I realize I have yet to blog about work. Yes, I am working. Beginning last Monday, I am the new Editorial Assistant of Entrepreneur Magazine, one of the many titles under Summit Publishing (Preview, Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Etc.). It’s only been four days but already I’m swamped with work. While I cherish the experience of having a Mac computer all to myself, I also get to enjoy an unlimited playlist of songs through the company’s networked iTunes. So if I get bored of listening to the OPM playlist of someone in the Men’s Health editorial, I can switch to the pop-rock playlist of the staffwriter at Cosmo, the layout artist of CandyMag, or one of the people at PEP. I decided to explore a bit more earlier today when, while scrolling down the list of artists, in between Korn and Lady Gaga, I find a very familiar name that just begged to be double-clicked: Kris Aquino.

I have no idea who owns this particular playlist. I have a feeling it’s the lady up in storage. It’s 40 seconds of educational torture. If you want your child to speak English like Kris Aquino, I suggest you purchase the album from which it comes from. Until then, I’m sticking to The Killers.

As with its Opening Night, last night’s Awards Night of the 5th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival was beset by heavy rains once again submerging the metropolis. But inside the CCP’s Main Theater, it was people that poured in eager to catch a paparazzi glimpse of some mainstream actors and excited to see crowd favorite, Dinig Sana Kita, nab the Best Picture prize. Hosted by Cinemalaya veterans, Ricky Davao and Eugine Domingo, the ceremony introduced all directors from the full length and short feature category for the last time, before giving the awards.

Highlights of the night were comedian Lou Veloso winning Best Actor for his portrayal of an ex-convict desperately trying to find his son while being held captive by a rookie cop in Colorum, and Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel accepting their Balanghai trophy for Best Picture for the campy comedy, Last Supper No. 3. Because let’s face it, comedies don’t win awards.

(Left to Right) Jon Stefan Ballesteros, Francisbrew Reyes, ?, Lou Veloso, Alvin Yapam, Arnold Reyes, GB Sempedro, Veronica Velasco, Jinky Laurel, Vic Acedillo, Jerrold Tarog (for Benjamin Padero), Dexter Cayanes, Borgy K. Torre III, Tessie Tomas, Nico Hernandez, Mark Philipp Espina, Mike Sandejas, Anna Feleo (for Ina Feleo)

Full Length Feature Category

Best Film
Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel

Best Director
GB Sampedro Astig

Special Jury Award
Colorum by Jon Stefan Ballesteros
Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe by Alvin Yapan

Special Mention
Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno

Best Screenplay
Vic Acedillo, Nerseri

Best Production Design
Benjamin Padero, Mangatyanan

Best Cinematography
Pao Orendain, 24K

Best Original Scoring
Dinig Sana Kita

Best Sound
Astig

Audience Choice Award
Dinig Sana Kita

Short Feature Category

Best Film
Bonsai by Borgy K. Torre III

Best Director
Dexter Cayanes, Musa

Special Jury Award
BLOGOG by Milo Tolentino

Best Screenplay
Mark Philipp Espina, Behind Closed Doors

Audience Choice Award
Tatang by Nico Hernandez

Acting Awards

Best Actor
Lou Veloso, Colorum

Best Actress
Ina Feleo, Sanglaan

Best Supporting Actress
Tessie Tomas, Sanglaan

Best Supporting Actor
Arnold Reyes, Astig

Other Awards

National Council for Children’s TV Award
Dinig Sana Kita by Mike Sandejas

NetPac Award
Baseco Bakal Boys by Ralston Jover

Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel

Alvin Yapan and Alemberg Ang

Feature Length Winners

Short Feature Winners

Dinig Sana Kita Cast and Crew

Cinemalaya Cinco Winners

With Nina Sandejas

It would be appropriate to begin this with a disclaimer: I am, at times, a sentimental schmuck. Although you will never see me watching The Notebook or The Lake House without gouging my eyes out with a blunt fork, listening to Four Seasons of Loneliness while furiously typing away at a journal entry on the cruelty of unrequited love, or opening any book by Nicholas Sparks unless I need to build a raging fire, there are still things, or in this case, movies, that still manage to strike a chord in this self so hardened by the onslaught of everything emo. One of this year’s full length entries in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival has done just that, and from the looks of it, will perhaps do even more.

Coming off the Best Picture success of his 2006 Cinemalaya entry Tulad ng Dati, director, and now, writer and producer Mike Sandejas delivers another piece that has got people watching, talking, and for the sentimental lot, actually crying. However, to classify Dinig Sana Kita (If I Knew What You Said) as just another tearjerker would be a n immense mistake. This is, after all, an indie film fest. With half the movie in silence and the other half set to an original pop-rock soundtrack, save for one song, Sandejas has managed to tell a poignant story with very little words spoken but with a lot of heart.

Dinig opens with a juxtaposition of the movie’s two main characters, Niña, a “sample troublemaker” and teen rocker played by the director’s daughter and no stranger to Cinemalaya herself, Zoe Sandejas; and Kiko, a Deaf dancer played by real-life Deaf actor, Romalito Mallari. The two enter into a scuffle and end up at the same police station where all they get to do is exchange fleeting glances, more of angst than romantic, before they go their separate ways. Ten minutes into the film the audience already knows that sooner or later, the two will end up together. It’s just a matter of how and when. As an act of intervention, Niña’s parents send her to a Deaf encounter camp in Baguio in order for her to, in their words, appreciate the things she takes for granted. And as luck would have it, also known as deus ex machina, Kiko joins the same camp. Guided by the camp director played by Robert Seña, the two realize that they have as much in common with each other as what meets the eye, I mean ears. Whatever.

Just like his previous film, Sandejas once again uses music to get his message across. Obviously, when half your cast is Deaf, one has to find alternate and creative ways to communicate with the audience. And apparently, regardless of disability, music still proves to break barriers.

The difficulty with integrating a Deaf and non-Deaf cast onscreen is that at one point, all you will have is complete silence with hands and limbs flailing about the screen as the Deaf communicate through sign language. Except for a cussword my grade school carpool driver taught me, I know squat about sign language. But with the help of subtitles, and, more importantly, engaging actors in Mallari and Seña, we don’t feel like we’re watching two Deaf people argue. In a very strange way, when the two begin to heatedly argue with each other, one can actually sense that they’re already shouting, but they aren’t making any sound at all.

As the juvenile delinquent musician, Zoe Sandejas manages to hold her own surrounded by Deaf actors and professional rock musicians playing as her band (Marc Lopez, Jim Joseph “JJ” Lacson, Wilf Trinidad). And towards the end of the movie, it’s her, along with an excellent cameo by Sugarfree that perfectly wraps up the whole movie.

It’s easy to point out a film’s flaws, but very difficult to explain why you liked it so much. One can delve into the intricacies of cinematography, lighting, etc., but when you walk out of the theater, whether it’s mainstream or indie, all that matters is how you feel right after. And this ain’t no cheesy shit. With very little words as possible, Sandejas, who denies being a sentimental schmuck and calls himself “macho,” has insulted this year’s Cinemalaya audience by making them all sentimental schmucks and giving them something they didn’t expect. Something better.

Director/Writer/Producer: Mike Sandejas Associate Director: Arman Reyes Director of Photography: Albert Banzon Line Producers: May Genato-Sandejas, Rolly Palmes Production Designer: Roland Rubenecia Costume Designer: Nina Sandejas Production Managers: Robin Palmes (Manila), Violeta Miranda (Baguio) Gaffer: Gabriel “Japz” Bagnas Editor: Mik Pestano Sound Supervision: Ronald de Asis Field Sound Recorder: Mark Locsin Music: Francisbrew Reyes Deaf Drama Coach: Jayjay Sunico

Dinig Sana Kita (If I Knew What You Said) will also be shown at the UP Film Institute CineAdarna on August 3, Monday at 7:00pm. Tickets are at P80. For ticket reservation and inquiries,  contact 0915-6040072.

With half the metro under several feet of water, streets deserted, and major thoroughfares looking like the set of Waterworld, the opening of the 5^th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last Friday turned out to be a circus–literally. Contortionists, puppeteers, fire-eaters, jugglers, and acrobats entertained arriving crowds at the Cultural Center of the Philippines eager to see the latest crop of directors from Cinemalaya’s 20 films in competition. Or perhaps the news that Piolo Pascual was dropping by during the screening of Manila, of which he stars and co-produces, also had some minute effect on the attendance. Aside from meeting the directors and watching their movies’ trailers, the highlight of my night was my close encounter with the Solid Piolo Pascual groupies composed of several menopausal housewives and shrieking schoolgirls who continue to live in denial and are oblivious to the amount of distress their  banshee-like wails are causing to the people around them. Incidentally, one of this year’s taglines is “Whatever it takes for the love of movies.” Also present were his co-stars Rosanna Roces and Jay Manalo, and directors Adolf B. Alix Jr. and Raya Martin.

Piolo Pascual

Piolo Pascual groupies

CCP President Nestor Jardin and Cinemalaya VP Laurice Guillen took to the podium to formally open the festival which showcases 10 films competing in the full feature and short feature categories, and over a hundred more in exhibition. This year’s festival, dubbed as Cinemalaya Cinco, runs from July 17 to 26 at the CCP.

Nestor Jardin

Laurice Guillen

As of the first screening day (Saturday), I’ve seen three of the ten finalists in the Full Feature Category, namely Milo Sogueco’s  Sanglaan, Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel’s Last Supper No. 3, and Mike Sandejas’ Dinig Sana Kita.  I have yet to write my entries on those but will begin as soon as I’ve seen everything. I will be crapping indie before the week is out. I’m not a fan of paying for a lousy movie, but with movies as good as these, I actually wish I paid for my ticket. Well, no, not really.

Scenes from the Cinemalaya 2009 Opening Night

The regular ticket price per screening is Php100. Students can get tickets at Php50. A Day Pass which is good for five screenings per day is Php300, and a Festival Pass which is good for all screenings during the whole festival is Php1000. For more information, call the CCP Box Office at 8323704 and TicketWorld at 8919999, or visit the Cinemalaya website at http://www.cinemalaya.org.

Cinemalaya Cinco

Crowd

Triumvirate (with Tonyboy Cojuangco)

Exhibit

"Manila" Premiere

Raya Martin and Adolf B. Alix Jr.

Piolo Pascual

Plaque Awarding

Look! It's Rajo Laurel

And look! I'm on Rajo's blog!

The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival finally kicks off next week, July 17, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Here’s the schedule for those in the Full Length Feature Category. Gala screenings with the cast are marked with *.

Also, the movie Manila by Adolf B. Alix Jr. and Raya Martin, will open the festival on July 17 at 7:30PM at the Main Theater. It’ll be the film’s Philippine premiere after  screening in the 62nd Festival de Cannes and the 31st Moscow International Film Festival. Piolo Pascual co-produced and stars in this film which pays tribute to great Filipino directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. Getting my passes on Tuesday.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9qBhPTSNog&w=330&h=270]

Manila by Adolf B. Alix Jr. and Raya Martin

Cinemalaya 2009 Full Length Entries

24K by Ana AgabinJuly 19, Sun 6:15PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 21, Tues 2:45PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 23, Thu 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 24, Fri 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 25, Sat 2:45PM (CCP Main Theater) July 26, Sun 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre)

Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Alvin B. YapanJuly 11, Sat 3:30PM (CCP Little Theater) July 19, Sun 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 21, Tues 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater)* July 22, Wed 2:45PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 23, Thu 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 24, Fri 2:45PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Astig by GB SampedroJuly 18, Sat 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 19, Sun 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 21, Tues 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater) July 22, Wed 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 24, Fri 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 25, Sat 6:15PM(CCP MKP Hall)

Colorum by Jon Steffan BallesterosJuly 18, Sat 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 19, Sun 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 24, Fri 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 25, Sat 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 25, Sat 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Dinig Sana Kita by Mike E. SandejasJuly 18, Sat 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 19, Sun 12:45PM(CCP Little Theatre) July 21, Tues 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 23, Thu 6:15PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 25, Sat 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater)*

Engkwentro by Pepe DioknoJuly 18, Sat 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 19, Sun 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater)* July 21, Tues 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 23, Thu 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 24, Fri 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater)

Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky LaurelJuly 18, Sat 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 19, Sun 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 21, Tues 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 22, Wed 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 24, Fri 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 25, Sat 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall)

Mangatyanan by Jerrold TarogJuly 18, Sat 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 19, Sun 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater)* July 21, Tues 6:15PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 24, Fri 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 12:45PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Nerseri by Vic Acedillo, JrJuly 18, Sat 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater) July 21, Tues 12:45PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 26, Sun 3:30PM(CCP Little Theatre) July 24, Fri 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Sanglaan by Milo SoguecoJuly 18, Sat 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 19, Sun 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 21, Tues 9:00PM(CCP Main Theater) July 22, Wed 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 23, Thu 12:45PM(CCP MKP Hall) July 24, Fri 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall

Cinemalaya 2009 Shorts

PROGRAM A:

Musa by Dexter Cayanes, Behind Closed Doors by Mark Philipp Espina,
Tatang by Jean Paolo Nico Hernandez, Hulagpos by Maita Lirra Lupac, Wat Floor Ma’am? by Mike Escareal Sandejas & Robert Sena

18 July/Sat, 6:15PM at Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
19 July/Sun, 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
21 July/Tue, 3:30PM at Tanghalang Huseng Batute
22 July/Wed, 6:15PM at Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
23 July/Thu, 12:45PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
24 July/Fri, 3:30PM at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
25 July/Sat, 9:00PM at Tanghalang Huseng Batute

PROGRAM B:

Ugat sa Lupa by Ariel Reyes, Si Bok at ang Trumpo by Hubert Tibi, Latus
by John Paul Seniel, BLOGOG by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino, Bonsai by Alfonso
“Borgy” Torre III

18 July/Sat, 12:45PM at Tanghalang Huseng Batute
21 July/Tue, 9:00PM at Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
22 July/Wed, 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
23 July/Thu, 9:00PM at Tanghalang Huseng Batute
24 July/Fri, 6:15PM at Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
25 July/Sat, 3:30PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
26 July/Sun, 12:45PM at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

Cinemalaya Cinco Presscon

Was it too much to hope that out of the 1.6 million people who registered to get free tickets to the Michael Jackson Tribute, I would be one of the lucky eight thousand to get a pair?

I already did some research. Philippine Airlines offers daily flights to Los Angeles . A round-trip ticket in coach costs $655, that’s approximately P30,785(!) for a non-stop 13-hour flight. According to US Magazine, some people have begun selling their tickets on eBay for as high as $20,000, which is approximately P940,000(!). Since the MJ Memorial tickets come in pairs, I would have one ticket for myself and one free.  Unless my brother decides to take me up on my offer of him moving out of the room in exchange for the ticket, I plan to auction off the extra one. And since some people are actually crazy enough to offer their their life and the lives of their unborn children and grandchildren to attend the memorial, I’ll sell the extra ticket at $20,000 still. The extra money would cover my living expenses while in LA and the notoriously high airport tax at NAIA.

But I wasn’t chosen. Racisim!

So long, Michael Jackson.†

We all mourn his death and miss his music. I’ve been listening to Stranger in Moscow some five times every hour for the past two days. It’s such an underrated Michael Jackson song. The music video’s still excellent even with today’s standards. As I write this, You Rock My World is playing.

Compared to other countries, local reaction to MJ’s passing has been quite…subdued, which doesn’t necessarily mean we loved him less. We’re just less hysterical. There have been unconfirmed reports in the States and in Europe that some die-hard Michael Jackson fans have, indeed, died hard when they committed suicide over the news that the King  of Pop passed away, that their reason for living was now gone. Again, this is unconfirmed, but it’s all just depressing, disturbing, and hilarious at the same time. Other “reports” say that MJ faked his death to create a media frenzy for his comeback tour and to escape the pressures of stardom. He is now living with Elvis Presley in a remote location in Europe.  People, please get a life. Your own.

A relative of a friend who’s in the States said that while sitting in a bus on that faithful day, someone read the text message announcing MJ’s death out loud, prompting the bus driver to give his two cents’ worth on the alleged “child molester.” A heated argument ensued and a knife was brought out. They take their Michael Jackson very seriously. Here in the Philippines, I suspect the variety shows will be having a Michael Jackson Tribute this weekend. Good thing we have cable again.

I came across this question on Yahoo! Answers a few days ago. No lengthy introduction is necessary, just a side comment: There are a lot of stupid people in the world.  This one happens to be a Michael Jackson fan.

Click to enlarge.

The answers are something to note as well. They range from the serious

to the offensive,

to the introspective,

to the Darwinian,

to the eloquent,

and to the downright hilarious bordering on blasphemous.

I remember posting a question on Yahoo! Answers eons ago asking about where I could find a movie soundtrack. I got some pretty decent answers, but nothing as interesting as these.

UPDATE (07.04.09): When I took the screenshots, there were 54 minutes left for voting. I returned today to find that a consensus was finally agreed upon by a majority vote…of four. This isn’t a pro-life versus pro-choice issue. This is about whether Angela, the woman who posed the question,  is stupid or not. She is.

[SOURCE]