me finish it without a yawn.

Friends who might appreciate it: Take two: those who can figure out why Michael Fassbender is always given a heartless and soulless character and still able to get laid.

21 JUMP STREET
Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 7, June 10, 5:40pm

It’s not denial whatsoever but I don’t have any recollection of the TV show back in the 80’s. Call it a reboot or a deconstruction of the original material but directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” fame) must have done a really good job for me to enjoy it. The first few minutes may be a bit bland but the part where the two protagonists were kicked back to high school fuelled what could be an endless trip to the jolly old days. The chemistry between Channing Tatum (Jenko) and Jonah Hill (Schmidt) is surprisingly fun while the script pokes at some familiar cinema bytes like having montage and those Michael Bay-inspired explosion scenes. There’s a vital scene in the last few minutes where the film is trying to introduce the remake as start of something new. I can’t disclose the details but it involves a gun fight that tears down a flat screen TV.

Friends who might appreciate it: All my friends deserve this popcorn film.

PROMETHEUS
Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 9, June 15, 7:10pm

My regret after watching this film is that why didn’t I see it in an IMAX cinema? Its breathtaking reimagining of what could be the Earth like in the beginning in the first 10 minutes is worth the ticket. This aspect is sustained until the last frame, making the film a visual experience on its own. Then there’s the Ridley Scott factor. Could be the same old banana (one group, alien on the loose, etc.) but I didn’t find it tiring or a rehash. Probably the new stuff here is the inclusion of a theory or a doctrine on creation. It is hinting at something worth considering and it promises to be explored further in a sequel. The effect for me is like reading a Dan Brown novel that delves on religion only less tricky. Noomi Rapace as the main protagonist in a Hollywood mainstream film pulled it off. She, along with the rest of the cast (Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Charlize Theron, etc.), took the role earnestly enough. Here’s hoping that she keeps this core in her foray to doing more Hollywood popcorn flicks.

Friends who might appreciate it: Take three: those who can figure out why Michael Fassbender is always given a heartless and soulless character. Period.

AMERICAN REUNION
Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 4, June 15, 10:15pm

I was not actually keen on seeing the characters back. For me, the “American Pie” days are over and the sparks of losing virginity are gone (if not really obsolete nowadays). All of these “expectations” could be salvaged though if the audience was given with more adult woes to chew on. On top of the unexciting subplots from the group is probably from the couple Jim and Michelle (played by Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan) regarding the lack of oomph with their marital life. The rest is either too dull or too forced to materialize on film about sex save for the postcript scene that involves a movie theater.

Friends who might appreciate it: Forget it. Watch “Gimik: The Reunion” instead.

DARK SHADOWS
Movie Center – Punta Carreatas Shopping, Sala D, June 22, 7:20pm

The buzz on the fist 20 or 30 minutes is true. Barnabas Collins’ (Johnny Depp) transition from mortal to immortal is fast paced and very engaging. It starts to lag when the main character is introduced back to this clan with an attempt to rekindle an age old mishap. There’s an unnatural wit with the back-to-the-future antics but I don’t find those amusing. There are also some hints of family soap opera melodrama, which I think is the main intention of the film, but falls short with flawed storyline and looks sidetracked by the so-called Tim Burton touch. I can say that the rest is average to above average: costume, make-up, CGI.

Friends who might appreciate it: Those who can easily give in to the idea that the Tim Burton – Johnny Depp collaboration should rest for a while.

TO ROME WITH LOVE
Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 4, June 30, 2:30pm

The closest mainstream film I could compare this with, aside, of course, from Woody Allen’s other films, is Richard Curtis’ “Love Actually”. Set in the touristy city of Rome, it chops the film into four different (intertwining, I am not sure) love stories. Woody Allen plays dad to a daughter who is about to marry an Italian and suddenly becomes awestruck with the singing voice of the father of the groom. There’s a part in the segment that I found to be really funny in a sit-com kind of way. Alec Baldwin faces his young self played by Jesse Eisenberg. This one’s a bit artsy and has some vibe of “Midnight in Paris” making this a little odd decision among the stories. Maybe it’s Mr. Allen’s take on how magical Rome can become. The other two subplots, coincidentally played by Italian (and Spanish) actors (Roberto Benigni, Penelope Cruz, etc.), are not that interesting. One’s about a regular employee who suddenly becomes a celebrity for a week and the other is about a couple from the countryside who is the city for their honeymoon. The storytelling sensibility of these segments requires more authenticity and it isn’t that bad when told through a witty American standpoint.

Friends who might appreciate it: Woody Allen fans.

CONTRABAND

Movie Center - Montevideo Shopping, Sala 7, June 30, 5:30pm

Based on the Icelandic film “Reykjavik-Rotterdam”, this action-suspense film by Baltasar Kormakur tells the story of a security employee (Mark Walhberg) who suddenly goes back to his old days of smuggling to save his brother-in-law from being killed by a syndicate. It’s basically a heist film with a cargo vessel and some misfortunes along the way. I actually enjoyed it. It’s still a popcorn film with all those overflowing turn of events but it’s well done, engaging and not too shallow.

Friends who might appreciate it: Forget Michael Bay, my friends deserve this.

Expat the Difference in Montevideo

Dictionary.com defines “expat” as:

expat (ˌɛksˈpæt) — n , — adj informal short for expatriate

Furthermore:

ex·pa·tri·ate

   /v. ɛksˈpeɪtriˌeɪt or, especially Brit., -ˈpætri-; adj., n. ɛksˈpeɪtriɪt, -ˌeɪt or, especially Brit., -ˈpætri-/ Show Spelled [v. eks-pey-tree-eyt or, especially Brit., -pa-tree-; adj., n. eks-pey-tree-it, -eyt or, especially Brit., -pa-tree-]

1. to banish (a person) from his or her native country.
2. to withdraw (oneself) from residence in one's native country.
3. to withdraw (oneself) from allegiance to one's country.

When we realize it from time to time (even those from previous onsite assignments), we call ourselves “expat” always with a dash of mockery. The reason I could think of is that we come from a Third World country and landing to another country which is more dominating compared to the Philippines in terms of its place to world economy and the like is a little humbling. I felt that particularly in the US or in the Netherlands. The usage of the term is just different as compared to meeting some foreigner colleagues back home and joining them for a guided tour in Intramuros or having a dinner at The Fort.

Last weekend was unexpectedly weird. Unknowingly, it looks like I’ve completed the expat checklist in span of only two days. Let me count the ways:

1. Visit a touristy place.

Uruguay is such a small country with population of only 3 million. For sure, for almost two years, we’ve visited all the top tourist spots especially here in Montevideo. Except for one which, in my thought bubble, is fine for the adage “saving the best for last” (or shall I just say that I know that I’ll be going back to Manila for good once I’ve visited it). It’s the museum of Joaquin Torres Garcia’s works right at the portal of Ciudad Vieja (Peatonal Sarandí 683, website here). The old building which is close to a library-restaurant houses some of the famous Uruguayan artist’s paintings and scribbles. There aren’t that many that’s why I planned to go there and just catch a guided tour. Unfortunately, when I went there two Saturdays ago, the tour was not available. I browsed the collection almost all by myself and it was occasionally sad and scary (a bit dim and quaint, and to top it all, all captions are in Spanish). It’s actually difficult to miss JTG’s signature cubism as it is generously printed in almost all the souvenir items from here (t-shirts, wall décor, etc.) or even on the wall in some streets. I like the one with “America” on top but I did not see it there. The girl in the museum shop mentioned that it is kept in a government office and it is not available for viewing. I like any art form that combines aesthetics and math. For me, JTG’s style of mixing proportional shapes and colors is of the same beauty line as the works of M.C. Escher.

2. Locate a restaurant that serves dishes from your country.

Well, not exactly from the Philippines but the vegetarian buffet at Bosque Bambu (San José 1060 corner Río Negro with website here) includes different flavors that are very close to home. You see, we’re getting tired of the delatas we brought from Manila and instinctively, we tend to find an alternative. The said Asian restaurant offers a buffet every Saturday at 10am to 3pm I think. It was another Filipino colleague who just came here in Montevideo two months ago who discovered it while looking for ingredients for pancit. Apparently, the other half of the establishment functions as a grocery store where you can find some repacked kropek and Ajinomoto. As for the buffet itself, it’s heavenly. The selection is wide, almost endless, from spinach in coco milk down to fruit cakes and dulce de leche flan. For a bonus, the very welcoming waitress can speak English.

3. Meet fellow expats.

This is more of Pinoy than expat. A non-Filipino colleague observes that we’re too clannish like the girls going to the toilet at the same time or the big group chit-chats during lunch. Right after doing the first two entries in this checklist, we met up for dinner for a hearty pancit bihon and some empanadas (we get our fix from La Taberna del Diablo) in one of the apartments. In most onsite assignments I’ve been to, there’s at least one kitchen person who does the cooking while the rest just chip in for expenses if necessary. Conversations usually vary from camera 101 to the unavoidable okrayan. By the way, we call ourselves Manila Mafia (Uruguay Chapter) here.

4. Do what the Romans do.

One colleague got hit by stomachache the next morning. With the language barrier and all, we had no choice but to brave the idea of going to the hospital for check-up. We asked a Spanish-speaking colleague to help us. Otherwise, we’ll end up having a brain surgery or something. Kidding aside, everything went fine. Hospital Britanico (or simply British Hospital which was founded in the city before the turn of the century), which is close to Tres Cruces, is very upscale and very efficient (they’ve got Wi-Fi). We were attended to at the lobby (we were the only ones there plus the receptionist) and we were asked to proceed to the emergency area. The attendant there told us first about the consultation fee (around UYU 2,000 or PHP 3,800) before availing it. We then proceeded to an alley with small cabin-like rooms. After some minutes of waiting, a nurse approached us to inform us that only one visitor is allowed in the area. I tapped out and just waited back at the reception area where four or five other families were also waiting. After a couple of minutes, the doctor suggested having a blood exam and an ultrasound scan. Again, we were asked if it’s OK to proceed. After settling it, it was waiting game once again. The whole process took us three to four hours and a whopping UYU 7,000 or PHP 13,300. Glad that my colleague is fine now and for the fact that the ache is far from serious.

Some pictures here for that weekend plus our dinner at Restaurant Dackel, a German restaurant, here and that send-off Friday for the Manila Mafia here.

Colonia del Sacramento: Through a Pinhole

I tried out the pinhole feature of my LX5 on our visit to Colonia last weekend (yes, I'm back here in Uruguay). It’s my fourth time there so I thought the idea would spice something up. Below are some of the results:



The rest of the pictures can be found here and some residue from May here.

Ang Broadway Bible

Forbidden Broadway
Produksyon: Upstart Production
Direksyon: Joel Trinidad
Mandudula: Gerard Alessandrini
Mga Nagsiganap: Liesl Batucan, Caisa Borromeo, OJ Mariano at Lorenz Martinez

Upang makalampas at makarating sa dulo nang maayos ang isang spoof, kinakailangan nitong usisain nang may matalas na conviction ang kanyang subject. Kung hindi, para saan pa ang isang humor kung hindi nito matatalupan nang ganap ang kanyang musa na nais pukulin ng kritisismo. Sa maikling salita, ang spoof ay pinaghalong komentaryo at papuri.

Sa kaso ng “Forbidden Broadway” ng Upstart Productions, maraming himpilan ang narating nito. Una, ang materyal mismo ay may sariling buhay. Makakatayo ito sa sariling paa kung spoof lang ang pag-uusapan. Ang isang mandudulang kamukha ni Gerard Alessandrini, isang insider sa Broadway, ay may eksakto, kung hindi man nag-uumapaw, na credentials upang makapaglatag ng angkop na parodiya. Sinisiguro ko na ang playlist sa Greatest Hits na basahen ng itinanghal ng Upstart ay kayang maglabas-pasok sa mga lungga ng maliliit na venue kamukha ng bar o campus auditorium nang walang bahid ng pangungunsensya, isang bagay na limitado para sa totoong Broadway production.

Ikalawa, at tingin ko ay isang mahalagang aspeto, ay ang pagkaka-devise ni Joel Trinidad sa dula. Bagama’t meaty ang repertoire mismo at kahit hindi plot oriented, naisikaturapan ng direktor ang isang sariwang approach upang lumitaw ang dynamics ng pagpapalit-palit na karakter mula sa apat na performer. Ang huli kong nakita sa ganitong anyo ay ang “The Mystery of Irma Vep” (dalawang aktor para sa paulit-ulit at pabalik-balik na walong karakter) ng Repertory Philippines n’ung ito ay nasa sa William J. Shaw Theater pa lang sa Shangri-la Mall. Ang isang maling hakbang, halimbawa, ay kayang dumurog sa kabuuan.

Ikatlo, malinaw ang pagkakalapat ng ‘sangkaterbang karakter sa apat na aktor nito. Walang paraan upang matunton ang hangganan ng ambag ng direktor at ambag ng mga performer. Sabihin na lang natin na isa itong collective effort upang mabigyan ng anyo at karampatang layer sina Liza Minnelli, Rita Moreno, Barbara Streisand o maging ang mga iconic na awit mismo mula sa Les Mieserables, Wicked, Annie, Phantom of the Opera at iba pa na tila may sarili ring persona at pagmamay-ari.

Ikaapat, si Liesl Batucan. Wala na yatang hindi kayang gawin ang musical artist na ito na tila minamani na lamang ang bawat hamon ng pagtatanghal. Importante para sa akin na kinalakihan s’ya sa Repertory Philippines noong college days at hanggang ngayon ay namamalas pa rin ang presensya sa ilang lokal na produksyon. Kung tutuusin, may sarili na dapat pedestal si Bb. Batucan (kamukha ng kanyang underrated na pagganap sa “Emir” at iba pang pagsasanay sa labas ng entablado) pero nanatili itong abot na abot (at hindi ako magrereklamo). Gusto ko lang gawing selyado ang experience ng panonood ng “Forbidden Broadway” sa isang pagsusumamo na sana’y manganak pa s’ya ng mas maraming karakter at proyekto.

Ang dulo ng produksyon sa spoof na ito ay hindi naman masyadong demanding mula sa mga manonood. May ilan pa ring number dito na hindi ako familiar at siguradong may ilan na nangangapa sa dilim upang hagilapin ang wit pero nag-enjoy ako sa bawat assault. Bonus na lang na ang ilang tunes ay pamilyar para sa Broadway Bible na ito. Tingin ko, aware naman ang producer na hindi lahat ng nagtangkang manood ay makukuha ang bawat punchline kung kaya’t sinahugan nila ng cameo mula sa piling local artist ang pagtatanghal (sa napanood ko, si Rachel Alejandro para sa “On My Phone”). Sa price range na P600 hanggang P1,100, para sa akin, sulit na ang ilang piraso ng kamuwangan sa Broadway na napulot ko.

Paalam, Edgardo M. Reyes

Sa Cinephiles, isang Facebook group, ko unang nasagap ang balita na namayapa na ang manunulat na si Edgardo M. Reyes noong May 15. Sa unang hinagap, ang kanyang nobela na “Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” ang mabilis na maaalala at malamang sa hindi, iisipin nating naghuhuntahan na sila ni Lino Brocka ngayon.

Ang pinakaunang pagkakataon na naapuhap ko ang akda n’ya ay noong nasa highschool ako. Kabilang sa pampublikong textbook sa Filipino ng unang batch ng SEPD, isang curriculum ng DECS, ang kanyang short story na “Lugmok na ang Nayon”. Hindi ko na matandaan ang detalye nito pero klaro pa sa akin na tungkol ito sa deconstruction ng isang maliit na representasyon ng Pilipinas, kung paano ito gumuho mula sa isang kristal na pedestal patungo sa bumubulusok na pagkalimot. Nasa ganitong estado rin siguro ng pagkalugmok ang nayon na pinaggalingan nina Julio Madiaga at Ligaya Paraiso bago harapin ang Maynila sa mga kuko ng liwanag.

Dito na ako na-introduce sa iba pang obra ni G. Reyes. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, nakabili ako noon ng isang koleksyon ng kanyang short story kabilang ang “Lugmok…”. Isa sa mga short story roon ay nagbigay-pugay sa isang karakter mula sa Lopez, Quezon, na aking kinalakihan at kinahubugan ng kamalayan. May isa pang koleksyon ng mga love story naman na “Rosas” ang pamagat, na nabili ko rin at kasalukuyang nakatago sa baul. Ang kanyang erotic novel na “Sa Iyong Paanan” ay may pagkakahawig ang ritmo sa kanyang isa pang pamosong akda na “Laro sa Baga” (na isinapelikula naman ni Chito Roño noong dekada ‘90). Mas tumuon lang ang huli sa komentaryo ng aspetong sikolohikal ng machismo. Sa katunayan, meron kaming kabarkada noong highschool na tinatawag naming Ding dahil kamukha ng lead character, mahilig din itong maglaro ng kung anu-anong baga.

Noong January 29, 2000, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makaharap ng personal si G. Reyes. Nasa kasagsagan ng promotion noon para sa film adaptation ng “Laro sa Baga”. Isa sa mga gimik ng Regal ay book signing ng bagong edition ng nobela na may kasamang ilang larawan mula sa pelikula. Sa harap ng National Book Store ito sa Megamall ginanap. Kung tama pa ang alaala ko, isang mahabang table ang nakahanay sa ilalim ng escalator kung saan nakaupo sina Ara Mina at Carlos Morales, mga bida sa pelikula, at si G. Reyes. Walang masyadong tao noon. Mabilis pinirmahan ng mga artista ang sipi ko ng nobela. Sa harap ni G. Reyes, nagkalakas naman ako ng loob na pahabain panandali ang pagkakataon upang makipagkuwentuhan. Mababa ang boses ng aking kausap, kung hindi man isa itong ganap na larawan ng pagpapakumbaba. Ipinaalala ko ang kanyang kaibigan mula sa Lopez, Quezon, at nailarawan naman n’ya ito nang punung puno ng buhay.

Dahil sa pangkaraniwang siste sa mga book signing, marami pa akong hindi nasabi. O, baka merong oras pero hindi na ako nagkalakas ng loob katulad noong sinabi ko kay Rene Villanueva na laking Batibot ako o kay Nonon Padilla na utang ko sa kanya ang appreciation ko sa teatro. Gusto ko sanang sabihin na malaking bahagi ng libog at hubog ng aking pananagalog ay hiniram ko mula kay G. Reyes. Kung nasaan man s’ya, gusto kong iparating ang pasasalamat para sa maraming nabuong Maynila sa aking paglalakbay mula sa kalugmukan ng kanyang nayon.

P.S. May ilang aklat si G. Reyes sa National Library sa may Luneta. Merong giya rito para sa card catalog.