TATLONG araw na ang nakalilipas nang magbukas sa mga sinehan ang walong kalahok sa 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival. A total departure from last year’s entries na batbat ng intriga for leaning towards indie films, nawala kasi ang mga pambatang panoorin.
This year, the MMFF screening body has made sure it has gone back to what the annual festival has been famous for. Kaya naman pansinin n’yo, walang masyadong intriga at kontrobersya?
Sa aminin man kasi natin o hindi, tayong mga nangasintanda na have conceded to the idea na ang Pasko’y para sa mga bata. We, the oldsters, had experienced it ourselves, han’yo nang mga batang paslit naman bask in the joy and exuberance that this season brings.
Most of this year’s MMFF entries are child-friendly. As far as box office takes are concerned, it’s easy to predict which ones will make their producers laugh their way to the bank. Sa ranking na lang magkakatalo.
How ironic nga lang. While this writer’s job deals with local entertainment, he (I mean, kami) is a lazy filmgoer.
Pero kung kami’y sisipagin, among the eight films currently showing (not necessarily raking in throngs of moviegoers) ay tatlo sa mga ‘yon ang nais naming panoorin (even without the festival passes, thanks to Noel Ferrer): “Ang Larawan” (starring Paulo Avelino, Joanna Ampil at Rachel Alejandro), “Deadma Walking” (nina Edgar Allan Guzman at Joross Gamboa) at “Siargao” (nina Jericho Rosales at Erich Gonzales).
Why “Larawan” is mainly because it reminds us so much of a material we had seen a couple of times back in college, and even did some theatre work on.
Why “Deadma Walking” ay dahil sa mga Facebook posts pa lang ng kaibigan at kaeskuwelang si Ricky Calderon who bought copies of the book ay sapat nang pang-eengganyo that the movie packs a wallop, and that it’s worth-watching.
Lastly, why “Siargao” is because of its director Paul Soriano and the scenery being showcased in the movie. Parang higit pa ‘yon sa isang travelogue, it has a striking story behind it. Masarap na sa mata, mukhang nakakainlab pa.
We cannot say of the rest. Magaganda rin siguro ang pagkakagawa, ginastusan nang bonggang-bongga sa mga special effects. But again, let the moviegoing kids appreciate what the oldsters may probably not.
Muli, nawa’y naging mapayapa at maligaya ang inyong Christmas, ‘yun ay sa kabila ng mga kaganapan sa maraming lugar sa bansa bunga ng mapaminsalang bagyo.
Rather, let’s experience the “typhoon” of joy!
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May exclusive web page ang Catholic school where we finished our secondary education. Nasa fourth year kami noong maging kaeskuwela namin si Cesar Cuneta, kuya ni Sharon, a transferee from De La Salle Greenhills.
Nicknamed Chet, captain na siya ngayon ng isang airline. Chet maintains no FB except his IG account.
Why his photos and goings-on in his life find their way on FB ay dahil ini-screenshot (is this how it’s termed?) ang mga ‘yon from his IG.
Although mid-50s na si Chet, may trace pa rin ng kanyang kaguwapuhan, but it’s not his ageless look that caught our attention kundi ‘yung cap na suot niya.
Emblazoned on the cap is the word “INFIDEL.” We had two “Fidels” from our graduating batch.
Hindi naman siguro patungkol ang salitang ‘yon (if you know what it means) to our former classmates.
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Personal: Today marks the birthday of my late dad Eufronio/Toto/Ron, Jr. who would have turned 74 (he passed away in 1985 at the age of 41).
I’ve always been proud of my dad despite his (forgivable/forgiven) shortcomings. Kung saan man ngayon ang tatay ko, “Daddy, just keep guiding me, at puwede ba, please take this lumbar problem off my back.”
Bakit, may iba pa bang lugar?