Best Film of the Year
Winner: Foster Child
Nominee:
Endo
Best Screenplay
Winner: Foster Child
Nominee:
Endo
Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design
Winner: Death in the Land of Encantos
Nominees:
Tirador
Still Life
Foster Child
Best Achievement in Film Editing
Winner: Endo
Nominee: Tirador
Best Achievement in Sound and Aural Orchestration
Winner: Endo
Nominee:
Still Life
Tirador
Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role
Winner: Jason Abalos in Endo
Nominees:
Cherry Pie Picache in Foster Child
Eugene Domingo in Foster Child
Ron Capinding in Still Life
*more details about the winners and nominees will be released soon
(The awarding ceremonies will be in late April or early May 2008)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
Exploring Amsterdam's Red Light district
ayan, request kasi ni Ton na magkuwento ako about Amsterdam's red light district (or Rosse Buurt). so here it is.
After our flight from Madrid at 6am that arrived in Amsterdam around 10, we slept the whole day in Lenin's house (our gay pinoy host) to prepare ourselves for a wild night in Amsterdam's famous red light district. So, around 9pm, off we go unto our hedonistic ways.
We got of at Waterlooplein station and just walked. First stop, the lesbian bar (didn't get the name). medyo scary kasi uber laki nung mga macho tibams na kasama ang kanilang mga partners. we did not even go inside and just peered through the windows.
next stop, bar where guys get picked up by guys. in other words, pimping station for gays. there is nothing for us there hahaha.
next stop, Lellebel, the only bar in Amsterdam for drag queens, trans, and cross-dressers located at Utrechtsestraat. We immediately loved this small bar with flashy and entertaining drag queens, they were very friendly. One customer, a young trans, who sat beside me even engaged me in a conversation. Some of the trans were very attractive. Lumabas na naman nga ang aking attraction sa mga trans e, pero sympre good girl ako kasi kasama ko si pangga. The music was great and we felt safe in the place. After a drink, we headed off to the red light district.
Yes, women were displayed in windows, in their undies and bras, casually standing or sitting, some were trying to seduce passers-by.It was actually quite sad and scary since we went to the red light district around 12 midnight and most of the people there were drunk men and very few tourists like us. Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam though it is largely concentrated around the Oude Kerk (Old Church). Yes, the oldest church in Amsterdam located in Oudezijds Voorburgwal at Oudekerksplein is surrounded by prostitutes displayed on windows, sex shops, and peep shows. Safe to say that I did not take part in this exercise and limited myself to observer status (sympre kasama ko si Pangga e). Pero ironic talaga kasi nga old church surrounded by prostitutes. tapos kapag nakasara ang window curtain ibig sabihin may client.
After that we went to a pretentious gay bar, no comments here, i did not like the place. But 2 guys tried to pick me up, tapped me on the shoulder and made some attempts. but no, pangga protected ako e hahaha.
So, off we went to the liveliest, noisiest, most popular karaoke bar in Amsterdam - Casablanca. My gash it was so jampacked we literally had to fight to get to the coat check (50 cents) and toilet (1 euro). it was so smoke-filled sakit sa mata. the dutch are bad singers and are quite rude when drunk, they just bang and bump and crash into people just to pass. so, i couldn't take the place and had to go out. then a huge macho tibam tried to engage me in a conversation, small time pa-cute. pero sympre naman ako smile lang. sa isip ko, "huwag po lola, butch din po ako" hahaha.
so, after so many bars, we ended up at Lellebel again where we stayed til around 3am. met some more gay pinoys, Lenin's friends. enjoyed conversation with more trans. saw Sugi, the star of the night. an indonesian dressed up so flamboyant it would give priscilla queen of the desert a run for her money. her hair was so huge she had to squat a little to get into the toilet (free toilet here).
on the taxi home, the driver was a gringo honasan look-a-like. type siya ni lenin, so when we went down from the taxi, lenin signalled for us to go ahead so he could make a move on the driver. after a few minutes, lenin arrived and said that the taxi driver actually wanted to have sex with pangga, and not with lenin. the driver also said that he would only have sex with lenin if it's a three-way with pangga. HELL NO! is he crazy? Pangga is mine, all mine lang. oh well, ganun lang ang sex sa amsterdam, casual casual lang.
so, next time na ang kuwento about the museums and canals of amsterdam hahaha...
After our flight from Madrid at 6am that arrived in Amsterdam around 10, we slept the whole day in Lenin's house (our gay pinoy host) to prepare ourselves for a wild night in Amsterdam's famous red light district. So, around 9pm, off we go unto our hedonistic ways.
We got of at Waterlooplein station and just walked. First stop, the lesbian bar (didn't get the name). medyo scary kasi uber laki nung mga macho tibams na kasama ang kanilang mga partners. we did not even go inside and just peered through the windows.
next stop, bar where guys get picked up by guys. in other words, pimping station for gays. there is nothing for us there hahaha.
next stop, Lellebel, the only bar in Amsterdam for drag queens, trans, and cross-dressers located at Utrechtsestraat. We immediately loved this small bar with flashy and entertaining drag queens, they were very friendly. One customer, a young trans, who sat beside me even engaged me in a conversation. Some of the trans were very attractive. Lumabas na naman nga ang aking attraction sa mga trans e, pero sympre good girl ako kasi kasama ko si pangga. The music was great and we felt safe in the place. After a drink, we headed off to the red light district.
Yes, women were displayed in windows, in their undies and bras, casually standing or sitting, some were trying to seduce passers-by.It was actually quite sad and scary since we went to the red light district around 12 midnight and most of the people there were drunk men and very few tourists like us. Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam though it is largely concentrated around the Oude Kerk (Old Church). Yes, the oldest church in Amsterdam located in Oudezijds Voorburgwal at Oudekerksplein is surrounded by prostitutes displayed on windows, sex shops, and peep shows. Safe to say that I did not take part in this exercise and limited myself to observer status (sympre kasama ko si Pangga e). Pero ironic talaga kasi nga old church surrounded by prostitutes. tapos kapag nakasara ang window curtain ibig sabihin may client.
After that we went to a pretentious gay bar, no comments here, i did not like the place. But 2 guys tried to pick me up, tapped me on the shoulder and made some attempts. but no, pangga protected ako e hahaha.
So, off we went to the liveliest, noisiest, most popular karaoke bar in Amsterdam - Casablanca. My gash it was so jampacked we literally had to fight to get to the coat check (50 cents) and toilet (1 euro). it was so smoke-filled sakit sa mata. the dutch are bad singers and are quite rude when drunk, they just bang and bump and crash into people just to pass. so, i couldn't take the place and had to go out. then a huge macho tibam tried to engage me in a conversation, small time pa-cute. pero sympre naman ako smile lang. sa isip ko, "huwag po lola, butch din po ako" hahaha.
so, after so many bars, we ended up at Lellebel again where we stayed til around 3am. met some more gay pinoys, Lenin's friends. enjoyed conversation with more trans. saw Sugi, the star of the night. an indonesian dressed up so flamboyant it would give priscilla queen of the desert a run for her money. her hair was so huge she had to squat a little to get into the toilet (free toilet here).
on the taxi home, the driver was a gringo honasan look-a-like. type siya ni lenin, so when we went down from the taxi, lenin signalled for us to go ahead so he could make a move on the driver. after a few minutes, lenin arrived and said that the taxi driver actually wanted to have sex with pangga, and not with lenin. the driver also said that he would only have sex with lenin if it's a three-way with pangga. HELL NO! is he crazy? Pangga is mine, all mine lang. oh well, ganun lang ang sex sa amsterdam, casual casual lang.
so, next time na ang kuwento about the museums and canals of amsterdam hahaha...
New York New York
wrote this blog when i came back from the gay games. post ko lang dito sa multiply.
New York City is seedy, hot, fast, smelly, sexy and steamy. I did not fall in love with it but I did have some good memories there. Again, how I wish Pangga was there with me. I'm sure I could have enjoyed New York more if she was with me.
Here are ten things you can do in New York, forget the Statue of Liberty and all those touristic stuff, you can look at their pictures in postcards and photobooks. Here is the action:
10. Go to Circuit City, Target, and BJ's and shop til you drop.
9. Get lost in the subway. I actually felt like a beaver in New York, spending a lot of time underground and just surfacing for air.
8. When you surface from the subway, look at all the buildings that you've seen in movies and commercials, except of course The World Trade Center.
7.Walk around 5th Avenue, Avenue of the Americas, Lexington Avenue. Just walk around and feel very New Yorker. Eat hotdog in the middle of the street, everybody does.
6. Go to Greenwich Village and feel the bohemian spirit, even if it is full of expensive shops.
5. Go to Christopher Street, home of the famous Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall Riot in 1969 that is instrumental to the LGBT Rights movement and is commemorated with the yearly Pride marches all over the world. Walk around this historic street, a mecca for gays and lesbians. And don't forget to visit the sex shops and buy pasalubong for your partner/s.
4. Stand in Times Square and feel that you are in the middle of everything. I was actually wondering aimlessly, looking for the International Center for Photography, when I realized that I was in the middle of Times Square.
3. Get a lapdance in Splash Bar New York (SBNY for short), the hippest, most popular gay bar in New York. The lapdance was a lot of fun, he was so cute and smelled so good, irresistable yummy yummy yummy boy!
2. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum, International Center for Photography, and Guggenheim Museum. I saw my most favorite painting, Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory. For an art history professor, this is big deal. Imagine, everything I studied before, art works i saw in books and slides, I was in front of them. I was in their presence. And they were in my presence. Wow, that was great.
1. Watch the New York Yankees at the Yankee Stadium. Feel the love for Jeter and the disappointment for A-Rod. (i have to edit this because A-rod is having a phenomenal season). Cheer for every play, go nuts over Bernie Williams" homeruns and Derek Jeter's hits. Thanks, Vergel, for the unforgettable night of Yankees fun. This is the best experience ever.
New York City is seedy, hot, fast, smelly, sexy and steamy. I did not fall in love with it but I did have some good memories there. Again, how I wish Pangga was there with me. I'm sure I could have enjoyed New York more if she was with me.
Here are ten things you can do in New York, forget the Statue of Liberty and all those touristic stuff, you can look at their pictures in postcards and photobooks. Here is the action:
10. Go to Circuit City, Target, and BJ's and shop til you drop.
9. Get lost in the subway. I actually felt like a beaver in New York, spending a lot of time underground and just surfacing for air.
8. When you surface from the subway, look at all the buildings that you've seen in movies and commercials, except of course The World Trade Center.
7.Walk around 5th Avenue, Avenue of the Americas, Lexington Avenue. Just walk around and feel very New Yorker. Eat hotdog in the middle of the street, everybody does.
6. Go to Greenwich Village and feel the bohemian spirit, even if it is full of expensive shops.
5. Go to Christopher Street, home of the famous Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall Riot in 1969 that is instrumental to the LGBT Rights movement and is commemorated with the yearly Pride marches all over the world. Walk around this historic street, a mecca for gays and lesbians. And don't forget to visit the sex shops and buy pasalubong for your partner/s.
4. Stand in Times Square and feel that you are in the middle of everything. I was actually wondering aimlessly, looking for the International Center for Photography, when I realized that I was in the middle of Times Square.
3. Get a lapdance in Splash Bar New York (SBNY for short), the hippest, most popular gay bar in New York. The lapdance was a lot of fun, he was so cute and smelled so good, irresistable yummy yummy yummy boy!
2. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum, International Center for Photography, and Guggenheim Museum. I saw my most favorite painting, Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory. For an art history professor, this is big deal. Imagine, everything I studied before, art works i saw in books and slides, I was in front of them. I was in their presence. And they were in my presence. Wow, that was great.
1. Watch the New York Yankees at the Yankee Stadium. Feel the love for Jeter and the disappointment for A-Rod. (i have to edit this because A-rod is having a phenomenal season). Cheer for every play, go nuts over Bernie Williams" homeruns and Derek Jeter's hits. Thanks, Vergel, for the unforgettable night of Yankees fun. This is the best experience ever.
Things to do in bangkok
repost from multiply
I just love Bangkok, it's my favorite place in Southeast Asia. It's noisy, polluted, filthy, crowded, flooded - yet, it is full of life, exciting, sexy, and spicy (in all aspects).
Here are some things you can do in Bangkok when are alone (like I was):
1. eat all the tomyum, curry, thai sweets you can find in the karinderyas. if you can't take the spice, say "no prik" (means no spice)
2. drink chilled buko from the carts, believe me, the best bj :)
3. go to patpong (the red light district) and roam the streets and look around (i can look but can't touch). if you are brave, go inside one of the bars and watch the famous pingpong pussy show
4. go to pratunam, buy all the cheap stuff and eat tomyum in one of the side streets
5. go to chatuchak for the weekend where half of bangkok is, buy the cheapest stuff and eat sesame fried chicken at din pao (stall 4 -1 )
6. visit the malls (paragon, isetann, zen, emporium), there are unbelievable sale in the middle part of the malls. i got 3 original lacoste shirts and a couple of socks for a bargain (40% off)
7. NEVER ride the tuktuk (they will rip you off)
8. learn how to count in thai and ask "how much?" (taw raey, or something like that)
9. do at least one touristic tour, like go to the Grand Palace (no shorts or short skirts there)
10. buy "I Love the King" shirt and feel the love
11. talk to locals (good luck, their English is still bad) and share notes on how bad their PM Thaksin is (have to edit this again, thaksin has been forced out of power via a coup)and compare him to how bad GMA is
12. get stuck in the famous Bangkok traffic, have a chat with your taxi driver, and say "thank God, traffic is not this bad in Manila)
13. go to Watson's or Tesco and buy Colgate Herbal and Lux Shower Creme Lavender
14. eat Rotiboy, the best coffee bun in the whole wide world. Kopi Roti is a cheap copycat.
15. and the best, watch out for the baby elephant that walks around in the streets of Bangkok, buy 20 baht of sugar cane, feed the elephant, you can pet him/her, take video or photos with the elephant. he/she is so damn cute, you'd want to take him/her home (if your luggage permits). DUMBO comes alive. and the baby elephant has the best soulful eyes i've seen in animals. the best experience.
GGOOOOOOOOOOOO and Enjoy!!!!
I just love Bangkok, it's my favorite place in Southeast Asia. It's noisy, polluted, filthy, crowded, flooded - yet, it is full of life, exciting, sexy, and spicy (in all aspects).
Here are some things you can do in Bangkok when are alone (like I was):
1. eat all the tomyum, curry, thai sweets you can find in the karinderyas. if you can't take the spice, say "no prik" (means no spice)
2. drink chilled buko from the carts, believe me, the best bj :)
3. go to patpong (the red light district) and roam the streets and look around (i can look but can't touch). if you are brave, go inside one of the bars and watch the famous pingpong pussy show
4. go to pratunam, buy all the cheap stuff and eat tomyum in one of the side streets
5. go to chatuchak for the weekend where half of bangkok is, buy the cheapest stuff and eat sesame fried chicken at din pao (stall 4 -1 )
6. visit the malls (paragon, isetann, zen, emporium), there are unbelievable sale in the middle part of the malls. i got 3 original lacoste shirts and a couple of socks for a bargain (40% off)
7. NEVER ride the tuktuk (they will rip you off)
8. learn how to count in thai and ask "how much?" (taw raey, or something like that)
9. do at least one touristic tour, like go to the Grand Palace (no shorts or short skirts there)
10. buy "I Love the King" shirt and feel the love
11. talk to locals (good luck, their English is still bad) and share notes on how bad their PM Thaksin is (have to edit this again, thaksin has been forced out of power via a coup)and compare him to how bad GMA is
12. get stuck in the famous Bangkok traffic, have a chat with your taxi driver, and say "thank God, traffic is not this bad in Manila)
13. go to Watson's or Tesco and buy Colgate Herbal and Lux Shower Creme Lavender
14. eat Rotiboy, the best coffee bun in the whole wide world. Kopi Roti is a cheap copycat.
15. and the best, watch out for the baby elephant that walks around in the streets of Bangkok, buy 20 baht of sugar cane, feed the elephant, you can pet him/her, take video or photos with the elephant. he/she is so damn cute, you'd want to take him/her home (if your luggage permits). DUMBO comes alive. and the baby elephant has the best soulful eyes i've seen in animals. the best experience.
GGOOOOOOOOOOOO and Enjoy!!!!
Palawan Paradise
wrote this blog entry when we just arrived from my 7th trip to palawan last year so i'm just re-posting here in blogspot.
Palawan still has its charm. the first time i went there was in 1996 and i fell in love immediately. i've been going back regularly since. In fact, i'm buying some land to build my small retirement house there. Pangga and I decided that we will retire in Palawan.
things to do:
1. stay at casa linda. very cheap. 750 per night for 2 pax. matthew mendoza (former movie actor) might even pick you up at the airport. his family owns the place. he gets cuter everytime.
2. eat at kalui's, the best resto in puerto. go for the lobster, crabs, seafood sisig (the best). enjoy the ambiance. it is the place to be.
3. go to honda bay. feed and swim with the fishes in snake island. visit a coral reef nearby. skip to starfish island for, what else, but starfish. walk the sunbar. we saw nemo (the clown fish) and patrick (the starfish) don't forget your snorkel, sunblock, and godiva safe sea lotion.
4. eat at vietville. the best beef stew noodles in the philippines (and very cheap). the fresh lumpia is also great. look for thelma, very good service.
5. go on a day trip to the underground river. the land travel is very bumpy but the boatride from sabang to the underground river has wonderful views of mountains. the lagoon outside is spectacular. you must insist on riding with mang jun as the boatman, he is simply the best boatman/comic there is. warning: do not swim in sabang beach. i was attacked by sand fleas there years ago. warning again: be careful of the monitor lizard roaming freely. shopping tip: there is a small store there where an old manang sells handmade celphone holders and bags out of native (i dont know the material). she sells it dirt cheap so don't make tawad. it's also good to help the local economy especially those who make the products themselves.
6.go to kamarikutan kape at galeri for the best palawan chicken and tuyo (yup, they go together). stay awhile. savor the art and the surrounding. have a chat with the nanay ng bayan, "nanay dayang." and you must meet palawan's version of darna, dinggot. and the very handsome young man and tennis champion named anito. these three are my family in puerto. they make sure i am safe and well-fed in puerto. i love these three happy people.
7. go to market mall for the cheapest pearls. stall 70-71 (or 71-72) look for ilonggas dindin and maricel. converse in Ilonggo, "Tagpila ini?" (*how much?)
8. if you have time, visit san vicente. geann (the mayor's wife) of caparii resort is the most gracious host. you'll have the beach all to yourself.
9. stop at roxas in the corner vietnamese carinderia for the "dreaded shrimp." yes, you read right- "dreaded." i got so scared of it, i ordered and ate it all because it might eat me.
10. eat at avegon for the best bulalo your body is allowed eat. don't worry, there are 2 mercury drugstores nearby.
11. before leaving puerto, don't forget to buy cheap crabs and lobsters at the market to take home. try lamayo, it's very good. they'll pack it so you can bring it on the plane.
12. and the best way to enjoy palawan is to go with your partner, you can hold hands while walking into the sunset. This is my second trip with Pangga and she had a great time snorkeling with the fishes. I enjoyed the trip immensely because of i was with her.
Palawan still has its charm. the first time i went there was in 1996 and i fell in love immediately. i've been going back regularly since. In fact, i'm buying some land to build my small retirement house there. Pangga and I decided that we will retire in Palawan.
things to do:
1. stay at casa linda. very cheap. 750 per night for 2 pax. matthew mendoza (former movie actor) might even pick you up at the airport. his family owns the place. he gets cuter everytime.
2. eat at kalui's, the best resto in puerto. go for the lobster, crabs, seafood sisig (the best). enjoy the ambiance. it is the place to be.
3. go to honda bay. feed and swim with the fishes in snake island. visit a coral reef nearby. skip to starfish island for, what else, but starfish. walk the sunbar. we saw nemo (the clown fish) and patrick (the starfish) don't forget your snorkel, sunblock, and godiva safe sea lotion.
4. eat at vietville. the best beef stew noodles in the philippines (and very cheap). the fresh lumpia is also great. look for thelma, very good service.
5. go on a day trip to the underground river. the land travel is very bumpy but the boatride from sabang to the underground river has wonderful views of mountains. the lagoon outside is spectacular. you must insist on riding with mang jun as the boatman, he is simply the best boatman/comic there is. warning: do not swim in sabang beach. i was attacked by sand fleas there years ago. warning again: be careful of the monitor lizard roaming freely. shopping tip: there is a small store there where an old manang sells handmade celphone holders and bags out of native (i dont know the material). she sells it dirt cheap so don't make tawad. it's also good to help the local economy especially those who make the products themselves.
6.go to kamarikutan kape at galeri for the best palawan chicken and tuyo (yup, they go together). stay awhile. savor the art and the surrounding. have a chat with the nanay ng bayan, "nanay dayang." and you must meet palawan's version of darna, dinggot. and the very handsome young man and tennis champion named anito. these three are my family in puerto. they make sure i am safe and well-fed in puerto. i love these three happy people.
7. go to market mall for the cheapest pearls. stall 70-71 (or 71-72) look for ilonggas dindin and maricel. converse in Ilonggo, "Tagpila ini?" (*how much?)
8. if you have time, visit san vicente. geann (the mayor's wife) of caparii resort is the most gracious host. you'll have the beach all to yourself.
9. stop at roxas in the corner vietnamese carinderia for the "dreaded shrimp." yes, you read right- "dreaded." i got so scared of it, i ordered and ate it all because it might eat me.
10. eat at avegon for the best bulalo your body is allowed eat. don't worry, there are 2 mercury drugstores nearby.
11. before leaving puerto, don't forget to buy cheap crabs and lobsters at the market to take home. try lamayo, it's very good. they'll pack it so you can bring it on the plane.
12. and the best way to enjoy palawan is to go with your partner, you can hold hands while walking into the sunset. This is my second trip with Pangga and she had a great time snorkeling with the fishes. I enjoyed the trip immensely because of i was with her.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
I'M BACK!
Finally, after 5 countries (The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain), 12 european cities (Amsterdam (twice), Antwerp, Naples, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Milan (twice), Paris, St. Denis, Barcelona, Madrid), 7 plane rides (KLM, Easyjet, Vueling), 7 train rides (amsterdam to belgium and back, and all around Italy), hundreds of miles, I am soooo glad to be home.
We missed our baby dogs terribly and our basketball boys. We missed the UP Pep Squad winning the CDC and the judo and swim teams winning the gold medals. We miss our bed, our room, our house, our garden. and of course we missed our friends.
saka na ang pictures at videos ha, jetlag pa. kaya nga gising pa ako ng 2am manila time kasi 8pm pa lang ng gabi sa mga bansang pinanggalinangan namin.
see you all soon.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
SAMABABITSMADERPAKERSHET - Carlo Vergara ang galing mo!
Ano ba yan? ilang beses ko ng binasa ang Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah ay tawa pa din ako ng tawa. Para akong tanga dito sa office of the vice-chancellor for community affairs dahil dito ko scan yung Zsazsa para sa aking Euroseas powerpoint presentation, pero eto ako tawa ng tawa mag-isa.
"BWAKANANGINANG BUWISET NA MALDITANG BURIRAK NA YAN" hahahaha
CARLO VERGARA, you are a genius! kuhang kuha mo ang pop culture. IDOL!
oh well, the Zsazsa Zee Moveeh is another matter. I was forced to watch it 2 nights ago, SAMABABITSMADERPAKERSHET that was one bad movie. Way to go, Joel Lamangan, you have successfully ruined a great story by Carlo Vergara. More on my review for the film later.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Resto in the Metro: Galileo Enoteca
My friends know that I love good food, and I also love to eat out. So, I've decided to blog about my favorite restos in the metro. and the honor of my first post foes to GALILEO ENOTECA!
My bestfriend Jokla has been recommending this place so many times before. and finally, last May, we all trooped to Galileo Enoteca to find out what the buzz was all about. and WE LOVE IT!
great cozy ambiance, great service (look for jhammy or JB), great food, cheap good sweet red wine, wonderful cheese platter, great pasta.
Set Menu A is i think cheese and cold cuts.
Set Menu B is chicken with capers and eggplant parmigiana. (i forgot how much, i think 350 or 400 din)
Set Menu C consist of pasta of the day, soup, wine, cheese, cold cuts, coffee (and freebies you can ask for like hot choco). P 400.00++ per set, super worth it.
They don't have a staple pasta menu, it depends on what the pasta of the day is. We've tried the anchovies with capers (LOVE IT) and the carbonara (LOVE IT as well). The bacon and mushroom and italian corned beef pasta is ok too.
first time i came here i got a lot of freebies like: free glass of wine, free plate of cheese, free 2 hot chocos. don't forget t order the hot choco, it is one of the best i've tasted.
The sweet red wine is very cheap also, 300 per bottle only. and for cheap wine, their house wine is really good.
I love their cheese platter especially the Asiago. the cold cuts, im not really fond of, so no comment.
the place is designed like a wine cellar (enoteca in italian) and each space/table feels like an exclusive space.
If you are craving for great pasta, cheese and wine, go to Galileo Enoteca. I've been here about 6-7 times after, and the service and quality of food is consistent.It is for me one of the best Italian resto in the metro (the other being Bellini's). It will put the cheap bad pseudo-italian restos like a veneto and napoli to shame.
oh, don't forget to reserve. 534-4633/532-0482
Friday, June 15, 2007
Yehey! Got the Doctoral Studies Grant
Just got word that my Doctoral Studies Grant was approved by UP System. This means I have 1 year off again and extra money from U.P.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Yehey! I PASSED my PhD comprehensive exams
I PASSED all my PhD comprehensive exams
I want to thank my Maroon Maniacs and peyups friends (batchoy, ashchi, astro_boy, prinsesa_ako, blue_spirit, vodkamartini, bingkatorts, and all) for their encouragement through this process.
salamat sa peyups community because it has kept me sane during the insane studying i went through. peyups was a large part of the process, since i spent most of my non-studying time on peyups :laugh:
thanks to great friends Jo, Ellen, Ai, Roselle, Fama, Patrick, Daki, Maydats, Shine and all my ates at the CAL Dean's office. Special thanks to Pearl, Art, Bing, Libeth and Marlon - your company kept me sane. :)
SALAMAT SA LAHAT!
salamat kay Lord at sa lahat ng guardian angels ko especially Archangel Michael who did not abondon me.
salamat sa aking baby boys beryl, cocoy and dale who kept telling me huwag na akong mag-aral at maglakwatsa na lang kami dahil wala namang nagagawang mabuti ang pag-aaral, the 3 biggest BI in my life. :laugh:
special thanks kay Pangga who was with me all throughout the process, who bore the brunt of my frustrations and insecurities, whose healing hands cured my aching body, and loving touch and warm embrace kept me alive. I LOVE YOU.
and now, on to the dissertation. :)
I want to thank my Maroon Maniacs and peyups friends (batchoy, ashchi, astro_boy, prinsesa_ako, blue_spirit, vodkamartini, bingkatorts, and all) for their encouragement through this process.
salamat sa peyups community because it has kept me sane during the insane studying i went through. peyups was a large part of the process, since i spent most of my non-studying time on peyups :laugh:
thanks to great friends Jo, Ellen, Ai, Roselle, Fama, Patrick, Daki, Maydats, Shine and all my ates at the CAL Dean's office. Special thanks to Pearl, Art, Bing, Libeth and Marlon - your company kept me sane. :)
SALAMAT SA LAHAT!
salamat kay Lord at sa lahat ng guardian angels ko especially Archangel Michael who did not abondon me.
salamat sa aking baby boys beryl, cocoy and dale who kept telling me huwag na akong mag-aral at maglakwatsa na lang kami dahil wala namang nagagawang mabuti ang pag-aaral, the 3 biggest BI in my life. :laugh:
special thanks kay Pangga who was with me all throughout the process, who bore the brunt of my frustrations and insecurities, whose healing hands cured my aching body, and loving touch and warm embrace kept me alive. I LOVE YOU.
and now, on to the dissertation. :)
Monday, April 02, 2007
On to Naples with Zsazsa Zaturnnah
Constructing gender: Zsazsa Zaturnnah – from Graphic Novel to Stage to Film
Eloisa May P. Hernandez
Carlo Vergara’s Ang Kagila-gilalas Na Pakikipagsapalaran Ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah (The Spectacular Adventures of Zsazsa Zaturnnah) is about an effeminate male homosexual hairdresser named Ada who transforms into Zsazsa Zaturnnah, a sexy and strong heroine, by swallowing a mysterious stone that fell from the heavens. Initially self-published as a 2-part graphic novel published in 2002, it won the Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Award in 2003. In early 2006, Tanghalang Pilipino, one of the country’s leading theater groups, staged Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal directed by Chris Millado. It represented the Philippines in the International Theater Festival in June 2006. In December 2006, Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Moveeh, directed by Joel Lamangan, opened in the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival. Comedian Giselle Sanchez developed a monologue about Zsazsa. Zsazsa Zaturnnah has made the transformation from graphic novel to musical theater to film and to stand up comedy.
The paper will explore how Zsazsa Zaturnnah construct gender and gender relations in the Philippines? How does its transformation as a literary text into visual texts (on film and stage) affect gender constructs in the Philippines? Are there changes in the characterization of Zsazsa that ultimately change gender constructs? Are there changes in the narrative structure of Zsazsa from the graphic novel to stage to film? The paper will not only focus on the transformation of literary texts into visual texts but also train its attention on how gender is constructed through these different genres.
My abstract for the 5th EUROSEAS Conference in Naples, Italy, September 12 to 15, 2007 was accepted! So, Zsazsa Zaturnnah and I will fly to Napoli! And of course, my pangga will join me. We will go to Antwerp, Belgium first for a chemistry conference, then to Naples. Then go to Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Pairs, Madrid and Barcelona! Excited!
Friday, March 23, 2007
short comments on BABEL
as a film, i appreciate it, maayos ang pagkagawa. magaling ang acting. madaming gustong sabihin including how our globalized world is actually making our worlds smaller and more difficult to move in with borders, air space, etc. how fate and human agency clash every single day/moment.
cate blanchett reminds me of kristin scott thomas in the english patient, so helpless, yet still dignified.
loved the disco scene and the pissing/kissing scene.
inarritu's amores perros had a more raw and visceral feel than babel.
gael garcia bernal. :) the performances of rinku kikuchi and adriana barraza are tour de force.
pero as a control freak, i felt helpless for the characters and their situations. i don't like films that put its characters in such hopeless situations.but it's just me.
YCC citation for Best Performer - Maricel Soriano for Inang Yaya
Mga Nominado para sa Pinakamahusay sa Pagganap
Cherry Pie Picache – Kaleldo
Binangga at binago ni Cherry Pie Pichace sa pelikulang Kaleldo ang talamak, gasgas at maling representasyon ng lesbiana sa pelikulang Pilipino. Mahusay at matalino ang pagbuo ni Picache sa karakter ni Jess bilang lesbiana – malakas ngunit sensitibo, palaban ngunit mapagmahal, at matapang ngunit mapagkalinga. Dahil sa masusing pagganap ni Picache, buo ang karakter ni Jess bilang tao, babae, anak, kapatid, at partner. Isa ito sa pinakabuo at makataong representasyon ng isang lesbiana sa pelikulang Pilipino.
Buong Cast – Inang Yaya
Maingat na binuo ng mga aktor sa Inang Yaya ang kanilang mga karakter kaya naman kumikilos sila hindi ayon sa mga gasgas na karakterisasyon sa melodrama kundi ayon sa maingat at matalinong paghimay sa iba’t-ibang tensiyong kinakaharap ng mga kanilang mga karakter.
Balanse at buo ang pagganap ni Lisa Lorena bilang Lola Toots na sa simula’y mapangutya at mapag-bintang ay siya pang magiging “confidante” ni Ruby at makakatuklas sa kabutihan ng puso nito.
Ang papel na Louise at Ruby ay mahusay at matalinong naganpanan nina Erika Oreta at Tala Santos. Sa murang edad, nailarawan nila na kahit bata ay may kakayahang umarok at umunawa, mag-isip at dumama, magpasiya at kumilos tungkol sa iba’t ibang hamon ng kanilang munting mundo.
Ganap din ang karakterisasyon ng ibang mga nagsiganap tulad nila Zoren Logaspi at Sunshine Cruz bilang mga kareristang magulang ni Louise at Marita Zobel bilang nanay ni Norma.
(ang ilang bahagi dito ay mula sa sinulat ni Leo Zafra)
Maricel Soriano – Inang Yaya
Sa taong 2006, ang pinakamahusay na pagganap ay iginagawad kay Ms. Maricel Soriano sa kanyang pagganap bilang Inang Yaya. Pinamalas ni Ms. Soriano ang matalino at sensitibong pag-unawa at paghimay sa karakter ni Norma bilang yaya sa maluhong Louise at ina sa nangungulilang anak na si Ruby. Ramdam natin na sagad sa pagod ngunit puno ng pagmamahal si Norma habang pilit niyang hinahati ang pagmamahal na ito sa dalawang bata na para sa kanya ay pareho niyang anak. Batid tayo sa pagkimkim niya ng pighati sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ina. Saksi tayo sa pagninilay ni Norma sa desisyon kung sasama abroad sa piling ng alaga o mananatili sa sariling bansa at sa piling ng anak. Sapat at akma ang mga emosyon, damdamin at karanasan na ipinakita ni Ms Soriano sa pagtalakay niya sa karakter. Sensitibo, matalino, maingat, at may dangal ang ipinamalas na pagganap ni Maricel Soriano bilang Inang Yaya.
Hindi na iba si Ms. Maricel Soriano sa Young Critics Circle Film Desk. Dalawang beses na siyang nagawaran ng Pinakamahusay sa Pagganap – una, para sa Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal noong 1992, at pangalawa ay para sa Vampira noong 1994. Ilang taon na din ang nakalipas, at masaya ang YCC Film Desk na makapiling muli si Ms. Maricel Soriano para gawaran ng kanyang ikatlong Pinakamahusay sa Pagganap para sa pelikulang Inang Yaya.
Inang Yaya blog: http://inangyaya.blogspot.com/
Cherry Pie Picache – Kaleldo
Binangga at binago ni Cherry Pie Pichace sa pelikulang Kaleldo ang talamak, gasgas at maling representasyon ng lesbiana sa pelikulang Pilipino. Mahusay at matalino ang pagbuo ni Picache sa karakter ni Jess bilang lesbiana – malakas ngunit sensitibo, palaban ngunit mapagmahal, at matapang ngunit mapagkalinga. Dahil sa masusing pagganap ni Picache, buo ang karakter ni Jess bilang tao, babae, anak, kapatid, at partner. Isa ito sa pinakabuo at makataong representasyon ng isang lesbiana sa pelikulang Pilipino.
Buong Cast – Inang Yaya
Maingat na binuo ng mga aktor sa Inang Yaya ang kanilang mga karakter kaya naman kumikilos sila hindi ayon sa mga gasgas na karakterisasyon sa melodrama kundi ayon sa maingat at matalinong paghimay sa iba’t-ibang tensiyong kinakaharap ng mga kanilang mga karakter.
Balanse at buo ang pagganap ni Lisa Lorena bilang Lola Toots na sa simula’y mapangutya at mapag-bintang ay siya pang magiging “confidante” ni Ruby at makakatuklas sa kabutihan ng puso nito.
Ang papel na Louise at Ruby ay mahusay at matalinong naganpanan nina Erika Oreta at Tala Santos. Sa murang edad, nailarawan nila na kahit bata ay may kakayahang umarok at umunawa, mag-isip at dumama, magpasiya at kumilos tungkol sa iba’t ibang hamon ng kanilang munting mundo.
Ganap din ang karakterisasyon ng ibang mga nagsiganap tulad nila Zoren Logaspi at Sunshine Cruz bilang mga kareristang magulang ni Louise at Marita Zobel bilang nanay ni Norma.
(ang ilang bahagi dito ay mula sa sinulat ni Leo Zafra)
Maricel Soriano – Inang Yaya
Sa taong 2006, ang pinakamahusay na pagganap ay iginagawad kay Ms. Maricel Soriano sa kanyang pagganap bilang Inang Yaya. Pinamalas ni Ms. Soriano ang matalino at sensitibong pag-unawa at paghimay sa karakter ni Norma bilang yaya sa maluhong Louise at ina sa nangungulilang anak na si Ruby. Ramdam natin na sagad sa pagod ngunit puno ng pagmamahal si Norma habang pilit niyang hinahati ang pagmamahal na ito sa dalawang bata na para sa kanya ay pareho niyang anak. Batid tayo sa pagkimkim niya ng pighati sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ina. Saksi tayo sa pagninilay ni Norma sa desisyon kung sasama abroad sa piling ng alaga o mananatili sa sariling bansa at sa piling ng anak. Sapat at akma ang mga emosyon, damdamin at karanasan na ipinakita ni Ms Soriano sa pagtalakay niya sa karakter. Sensitibo, matalino, maingat, at may dangal ang ipinamalas na pagganap ni Maricel Soriano bilang Inang Yaya.
Hindi na iba si Ms. Maricel Soriano sa Young Critics Circle Film Desk. Dalawang beses na siyang nagawaran ng Pinakamahusay sa Pagganap – una, para sa Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal noong 1992, at pangalawa ay para sa Vampira noong 1994. Ilang taon na din ang nakalipas, at masaya ang YCC Film Desk na makapiling muli si Ms. Maricel Soriano para gawaran ng kanyang ikatlong Pinakamahusay sa Pagganap para sa pelikulang Inang Yaya.
Inang Yaya blog: http://inangyaya.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
shameless plug for HOMEBOUND
HOMEBOUND: 19th century Women Visual Artists in the Philippines by Eloisa May P. Hernandez
buy a copy of my book at the U.P. Press and other bookstores. P300 yata. it's on second printing already. may libreng kiss! :)
Some random thoughts about Rome and Juliet
halatang baguhan ang director. handling ng elements ay amatuerish pa. plus, attempt at poetry hindi masyado swabe. minsan out of place na sa mga eksena. parang ginamit na ang poetry as some sort of background music na nasobrahan. of course, yung tunog lata at peripheral sounds na panget ay dala na din ng paggamit ng natural sound sa pelikula at minimal dubbing.
sa screenplay naman, wala matinong resolution dun sa family problem ng isa e. deus ex machina - masagasaan siya at ma-coma para ma-resolve. walang totoong understanding at acceptance mula sa pamilya, forced na kasi coma siya, pag tinakwil pa siya, evil na nanay. at deadma na sa nakasagasa o sa incident na iyun. ginamit lang iyon to enact a resolution at maging palatable ang ending.
hindi lang ako solved sa idea na nung nagmahalan ang 2 babae ay sobrang daming masamang nangyari. matanggal sa trabaho, bastusin, ikahiya, mamatay ang tatay, blame sa pagkamatay ng tatay, itakwil, masagasaan, ma-coma etc etc. parang lahat na lang ng masamang pwedeng mangyari at nangyari nga. at bakit dun sa mas "mahirap" sa kanila? kay mylene dizon, ano nangyaring masama sa kanya? ano ang point? na kapag naging tomboy ka na mahirap ka ay talaga namang kulang na lang kidlatan ka? at kung maging tomboy ka na mayaman ka ay wala namang gaanong mangyayaring masama sa iyo? na-dichotomize lang masyado ang gender issue at malabong na-fuse sa issue ng class. again, directorial and sceenplay problem ito.
mylene dizon is the bright spot in this movie. Mylene gives a nuanced and sensitive performance here. she handled the character with respect and understanding. mylene dizon exudes charm and is absolutely sexy in this movie.
Kaleldo (Summer Heat) Loses Steam
Sizzling summer heat loses steam in Brillante Mendoza’s Kaleldo (Kampanpangan for “summer heat”). Mendoza’s directorial skills turn arid Pampanga into a beautiful setting for a family drama hampered by a problematic screenplay. A story about the Manansala family of Guagua, Pampanga, it stars Johnny Delgado as Rudy Manansala, a woodcarver and father to three daughters: Jess, wonderfully played by Cherry Pie Picache, is the eldest daughter and a lesbian who suffers the scorn of her father; Lourdes, played by Angel Aquino, is the favored middle child who is married to a weakling of a husband, Andy (Alan Paule); and the youngest daughter, Grace, played by Juliana Palermo, who is married to a mama’s boy Conrad (Lauren Novero).
Kaleldo is a movie in three parts; each daughter’s story is prefigured by an element. The first part, Wind, is Grace’s story and how she tries but fails to integrate with her husband’s family. Fire prefigures the story of Lourdes, her failing marriage and costly indiscretion. Water, the last part of this trilogy of elements, is the story of Jess and her girlfriend Weng (Criselda Volks), and is highlighted by the death of the father and ends with Weng walking out of Jess during the father’s wake. The fourth element, Earth, is the landscape of Pampanga. The importance and purpose of these elements in the narrative is never clear. Are these just devices to divide the narrative? Or are there stereotypical characteristics of the elements that are present in the stories of each daughter? Are the daughters’ personalities akin to the elements? The screenplay is out of its element. The three parts are not woven tightly and is far from seamless; the division is more disruptive than unifying. It is safe to say that the sum of the three parts did not achieve a cinematic whole.
Kaleldo created a buzz in the public’s imagination with a lesbian, Jess, as one of its central characters. Once marginalized and close to invisible, there has been an abundance lately of lesbian representations in Philippine cinema with Joel Lamangan’s Sabel, Connie SA.Macatuno’s Rome and Juliet, Auraeus Solito’s Tuli, and Babae by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo. Though films with lesbian characters offer a deeper understanding of the woman-loving-woman relationship, some representations are problematic (Carlos Siguion Reyna’s Tatlo…Magkasalo comes to mind as one of the most). Even if these films render lesbians visible in predominantly patriarchal representations in Philippine cinema, the discourse about lesbians that these films generate leaves much to be desired. Most lesbians are represented as drunkards (Jess’ lesbian friends in Kaleldo spend most of their screen time drinking or drunk), confused, criminals, evil, violent, and spurned by men they love and so turning them into men-hating lesbians.
Most films also dichotomize lesbians into butches and femmes (for lack of more appropriate terms). The butches are depicted as very macho and patriarchal, and the femmes are depicted as very feminine and subservient. At the end of the film, the lesbians are turned straight, made to go back to the altar of heterosexuality, and married off to the next available bachelor, thereby fulfilling the heterosexual happy-ever-after plot. Kaleldo places itself in this quandary. After exposing the flawed heterosexual relationships between Lourdes and Andy and younger sister Grace and Conrad, and portraying the lesbian relationship between Jess and Weng as a stable, loving, caring, and supportive partnership between two women, it chooses to break up and destroy the lesbian relationship and marry Weng off in a church wedding. Why deny lesbian love its much-needed and deserved happy-ever-after? Why succumb to the heterosexual and patriarchal notion of relationship?
A voice-over narration feebly attempts to explain that Jess had to let go of Weng because she loves her, unlike the kind of love her strict father had for them that left her scarred. Whatever happened to fighting for one’s love? Where is redemption here? Where is empowerment? Instead of liberating Jess from the scarring and stifling patriarchal love of her father, she succumbs and is defeated by it.
Brillante Mendoza, winner of last year’s Young Critics Circle Film Desk awards for his first film Masahista, creates some stunning picture-perfect scenes with sparkles of cinematographic brilliance that turns lahar-stricken Pampanga into a beautiful setting, albeit some scenes are devoid of context.
The acting is uneven and inconsistent, making it difficult for us to empathize with the characters. Johnny Delgado’s acting during his daughter’s wedding seems more lustful than loving. Angel Aquino, Alan Paule and Lauren Novero render forgettable performances. Liza Lorena is over the top. Juliana Palermo and Criselda Volks are competent.
The bright spot in this acting ensemble is Cherry Pie Picache who turns in the most subtle yet searing portrayal of a devoted and dutiful lesbian daughter that still does not command the love and respect she deserves from her father. Picache’s transformation is effective and detailed - in small quiet gestures, a painful look, a longing stare. Her characterization is intelligent and void of histrionics. Picache inhabits Jess in a convincing manner and blends with the landscape that is Pampanga. We ache as she strives for her father’s respect, acceptance, and ultimately, his love. We cringe as she is constantly berated and publicly embarrassed by her father for how she dresses. We cheer as she defends her sister from a rampaging husband with a leg of pig as a weapon. We experience her love for her girlfriend Weng with her intimate caresses. We flinch as she is slapped by her father for answering back and standing up for herself and Weng. We sense her fear as she ever so slightly recoils in the presence of her domineering and violent father. We empathize with her vulnerability as she mourns his death.
Contrary to prevalent, albeit erroneous, representations in film and other mass media where the lesbian is typecast as macho, brusque, uncouth, and abrasive, Picache’s portrayal of a lesbian is strong yet sensitive, willful yet tender and loving, and impenitent yet compassionate. Defying pervasive filmic and societal lesbian constructs, she intelligently captures the nuances of Jess’ character portraying her as a dutiful, hard-working and responsible daughter, a protective sister, and a loving partner. Picache does not characterize Jess solely as a lesbian, but more importantly, as a person. This is reminiscent of Jeanette Winterson’s musings on being a lesbian in Art Objects, “I am not a lesbian who happens to write. I am a writer who happens to love women.” Cherry Pie Picache’s Jess renders more depth and humanity into a lesbian character than most of lesbian representations in recent Philippine cinematic history.
Cherry Pie Picache is the saving grace of Kaleldo, and yet it is her character, Jess, that suffers the most tragic loss as lesbian love wilts under the sweltering heat of summer in Pampanga.
Zest and Zany Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal
He is not faster than a speeding bullet, nor is he more powerful than a locomotive and he cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound – he becomes a she, and she is Zsazsa Zaturnnah, the Philippines newest, zaniest, and funniest superheroine. Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal has put back the zest in the theater scene in the Philippines.
Based on Carlo Vergara’s Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Award winning Ang Kagila-gilalas Na Pakikipagsapalaran Ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah, a 2-part graphic novel about a parlorista gay named Ada who transforms into Zsazsa Zaturnnah by swallowing a mysterious stone that fell from the heavens. Zsazsa defends her small town from a giant frog, rampaging zombies, Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux together with her Amazonistas from Planet X, and while doing all these, she captures the heart of the handsome debonair, Dodong.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal is as zany and witty as the comic book. Once you hear the famous line “Yu get yor big prag en go hom en plant kamote, yu samababits, maderpaker shet!!”, you are definitely hooked. Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal is one of the best laugh you will get this year – this is the ROTL (rolling on the floor laughing), LOL (laughing out loud), and DDF (drop dead funny) play of the year.
Eula Valdez is perfect as Zsazsa Zaturnnah - her strong singing and speaking voice, sexy body, irresistible lips, and competent acting brings Zsazsa Zaturnnah to life. Her arch enemy Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux is played with less zest and energy by Agot Isidro. Isidro often sounds like she is losing gas and oxygen while singing. Tuxqs Rutaqio’s Ada, though competent, is eclipsed by the delightful performance of Ricci Chan as Didi, Ada’s best friend and parlor assistant. Chan’s Didi emerges as the unexpected star of Ze Muzikal, with her laugh out loud, drop dead funny lines delivered in sometimes deadpan manner and perfectly timed adlibs, almost stealing the show from Zsazsa and Ada. Arnold Reyes as Dodong has the perfunctory sexy body complete with noodles for abs but his singing voice is weak and his characterization bland. Wilma Doesnt, Deeda Barretto, Mayen Estañero and Tess Jamias are all fabulous as Amazonistas Dina B., Vilma S., Sharon C., and Nora A. Mia Bolanos is hilarious as Aling Whitney.
Directed by theater veteran Chris Millado, Ze Muzikal is held together by the music of Vince de Jesus and the adaptation of Chris Martinez. Clearly, they wanted to stay true to Vergara’s graphic novel but still managed to effectively update the lines to respond to present day situations, but the Ze Muzikal proves too long for comfort with too many songs as fillers that do not really move the story.
Thankfully, Carlo Vergara’s oeuvre remains intact and complete with the “Pagoda Cold Wave Motion Gun” and “Transmorphication Execute.” These famous lines and the unforgettable characters certainly make Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal one of the best and delightful plays of the year.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros/The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming Of Maximo Oliveros)
Eloisa May P. Hernandez
For ICON Magazine
Growing up as a preteen in a slum area in one of the more under-privileged communes in Metro Manila with a family of criminals sounds like a typical story. Spice it up with a love angle between a young boy, Maxi, and a handsome rookie policeman, Victor. Maxi’s brother commits a murder; Maxi tries to cover up for his brother, whom Victor already suspects of the crime, leaving Maxi torn between filial piety and the throbs of first love in his young heart.
Directed by Aureus Solito (his first full-length feature), written by Michiko Yamamoto (who also wrote Magnifico), and produced by Raymond Lee, it features Nathan Lopez in the title role. Since its premiere in the 1st Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2005 in Manila where it won the Special Jury Prize, Best Production Design and Special Citation for Performance (for Nathan Lopez), Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros has won Best Picture in the First Films World Competition of the Montreal World Film Festival 2005, participated in imagiNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, and will compete in the World Cinema Feature Competition of the Sundance Film Festival on January 19-29, 2006 (a first for any Filipino filmmaker).
The film starts out promising. Though, technically, sound still is a problem for Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, just like the other digital films in Cinemalaya. The production design is subdued and subtle - a poster of Romeo and Juliet made by Brenda Fajardo prefigures the doomed love affair of Maxi and Victor. Nap Jamir’s cinematography is competent considering the lighting conditions. Sampaloc, Solito’s old neighborhood, offers a good background to Maxi’s crime-filled world.
Albeit some boring scenes, the film has touching moments balanced with witty lines. The scene of young boys from the neighborhood parading around in gowns fully made up evoke memories of beauty contests enacted in countless living rooms, though I personally think the scene is not essential. Nathan Lopez’s portrayal of Maxi is believable but his sashaying tends to be distracting. It also boasts of competent acting from dependable Soliman Cruz as Maxi’s father with Ping Medina and Neil Ryan Sese as Maxi’s two older brothers.
The film hardly offers new insights on gender issues in the Philippines, though there are attempts. For instance, Maxi’s very macho father and brothers do not beat him up; but rather treat Maxi lovingly. Maxi’s brothers even beat up a couple of neighborhood thugs who harassed him. Maxi’s family seems to counter the stereotype of gay-bashing fathers and brothers. In return, Maxi serves them dutifully by cooking, cleaning, sewing, washing clothes, and tending the house – practically fashioning himself as the “woman” of the house, equating the roles of women and gays in Philippine society. It reinforces the stereotypical and patriarchal notion that the role of women, and now even gays, in society is to serve the men in their lives.
Unpunished crimes (the murder committed by his brother and the murder of his father) served as impetus to the blossoming of Maxi. Both murders spiral the film into its denouement – the loss of innocence of his paramour, Victor, and Maxi’s own blossoming into a life filled with hope amidst a world full of crime.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Back to the Closet in Brokeback Mountain
One of the most hyped and talked about films these days, Brokeback Mountain elicits varied reactions. Most heap praises for its twist on the old Western genre, some express dismay over the ending, others were surprised that it did not take home the Best Picture Award in the recently concluded 78th Annual Academy Awards. Based on the short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx, it is set against the mountains and plains of Wyoming and Texas in the 1960s.Brokeback Mountain features two of Hollywood’s sexiest and most sought after actors - Jake Gyllenhaal (of The Day After Tomorrow and Jarhead) plays Jack Twist, a rodeo cowboy wanna-be, and Heath Ledger (of A Knight’s Tale and Casanova) plays Ennis del Mar, a quiet and reserved ranch-hand. Though touted as a “gay cowboy movie,” Jack and Ennis proclaim they are not “queers” and they take care of sheep, not cows. While tending the herd of sheep in Brokeback Mountain, the Jack and Ennis strike a friendship that turns into a life long affection.
After their summer in Brokeback Mountain, both men return to the usual grind of their lives – Jack marries the rich and feisty rodeo queen Lureen Newsome (played by Princess Diary’s Anne Hathaway) and Ennis marries the reserved and homely Alma (played by Dawson’s Creek’s Michelle Williams). As both men struggle to live their “normal” lives with their respective wives and children, they continue to see each other in their “fishing” trysts reminiscent of the film Same Time Next Year (Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda’s 1978 classic). The two men’s love story tragically ends in heartbreak with Jack’s death.
The film took a long time to develop its narrative – at times plunging viewers into boredom. But the film is salvaged by a formidable ensemble of performers. Michelle Williams strong performance is worthy of an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – haunting, controlled, desperate and poignant. Heath Ledger’s portrayal as Ennis is most mature and subdued, deserving of the Academy Awards nomination for Best Actor. Jake Gyllenhaal’s acting shows his range, at times childlike then shifts to desperate. He does not merely rely on his doe eyes to elicit emotions – when he is begging for Ennis to spend more time, he is irresistible. Barely noticeable is Anne Hathaway who exhibits spunk and zest at first but quickly faded into the background. Rodrigo Prieto’s (of Amores Perros and 21 Grams) cinematography wonderfully captures the vista of Wyoming and Texas.
Ang Lee’s direction is restrained and calculated showing just enough fervor between the two men, their desperation of being apart, their painful longing to be together. But Ang Lee (of The Hulk, Eat Drink Man Woman and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) does not give us enough to go on with – not enough intimate moments to make us believe that their feelings for each other are growing deeper and not enough passion (except for their first night together and the famous kiss) to make sparks fly. While we are witnesses to their first intimate encounter, we did not witness furtive glances or special touches between Jack and Ennis before that could lead us and them to that moment. It makes it difficult to fall in love with the characters, to feel what they felt, and to long for what they longed for.
Brokeback Mountain is a film afraid to come out – it failed to show us the depths of emotions between the two men and the heights of their passion. It is also worthy to note that for supposed a gay movie, it is the women who bare their clothes in several frontal scenes and the sex scenes are mostly heterosexual in nature - maybe to appease to the dominant white, straight, male movie audience
In an unimaginative last scene, Ang Lee brings us back to the closet - figuratively and literally, with Ennis crying with Jack’s shirt, and then stuffing it back to his closet. Disappointingly and ultimately, Brokeback Mountain is a closeted movie.
*I wrote this for ICON magazine's April to May issue but they did not print it, hmmm. Guess they did not agree with me. Oh well.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Transsexual Transformation in Transamerica
Step aside Thelma and Louis, pull over Sideways, make way for Transamerica - one of the most bizarre yet compelling road trips in recent cinematic history: a man driving to an operation to make him a woman, a father/mother driving his son to become a porn star, a son riding with his father/mother he does not know, a son unwittingly hitting on his father/mother. Wonderful Felicity Huffman, of Desperate Housewives fame, plays a pre-operation male-to-female transsexual Sabrina “Bree” Osbourne (also known as Stanley). Bree’s preparation for the final stages of her physical transformation is encumbered by the discovery of a son from a previous heterosexual encounter. Toby (played by Kevin Zegers) is in jail and New York authorities call his father, Stanley/Bree, to bail him out. Bree’s therapist withholds the written permission for the sex-change operation unless Bree resolves the situation with her newly discovered son. Bree heads to New York and is mistaken by Toby as a Christian missionary. Both decide to take a road trip back to Los Angeles, Bree to have her operation, Toby to pursue his dreams of being a superstar in the porn film industry. Their road trip is full of twists and turns – a scheming hitchhiker who stole their car, a kind-hearted cowboy of Native American descent who fell for Bree, an accidental and revealing penis exposure, dysfunctional parents becaming dysfunctional grandparents, a sibling rivalry turned sister act, and a heart wrenching confession of a father turned mother to a surprised and confused son.
The heart and soul of Transamerica is undoubtedly Felicity Huffman who should have brought home the Best Actress trophy from the 78th Annual Academy Awards. Huffman’s physical transformation, vocal scoring, subtle yet powerful acting coupled with unmistakable compassion for the character elevate her performance to new heights.
Though the film does have its pitfalls and contrived scenes such as the unnecessary stopover in a house full of pre-op and post op transsexuals, Duncan Tucker’s first film proffers a sensitive but not mushy, funny but not degrading, informative but not preachy story about a woman born in a man’s body. As we take a ride with Bree and her transformation, Transamerica hopes to transcend intolerance and ignorance towards understanding transsexuals.
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